What Helps Social Workers Make Good Decisions in Cases of

Neglect?

Evidence Based Decisions in

Complex Neglect Cases

Context

Why should we be concerned about child neglect?

Why focus on child neglect?

Child neglect…

•is the most common reason for a child to be subject to a child protection plan.

•features in 60% of serious case reviews.

•is the most common concern about which adults contact the NSPCC helpline.

•is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment in the UK.

One in ten 11-17-year-olds report severe neglect

What is child neglect?

‘Neglect is an insidious form of maltreatment. It starves the developing mind of stimulation. It denies the child information and interest about the self and others.’Professor David Howe

What is child neglect?

‘Neglect slowly and persistently eats

away at children’s spirits until they have

little will to connect with others or

explore the world.’

Erickson & Egeland

North Carolina Family Assessment Scale-G (NCFAS-G): What is it?

Our Evidence Based Decisions service aims to support social workers to make the right decision at the right time when working with families where there are concerns about child neglect.

NSPCC practitioners work in partnership with Local Authority social workers using the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS-G) to focus on improving evidence, understanding and decision-making.

• Unbiased file/report read

APPROACH

• Focused FFR using NCFAS G

• Co-Worked by LA & NSPCC SW

• Independent scaling using

definitions

• NSPCC authored report

• Report owned by SSD

NCFAS-G Domains

A. Environment B. Parental CapabilitiesC. Family InteractionsD. Family SafetyE. Child Well-beingF. Social/Community LifeG. Self-SufficiencyH. Family Health

North Carolina Family Assessment Scale-G (NCFAS-G):

What have we learnt?

Social workers felt the Evidence Based Decisions review helped them make the right decisions for families.

It gave them the confidence they needed to fight the corner for neglected children.

Some social workers said NCFAS-G provided more concrete evidence than assessment tools they commonly used, such as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) triangle. 

• Emphasis on communication in LA

Learning from Implementation

• Factoring in capacity for children's sessions

• Training LA SWs and NSPCC together

• Cannot overstate importance of professional and trusting relationships

• Bespoke Assessments for Neglect

Thriving Families …

• STIR = Scale, Type, Impact, Reason

• Range of Interventions

• Evaluation of Implementation

• Continued Partnership working

Paula TelfordTel: 0191 5005152Mobile: 07880 881420Paula.Telford@NSPCC.org.uk

Karen BurrowsTel: 01792 456545Mobile: 07833441163Karen.Burrows@NSPCC.org.uk

Contacts

Any questions?