The relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect: new evidence

Major reviews of children’s social care in England and Scotland have shown that family poverty and inequality are key drivers of harm to children. Evidence also shows that deep and persistent poverty, which have increased rapidly in the UK in recent years, are more damaging for children’s safety than low income or temporary difficulties.

In England, increases in deep poverty have been accompanied by record levels of children in out-of-home care, with more than one child in 60 being investigated for abuse or neglect each year.

In this webinar Professor Paul Bywaters outlined key findings of a new review of international evidence about the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect. The review updates a previous report from 2016. It calls for effective strategies for preventing harm to children by strengthening families’ financial, housing and employment conditions and providing support when difficulties arise.

The review provides substantial new evidence about the contributory causal relationship between the economic circumstances of families and child abuse and neglect. While poverty is not a necessary or sufficient factor in the abuse or neglect of children, the evidence underlines the role of material hardship and the effects of factors such as parental stress and neighbourhood conditions. Preventative early support and wider anti-poverty policy informed by evidence could deliver economic benefits while, crucially, reducing the numbers of children and young people experiencing harm.

Responding to the report, Charlotte Ramsden, Past President of the Association for Directors of Children’s Services and Strategic Director of People at Salford City Council, provided insights from local authority practice of supporting families living in poverty, and Joseph Howes, Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition and Chief Executive of Buttle UK, explored strategies for influencing national government to take action to reduce child poverty. Attendees were invited to participate in a panel discussion Chaired by Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice.