Councillors set to discuss strategy that will tackle child neglect
Councillors will be asked to give their backing to a new strategy that will support children at risk or impacted by neglect.
Article date: 17 February 2026
St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet will be asked to back the St Helens Safeguarding Children Partnership Neglect Strategy 2025-2030 and give their support to the cross organisational plan to help children and their families.
The strategy has been co-produced with partners, and families impacted by neglect and through wider consultation. It sets out shared priorities and objectives and the strategy commits to collaborative relationships with families, building trust, and tailoring support to strengthen parenting capacity and promote children's wellbeing.
Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "This is a vital strategy that has been co-produced by a wide variety of partners with children and families who have experienced neglect all helping to shape its development. Neglect is often hidden, but it shapes the future for those affected, so this document is about not just the support we can put in place for those who need help, but also about effective steps to support families and reduce the risks for future harm."
The St Helens Neglect Strategy sets out a four-year plan to prevent, identify, and respond to child neglect through a multi-agency, trauma-informed, and strength-based approach. It aims to reduce the prevalence and impact of neglect by addressing its root causes, improving early intervention, and ensuring consistent, high-quality support for children and families.
The seven priorities within the Strategy are;
· Prioritise strategic commitment by all agencies to understand, prevent and reduce the impact of neglect.
· We will work in partnership to overcome factors which prevent parents/carers from meeting the needs of their children.
· Support and training for the multi-agency workforce to recognise and act on the signs of neglect.
· The development of an easier to use and effective assessment tool to use when we are worried a child is experiencing neglect.
· Improve the effectiveness of assessment, planning and interventions to reduce the neglect and respond to neglect in a consistent and timely way
· There will be increased numbers of staff trained in trauma informed approaches and agencies ways of working will support this way of working.
· Evaluate our practice and continually improve the effectiveness so we reduce the neglect of children and young people.
The strategy will be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday, 25th February at 4pm. You can find out more about the strategy and watch the meeting online here: https://sthelens.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=193&MId=15307&Ver=4