Most recent papers:

• Assessing Capacity to Change in High‐Risk Pregnant Women.
  Paul H. Harnett, Jane Barlow, Chris Coe, Caroline Newbold, Sharon Dawe.
  Child Abuse Review. October 03, 2017
  Pre‐birth risk assessment is a process by which circumstances affecting an unborn child can be identified and support for mother and infant embedded. This mixed methods study describes a community‐based pre‐birth assessment and care pathway that utilised the Parents Under Pressure (PuP) programme to assess parenting capacity and provide support pre‐ and post‐birth for ‘at risk’ women. Sixty‐eight pregnant women referred to children's social care services were allocated to the pre‐birth assessment and care pathway (n = 35) or to routine care (n = 33). Standardised measures of psychological distress, social support and alcohol measured change for the women in the assessment and care pathway. Twenty women who provided pre‐ and post‐data reported significant improvements on all measures except alcohol use. Safeguarding outcomes at 12 months were obtained for both groups using administrative data. Forty‐two per cent of the infants whose mothers received the pre‐birth assessment and care pathway showed an improvement in child protection status compared to 14 per cent of the routine care infants. Safeguarding status deteriorated or stayed the same in 52 per cent of the routine cases compared to 26 per cent of those receiving the pathway. Qualitative data revealed that the pathway was acceptable and helpful to service users and service providers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Describes a community‐based pre‐birth assessment and care pathway that utilised the Parents Under Pressure (PuP) programme’ Key Practitioner Messages The current project found that a community‐based pre‐birth assessment and care pathway with high‐risk pregnant women was feasible and acceptable for practitioners and service users. The pathway began mid‐pregnancy and support was provided following the birth of the infant for up to 12 months. Over 40 per cent of infants whose mothers were allocated to the pre‐birth risk assessment pathway showed improvements in child safeguarding status at 12 months.

  October 03, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2491   open full text
• Academic Disputes about Adult‐Child Sexual Contact: A Critical Realist Appraisal.
  David Pilgrim.
  Child Abuse Review. September 12, 2017
  This paper examines the difference between the orthodox assumption that adult‐child sexual contact is both wrong and harmful and another that focuses upon moral panics. The latter view emphasises that the personal or social harm arising from adult‐child sexual contact is open to question. The tension between these two positions is laid out in order to examine their different assumptions about what exists (ontology), how it is understood (epistemology) and how we appraise power discrepancies in relationships (ethics). Resources from the philosophy of critical realism are deployed to critique the applicability of moral panic theory to child sexual abuse and understand the persistent presence of that theory, despite its poor evidence base. It is concluded that child sexual abuse is not a moral panic at all and that practitioners should be wary of the influence of this line of reasoning in their professional training and literature. ‘Examines the difference between the orthodox assumption that adult‐child sexual contact is both wrong and harmful and another that focuses upon moral panics’ Key Practitioner Messages A minority academic position is that adult‐child sexual contact is usually harmless and ethically and psychologically warranted in society. Public and professional concern about the contact is depicted as a ‘moral panic’. The recent history of that minority position is examined and justifications from policy libertarians and pro‐paedophile groups summarised. Using resources from the philosophy of critical realism, this position is critiqued for its unwarranted reliance on the assumption that adult‐child sexual contact has become a moral panic.

  September 12, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2497   open full text
• Multiagency Response to Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Case Study that Explores the Role of a Specialist Centre.
  Lindsay Voss, Helen Rushforth, Catherine Powell.
  Child Abuse Review. August 10, 2017
  Through the application of case study methods, this research explored the role of a specialist centre that responds to actual or suspected childhood sexual abuse (CSA). When CSA is suspected to have occurred, children and families and professionals from statutory agencies are required to navigate complex processes. This study was undertaken to explore those processes in a specialist children's referral centre. It comprised three datasets: (1) 60 children (0–17 years) were ‘tracked’ to ascertain reasons for referral, the type of examination and outcomes in terms of health, social care and criminal justice actions; (2) semi‐structured interviews with 16 professionals (paediatricians, specialist nurses, child abuse investigation police officers and children's social workers); and (3) analysis of ‘patient’ and parent/carer satisfaction questionnaires. Medical examination rarely confirmed abuse and only 13 per cent of cases were pursued within the criminal justice system. However, 66 per cent of children had an identified health need requiring follow‐up. Professionals from all groups believed the centre provided a ‘child friendly’ facility that enhanced co‐operation. However, challenges with focusing on the needs of children and with mulitagency working were identified. Routine patient satisfaction data collected at the time of the study demonstrated positive views of the care received, although other data suggest that this may be an incomplete picture. ‘This research explored the role of a specialist centre that responds to actual or suspected childhood sexual abuse’ Key Practitioner Messages Medico‐legal considerations may dominate health assessment of children when CSA is suspected and yet only a small proportion of cases proceed to court. A specialist centre can provide a child‐friendly environment and enhance interprofessional communication. A high proportion of children referred to statutory services following suspected CSA have a range of health and psychosocial needs that require further follow‐up. Roles that cross professional boundaries may enhance CSA services but this concept requires further research. ‘A specialist centre can provide a child‐friendly environment and enhance interprofessional communication’

  August 10, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2489   open full text
• What is Really Wrong with Serious Case Reviews?
  Michael Preston‐Shoot.
  Child Abuse Review. July 20, 2017
  Concern about the effectiveness of Serious Case Reviews for generating improvements in child protection in England led to proposals in the Wood review to replace the current system with rapid local learning inquiries and a national system of learning from significant incidents. This article challenges both the analysis in the Wood review and the proposals themselves. Whilst not uncritical of Serious Case Reviews, this article addresses five criticisms of the current review system. It explores how systemic the focus of reviews has been, and argues that findings and recommendations have become repetitive and lessons not fully appreciated because of an overly simplistic approach to change management. It suggests that there are methodologies that can effectively engage practitioners and managers in case reviews and that criticism of the review process itself can be addressed with refinements rather than wholesale change. The article concludes by questioning the assumptions upon which proposals for changing the current Serious Case Review are based. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Challenges both the analysis in the Wood review and the proposals themselves’ Key Practitioner Messages A systemic approach to Serious Case Reviews must engage legislative, social policy and societal systems as well as local policy and practice. A linear approach to learning and service development, often reflected in recommendations for training and policy refinements, is a less effective change management approach than engaging with single and multiagency contexts. Safeguarding children involves practice which is inherently social and relational, full of complexity and complicated truths; so too is the practice of reviewing cases. ‘Safeguarding children involves practice which is inherently social and relational, full of complexity and complicated truths’

