Walsall Neglect Strategy A partnership approach to identify and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Walsall Neglect Strategy A partnership approach to identify and support children and families experiencing neglect Carol Boughton Children’s Services Esther Higdon Public Health

Neglect What is Neglect?

Basic Needs of a Child (Cooper 1985) • Basic Physical Care • Affection • Security • Stimulation and innate response • Guidance and control • Responsibility • Independence (Source NSPCC Website November 2017)

Neglect Strategy “ Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs likely to result in a serious impairment of the child’s health and development. This may or may not be deliberate” Working Together 2015

Neglect Strategy Our Vision All children affected by neglect are supported and safeguarded by effective partnership working to ensure they get the right help at the right time

Neglect… what’s the story? Nationally research and data analysis consistently show that:- – one or more of the trio of vulnerability factors are common in households where children are neglected – neglect and the trio of vulnerability factors contribute to the year on year rise in children’s social care referrals and interventions. – Neglect is a major factor in 60% of serious case reviews.

Trio of Vulnerabilities

What’s the story…. • Children living with neglect do not always have their needs identified early enough and there is often ‘drift and delay’ in ensuring they receive the right support at the right time to prevent neglect becoming too entrenched • Ofsted’s analysis of serious case reviews (2007 -2011) shows mental health, drug/alcohol problems and domestic abuse as the most common characteristics of families concerned and highlights repeated examples where parental needs were underestimated resulting in risks for children

Neglect… the local story • Boys more likely than girls to be subject to referrals for neglect • Neglect prevalence is higher in wards where children are more likely to be subject to Children in Need or Child Protection Plans • As at 15 June 2018…53% of all children with a child protection plan did so because of concerns relating to neglect

Neglect …audit activity • Over optimistic practice can leave children in unacceptable conditions for too long • Failed visits and cancelled meetings can mean agencies don’t have a collective picture of what life is like for the child • ‘Start Again Syndrome’ means children are left in chronic neglectful situations • Lack of good inter-agency communication particularly where there is evidence of non- compliance, superficial or disguised compliance

Neglect…audit activity • Evidence professionals were not recognising unacceptable living conditions • Impact of a parent’s mental health and domestic abuse on children’s development must be understood and fully considered • Too long taken to intervene and remove children from circumstances/conditions that incrementally would impact upon their development. All agencies should be concerned when professionals have been involved in a family for a prolonged period of time

Audit activity…what helps? • Regular management oversight prevents drift and supports decision making • Evidence that good multi-agency working takes place once there is recognition of ‘significant harm’ however this is often many years after first concerns were raised • Respectful inter-agency challenge

Neglect…our Response • Working with disengaged/non compliant parents • Promoting a Restorative Practice Approach • Using the Graded Care Profile 2 Tool • Embedding the Voice of the Child

Working with disengaged/non compliant parents First consideration: • What is the child’s lived experience like? • What is the impact on the child’s safety and well being? Outcomes: • Lack of follow through by parents • Inability to complete thorough & robust assessments • Child is kept away from professionals

Promoting a Restorative Practice Approach CHALLENGE SUPPORT

Using the Graded Care Profile 2 • GCP2 is a reliable, validated practical assessment tool designed to help measure the quality of care being given to a child and identify any risks of harm – including neglect – early on • GCP2 provides an objective measure regarding the care of child based on the qualitative measure of parental commitment to meeting their child’s developmental needs • It helps parents/carers, the child and professionals better understand the problem and what to do about it

Areas of parenting and the needs of the child Physical Safety Emotional Development Care al Care Safety in Parent/ Stimulation Nutrition parent’s Carer’s Approval Housing presence responsiven Disapproval Clothing Safety when ess Acceptance Hygiene carer is Mutual Health absent engagemen t

GCP2 Grade Descriptors GCP Grade Description 1 All the child’s needs are always met and the parent goes the extra mile. The child is always put first. 2 All essential needs are always met. The child is a priority. 3 Most of the time the essential needs of the child are met. 4 Most of the time the essential needs of the child are not met. The child’s needs are placed second to those of the parent/carer’s 5 The child’s essential needs are not met. May be due to intentional disregard. The child is not considered

Embedding the Voice of the Child • We will continue to evidence that we have listened to the voice of the child and their families in respect of: > individual care planning > service delivery and > strategic developments

WSCB and partners will know that this strategy has been successful by: • Evidence of a consistent partnership approach to prevent, identify and support those families at risk of, or experiencing, neglect using restorative practice and GCP2. • Increasing number of referrals for early help support regarding possible or actual neglect. • A reduction in the number of re-referrals for neglect and one or more of trio of vulnerability factors. • Reduction in new children needing a Child Protection Plan or becoming looked after because of neglect, and repeat Child Protection Plan and looked after episodes. • Workforce feels knowledgeable, confident and competent in preventing, identifying and supporting children and families at risk of, or experiencing, neglect i.e. in use of restorative practice approach and awareness of GCP2.

This strategy will result in the following outcomes for children; • Neglect is identified, understood and prioritised across partnership. • Child and parents are engaged at all stages • Referrals are appropriate of good quality and timely • Non-parental engagement/compliance is recognised and acted upon • Decision making in line with child’s needs and results in child getting help they need when they need it. • Assessments – including Early Help and Child in Need – clearly identify risks, needs and strengths based on child’s lived experience. • Individual needs including disability are considered within family context and household child lives in. • Agencies work together to protect children and ensure they get services they need to improve outcomes. • There is a plan that addresses risk, need and improves child’s well being

To consider Who else needs to be involved to support reducing neglect in Walsall?