Neglect
If a child is in immediate danger please call 999
Neglect is the most common form of abuse nationally, and in Barnet we want to improve outcomes for children suffering from neglect in Barnet by intervening as early as possible.
Child neglect is defined as a type of maltreatment related to the failure to provide needed, age-appropriate care. Unlike physical and sexual abuse, neglect is usually typified by an ongoing pattern of inadequate care and is readily observed by individuals in close contact with the child.
Neglect is about the relationship that a parent or carer has with their child. It is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. Neglect causes great distress to children and is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development in the short and long term.
Children who are neglected may have poor appearance and hygiene, health and development problems and housing and family issues. As they grow up, they are more likely to have mental health problems, poor physical health, difficulties with relationships and reduced employment in their adult life. In some cases, neglect can cause permanent disabilities and at the upper end of the spectrum, neglect can be life-threatening.
Nationally neglect is the most common of the four categories of child abuse (which include physical, sexual and emotional abuse).
As part of our resilience-based approach to working with children and families, the NSPCC’s Graded Care Profile 2 is being introduced to Family Services and the wider partnership.
What is the Graded Care Profile 2 tool?
Family Services in Barnet is using the NSPCC’s Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) as a tool for assessing the ability of parents/carers to meet children’s needs. The GCP2 is an evidence-based assessment tool that measures the quality of care provided to an individual child over a specific period of time. It is designed as an objective tool which focuses on measuring the quality of care received by the child. The tool is child-focused as it specifically addresses whether or not the child’s developmental needs in each area are being met, to what extent and whether this is consistent.
How can it be used?
The tool can assist you to understand the willingness and ability of the parent/carer to meet the child’s developmental needs. Within the Graded Care Profile 2 there are five grades of care on a scale from positive to negative. The tool uses a scaling measurement of the level of care between 1 (best) and 5 (worst) and this scaling is based on direct observation of the extent to which the needs of a child are currently being met. The scoring applies to the areas of care that relate to particular developmental needs of children based on Maslow’s principles: physical care, care of safety, emotional care (love and belonging), and developmental care (care of esteem).
It is widely recognised that the level of care provided by parents to children can fluctuate over time. Therefore, this tool is useful as it can measure parenting at a specific time and then can be reviewed to ascertain whether there has been any changes over time.
The Graded Care Profile 2 tool promotes resilience within families by focusing on the ‘instinctive parenting strength’ within the social-environmental context as well as seeking the family’s own understanding of how the child’s needs are being met.
Can you use this tool?
In order to carry out Graded Care Profile 2 assessments, you are required to attend a full day of training. There will be a number of training sessions provided in Barnet to train practitioners to use this assessment tool, to better understand and respond to children who are experiencing neglect. There are a number of training sessions available throughout the year.
For more information, training dates and course bookings login to Barnet CPD Online. If you have any problems please email us at childrensworkforce@barnet.gov.uk.