  July 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2487   open full text
• Reporting Child Sexual Abuse within Religious Settings: Challenges and Future Directions.
  Craig A. Harper, Colin Perkins.
  Child Abuse Review. July 20, 2017
  The sexual abuse of children within religious settings is an issue that has gained increased popular and professional attention over the past two decades. Various reports have highlighted the scale of such abuse, along with shortcomings in reporting practices. In this article, we outline some contemporary research that sought to understand the psychology that underpins variable reporting practices. In line with this research, we set out two conceptual frameworks that have some potential to help to explain such practices: system justification theory and moral foundations theory. Further, we describe how these frameworks could be adopted in research moving forward in order to make sense of the ways in which members of religious groups respond to allegations of child sexual abuse within their institutions. We close the article by arguing that by gaining a deeper understanding of the psychology underlying reporting practices, it may be possible to communicate more effectively about child sexual abuse within religious institutions, and therefore encourage more widespread reporting of allegations before more children are harmed. ‘We outline some contemporary research that sought to understand the psychology that underpins variable reporting practices’ Key Practitioner Messages Those most likely to observe or suspect child abuse in religious settings are themselves likely to participate in such settings. The challenge for these ‘onlookers’ is to overcome the psychological dynamics that push against the recognition and reporting of child abuse in religious settings. These dynamics can be understood via established psychological theories and frameworks. Practitioners concerned with improving reporting practice in these contexts can draw on this work to inform training and intervention strategies.

  July 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2484   open full text
• Assessment of Physical Child Abuse Risk in Parents with Children Referred to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
  Natalie Van Looveren, Inge Glazemakers, Linda Van Grootel, Erik Fransen, Dirk Van West.
  Child Abuse Review. July 04, 2017
  Given the vulnerability of the child psychiatric population, this study examined whether parenting a child referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry department leads to a higher risk of physical child abuse and if that risk is associated with a specific child psychopathology. The clinical sample consisted of caregivers with a six‐to‐11‐year‐old child who consulted child and adolescent psychiatry for a psychiatric assessment. The Dutch Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI), socio‐demographic data and child psychiatric diagnosis were collected from 59 caregivers of 59 children. Ten per cent of the sample obtained an Abuse scale score indicative of a potential risk for physically maltreating their child. Compared to a non‐clinical sample, this study showed a two and a half times higher risk potential for physical child abuse in caregivers with children referred to child and adolescent psychiatry. The elevated risk was not associated with a specific child psychiatric diagnosis. The caregivers at risk were more unhappy and experienced more problems with their child, their family and with others. Results support the need for implementing a standard risk assessment for physical child abuse in a child psychiatric setting. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘This study examined whether parenting a child referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry department leads to a higher risk of physical child abuse’ Key Practitioner Messages Compared to a non‐clinical sample, there is a two and a half times higher risk potential for physical child abuse in caregivers with children with mental health problems examined with the self‐report screening questionnaire CAPI. Child psychopathology in general is associated with an elevated potential for physical child abuse; there is no correlation with a specific child psychiatric disorder. There is a need for implementing a standard risk assessment for child abuse in a clinical child psychiatric setting.

  July 04, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2470   open full text
• The Practical Sense of Protection: A Discussion Paper on the Reporting of Child Abuse in Africa and whether International Standards Actually Help Keep Children Safe.
  Karen Walker‐Simpson.
  Child Abuse Review. May 26, 2017
  International child protection standards aim to ensure that non‐governmental organisations ‘do no harm’ but the current approach to reporting abuse may actually leave children unprotected and, in some cases, expose them to greater risk. This discussion paper gives voice to concerns raised by local practitioners in Africa and places them within the context of available research in order to stimulate a debate aimed at enhancing the impact of current safeguards. Drawing on systems theory and the work of Pierre Bourdieu, the article illustrates how the current model of reporting often fails to take into account the significant disconnect between formal and informal protection mechanisms, as well as the unpredictability of individual decision‐making. Examples from research and practitioner experience illustrate how reporting procedures may provide a route to protection which is impractical and undesirable to local people, and may ultimately be unhelpful to local practitioners. The article calls for further research to inform changes to the current approach and for a review of funding requirements in order that local organisations have greater scope to engage communities in the co‐creation of procedures, thereby indigenising responses to ensure that they are realistic and genuinely respond to the specificities of children's lives. ‘The current approach to reporting abuse may actually leave children unprotected’ Key Practitioner Messages Formal reporting procedures may actually offer routes to protection that are inaccessible or unacceptable to local people. Reporting procedures should be developed with a much greater participation of local people. There is a need for investment in piloting and implementing locally led approaches to capacity building. The engagement of donors is critical in order to develop a new approach to evaluating ‘child safe’ organisations. ‘Procedures should be developed with a much greater participation of local people’

