This paper presents some of the key findings of a study investigating the introduction of the Graded Care Profile (GCP) – a tool used in the assessment of child neglect – in one Scottish local authority where neglect is the primary reason for which nearly half of all children are placed on the Child Protection Register. The findings suggest that while there are some advantages to the use of the GCP there are also a number of significant questions about previous claims made about its objectivity and value‐neutrality, its user‐friendliness and its ability to generate good partnership working with parents, particularly where there are substantive disagreements about the quality of care. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘While there are some advantages to the use of the GCP there are also a number of significant questions’ Key Practitioner Messages: The GCP is used to identify and respond to neglect.This study examined the perspectives of parents and practitioners about the GCP in one Scottish area.It found a favourable response to the way that the GCP breaks down the parenting task into more specific areas.Identified difficulties included the abstract language in the GCP and positive parental engagement where there were substantive disagreements about the quality of care.