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Ofsted warns of abuse risks to disabled children | Ofsted warns of abuse risks to disabled children |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Disabled children in England need better protection against neglect or abuse, suggests a report by children's and education watchdog Ofsted. | Disabled children in England need better protection against neglect or abuse, suggests a report by children's and education watchdog Ofsted. |
The report says disabled children are more likely to be victims of abuse, but are less likely to have a child-protection plan to safeguard them. | The report says disabled children are more likely to be victims of abuse, but are less likely to have a child-protection plan to safeguard them. |
Ofsted's report was based on a survey of cases in 12 local authorities. | Ofsted's report was based on a survey of cases in 12 local authorities. |
Inspectors say that a lower standard of care for children with disabilities is unacceptable. | Inspectors say that a lower standard of care for children with disabilities is unacceptable. |
Ofsted looked at 173 cases involving children with disabilities and found that problems were not always recognised or dealt with quickly enough. | Ofsted looked at 173 cases involving children with disabilities and found that problems were not always recognised or dealt with quickly enough. |
'Neglect' | 'Neglect' |
Inspectors found good examples of support for families - but in some cases the focus was on helping parents rather than protecting children. | Inspectors found good examples of support for families - but in some cases the focus was on helping parents rather than protecting children. |
The report says that poor care sometimes amounted to neglect. | The report says that poor care sometimes amounted to neglect. |
There were cases of children missing school and medical appointments, living in poor conditions, receiving an inadequate diet or not receiving the assistance available for health problems. | There were cases of children missing school and medical appointments, living in poor conditions, receiving an inadequate diet or not receiving the assistance available for health problems. |
Parents did not always recognise the help that children needed, the report suggests. | Parents did not always recognise the help that children needed, the report suggests. |
Ofsted says local authorities and safeguarding-children boards needed to work together to make sure that children with disabilities receive the help they needed. | Ofsted says local authorities and safeguarding-children boards needed to work together to make sure that children with disabilities receive the help they needed. |
Its deputy chief inspector, John Goldup, said: "Inspectors saw some fantastic examples of good early multi-agency support for children and their families. | Its deputy chief inspector, John Goldup, said: "Inspectors saw some fantastic examples of good early multi-agency support for children and their families. |
"But in some cases the focus on support for parents and their children seemed to obscure the child's need for protection. | "But in some cases the focus on support for parents and their children seemed to obscure the child's need for protection. |
'Tough decisions' | 'Tough decisions' |
"The report highlights the need for greater awareness among all agencies of the potential child-protection needs of disabled children, for better and more co-ordinated assessments, and for more effective monitoring by local safeguarding-children's boards. | "The report highlights the need for greater awareness among all agencies of the potential child-protection needs of disabled children, for better and more co-ordinated assessments, and for more effective monitoring by local safeguarding-children's boards. |
"We cannot accept a lower standard of care and protection for disabled children than we expect for all our children." | "We cannot accept a lower standard of care and protection for disabled children than we expect for all our children." |
David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said: "Of course, no child should remain in an unsafe environment. | David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said: "Of course, no child should remain in an unsafe environment. |
"However, in cases where the situation is not clear-cut, social workers face incredibly tough decisions. | "However, in cases where the situation is not clear-cut, social workers face incredibly tough decisions. |
"Clearly there is more work to be done to make sure there is common understanding and effective communication between local partners so that all children are kept safe from harm." | "Clearly there is more work to be done to make sure there is common understanding and effective communication between local partners so that all children are kept safe from harm." |
What do you think about the report? Do you work with or care for disabled children? Please email us using the form below. | What do you think about the report? Do you work with or care for disabled children? Please email us using the form below. |