  May 26, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2477   open full text
• Changing Parents' Behaviour Using a Psycho‐Educational Film as a Preventative Measure to Reduce the Risk of Non‐accidental Head Injury.
  Denise Coster.
  Child Abuse Review. May 22, 2017
  In 2012, the NSPCC began piloting a psycho‐educational film that was designed to help all expectant and new parents cope with their babies' crying and reduce the incidence of non‐accidental head injuries in infants in the UK. It was hypothesised that having strategies to use when they were struggling with their babies' crying would be one of the key factors in helping parents cope and the film provides parents with examples of coping strategies. A quasi‐experimental evaluation design, namely, comparative surveys followed by propensity score matching, was used to assess if parents who had watched the film had utilised these strategies more than a comparison group of parents who had not. Parents also participated in focus groups to explore their experience of watching the film. The study found that parents who had watched the film in the antenatal period or postnatally after discharge from hospital were significantly more likely to report using a range coping strategies in response to their babies' crying, compared with parents who had not watched the film. Parents who had watched the film in the immediate postnatal period in the first few days after birth, before discharge from hospital, were less likely to use these strategies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A psycho‐educational film… designed to help… new parents cope with their babies' crying and reduce the incidence of non‐accidental head injuries’ Key Practitioner Messages The psycho‐educational film Coping with Crying is an effective way to give parents strategies to cope when faced with their babies' crying. The film should be shown in the antenatal or postnatal period, after parents have left hospital but before the baby is six weeks old, to have the greatest impact.

  May 22, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2469   open full text
• Bruising in Children: Exploring the Attitudes, Knowledge and Training of Child Protection Social Workers and the Interface with Paediatricians regarding Childhood Bruising.
  Lauren Matthews, Alison Kemp, Sabine Maguire.
  Child Abuse Review. April 24, 2017
  While child protection social workers (CPSWs) make decisions about which children with an injury need a medical examination, we do not know how they make these decisions. We aimed to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes and training of CPSWs in regards to assessing childhood bruising. Paediatricians' views on the bruising knowledge and training of CPSWs were also explored, as well as the relationship and communication between the two professions. ‘Aimed to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes and training of CPSWs in regards to assessing childhood bruising’ Semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 39 CPSWs and 16 paediatricians across South Wales and South West England. Interviews were recorded and transcribed until data saturation was reached. Using NVivo, two independent assessors conducted a thematic analysis, identifying themes emerging from the data with group comparisons where appropriate. CPSWs lack confidence in assessing bruising with knowledge gaps regarding bruise patterns and the lack of evidence for ageing bruises. This appears to be linked to an almost complete lack of training. An important theme was that CPSWs regard the clinician's view as paramount, yet paediatricians feel that there is an over‐expectation of what a child protection medical can conclude; this exemplified some of the communication issues between the professions. Evidence‐based training of CPSWs is needed jointly by health and social care professionals, including an understanding of the respective roles. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages CPSWs lack confidence in assessing bruising characteristics associated with physical abuse, largely due to their lack of training. CPSWs' decisions to refer for medical examinations are strongly influenced by an exploration of history and key social factors, including chastisement strategies and the home environment. Paediatricians are unaware of CPSWs' training or knowledge, and thus have unrealistic expectations of their assessment of bruising characteristics. Communication between professionals could be improved by joint professional training in this area, providing current scientific evidence relating to bruises and an explicit explanation of the role of each in this assessment. ‘Paediatricians are unaware of CPSWs' training or knowledge, and thus have unrealistic expectations of their assessment of bruising characteristics’

  April 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2474   open full text
• Israeli Paediatricians' Attitudes and Experiences of Reporting Child Maltreatment and Related Training Needs.
  Merav Jedwab, Rami Benbenishty.
  Child Abuse Review. April 20, 2017
  Healthcare professionals and particularly paediatricians have a significant responsibility to diagnose and report child maltreatment. In situations where there is a suspicion of maltreatment, the professionals have to report the case to the authorities. Even though reporting is mandatory, previous research indicates that health professionals tend to report only a few of their suspected cases. The aims of the current study are to: (1) examine paediatricians' attitudes and experiences concerning the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect cases; (2) assess paediatricians' training needs; and (3) examine the associations between paediatricians' attitudes and years of experience with suspected maltreatment handling and their training needs. A sample of 200 Israeli paediatricians, all members of the Israeli Paediatric Association, completed telephone interviews regarding their attitudes, experiences and training needs. The findings indicate high rates of reporting and a need for additional training. Paediatricians who had less experience with such cases or those with minimal training were more likely to ask for training. There was no significant correlation between the paediatricians' attitudes and years of experience. The authors suggest the development of specialised training programmes that will provide paediatricians with theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to child abuse and neglect. ‘Paediatricians have a significant responsibility to diagnose and report child maltreatment’ Key Practitioner Messages Health professionals are often required by law to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Prior studies indicate that there are various barriers to reporting. Studies indicate a need for further theoretical and practical training and education of health professionals. ‘There are various barriers to reporting’

  April 20, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2468   open full text
• From Innovation to Transcreation: Adapting Digital Technologies to Address Violence against Children.
  Carmen Cronin, Suruchi Sood, Dawn Thomas.
  Child Abuse Review. March 17, 2017
  With seven billion mobile phone subscriptions and a third of the world's population going online, digital information and communication technologies present untapped platforms for communication, learning and empowerment. Newer technologies such as mobile phones, the internet and computers have the potential to contribute significantly to the prevention of violence against children. Yet, efforts to date have focused primarily on the risks associated with them. It is important to consider how digital technologies can enhance social and behaviour change interventions to prevent and respond to violence against children. We conducted a systematic review of social and behaviour change interventions addressing violence against children. We searched five databases for peer‐reviewed and grey literature published between 2000 and 2015, which yielded 18 manuscripts relevant to the use of computers, the internet or mobile phones. Digital technologies were typically combined with other communication channels in order to reach children, parents, teachers or service providers. We are unable to draw any conclusions on the direct effectiveness of digital technologies, indicating the need for more rigorous evaluations to assess their added value. Future work should explore how digital technologies can be integrated into programmes disseminating information, raising awareness, helping individuals report violence and mobilising communities to action. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Successful violence prevention programmes are not taking full advantage of digital technologies. Adapting programmes and messages for computer, internet or mobile phone delivery would broaden their scope and reach. The interactive nature of digital technologies makes them ideally suited to involve and empower individuals and entire communities for change. The effectiveness of digital technologies in preventing violence against children is still unclear. More investment in research and evaluation is needed. ‘A systematic review of social and behaviour change interventions addressing violence against children’ ‘The effectiveness of digital technologies in preventing violence against children is still unclear’

