Understanding and recognising the impactful nature of neglect on a child’s life. Recognising how neglect can be hidden, misunderstood, unseen and overlooked. An opportunity to reflect and learn how our practice can be enhanced to spot the signs and symptoms of neglect and respond in effective and supportive ways.
Neglect is the most prevalent child maltreatment issue in safeguarding. Neglect affects children of all ages and is often defined by a multi-generational cycle. It can involve a single catastrophic event but more commonly is the persistent failure to meet a child’s needs. The cumulative effect can impact a child’s resilience, safety, health and development, sense of self, mental health and life chances.
This course will explore why neglect continues to be the most common form of child maltreatment and the reasons why the adults who work with children should have a robust understanding of what constitutes childhood neglect, and a considered response to it. We will explore the ‘hidden’ nature of this abuse, disguised compliance, the nature of persistent neglect and the consequences for child development. The course will also look at links with insecure attachment. We will take the time to consider how bias and unwritten rules can sometimes be a barrier and how we can practice ‘noticing’ as a determined and deliberate action. By looking at past cases and scenarios we will reflect on the learning from those and you will have time for planning how you can best share this understanding with your colleagues.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Headteachers, Safeguarding Governors, Heads of Years, Pastoral leads
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This Masterclass will enable you to:
Consider the breadth of childhood neglect; the causal factors and the range of actions, behaviours and attitudes which can constitute this form of abuse
Understand the impact of neglect on a child’s development, their life chances and potential lifelong outcomes
Recognise and understand the signs and symptoms of neglect
Take account of and reflect on the learning from the past
Reflect on the safeguarding processes in your setting and consider your practice and decision making
FACILITATOR
Liz Bates is an independent advisor and author specialising in Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing. Liz works with schools and other organisations providing support and training in areas such as attachment and trauma awareness, pupil and staff wellbeing, behaviour, and elements of safeguarding including Domestic Abuse, FGM, and CSE.
Liz worked as a teacher, senior leader, local authority advisor and for an educational charity before focusing on writing her popular books for children and adults, ‘Feel, Think and Do with Ruby, Rafa and Riz’, ‘Myg and Me: My Brilliant Brain’, ‘Something Has Happened’, ‘Cool to be Kind’. These highly regarded books are widely used both nationally and internationally by schools, mental health professionals and other organisations such as Lucy Faithful Foundation, The Protective Behaviours Consortium and Peacemakers. Their unique design of combining children’s storybooks with adult guidebooks and session/lesson plans make their use in schools particularly accessible. Liz has written articles for TES, The Psychologist, NAPCE and the Safeguarding Support Service and has spoken extensively at conferences across the country.
