One in every 10 British children could be suffering from neglect, a major new Stirling University study has discovered.
The report, prepared for charity Action for Children, also discovered 40% of teachers, social workers and police officers feel powerless to intervene when they encounter a child they suspect is being neglected.
It found 14% of professionals reported a rise in suspected child neglect over the past 12 months and estimated around 1.5 million British children are being neglected.
Of these, many believe a deterioration in parenting skills (70%), greater poverty (66%) and more family breakdowns (55%) are responsible for rising levels of neglect.
The study was led by Brigid Daniel, professor of social work at Stirling University and academic adviser to Scotland’s centre for child protection, WithScotland.
She said: “Professionals are offering neglected children and their families considerable levels of support.
“However, there is always more that can be done to offer help earlier to the many children who tend to slip under the radar. We need greater interdisciplinary working to tackle the high levels of children experiencing neglect in the UK.
“For example, in Scotland, where there are particularly high levels of parental substance abuse, the Government’s Getting it Right for Every Child initiative offers a real opportunity to help and to support children and their families at an early stage.”
Action for Children chief executive Dame Clare Tickell added: “It is of grave concern that one in every 10 children could be suffering neglect.
“Today’s report tells us that the public aren’t being given the know-how they need and professionals’ best efforts are being hindered by stretched budgets and a lack of resources.”
The report, which surveyed 6,000 people, found a third of the general public who had concerns about a child did not tell anyone, mainly because they did not think they had enough evidence or were uncertain it was neglect.
Neglect is a factor in 60% of child deaths or serious injuries investigated by Serious Case Reviews.
Research has shown it is vital to provide vulnerable families with support at an early stage so they can change their behaviour and prevent neglect.
However, the report claims government commitment to early help services is inconsistently translated into practice around the country.
According to the report just 12% of staff in early help services are able to respond directly if they suspect a child is being neglected and many frontline professionals (29%) believe their ability to intervene will become even more difficult as spending cuts continue.