  March 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2447   open full text
• Peer Exploitation: Findings from a Romanian National Representative Sample of Children Living in Long‐Term Residential Centres.
  Adrian V. Rus, Ecaterina Stativa, Max E. Butterfield, Jacquelyn S. Pennings, Sheri R. Parris, Gabriel Burcea, Reggies Wenyika.
  Child Abuse Review. March 02, 2017
  This study emphasises different facets of peer exploitation awareness and experience identified in closed‐type institutions, including a couple of abusive behaviours that have not been previously identified in long‐term residential centres. ‘Emphasises different facets of peer exploitation awareness and experience identified in closed‐type institutions’ A national representative sample of 1391 children (743 boys and 648 girls) seven to 20 years of age living in 44 long‐term residential centres was analysed to identify the prevalence of awareness and experience of peer exploitation. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of peer exploitation experience. In total, 40.1 per cent of children reported that they were aware of peer exploitation, and 28.5 per cent that they were victims of such exploitation. Additionally, it was shown that (a) children who reported past abuse by a staff member were more likely to be victims of exploitation than those who did not; and (b) an increased number of children in a dorm room predicted a decrease in the odds of peer exploitation experience. This study provides a picture of the developmental environment for children in Romanian orphanages in the late 1990s, prior to subsequent child protection reforms, and underlines the prevalence of exploitation and the risk factors for peer exploitation in closed institutional systems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Four in ten (40%) institutionalised children reported that they were aware of at least one form of peer exploitation, and nearly three in ten (28.5%) reported experiencing at least some of these types of exploitation practices by their older peers. This study highlights the importance of understanding the complex milieu that comprised the daily lives of institutionalised children in Romania, including an environment that consisted of physical abuse by institution staff and awareness and experiences of exploitation.

  March 02, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2464   open full text
• A Qualitative Exploration of Coordinators' and Carers' Perceptions of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Programme in Residential Care.
  Rachael Cox, Helen Skouteris, Matthew Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, Marita McCabe, Brittany Watson, Julia Fredrickson, Amanda D. Jones, Stella Omerogullari, Kelly Stanton, Leah Bromfield, Louise L. Hardy.
  Child Abuse Review. February 23, 2017
  Internationally, there are few studies that have trialled structured intervention programmes designed to prevent excessive weight gain or combat existing overweight/obesity for young people living in out‐of‐home care. The Healthy, Eating Active Living (HEAL) programme was designed to address this limitation and is, to our knowledge, the first programme that simultaneously encourages young people and their carers to engage in a healthy lifestyle. This is the second of two papers presenting the HEAL evaluation. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to explore the experiences and opinions of key stakeholders regarding the intervention programme; and second, to understand the key enablers and barriers to successful implementation of the HEAL programme in residential care. Seventeen carers and ten programme coordinators participated in semi‐structured interviews. Findings demonstrated that HEAL was considered a valuable adjunct to the residential care programme, and was successful in raising awareness about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Positive behaviour change among the young people and carers' dietary, physical activity and sleeping habits, and the development of independent living skills were described. Barriers to implementation included leadership support and professional development of carers. Recommendations are made to improve implementation, particularly around the importance of increasing stakeholder ‘buy‐in’. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages There is a need to address the lifestyle habits of young people in residential care. Raising awareness is an important first step, but must be supplemented with supportive environmental change to enable lasting, healthy outcomes. Carer capabilities need to be strengthened so that they can effectively manage challenging behaviours, yet still address the lifestyle habits of young people in care. Stakeholder ‘buy‐in’ and a programme champion are critical to implementation of healthy lifestyle programmes in residential care. ‘The first programme that simultaneously encourages young people and their carers to engage in a healthy lifestyle’

  February 23, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2453   open full text
• Contextual Risk, Individualised Responses: An Assessment of Safeguarding Responses to Nine Cases of Peer‐on‐Peer Abuse.
  Carlene Firmin.
  Child Abuse Review. February 21, 2017
  Practitioners, academics and policymakers are increasingly questioning the sufficiency of safeguarding practice in protecting young people from peer‐on‐peer abuse in England. Using the findings from an in‐depth analysis of nine cases where young people either raped or murdered their peers, this article explores approaches to assessing and intervening with those affected by peer‐on‐peer abuse. Building upon international calls for a contextual account of abuse between young people, the article identifies a professional struggle to address the interplay between young people's homes and the public and social spaces in which peer‐on‐peer abuse often manifests. Findings from this study are used to illuminate wider research into peer‐on‐peer abuse which has indicated a professional inability to: assess young people's behaviours with reference to the contexts in which they occur; change the environmental factors that influence abusive behaviours; and recognise the vulnerability of those who abuse their peers. The article concludes that to effectively respond to peer‐on‐peer abuse, multiagency partnerships are required which can identify, assess and intervene with the harmful norms in peer groups, schools and public spaces that can facilitate peer‐on‐peer abuse and undermine parental capacity to keep young people safe – thereby adopting a more contextual approach to safeguarding adolescents. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Explores approaches to assessing and intervening with those affected by peer‐on‐peer abuse’ Key Practitioner Messages Social contexts such as peer groups, schools and neighbourhoods can make young people vulnerable to peer‐on‐peer abuse. Assessing and intervening with young people and families affected by peer‐on‐peer abuse will not impact upon the social contexts associated with the phenomenon. Multiagency partnerships need to intervene with social contexts that, albeit beyond the traditional remit of child protection, facilitate peer‐on‐peer abuse and undermine the capacity of parents to keep young people safe. ‘Social contexts such as peer groups, schools and neighbourhoods can make young people vulnerable to peer‐on‐peer abuse’

