Dr Patricia Moran, Action for Children Consultancy Services
Neglect has been called the ‘Cinderella’ of child welfare topics due to the
relative lack of attention the subject has attracted (Tanner and Turney,
2006). It is often subsumed with physical or sexual abuse into a generalised
category of child maltreatment and is rarely the focus of research in its own
right. And yet recent UK social care statistics indicate that cases of neglect
are on the increase (NSPCC, 2007). Whether this increase represents a
genuine rise in numbers, a shift in definition or another change in practice is
unclear. Child Protection Register (CPR) statistics also indicate that neglect
is the leading category for registration across the UK. The latest statistics for
England, for example, show that in the year up to 31 March 2007, neglect
was given as a reason for registration in 44 percent of cases, representing
14,800 children (DCSF, 2007). These figures give some indication of the
scale of the problem, but are likely to be an underestimate given the role
that neglect may play in cases of children in need, or among cases that go
undetected by services.
1.2 Other sources of statistics also indicate that neglect has a higher prevalence
rate than other forms of childhood maltreatment such as physical or sexual
abuse. Cawson et al (2000) found that 18 percent of a random sample of 18
to 24 year olds reported some absence of care in childhood, and 20 percent
had experienced inadequate supervision. In a retrospective study of
childhood experience among working-class women, Bifulco and Moran
(1998) reported a rate for moderate to severe neglect of 17 percent. The
evidence from these various sources clearly indicate that neglect of children
and young people is a significant problem.
Neglect has been called the ‘Cinderella’ of child welfare topics due to the
relative lack of attention the subject has attracted (Tanner and Turney,
2006). It is often subsumed with physical or sexual abuse into a generalised
category of child maltreatment and is rarely the focus of research in its own
right. And yet recent UK social care statistics indicate that cases of neglect
are on the increase (NSPCC, 2007). Whether this increase represents a
genuine rise in numbers, a shift in definition or another change in practice is
unclear. Child Protection Register (CPR) statistics also indicate that neglect
is the leading category for registration across the UK. The latest statistics for
England, for example, show that in the year up to 31 March 2007, neglect
was given as a reason for registration in 44 percent of cases, representing
14,800 children (DCSF, 2007). These figures give some indication of the
scale of the problem, but are likely to be an underestimate given the role
that neglect may play in cases of children in need, or among cases that go
undetected by services.
1.2 Other sources of statistics also indicate that neglect has a higher prevalence
rate than other forms of childhood maltreatment such as physical or sexual
abuse. Cawson et al (2000) found that 18 percent of a random sample of 18
to 24 year olds reported some absence of care in childhood, and 20 percent
had experienced inadequate supervision. In a retrospective study of
childhood experience among working-class women, Bifulco and Moran
(1998) reported a rate for moderate to severe neglect of 17 percent. The
evidence from these various sources clearly indicate that neglect of children
and young people is a significant problem.
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