Neglect - working with neglect

Neglect can have a significant and cumulative impact on a child’s safety, development, emotional wellbeing and future outcomes

This evidence-informed course develops practitioners’ confidence in recognising, assessing and responding to neglect. Participants will explore different forms and patterns of neglect and consider how the child’s lived experience may be understood through their development, behaviour, presentation, relationships and daily life.

The programme considers the influence of parental experiences, trauma, poverty, mental health, domestic abuse, substance use, discrimination and wider family circumstances without confusing poverty with neglect or losing sight of harm to the child.

Participants will explore how to use professional curiosity, respectful language and relationship-based approaches when discussing concerns with families. The course supports practitioners to identify strengths, work alongside parents and family networks, assess capacity to change and develop clear plans that improve children’s day-to-day experiences.

The programme reflects the child-centred, whole-family and multi-agency ambitions of Families First and the emphasis within Best Start in Life on pregnancy, the first 1,001 days and early child development.

_{Learning Outcomes}

• An understanding of what is meant by Neglect including categories and Themes
• Develop an understanding of the possible impact of the parents' lived experiences (including Adverse Childhood Experiences) on their parenting behaviour.
• Develop skills in working alongside families to empower them to address neglect.
• An understanding of the importance of language in conversations with families around neglect and develop skills in using language appropriately

_{Who is the course for?}

This course is suitable for practitioners and managers across Family Help, Early Help, Best Start Family Hubs, children’s social care, education, early years, health, housing and voluntary or community organisations.

_Delivery

Available as face-to-face or virtual training. Bespoke delivery can reflect local neglect strategies, assessment tools, safeguarding procedures and workforce needs.

The course supports the inclusive ambitions of Best Start Family Hubs and Families First by helping services provide accessible, coordinated and individually responsive support.