  February 21, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2449   open full text
• Can I Have A Word? Social Worker Interaction and Sense‐Making.
  Duncan Helm.
  Child Abuse Review. January 24, 2017
  This paper explores the ways in which practitioners in children and family social work teams make sense of information in their work. By examining observations and recordings from an ethnographic study, the paper focuses on how informal discussions within the office space inform and affect social workers' analysis (or sense‐making). Three elements of sense‐making activity are illustrated with vignettes and extracts from field notes: methodical doubt, proximity/reflexivity and security. These three distinct features of practice are then discussed and the significance of the findings considered in relation to contemporary practice. The paper highlights the importance of informal interaction and discussion in the social work office as part of the process of social workers' sense‐making. It indicates that feelings of trust and security may be linked to intellectual curiosity and an ability to work with uncertainty in sense‐making. Ethnography can provide a means of illuminating this complex and inaccessible element of practice and the findings add to the body of knowledge. Practitioners and organisations may wish to reflect on the findings and consider how they contribute to, and are affected by, such cultures and practices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Explores the ways in which practitioners in children and family social work teams make sense of information in their work’ Key Practitioner Messages Curiosity and methodical doubt are central elements in effective social work sense‐making. Social workers can use informal discussions effectively to support open‐minded and rigorous sense‐making. Choice and proximity of colleagues can promote shared sense‐making. The nature of office spaces may influence the sense of self‐security that underpins effective sense‐making. ‘Choice and proximity of colleagues can promote shared sense‐making’

  January 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2463   open full text
• A Comparison of Accidental and Abusive Ano‐Genital Injury in Children.
  Neil McIntosh, Jacqueline Y. Q. Mok.
  Child Abuse Review. January 24, 2017
  Three two‐year datasets of ano‐genital signs were collected for comparisons of the injuries seen with accidental trauma and child sexual abuse in children less than 16 years of age: (1) Those attending a regional children's emergency department (South East Scotland) (n = 146) for injuries to the ano‐genital area; (2) all admissions to hospital in Scotland for straddle injury (n = 56); and (3) all children attending a regional child abuse and neglect service for assessment of suspected child sexual abuse (n = 98). Accidental injury types were combined for comparison with abusive injuries. ‘Three two‐year datasets of ano‐genital signs were collected for comparisons of the injuries seen with accidental trauma and child sexual abuse’ In South East Scotland, 1:1785 children under 16 years will attend an emergency department and 1:9305 will be admitted annually for an ano‐genital injury. In boys, penile and scrotal injuries were only seen following accidents; anal injury was more frequent following suspected abuse (36%) than after accidents (5%). In girls, injuries to the perineum and labia were more frequent after accidental trauma (32% and 74%, respectively, compared to 2% and 11% following suspected abuse), while hymenal injuries were more frequent after sexual abuse (19% compared to 1% in the accident group). Acute injuries to the posterior fourchette were common from both causes, (17% accidents and 10% abuse) and vaginal injuries were uncommon in both groups (5% accidents and 2% abuse). The sites of injury may assist in the differential diagnosis of the cause in ano‐genital injuries. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Key Practitioner Messages Hymenal or vaginal injury is very unlikely in accidental ano‐genital injury unless there are indications of significant impalement. Perineal and labial injuries are very common in accidental ano‐genital injury. Injuries to the posterior fourchette poorly differentiate abusive and accidental ano‐genital injuries. In boys, penile and scrotal injuries are more common following accidental injury, whereas anal/perianal injuries are more likely abusive.

  January 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2452   open full text
• The Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Study: Outcomes, Lessons Learnt and Future Recommendations.
  Rachael Cox, Helen Skouteris, Matthew Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, Brittany Watson, Amanda D. Jones, Stella Omerogullari, Kelly Stanton, Leah Bromfield, Louise L. Hardy.
  Child Abuse Review. January 24, 2017
  Internationally, there are few interventions that promote healthy lifestyles in the out‐of‐home care (OOHC) sector. The aim of this quantitative study was to measure the efficacy of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) programme for young people who live in residential OOHC and their carers. Seventy young people and 177 carers were recruited between August 2012 and October 2014 from 48 residential care units across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, Australia. The HEAL programme included educational sessions for young people, and professional development for carers to foster healthy eating and physical activity. Young people and carers completed questionnaires measuring behavioural, psychosocial and motivational outcomes. Objective measures of height and weight were collected for young people and self‐reported by carers. The findings revealed no evidence for the efficacy of the HEAL intervention for either young people or carers. The most likely explanation for the null result was difficulties associated with: (1) collecting quantitative data for evaluative purposes in vulnerable populations (particularly the impact of attrition on statistical power); and (2) implementing interventions in complex environments. We conclude with a summary of lessons learnt and recommendations for future research in this unique setting. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Quantitative study… to measure the efficacy of the HEAL programme for young people who live in residential OOHC and their carers’ Key Practitioner Messages There are a number of challenges inherent to collecting longitudinal data and/or employing a randomised trial design in this setting. Researchers working in this area need to acknowledge the critical need for this type of research but also consider alternative approaches to data collection. It is integral that organisational practices and/or policies are in place so that a HEAL philosophy is embedded in the residential OOHC culture; in other words, HEAL becomes a part of each organisation's values, goals and shared expectations.

