New inspections on how partner agencies protect children at risk of neglect
A group of watchdogs are to hold a new set of inspections examining how local partner agencies - including local authorities, health and probation services and the police - are working together to protect children living with, or at risk of, neglect.
The series of six joint targeted area inspections (JTAI) involving Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), HMI Constabulary and HMI Probation will begin next month.
The inspections will focus in particular on the experiences of children aged between 7 and 15 years old, who may be at higher risk of going missing or being exploited, or who exhibit challenging behaviours in adolescence.
The watchdogs have published guidance on how the inspections will work in practice. This can be viewed here.
Uniquely for this JTAI, inspectors will also speak with school leaders and staff to get a wider picture of how neglect is identified and referred.
HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said: “Identifying signs of neglect in middle childhood and adolescence can be very complex, as children at this age experience and respond to neglect differently from younger children. However, at any age, the impact of childhood neglect can be lifelong.
“It’s crucial that local partner agencies understand the long-term effects of neglect and recognise the need for early and appropriate intervention.
“These inspections will provide valuable insight into the local area response to neglect. And importantly, they will highlight good practice that others can learn from.”
Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice at the Care Quality Commission, said: “Neglect is a terrible and far-reaching problem that can present itself in many aspects of a child’s life. We all have a responsibility to safeguard those children who find themselves at risk of neglect, and that means understanding where these risks might be and also where services are doing great work to support children in their area.
“By focusing on individual children’s experiences and tracking them across services, these inspections will provide an invaluable chance to see how agencies are working together and the impact this has on the welfare of young people.”
Each inspection report will include narrative findings, setting out what local partners are doing well and what they need to do to improve.
In 2014, Ofsted produced a report on local arrangements to safeguard neglected children under the age of 10. The multi-agency review of the experiences of older neglected children will build on that evidence base.
When all six inspections are complete, an overview report will be published to highlight learning and good practice on the theme of childhood neglect.
