To develop to their full potential, children have many and varied needs. These include:
- the need for an adequate diet and exercise
- opportunities for play and interaction with others
- stable and affectionate relationships with parents or carers
- to be kept safe and to receive appropriate healthcare.
When child protection concerns have been raised about a child, agencies aim to look at the whole picture. They consider not only what has happened to the child, but also the child’s health and development, and the wider family and environmental context. The factors to consider are detailed in the ‘Framework for the assessment of Children in Need and their families’.
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