  January 24, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2442   open full text
• Disclosure of Child Physical Abuse and Perceived Adult Support among Swedish Adolescents.
  Carolina Jernbro, Gabriel Otterman, Steven Lucas, Ylva Tindberg, Staffan Janson.
  Child Abuse Review. January 17, 2017
  Compared to child sexual abuse (CSA), little is known about disclosure of child physical abuse (CPA). Enhancing the understanding of the characteristics of disclosure is necessary for improved child protection. The aim of the present study was to examine disclosure of CPA and perceived adult support using both quantitative and qualitative data from a survey of child maltreatment carried out among a nationally representative sample of Swedish adolescents (n = 3202). We found that adolescents who experienced any child maltreatment (CPA, emotional abuse, neglect and witnessing intimate partner violence) were less likely to be able to identify an adult confidant compared to those without a history of abuse. Among the adolescents who reported severe CPA, 52 per cent had disclosed the abuse and the most frequent recipient of disclosure was a peer or sibling. Eleven per cent had disclosed to professionals within school, child protective services or law enforcement. Lack of trust in adults appeared to be the most prominent reason for non‐disclosure. Several adolescents who had disclosed abuse to professionals perceived an ineffective response, primarily because of professionals' lack of a child perspective. Some respondents experienced supportive interventions, specifically from school social workers. These patterns showed close similarity to disclosure of CSA. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Enhancing the understanding of the characteristics of disclosure is necessary for improved child protection’ Key Practitioner Messages Many adolescents have experienced CPA and few seek the attention of professionals. Adolescents who have experienced any child maltreatment tend to lack trust in adults. Peers have a key role to play in facilitating early disclosure of abuse. Professionals need to address the perception among adolescents who have experienced child maltreatment that child protection systems are not child centred. Hands‐on, community‐based interventions that engage peers, parents and professionals are needed in order to address the under-reporting of CPA.

  January 17, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2443   open full text
• The Role of Technology in Managing People Who Have Been Convicted of Internet Child Abuse Image Offences.
  Claire M. Lilley.
  Child Abuse Review. January 05, 2017
  The last 20 years have seen an explosion in the availability, ownership and use of devices used to access the internet. There has been a simultaneous increase in the number of people viewing child abuse images. The ease of access to this material online has removed a key inhibitor for offenders. Technology has facilitated the distribution of child abuse images, but is also used to prevent and identify offending, as well as to manage offenders. There is a range of technological tools currently used in England and Wales to manage those offenders who have been convicted of accessing child abuse images and who are living in the community. Some are specific to the computer as the situation of the crime. This article analyses the evidence base for each. The article concludes that each tool has features which might contribute to the management of internet child sex offenders, but that none have yet been proven or disproven to be effective. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The ease of access to this material online has removed a key inhibitor for offenders’ Key Practitioner Messages Technology to help manage the risk posed by internet child sex offenders is developing and may offer promise. None of these technological tools have been proven or disproven to be effective management tools for internet child sex offenders. Offender managers in the police and probation services should be mindful of this and not be overly reliant on them. Robust evaluations of these types of technology for these offenders are needed. ‘Technology to help manage the risk posed by internet child sex offenders is developing and may offer promise’

  January 05, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2444   open full text
• The Maintenance of Traditional and Technological Forms of Post‐Adoption Contact.
  Sarah Greenhow, Simon Hackett, Christine Jones, Elizabeth Meins.
  Child Abuse Review. January 05, 2017
  Openness in adoption practice now often includes post‐adoption contact with the adopted child's birth family. Traditionally, indirect and direct contact has been supported and mediated by professionals following the adoption of children from the public care system in the UK. However, more recently, the widespread growth in the use of digital technologies has made it possible for both adopted children and birth relatives to search and contact one another through the use of sites such as Facebook without professional support. This practice has been called ‘virtual contact’. Using data from interviews with 11 adoptive parents and six adopted young people, who had experienced virtual contact, it is suggested that virtual contact works well when it is successfully integrated with the maintenance of more traditional methods of contact but can present risks when introduced without prior contact. Implications for practice are discussed in terms of how virtual contact can become a positive addition to adoption practices by utilising integrated methods of openness through which adoptive relationships can be maintained. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Use of digital technologies has made it possible for both adopted children and birth relatives to search and contact one another… without professional support’ Key Practitioner Messages Technology, used to supplement existing relationships with birth relatives, can be successful within a climate of integrated openness where traditional and technological methods of contact are used. Prior ‘traditional’ contact can assist in the development of relationships and boundaries before moving to virtual contact. ‘Out of the blue’ virtual contact, without prior connections, can be challenging and present risks. Integrated openness may not work well for all individuals and it is necessary to assess the appropriateness and value of all relationships irrespective of the methods of contact.

  January 05, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2446   open full text
• New Challenges in Family Support: The Use of Digital Technology in Supporting Parents.
  Lauren Lamberton, John Devaney, Lisa Bunting.
  Child Abuse Review. January 05, 2017
  This study explores how digital technology is being used to provide innovative family support services (FSS), and the challenges and opportunities that this holds for practitioners in delivering the service. Online services hold the possibility of accessing increasing numbers of parents, and providing support that fits with their own needs and availability. Using the parenting website Netmums as a case study, this article explores how staff who engage with parents online understand their role in both supporting parents and safeguarding children. This exploratory study involved in‐depth semi‐structured online interviews with Netmums′ staff (n = 13). A thematic analysis identified a number of key themes, the most frequently occurring being in relation to: identifying and responding to child safeguarding concerns; and the false impression by parents of anonymity in the online environment. This exploratory research raises more questions than it can answer, especially in relation to managing child safeguarding concerns while maintaining a ‘mum friendly’ approach. Online interventions show promise but there is a need for further evaluation of these forms of intervention. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Explores how digital technology is being used to provide innovative family support services’ Key Practitioner Messages Online FSS provide an alternative, cost‐effective service that can be accessed from anywhere, increasing opportunities for parents to become agents in their own support. Online FSS meet a much broader and largely unfiltered range of needs compared to offline services but they raise unique challenges in identifying and managing child safeguarding concerns. In‐depth research into innovative online FSS adds to the wider discussion on the future development of family support. ‘Online FSS provide an alternative, cost‐effective service that can be accessed from anywhere’

