Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:
-
provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
-
protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
-
ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or
-
ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
