2020 Neglect Matrix for Practitioners - West Sussex Safeguarding ...
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Neglect Matrix for Practitioners
2020
This matrix is a useful guide in terms of thinking where
a family may sit on the Continuum of Need. A child’s
needs should be understood and analysed in the wider
context. The agreed Partnership tools have been
designed to assist professionals in understanding the
child or children’s lived experience, holistically.
Indicators of neglect
Parenting capacity
Physical care
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Physical needs are Basic physical care needs Empty cupboards, decaying
are provided but could be Inconsistent availability
provided food, children go unfed
improved of food in the house
for – e.g. food, drink,
and irregular mealtimes/
appropriate clothing,
routines
medical and dental care
Parent/s can cope without Regular absence of heating/
the provision of support/ Sporadic loss of heating and lighting, house is cold and
resources but if support lighting unlit
provided parenting would
be enhanced
Young, inexperienced Inappropriate weaning, too Inappropriate weaning i.e.
parents with inconsistent early/ too late regularly given solids and
support from family/ friends dangerous food items
Child sometimes presents in Child often in school
school as hungry reporting no breakfast
Inconsistent application of Critical medication not
medication given
Child regularly presents as Child falls asleep in class,
tired and pale potentially anaemic
Child dressed in poorly Child constantly
fitting clothes, wrong size inadequately clothed for the
shoes weather conditions
Child has poor hygiene, Child often has persistent
sometimes smells and has untreated head lice, infected
untreated injuries take time injuries, and has a very
to heal strong smell of urine, damp
or body odour.
Child presents in school with Child sent to school with
illness but no explanation acute illness
from parents
Child often arrives late for Poor school attendance
school and is last to be
collected
Child has poorly maintained Child has untreated tooth
dental health decay.
Evidence that parent/carer is Child not taken for essential
prioritising own needs over medical appointment or
needs of the child investigations that may have
a long term effect on health
2
Safe care
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Parent/s protect from Parent inconsistently Child sustains injuries whilst
Inconsistent supervision,
danger and harm at home allows child to play at great playing dangerously, falls
parents aware of child/
and elsewhere risk of physical injury e.g. in off play equipment, is
young person’s the road, on
whereabouts but not always knocked down by cars
walls/ high level activities
physically present when
they should be
Child has frequent Child has had recent Child has multiple
presentation to GP for admissions to Accident & admissions to
Accident & Emergency and
low level accidents which Emergency due to lack of
parents ignore advice
may indicate inconsistent supervision from parents/
supervision carers
Safety equipment, e.g. Child under 10 years No active supervision, left
fireguards and stair gates, sometimes left alone either to own devices, seeks
not used consistently at home or in the street company of much older
without appropriate children. Found wandering
supervision in the street or around
shops
Limited awareness of Child has access to Child sustains scalds, ingests
dangers and risks to child/ dangerous equipment, harmful drugs/chemicals, in
young person- but readily fire, hot objects, drugs possession of knives and
develops understanding etc other dangerous
with support objects
Inconsistent child care Child left in care of young Child left with inappropriate
arrangements – e.g. carers children carers e.g. who are under
too inexperienced, or a the influence of drugs and
number of different carers alcohol. Child is injured
whilst being cared for by
carers due to lack of
supervision
Parent/s offer No boundaries set around Parent’s behaviour is
inconsistent boundaries young person’s behaviour frightening to the child
resulting in aggressive, resulting in the child
challenging, disruptive presenting with disturbed
behaviour behaviour (mental health
problems)
Child has inappropriate Child/young person is Child/Young person not
levels of sexual knowledge exposed to sexually explicit protected from contact with
material perpetrators of sexual harm
3Emotional care
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Parent/s show warmth, Child often made the Child is family scapegoat
Parent’s emotional
praise and encouragement scapegoat
response is not always
consistent
Parent/s have unmet Child not given praise Child singled out for
emotional needs impacting punishment
on their ability to be
attuned to their child
Child unsure of parental Child given inconsistent Child rarely comforted/
response which impacts on physical contact and reassured physically
emotional relationships with reassurance
parents
Parent occupied with Few age appropriate Absence of age appropriate
sibling/s with higher level toys in the house toys
needs, e.g. disabilities, and
needs additional support
Child spends Child spends long, regular Child spends all their time in
considerable amount periods in their bedroom their bedroom
of time alone, and has
limited access to
leisure facilities
Child/ young person’s key Parent sometimes ignores Parent goes out of their way
relationships with family child, child displays to ignore verbal/non verbal
members not always attention seeking signals from the child.
