{"id":3366,"date":"2025-08-06T08:38:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/?page_id=3366"},"modified":"2026-10-12T13:04:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T13:04:54","slug":"neglect","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/neglect\/","title":{"rendered":"Neglect"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Everyone deserves care, dignity, and support.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Neglect is often misunderstood, but it is a serious form of abuse. It happens when a person\u2019s basic needs are deliberately or consistently unmet\u2014such as food, hygiene, safety, medical care, or emotional support.<\/span><\/p>

Neglect is not just \u201cforgetting\u201d or being disorganised. It can be a <\/span>pattern of harmful inaction<\/b>, often used to control, punish, or dehumanise someone. Neglect can happen to adults, children, disabled people, older people, and those dependent on others for care.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Is Neglect?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Neglect means failing to provide care or meet someone\u2019s basic physical, emotional, or psychological needs\u2014either on purpose or through willful disregard.<\/span><\/p>

Neglect can occur:<\/span><\/p>

  • In relationships<\/b> (e.g. between partners or family members)<\/span><\/li>
  • In care settings<\/b> (e.g. care homes, hospitals, foster placements)<\/span><\/li>
  • At home<\/b> (especially involving children, disabled or elderly individuals)<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Types of Neglect<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1. Physical Neglect<\/b>
      <\/span>Failing to provide food, clean water, clothing, warmth, shelter, or hygiene.<\/span>
      <\/span>Examples: not feeding someone regularly, leaving them in unclean or unsafe conditions.<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    2. Medical Neglect<\/b>
      <\/span>Failing to provide access to healthcare or withholding medication or treatment.<\/span>
      <\/span>Examples: not taking someone to necessary appointments, refusing to support pain relief or mental health needs.<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    3. Emotional Neglect<\/b>
      <\/span>Withholding love, attention, reassurance, or stimulation.<\/span>
      <\/span>Examples: ignoring someone\u2019s distress, belittling them, or refusing affection or comfort.<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    4. Educational Neglect (for children)<\/b>
      <\/span>Failing to ensure a child attends school or receives a suitable education.<\/span>
      <\/span>Examples: not enrolling a child in school, or allowing persistent absence.<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    5. Financial Neglect (in care settings)<\/b>
      <\/span>Not managing someone\u2019s finances responsibly if you are in a position of trust.<\/span>
      <\/span>Examples: failing to pay bills on someone\u2019s behalf, leaving them without essentials.<\/span><\/i><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Signs of Neglect<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      • Malnutrition, dehydration, or frequent illness<\/span><\/li>
      • Dirty clothes, body odour, untreated wounds or infections<\/span><\/li>
      • Living in unsafe, unsanitary, or overcrowded housing<\/span><\/li>
      • Unexplained weight loss or lack of mobility aids<\/span><\/li>
      • Missed medical appointments or running out of medications<\/span><\/li>
      • Emotional withdrawal, anxiety, or low self-worth<\/span><\/li>
      • In children: delayed development, lack of supervision, poor school attendance<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        \u201cHe wasn\u2019t hitting me\u2014but he stopped cooking, cleaning, helping me shower, or taking me to my hospital appointments. I felt invisible.\u201d<\/span>
        <\/span>\u2014 <\/span>Survivor of neglect by a partner<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Is Neglect Illegal?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Yes. In the UK:<\/span><\/p>

        • Neglect is a form of abuse<\/b> under the <\/span>Care Act 2014<\/b> and <\/span>Children Act 1989<\/b><\/li>
        • It is <\/span>criminal<\/b> to willfully neglect someone in your care, especially if they are vulnerable (e.g. children, disabled people, elderly adults)<\/span><\/li>
        • Professionals such as carers, nurses, or guardians have a <\/span>legal duty of care<\/b><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          How We Can Help<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          If you or someone you know is being neglected\u2014especially in a relationship, by a carer, or in a family setting\u2014support is available. You are not alone.<\/span><\/p>

          We can help you:<\/span><\/p>

          • Report neglect safely and confidentially<\/span><\/li>
          • Access emergency food, shelter, medical care, or financial support<\/span><\/li>
          • Connect with safeguarding services and advocacy<\/span><\/li>
          • Plan a safe exit or change in care arrangements<\/span><\/li>
          • Understand your rights and explore legal action<\/span><\/li>
          • Access trauma-informed counselling and recovery support<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            Speak Up, Support Others<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            Neglect is often hidden or minimised\u2014but it is abuse. If you are concerned about someone:<\/span><\/p>

            • Listen with compassion<\/span><\/li>
            • Offer support without judgement<\/span><\/li>
            • Encourage them to speak to a trusted service<\/span><\/li>
            • If someone is at risk of immediate harm, call <\/span>999<\/b><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              For Professionals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              We offer training and guidance for:<\/span><\/p>

              • Health and social care workers<\/span><\/li>
              • Domestic abuse caseworkers and housing staff<\/span><\/li>
              • Schools, early years, and youth workers<\/span><\/li>
              • Carers, family support services, and charities<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

                Learn how to:<\/span><\/p>

                • Recognise signs of neglect<\/span><\/li>
                • Respond safely to disclosures<\/span><\/li>
                • Report safeguarding concerns<\/span><\/li>
                • Create safer, more inclusive environments for vulnerable individuals<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                  You Deserve Dignity and Care<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                  No one should ever be left without the care and support they need to survive, grow, or thrive.<\/span><\/p>

                  Neglect is not \u201cjust how things are.\u201d It is abuse\u2014and help is available.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Everyone deserves care, dignity, and support. Neglect is often misunderstood, but it is a serious form of abuse. It happens when a person\u2019s basic needs are deliberately or consistently unmet\u2014such as food, hygiene, safety, medical care, or emotional support. Neglect is not just \u201cforgetting\u201d or being disorganised. It can be a pattern of harmful inaction, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3366\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}