Section 8 - Home Conditions & Environment - Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub

Section 8 - Home Conditions & Environment

Use these sections to consider what you have observed, heard and been told and reflect to help you identify any aspects in relation to neglect.

These pages should guide you in your decision making on what needs to happen next in order to best support a child(ren). If felt appropriate to do so, the Toolkit can also be used with families in their homes to assist their understanding around neglect.

If you are unsure about how to proceed, please seek advice from your line manager.

Guidance on Neglect around Home Conditions & Environment

Relevant Factors
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Key:
- Green: Essential Needs met
- Amber: Many Essential Needs Unmet
- Yellow: Some Essential Needs Unmet
- Red: Most or All Essential Needs Unmet
Home Condition and Environment
- Green
  
  The family home is generally clean, free from clutter and well presented,
- Amber
  
  The house is observed to be chaotic, and dirty and the parent/carer fails to respond to any advice to clean.
  
  The parent/carer prioritises replacing non-essential items in the home, for example upgrading the TV as opposed to replacing a broken cooker or washing machine. This results in the child not being fed appropriately and with dirty clothes.
  
  There is a lack of heating in the home and the child complains of feeling cold.
  
  Toys available to the child are often broken.
- Yellow
  
  The standard of cleanliness in the home needs some attention and this goes unnoticed by the parent/carer.
  
  The home environment is generally disorganised.
  
  The parent/carer has difficulties in prioritising work within the home.
  
  The child has limited access to appropriate toys and reading materials.
  
  There is an over-reliance on screens such as TV, mobile phone and tablets to provide stimulation for the child.
- Red
  
  The home conditions are very poor and completely unacceptable.
  
  The house is ingrained with dirt and poses a health hazard for the child.
  
  The home environment is so chaotic that it poses a risk for the child.
  
  There are no cooking facilities in the home to provide a warm meal for the child.
  
  There is evidence of alcohol or drug paraphernalia which poses a significant risk to the child.
  
  The child does not have a bed to sleep in.
  
  There is animal faeces and rubbish in the house.
Sub-areas within the Home & Environment
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Key:
- Green: Essential Needs met
- Amber: Many Essential Needs Unmet
- Yellow: Some Essential Needs Unmet
- Red: Most or All Essential Needs Unmet
Prevalence of Smell e.g. Mouldy/Rotten Food, Urine
- Green
  
  The parent/carer is aware of the concerns and responds positively to advice.
- Amber
  
  The parent/carer is reluctant to address smells within the home, even when prompted.
- Yellow
  
  The parent/carer is aware of smells within the home but needs prompts to address the concerns.
- Red
  
  There is clear evidence of hoarding within the home, resulting in significant issues in relation to unpleasant smells.
Flooring
- Green
  
  Floors are generally clean and clear from rubbish.
- Amber
  
  Floors are often dirty and covered with large amounts of rubbish. The parent/carer reluctantly responds to advice to clean but needs regular prompts and has no self-motivation.
  
  There is evidence of animal faeces being left on the floor.
- Yellow
  
  Floors are occasionally dirty, but the parent/carer responds promptly to advice to clean.
- Red
  
  Floors are noted to be filthy, and the parent/carer refuses to clean.
  
  Animal faeces is often present on the floor which poses a health risk for the child.
  
  There is evidence of hoarding in the family home resulting in a hazardous environment.
General Decorative Order of the Home
- Green
  
  The home is generally in good order and any decorative needs or repairs are addressed promptly.
- Amber
  
  The home is in some need of some repair and the parent/carer fails to respond to advice.
  
  Holes are observed in the walls or doors giving rise to concerns in relation to domestic abuse which is denied by the parent/carer.
- Yellow
  
  The home needs some repair and the parent/carer requires prompts to address the issues.
- Red
  
  The home is in desperate need of repair to a degree that the home conditions pose a physical risk to the child.
  
  The parent/carer is unconcerned in relation to the identified risk.
  
  Holes are observed in walls or doors and information gathered indicates domestic abuse which poses a significant risk to the child.
Kitchen Surfaces and Utensils
- Green
  
  The kitchen generally clean and tidy and surfaces free from clutter.
  
  On the odd occasion pots are observed in the sink but it is evident that they have not been left for significant periods.
- Amber
  
  Kitchen surfaces are rarely clean, and the parent/carer does not respond to professional advice.
  
  There are no clear areas at all; surfaces are full of clutter and unusable for safe food preparation.
  The parent/carer reluctantly responds to advice to clean.
- Yellow
  
  Kitchen surfaces are often cluttered and the sink full of dirty pots left for some considerable time.
  
  The parent/carer requires regular prompts to keep the kitchen clean and has no insight in relation to the potential health risks to the child.
- Red
  
  Kitchen surfaces are filthy and pose a serious risk to the child’s health.
  
  The parent/carer refuses to clean up the home.
  
  The state of the kitchen has a significant impact on the child receiving regular meals.
Bathroom Facilities
- Green
  
  The bathroom is generally clean and in good repair.
- Amber
  
  The bathroom facilities are often dirty and on occasion unusable which has a significant impact on the child.
  
  The parent/carer fails to respond to advice to initiate repairs.
- Yellow
  
  The bathroom is occasionally observed to be dirty, but the parent/carer responds to advice to clean.
  
  The parent/carer is slow to initiate repairs even where there may be an impact on the child’s health.
- Red
  
  The bathroom facilities are filthy and pose a serious risk to the child’s health.
  
  The parent/carer does not initiate repairs and shows no regard to any risks to the child.
Beds and Household Furnishings
- Green
  
  The parent /carer makes every effort to keep the home furnishings including the child’s bed in good repair
- Amber
  
  Beds and furnishings are in a poor state of repair and often dirty; the parent/carer is unconcerned.
  
