The researchers describe a study conducted to explore how child protection practitioners negotiate their way through ambiguous and contradictory evidence when working with families under a "suspicion" of neglect. In depth interviews were conducted in order to understand the processes of discernment that practitioners used to determine how to proceed. Through our practitioners' practice narratives, we provide a glimpse into the complex relationship between discernment, identity and contexts where neglect is a concern. Implications for training, education, and practice are included.