maintained behaviour
Complex family dynamics Child is rarely comforted Parent always ignores child’s
result in ongoing levels of when distressed distress and becomes angry
instability
Parent often indifferent to Parent ignores child’s
child’s presence presence
Parent rarely referees Poor parenting contributes
disputes between siblings to sibling conflict
4Environmental
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Housing has basic Housing conditions are Children of different sex Children/parents sleeping in
amenities and barely adequate – cramped sharing bedrooms, several living space, several children
appropriate facilities, living conditions children sharing a room. in a room, inadequate beds
and appropriate levels of Bedding not always clean (broken base, torn and
cleanliness/hygiene are soiled mattress). Bedding
maintained consistently soiled or not
available
Parents accruing rent Threat of eviction and Unable to maintain
arrears which may sporadic periods of accommodation,
jeopardise tenancy if homelessness accommodated by
action is not taken friends/neighbours
Parent/s struggling to Poorly maintained Blocked toilets, broken
maintain standards of washing/toilet facilities, bathing and washing
hygiene/repair in the unhygienic conditions facilities
house
Dirty dishes in sink and dirty Sharp objects on the floor,
surfaces rotten food in kitchen and
living area. Spilling bags of
rubbish
Keeping of pets which Pets, dogs etc bite children
pose a threat to young and soil the floors etc
children
Accommodation requires House unsecured,
repair - broken windows, numerous serious health &
doors, bare electrical cables, safety hazards for children/
intermittent heating/ adults, no heating/lighting,
lighting etc, house sparsely no curtains, furniture etc
furnished
5Child development / health
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Child/ young person in good Child/ young person has No attempts made to
health and developing organic reason for not Child not encouraged to encourage/assist child
appropriately for age reaching developmental reach developmental to reach developmental
milestones milestones (limited milestones
stimulating activities on
offer – few toys, delay in
attending nursery, not
encouraging attendance
in sport or other activities)
Child has persistent minor Child left in pram/car seat Child left for extended
health problems for longer periods of time periods of time in pram/car
than necessary seat
Baby not spending enough
time on floor to meet
physical developmental
milestones (sitting up,
crawling, pulling up to
walking)
Inconsistently being brought Infrequently being brought Not being brought to attend
to key health appointments to key health appointments key health appointments
Dental care not meeting Fails to consistently follow Critical medication not
recommended frequency for medication regimes administered
age of child
Dental appointments Not being brought to
Child inconsistently wears consistently missed dental appointments
prescribed glasses or other resulting in premature
eye sight correctional aids Hearing and visual aids not dental decay
or hearing devices always used
Child prevented from
wearing prescribed glasses
or other correctional aids/
hearing devices
Delay in response to minor Minor injuries left untreated Failure to seek medical
injuries attention for serious injuries
e.g. scalds, head injuries
6Indicators of abuse
Physical Development Behaviour
Faltering weight or growth Dysfunctional relationship with parent
Child not physically and emotionally at
(avoidant, ambivalent, disorganised,
the same stage as peers with no
attachment pattern).
medical explanation
Skin sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or
Language not at the same stage as peer Doesn’t cry or respond to parent’s
ring worm
with no medical explanation behaviour from an early stage
Thin or swollen tummy Attention span limited
Showing wariness and distrust of adults
Anaemia Socio-emotional immaturity – difficulty Rocking, sucking or biting excessively
in relating to adults and peers
Poor muscle tone or prominent joints Learning difficulties Bed wetting or soiling
Recurrent and persistent minor Lack of self esteem Demanding or aggressive behaviour
infections
Frequent attendances at Accident and Poor coping skills – not able to regulate Sleeping difficulties, often tired and
Emergency departments, walk in difficult emotions (older children) falling asleep
centres or admissions to hospital
Unexplained bruising Acts out excessive violence with other
children
Severe nappy rash Lacks social skills and has few if any
friends
Short stature – where there is not an Abusing alcohol or drugs
underlying medical reason including
genetic factors
Unkempt and dirty – matted hair, dirty Seeks physical contact from strangers
skin, body odour
Having broken bones or unexplained Self-stimulating or self-injurious
bruising, burns or other injuries at behaviour or both
different stages of healing
Being withdrawn or overly obedient
Being unable to explain an injury, or Being reluctant to go home or misses
providing explanations that are school
inconsistent, vague or unbelievable
Begging, stealing or hoarding food
Depressed
Eating disorders or changes in eating
habits
Takes risks/destructive behaviour
Thoughts about suicide
7Impact of neglect
Physical Development Behaviour
Increased likelihood of experiencing Young people more likely to be
Difficulty in developing healthy
post-traumatic stress and depression exposed to child sexual or other types
relationships including with their own
of exploitation
children
If a baby is malnourished, neural cells If a child has a poor relationship, Neglect can severely alter the way a
can become weak or damaged and this attachment or little interaction with a child’s brain works. This can lead to an
can cause lowered brain function parent then it can change how their increased risk of depression in later life
brain develops emotional and verbal as well as dissociative disorders and
pathways memory impairments.
Poor physical health such as obesity – Struggling with parenting/ Depression and anxiety, eating
struggling with aches and pains relationships disorders, self-harm, post-traumatic
stress
Learning difficulties, lower Drug and alcohol misuse
educational attainment, difficulties in
communicating
Anti-social and criminal behaviour
The West Sussex
Safeguarding Children
Partnership
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