Neglect is the most common form of child abuse, but recognizing the signs, assessing the family's and the child's needs, and undertaking intervention can be difficult and complicated. This book, based on extensive research of the evidence, outlines how neglect can be recognized, examining the signs that parents give to signal their need for help, and the signs that a child's needs are not being met. It then covers how practitioners should respond, including assessment, planning, and appropriate interventions. The authors examine whether practitioners are well-equipped to recognize child neglect, and whether professional responses to help could be swifter. They also summarize the key messages from the research findings, and make recommendations for policy and practice. This book will help practitioners to understand better child neglect and to improve practice in this important area. It will be vital for all those likely to encounter child neglect, including child and family social workers, health visitors, teachers with safeguarding responsibilities, nursery staff, and educational psychologists. Safeguarding children from abuse is of paramount importance. This series communicates messages for practice from an extensive Government-funded research programme designed to improve early recognition of child abuse as well as service responses and interventions. The series addresses a range of forms of abuse, including emotional and physical abuse and neglect, and outlines strategies for effective interagency collaboration, successful intervention and best practice. Titles in the series will be essential reading for practitioners with responsibility for safeguarding children.
Acknowledgements. Foreword. Enid Hendry, NSPCC. 1. Understanding Child Neglect. 2. Signs that Parents Need Support. 3. Signs that Children's Needs are Not Being Met. 4. Responding to Children Whose Needs are Not Being Met. 5. Helping Neglected Children. 6. Preventing Child Neglect. Appendix 1. Systematic Review Methodology. Appendix 2. Papers Included in the Systematic Review. Bibliography. Subject Index. Author Index.
The book includes brief, helpful summaries of different interventions.. The small size of the book is encouraging for busy practitioners and it lends itself to 'dipping in and out' rather than reading cover to cover. The authors use extensive sources, which are clearly referenced and cited throughout. The text is consistently well-presented and adequately supported by relevant tables and figures... The 'case studies' are realistic and helpfully illustrate themain content of each chapter, while the 'activities' boxes are thought-provoking and encourage reflection on practice. Also helpful are the 'key messages' at the end of each chapter, which succinctly summarise the mainpoints.This book does broadly achieve its aims to challenge practitioners to reflect on practice and values.
