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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder what happens when a child is neglected? What is the threshold for safeguarding procedures?

37 replies

Cassy2000 · 03/03/2025 15:11

Two girls, 8 and 10. Homework and reading never done at home with mum (sometimes done at other relatives’ houses) and behind in all areas, hair unbrushed, bathed twice a week, persistent untreated contagious infections. School notified repeatedly about the infections.

What is the threshold for any kind of action? Is this just deemed “good enough” parenting?

OP posts:
Whoarethoseguys · 03/03/2025 15:48

The only thing that would worry me is the constant untreated infections.
I don't think not doing homework and bathing twice a week are indicative of neglect but if they are not cared for when they are sick that is a big concern

Autumndayz77 · 03/03/2025 15:44

Threshold for social services is high. Where I am they might get signposted to early help but think engagement with them is optional.

You can continue to flag to the school. I've made a few calls to my kids primary school - no idea the outcome as I did my bit.

Hercisback1 · 03/03/2025 15:44

They won't be removed for not reading and only bathing twice a week. Plenty of kids do that!

The family may need some support to deal with the medical issues. The rest is deemed good enough sadly.

Itisbetter · 03/03/2025 15:44

It rather depends on how aware you are of what is “normal”. Bathing twice a week, good school attendance sound fine to me. Poor diet is less defined. Is it “they eat beans on toast and frozen pizza a lot”, or “they are hungry and don’t eat any fruit or veg”. Infections like nits and impetigo are the bane of many primary schools. Reinfection can be very tedious and clearing up takes several weeks even for the lost diligent.
Report animals being abused.

Adhikv · 03/03/2025 15:42

That might qualify for early help services although mum would need to agree to it. The only real one that might flag anything there is the untreated infections but not enough for a social worker.
how do you know all this about the children?

MissyB1 · 03/03/2025 15:35

Sounds like neglect (particularly the healthcare aspect), but possibly through ignorance? Have you reported it? It might be that they just might need a family support worker for a little while.

0ctavia · 03/03/2025 15:35

What’s your relationship to these children @Cassy2000 ?

RatedDoingMagic · 03/03/2025 15:34

There is no threshold for reporting a safeguarding concern. Any concern should be reported to the school's safeguarding lead. Whether ornot to take action is then the decision of those with the training and contacts to make that decision well.

Janedoe82 · 03/03/2025 15:34

Sound like they could do with a bit of family support going in but where I am I don't think would be place on child protection register/ have significant social work involvement.

Original poster
Cassy2000 · 03/03/2025 15:31

Yes they’re fed, albeit a low quality diet and they’re often constipated and with viruses. There’s no violence to humans that we’re aware of, though there is to animals. Reasonably clean I guess, school attendance is good.

Infections are all relatively common childhood ones like scabies, ringworm, impetigo, nits etc, but left untreated.

OP posts:
Wildflowers99 · 03/03/2025 15:15

What kind of infections?
Are they fed, reasonably clean, good school attendance, is there violence/abuse at home?

justherenowso · 03/03/2025 15:15

Honestly, there’s no fixed answer on this. But the threshold is very high on neglect - rightly so in a way because removing a child from their family is a huge thing and should only be done in the most extreme of circumstances.

What the most extreme of circumstances is going to be will obviously vary to an extent but certainly not doing homework and not bathing more than twice a week wouldn’t be it.

It isn’t really clear why they are getting infections. I mean, I bath my children more than twice a week but equally it isn’t so low that it should be leading to infections either.