  January 05, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2451   open full text
• The Buffering Effect of Parental Mediation in the Relationship between Adolescents' Cyberbullying Victimisation and Adjustment Difficulties.
  Michelle F. Wright.
  Child Abuse Review. January 05, 2017
  As cyberbullying research advances, many researchers have focused on identifying factors that might reduce the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimisation. One prominent factor receiving attention is the role of parental mediation in digital technology use, and how such mediation reduces the risk of cybervictimisation. Parents utilise different mediation strategies (i.e. restrictive, co‐viewing, instructive), which could potentially contribute to differential patterns in the relationships between cyberbullying victimisation and the associated psychosocial adjustment difficulties (i.e. depression, loneliness, anxiety). The present study investigated this proposal among 568 US (53% female) adolescents in the eighth grade (age ranging from 13–15 years), utilising a longitudinal design. Cyberbullying victimisation was related positively to restrictive mediation and Time 2 depression, anxiety and loneliness, while such associations were negative for co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation. High levels of co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation made the relationship of cyberbullying victimisation to Time 2 (1 year later) depression more negative. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the supportive role of parents in adolescents' digital technology use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Identifying factors that might reduce the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimisation’ Key Practitioner Messages Cyberbullying victimisation is linked positively to depression, anxiety and loneliness as well as restrictive mediation. Cyberbullying victimisation is related negatively to co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation. Co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation buffer against adolescents' depression and anxiety resulting from cyberbullying victimisation. ‘Co‐viewing mediation and instructive mediation buffer against adolescents' depression and anxiety resulting from cyberbullying victimisation’

  January 05, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2448   open full text
• Technology‐Related Sexual Solicitation of Adolescents: A Review of Prevention Efforts.
  Sandy K. Wurtele, Maureen C. Kenny.
  Child Abuse Review. January 05, 2017
  Information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly the internet and internet‐enabled devices, have rapidly become integral to adolescents' lives in high‐income countries. ICTs are associated with many benefits, but there are risks associated with digital technology. This paper examines one such risk: When adults use ICTs, including social networking sites, mobile phones and smartphones, to sexually solicit adolescents. We describe youth who appear to be more vulnerable to technology‐related sexual solicitations from adults and examine the developmental factors that place adolescents at particular risk. Perpetrators who use technology to electronically groom youth are described, including adults working in youth‐serving organisations. Current digital media safety lessons and messages are described, and suggestions for additional ways to safeguard youth from technology‐related sexual solicitations are offered. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Examines… when adults use ICTs… to sexually solicit adolescents’ Key Practitioner Messages Although known cases of technology‐related sexual solicitation are few in number, public concern about ‘online predators’ has amplified and considerable resources have been put toward legal responses and prevention resources. Cyber‐safety resources lack evidence of effectiveness and many contain inaccurate warnings that do not address the real dynamics of this type of sexual crime against youth. Few safety messages inform youth and parents about grooming using mobile phones, and fewer address the dangers of youth having romantic relationships with adults. ‘Cyber‐safety resources… do not address the real dynamics of this type of sexual crime against youth’

  January 05, 2017   doi: 10.1002/car.2445   open full text
• Methodological Moderators in Prevalence Studies on Child Maltreatment: Review of a Series of Meta‐Analyses.
  Mariëlle J. L. Prevoo, Marije Stoltenborgh, Lenneke R. A. Alink, Marian J. Bakermans‐Kranenburg, Marinus H. IJzendoorn.
  Child Abuse Review. September 27, 2016
  Insight into the effects of methodological characteristics on reported child maltreatment prevalence rates can facilitate the interpretation of results of previous studies and improve the design of future prevalence studies. We reviewed findings from four previous meta‐analyses (Stoltenborgh et al., , , , ) on methodological moderators in self‐report prevalence studies on child sexual (k = 323, N = 410,951), physical (k = 157, N = 250,167) and emotional abuse (k = 42, N = 76,586), and physical (k = 13, N = 59 406) and emotional neglect (k = 16, N = 59 655). We provide an overview of the moderating effects of participant characteristics (e.g. age), the sampling method and measurement characteristics (e.g. validation). No characteristic was without influence, but specific characteristics were significant moderators for certain types of abuse and not for others. This implies that the wide range of lifetime prevalence rates reported in the literature can partly be explained by methodological differences. Our best‐evidence synthesis (sexual abuse: k = 4, N = 52 749; physical abuse: k = 2, N = 40 341; emotional abuse: k = 6, N = 4029; emotional neglect: k = 3, N = 3226) suggests that depending on the methodological characteristic under consideration a certain prevalence rate can be an over‐ or underestimation of the actual prevalence. Taking methodological characteristics' influence into consideration and choosing a sound methodology can help to get as close as possible to the actual child maltreatment prevalence. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘We reviewed findings from four previous meta‐analyses on methodological moderators in self‐report prevalence studies on child sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and physical and emotional neglect’ Key Practitioner Messages The methodological quality of studies affects the reported lifetime prevalence rates of child maltreatment, but the direction of this effect depends on the indicator of methodological quality. A higher response rate is related to a higher reported lifetime prevalence of child maltreatment for all maltreatment types except physical abuse. A sound study design and methodology can help researchers to get as close as possible to the actual lifetime prevalence of child maltreatment.

  September 27, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2433   open full text
• Psychosocial Adaptation of Young Victims of Physical Neglect.
  Juan Manuel Moreno‐Manso, Mª Elena García‐Baamonde, Eloísa Guerrero‐Barona, Macarena Blázquez‐Alonso, José Manuel Pozueco‐Romero, Mª José Godoy‐Merino.
  Child Abuse Review. July 20, 2016
  This research analyses the level of psychosocial adaptation of young victims of physical neglect who are under care orders for their protection and in residential care centres. The aim was to determine the relationships between the different levels of competence and/or functioning in the various areas of adaptation. Young people between the ages of 12 and 14 years participated in the study. The instruments used to evaluate their psychosocial adaptation were the Inventory of Behavioural Adaptation and the Multifactorial Self‐evaluation Child Adaptation Test. The results indicate that young people suffering from physical neglect have difficulties in various areas of psychosocial adaptation. There is evidence of greater problems in the personal, social and school context than in the family context. The study stresses the importance of programmes applied in residential care centres and individualised educational treatments for the psychosocial adjustment of these young people, while also taking into account the personal, social and family circumstances that surround them. ‘Analyses the level of psychosocial adaptation of young victims of physical neglect who are under care orders’ Key Practitioner Messages This research analyses psychosocial adaptation of young victims of physical neglect under care orders or institutionalised in residential care centres. The sample was made up of young people institutionalised in residential care centres. Results point to difficulties in various areas of psychosocial adaptation. There is evidence of greater problems in the personal, social and school context than in the family context. The study stresses the importance of the programmes applied in the residential care centres.

