safety and wellbeing issues are present for Mary and Thomas

Case Study- Mary is 10 years old and attends her local primary school. Mary has a baby brother named Thomas who is 8 months old. Mary lives at home with her mother Ellen (25years) and Ellen’s partner Brian (23 years). Mary has no contact with her father. Brian is the father of Thomas.

Ellen works at the supermarket part time and Brian is unemployed. Mary has presented at school over the past three months as unkempt and tired. Mary has not been completing her homework and is disengaging from her learning environment. Several times, Mary has told staff she had no lunch in her bag and often comes to school without breakfast. Mary walks home from school each afternoon as Ellen is at work. Ellen has not responded to requests to contact the school and staff have not seen her at the school for 6 months.

Question- What safety and wellbeing issues are present for Mary and Thomas? Explain why these are concerns.