  The parent/carer shows no initiative to clean and responds negatively to professional advice.
  
  The child’s bed and bedcovers are observed to be filthy, and the parent/carer makes no attempt to initiate change.
- Yellow
  
  Beds and furnishings within the home are occasionally dirty but the parent/carer responds to advice and initiates cleaning.
  
  The parent/carer removes any broken furniture without prompt.
  
  There is evidence to suggest that there is insufficient furniture to meet the needs of the child; for example, the child regularly shares with other family members.
- Red
  
  There is clear evidence of broken furniture around the home which may indicate some level of violence within the household.
  
  The poor state of some furniture poses a physical risk to the child.
  
  The child has no bed and is left to sleep on the floor.
Garden and/or Outside Areas
- Green
  
  The garden and outside areas are well maintained and provide a safe area for the child to play.
- Amber
  
  The garden/outside space is always full of rubbish including broken glass making them unsafe for the child to play.
  
  Animal faeces is regularly left and not cleaned up by the parent/carer posing a significant risk to the child’s health.
  Parent/carer responds negatively to professional concerns.
- Yellow
  
  The garden area is sometimes cluttered and unsafe for the child to play. The parent/carer responds positively to advice to clear it.
  
  Some evidence of animal faeces observed which poses a potential risk to the child however parent/carer responds quickly to remove.
- Red
  
  The garden/outside areas are completely unsafe for the child to play due to the amount of rubbish broken glass, and animal faeces.
  
  The parent/carer refuses to respond to professional advice leaving the child exposed to risk.
Evidence of Drug Paraphernalia in the House
- Green
  
  The parents /carers take full responsibility to ensure that drug paraphernalia is not left around the house and is disposed of safely.
- Amber
  
  There is clear evidence that exposed needles or other drug paraphernalia is accessible to the child.
  
  The parent/carer has limited insight into the risks posed to the child and needs regular prompts from professionals to remove such items from children’s reach.
- Yellow
  
  There are occasions where the parent/carer has been careless in their disposal of needles or other drug paraphernalia leaving the child exposed to risk.
  
  The parent/carer puts immediate plans in place to address future risk following professional advice.
- Red
  
  Dirty needles and/or other drug paraphernalia is regularly accessible to the child leaving them exposed to significant risk of harm.
  
  The parent/carer fails to respond to professional advice to minimise risk.
  
  The parent/carer is on a Methadone programme but do not store their drugs safely.
Rodents Infestation
- Green
  
  There is some evidence of rodents/vermin within the property causing a potential health risk to children, but the parent/carer engages with relevant services to tackle the problem.
- Amber
  
  The household is regularly infested by rodents/vermin causing a significant health risk to the child.
  
  The parent/carer fails to respond to professional advice to address the problem.
- Yellow
  
  There are rodents/vermin within the property causing a health risk to children and the parent/carer requires regular prompts to address the problem.
- Red
  
  The parent/carer refuses to address persistent infestation by rodents/vermin leaving the child exposed to significant health risks.
  
  The parent/carer fails to engage with professionals attempting to provide support for the child.
Potentially Hazardous Environment
- Green
  
  The parents/carer can recognise any hazards and respond without prompt.
  
  The parent/carer ensures all appropriate safety equipment is in place.
- Amber
  
  The home environment is often observed to be unsafe for the child and the parent/carer is reluctant to respond to professional advice to keep their child safe.
  
  The parent/carer does not initiate repairs when prompted.
  
  Fireguards and safety gates, although present in the house, are not regularly used by the parent/carer leaving the child exposed to risk.
- Yellow
  
  There is evidence of some hazardous equipment such as broken sockets, exposed wires within the home environment but the parent/carer responds to prompts to rectify the problem.
  
  The home has no working smoke alarm, but the family responds to advice to have one fitted.
  
  The parent/carer does not use safety equipment to its full potential, and they forget to close safety gates or use safeguards.
- Red
  
  The home environment is unsafe for children and the parent/carer refuses to engage with professionals.
  
  Clear evidence of hazardous equipment which the parent/carer refuses to address.
  
  No evidence that any safety equipment is in place such as safety gates or fireguards and the parent/carer is unconcerned in relation to the potential risk to the child.
Provision of Basic Services Including Water, Electricity, and Gas
- Green
  
  The parent/carer ensures that all basic services are available and is proactive in responding to any problems with their supply.
- Amber
  
  There are regular disruptions to basic services and the parent/carer is unable to meet the child’s basic needs.
  
  The parent/carer is not open and honest with professionals about any difficulties and refuses to engage with support services.
- Yellow
  
  There is some evidence that a failure in supply is not responded to in a timely way by the parent/carer.
  
  Financial issues may disrupt service provision resulting in a potential lack of heating for the home however the parent/carer seeks support to resolve the issues and get services reinstated
- Red
  
  There is no water, gas or no electricity in the house and the parent/carer is unable to meet any of the child’s basic needs.
  
  This environment presents significant risks for the child and the parent/ carer refuses to co-operate with professionals.
  
  The parent/carer takes no responsibility for their inaction.
Risk Associated with Pets or Animals
- Green
  
  The parent/carer is a responsible pet owner and take appropriate precautions to ensure that the animals within the home pose no risk to the child.
- Amber
  
  There is a dangerous dog in the household which places the child at significant risk.
  
  The parent/carer lacks insight into the potential risk and is reluctant to rehome the dog to ensure the safety of the child.
- Yellow
  
  There is evidence of an aggressive dog being in the household which poses a risk to the child and leaves them feeling frightened.
  
  The parent/carer takes action to rehome the dog when prompted by a professional.
- Red
  
  The parent/carer is fully aware of the risks that their dog poses to the child but refuse to take action to rehome the animal leaving the child exposed to significant risk of harm.

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