Neglect Strategy for Croydon

Croydon Neglect Strategy

The Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) is committed to protecting children and young people from neglect and ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive. Neglect is the most common form of child abuse in the UK, and its impact can be profound and long-lasting. Our strategy focuses on early identification, effective intervention, and collaborative working to safeguard children and support families.

Introducing the NEW Child Wellbeing Tool

We are pleased to introduce the NEW Child Wellbeing Tool, designed to support practitioners in assessing and addressing the needs of children and young people across Croydon. This tool aligns with the South West London (SWL) Neglect Strategy and provides a structured, evidence-based approach to identifying and responding to concerns about child neglect.

The Child Wellbeing Tool focuses on four key areas of a child’s life:

  1. Physical Care: Including nutrition, health, hygiene, clothing, and housing.
  2. Emotional Care: Ensuring parents/carers are emotionally available and responsive to the child’s needs.
  3. Safety: Protecting children from harm, both at home and in the community.
  4. Developmental Care: Providing age-appropriate stimulation, praise, boundaries, and acceptance.





table illustrating the different areas of a child's needs.

 

The tool is designed to complement existing frameworks, such as the Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2), and should be used alongside it when neglect is suspected or identified. It supports practitioners in making consistent, child-centred decisions and provides clear guidance on next steps based on the level of need identified.

What difference will the tool make?

Improve Early Identification: Help practitioners identify concerns about neglect and other wellbeing issues at an early stage, enabling timely intervention.
Standardise Assessments: Provide a consistent, evidence-based framework for assessing children’s needs across agencies.
Enhance Collaboration: Support multi-agency working by providing a shared language and approach to safeguarding.
Empower Practitioners:  Offer clear guidance on next steps, ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time.
Focus on the Child’s Voice: Ensure the child’s experiences and needs are central to all assessments and interventions.

South West London (SWL) Neglect Strategy

The SWL Neglect Strategy represents a collaborative effort across Croydon, Kingston and Richmond, Merton, and Wandsworth Safeguarding Children Partnerships to address child neglect. This strategy emphasises:

  • A child-centred approach, ensuring the voice of the child is heard in all decisions.
  • Early intervention and prevention, focusing on identifying risks and providing support before neglect escalates.
  • Multi-agency collaboration, bringing together professionals from health, education, social care, and other sectors to safeguard children effectively.

The Child Wellbeing Tool is a key resource in implementing this strategy, helping practitioners to identify concerns early and take appropriate action to protect children and support families.

Who Should Be Using It?

The SWL Neglect Strategy and CSCP Child Wellbeing Tool is designed for all professionals working with children and families, including:

  • Social workers
  • Health visitors
  • School staff (e.g., teachers, designated safeguarding leads)
  • Early years practitioners
  • Police and housing officers
  • Voluntary and community sector workers

It is particularly useful for practitioners who:

  • Have concerns about a child’s wellbeing.
  • Need to assess the level of support required for a child or family.
  • Are involved in multi-agency safeguarding work.

7-Minute Briefings

To support practitioners in understanding and responding to neglect, we have developed a series of 7-minute briefings. These concise resources provide key information and practical guidance on specific aspects of neglect:

These briefings are designed to be quick and accessible, helping practitioners to reflect on their practice and improve outcomes for children.

Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2)


NSPCC Green Logo

 

The Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) is an essential, evidence-based tool for assessing the quality of care provided to children and identifying neglect. Designed to be strengths-based and objective, the GCP2 evaluates care across key domains of a child’s life, providing a clear and structured framework for practitioners.

When neglect is suspected or identified, practitioners can use the GCP2 alongside the Child Wellbeing Tool to ensure a comprehensive, multi-faceted assessment that captures both immediate concerns and broader care patterns. As a licensed assessment tool, the GCP2 requires practitioners to complete an accredited training course before use, ensuring consistent and effective application in safeguarding children.

Next Steps

If you have concerns about a child’s wellbeing or suspect neglect:

  1. If you are a not a licensed GCP2 practitioner use the CSCP Child Wellbeing Tool to assess the child’s needs and determine the level of support required.
  2. If you are a licensed GCP2 practitioner use the GCP2 Tool for a detailed assessment of care quality where neglect is suspected.
  3. Contact MASH Consultation Line for advice and support, call 0208 726 6000, Option 1.
  4. For non-urgent support needs refer families to the Croydon Early Help directory for information of voluntary, community and faith organisations who can also offer support an advice.
  5. Access CSCP Reviews and briefings for additional guidance on specific aspects of neglect.

Resources and Further Reading