To think Super Nanny Jo Frost has lost the plot?

[Pekoe78]

Assuming she sanctions the views on her social media page. Jo Frost has shared this bizarre scary post claiming that an unclean home is the “number one sign” of child abuse. How is she getting away with such inaccurate information? Surely she knows the difference between abuse and neglect and that actual abuse can happen in any home. If a child is actually suffering from real neglect, simply telling the parents “clean your house” is not going to help a complex situation. So what is she trying to achieve apart from making parents terrified of being accused of something because they are behind with cleaning?!

There's the problem right there ... 'probably means'. If someone is going to spew out opinions, they would do well to be clear what they mean so that their audience doesn't have to speculate.

If this is the case I wonder what the point of her post is. To shame people neglecting their children? Does she think these people follow her and listen to what she says?

A PP is right she posted that for attention and clout and it’s worked

What I mean is it’s a lecturing post. If she actually gave a shit about children the wording would be around “Look at for children living in these conditions” rather than “Do as you’re told!”

@MissyB1 kids do take priority. But support needs to be given to the parents. That support just isn't there currently. I work in adult mental health and we do not go to people's houses. For a mum to get help she would have to come to our base. This just isn't possible for a lot of people. Especially those with low motivation, mood or self worth.

Haha it does rather doesn't it.

She's probably right but her intention is unclear. Stop neglecting your poor kids and clean the bloody house is a good sentiment but missing a lot of detail.

Weren't there cases where the house was immaculate but the child got beaten to death? It was on telly a few weeks back. The school alerted to constant heavy bruising but ss eccepted not seeing the kid as the place was pristine. For me that would be a claxon: confortably messy was how my house looked when the boys were small.

Decades out of date here but a dirty house used to be a signal of potential for abuse / neglect in social work.

To me it's a perfect example of the problem with pithy advice on SM. As the OP says, child abuse/neglect is an array of complex issues, not simply a "dirty home". I'm sure her stats are correct but stats do not tell the whole story. The dirty home will be a symptom of deeper problems rather than the cause.

It's unhelpful to try and tackle such issues with black and white thinking. IMO, this is indicative of society right now; unprepared to actually to the hard work to fix things, preferring to choose the easier option that invariably doesn't work.

No one is saying children shouldn't be prioritised or that nothing should be said. People are merely pointing out that messaging like this is not the appropriate way to 'say something' as its poorly thought out, confused and essentially preaching to the choir. Surely you can accept that people can hold these views because they've applied critical thinking to the post, and not because they live in a dirty house themselves and are defensive?

Neglect is a form of abuse.

A child has a right to live free from harm.

Having a child in a dirty, unclean house is neglectful and harmful to their health and wellbeing.

She's not talking about unorganised and untidy.

Not all abusers have an unclean home, but an unclean home in itself is a sign of something not being quite right.

You are right but this is also very obvious - I think many of us are confused with Forst’s intentions of posting as “clean your home you look like an abuser” post.

I have witnessed child neglect through my work and I think that the majority of parents who neglect their kids probably had zero example set to them when they were young. Either they had poor parents themselves or group up in a system where they didn’t get to experience a routine of cleanliness or witness housekeeping etc.
I don’t think that these parents necessarily think that they follow her and take her instruction but I’m constantly spammed with stuff on social media that I don’t follow. I don’t think supernanny has received any clout for her post judging by responses on here

" This is indicative of society right now; unprepared to actually to the hard work to fix things, preferring to choose the easier option that invariably doesn't work "

Yet we don't expect neglectful parents to have the wherewithal to pick up a clean cloth and rub their surfaces with it? Social services can't do everything - sometimes the threat of removal can be the kick up the arse someone needs.

When this is the accompanying text too - I’m thinking “what’s your point then Jo?”. That you’re abusive but if you go and buy soap from ‘the dollar store’ (WTF) it will all be OK?

The whole post smacks of poverty shaming rather than giving a flying fart about abused children.

Either that or her social media person is an AI bot or an apprentice.

There is a correlation.
Obviously

Actually that hashtag leads to her anti-ADHD campaign. That’s all this shitty post is about - her dwindling brand. And TBH the MNers crowing and throwing their hands in the air like a swotty student saying “I know the answer miss, child abuse is neglect annd a dirty home can be neglect and I knew that! Do I get a gold star” probably need to sit down, because we know - you’re just feeding the troll that is Supernanny with your non-revealing revelation

Also her grammar is shocking

”Here’s what you can do: toys”

Thanks for that Jo 🤣

Child neglect is abuse so op has confused the definition of child abuse here -
Child abuse - can be physical as in hitting them but can also mean physically neglecting them not keeping them clean and dressed appropriately not given suitable diet etc. A dirty house would be an indicator of all sorts of social / mental health issues with care giver to a social worker - midwife - health visitor - neighbour - friend - family member. However I do agree with op that it is not the number 1 sign - the post is misleading in this respect and Jo should perhaps clarify this to her followers.

Also the pick me’s on her social media post can FTFO - “Oh I agree Jo im a TA and often have to feed hungry children coming to my class aren’t I kind”. No you’re a prick, stop putting your need for social media hearts before your professionalism

People are talking about it, that’s clout.

The people letting their kids live in hovels and smell of weed and barely dress them need much more than a SM post to change. In fact in too many cases nothing will compel them to change and children’s services are The Enemy.

Weren't there cases where the house was immaculate but the child got beaten to death?

Child protection investigations are rarely straightforward - a very dirty house might indicate neglect, an obsessively clean house might indicate control issues that spill over into abuse. It one of the reasons social work is such a complex profession and the reason why social workers needs to be able to build constructive relationships with their families.

How do you know if the house is immaculate because the parents like to keep on top of things or because child is scared to move; how do you know the mess in the house is indicative of wider neglect or due to a mental health crisis unless you actually know the family. Jo Frost has a simplistic way of looking at things, because she’s never there to do the actual work of building a long term relationship with families - a sound bite is much easier than being in it for the long term.

When I had DD nearly 11 years ago the HV came round on day 5 - I was ill after the birth and whilst it wasn’t dirty, it was an untidy house and I apologised. She actually told me that it’s normal and she’d be far more suspicious of a family with a 5 day old baby having a show home type house because if they’re spending all day cleaning they aren’t caring for their baby!

@KarenNotAKaren exactly! It's almost astounding how little she has thought out what the underlying issues are, ITS NOT ABOUT THE SOAP

• can't afford the hot water for a bath
• shared house and worried that housemates will complain about bathing
• lack of energy to bath children/ wash hair
• worried about abuse happening when bathing children or children drowning. Intrusive thoughts.
• trauma around bath time routine due to their own childhood abuse
• new clothes shopping stressful due to children asking for clothes they can't afford
• fears about children growing up, wanting to keep them in previous sizes.
• children having their own sensory needs preventing washing, hair washing, brushing, only wanting to wear old clothes
• financial control by other parent not allowing for money for new clothes
• working late every day and not having time in the evening for baths (this is a big one)

Your last sentence is so true and it’s what really bother me about Frost. In the very post we’re discussing she refers to herself as being a care professional - I wonder has the woman ever made a safeguarding referral on her life? All those homes she went in where the family dynamic was a mess, she sat them down in front of a camera and, for entertainment purposes, bollocked the parents. Did she ever do more than that? I doubt it. Too busy making good Tv

All about context.
this is about squalor and may be an indicator of other problems . MAY

its a massive red flag . Child protection is comolex and has many strands to it .