  July 20, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2428   open full text
• Working with Vulnerable Pregnant Women Who Are At Risk of Having their Babies Removed by the Child Protection Agency in New South Wales, Australia.
  Louise Everitt, Caroline Homer, Jennifer Fenwick.
  Child Abuse Review. July 18, 2016
  In this paper, midwives' experiences of working with vulnerable pregnant women who were subject to child protection orders in New South Wales, Australia, and faced the possible removal of their baby at birth, known as ‘assumption of care’, are described. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the experiences of ten midwives who had been involved in some 91 episodes of assumption of care. In‐depth interviews were undertaken and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data‐set. Four themes were elicited that demonstrated how midwives worked with vulnerable women and Community Services during the antenatal period. These were labelled: Reporting – Taking the first step; The woman‐midwife relationship remains a priority; Jumping through the ‘community service’ hoops; and Crunch time: The decision… sometimes justifiable sometimes not? Even though the three‐way relationship between the woman‐midwife‐Community Services could be confrontational, it was essential that midwives worked in a positive way with Community Services to improve outcomes for the woman and her unborn child. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Experiences of ten midwives who had been involved in some 91 episodes of assumption of care’ Key Practitioner Messages Working effectively with Community Services is essential. Sharing information and developing multidisciplinary approaches and pathways will produce the best outcomes for vulnerable newborns and their mothers whilst at the same time supporting health and community workers to work in a cohesive manner to provide quality care. Midwives need to be supported to stay ‘woman centred’. Keeping the woman engaged in the system will help ensure the health of the foetus (baby). Further research is needed to explore the perspectives of all those involved in assumption of care. ‘Midwives need to be supported to stay ‘woman centred’’

  July 18, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2432   open full text
• Out‐of‐Home Care versus In‐home Care for Children Who Have Been Maltreated: A Systematic Review of Health and Wellbeing Outcomes.
  Miriam J. Maclean, Scott Sims, Melissa O'Donnell, Ruth Gilbert.
  Child Abuse Review. July 18, 2016
  We systematically reviewed quantitative research that compared developmental health or wellbeing outcomes for maltreated children placed in out‐of‐home care (OoHC) with those cared for in their home. Randomised, quasi‐randomised and cohort studies that met detailed criteria were eligible. Study results and bias risk information were extracted by two authors using predefined data fields. Narrative synthesis was used because of the diversity of studies. No randomised studies were found. Thirty‐one papers from 11 cohort studies were included. The studies covered 15 developmental health or wellbeing outcomes (63 distinct comparisons). Of 40 significance‐tested comparisons, 29 were consistent with no evidence of benefit or harm of OoHC, seven were consistent with harm and four with benefit. Three studies with low risk of selection bias showed no evidence of significant differences, or found worse outcomes for OoHC. Overall, evidence from cohort studies shows limited evidence of improved outcomes, and some evidence of worse outcomes associated with OoHC. These results may be explained by selection bias favouring placement of children likely to have worse outcomes in OoHC rather than in‐home care. Further research, including randomised controlled trials and carefully matched data‐sets, is needed to determine the effectiveness of OoHC. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Studies covered 15 developmental health or wellbeing outcomes’ Key Practitioner Messages Most research has high bias risk, as children who enter OoHC have more disadvantaged backgrounds and higher risk for poor outcomes than other maltreated children. Even allowing for significant bias risk in the studies, there are mixed results for children entering OoHC, and the three highest-quality studies showed no difference or worse outcomes for OoHC.

  July 18, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2437   open full text
• Children and Violence Interactions: Exploring Intimate Partner Violence and Children's Experiences of Responses.
  Nina Åkerlund, Linn J. Sandberg.
  Child Abuse Review. July 18, 2016
  While there is a growing research interest in the experiences of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV), the role of children's social networks, other than the role of mothers, has been little discussed. The aim of this article is to study older children's stories of how they, and the adults in their social networks, respond to IPV. More specifically, we are interested in how older children describe both their own responses when exposed to IPV and responses from adults. This article focuses on the narratives of older children since they are often in a liminal position between adulthood and childhood, which may be consequential for their and others' responses to violence. The article shows that responses are interactional and that children's responses affect how adults respond. Our analysis suggests that adults are positioning children as either adult‐like and competent or vulnerable, and this impacts significantly on the support that they receive. In our data, there are, however, also examples of middle ways where children are positioned as vulnerable yet capable. This seems linked to children's abilities to communicate their own needs. Although the study sample is limited, our results point to the significance of gender for how children respond. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Focuses on the narratives of older children since they are often in a liminal position between adulthood and childhood’ Key Practitioner Messages Social network responses can be crucial to the disclosure, ending and continuation of IPV. Awareness of exposure to IPV does not automatically result in responses that are beneficial to children's wellbeing. Professionals need to be better at communicating with the social network. Children's responses are contextual and protection and support should be designed according to children's individually varying needs. ‘Awareness of exposure to IPV does not automatically result in responses that are beneficial to children's wellbeing’

  July 18, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2438   open full text
• Wellbeing of Professionals Working with Suspected Victims of Child Sexual Exploitation.
  Elizabeth C. Ahern, Leslie H. Sadler, Michael E. Lamb, Gianna M. Gariglietti.
  Child Abuse Review. May 24, 2016
  The present study examined police officers' and social workers' experiences of investigating child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases and the impact on their welfare. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with frontline social workers and law enforcement professionals. Practitioners reported that they seldom reacted emotionally during forensic interviews because they were attending entirely to the victims while gathering evidence. Although some practitioners employed post‐interview stress management techniques, anticipatory coping strategies were seldom adopted, and most coping methods were employed outside of the workplace (e.g., spending time with family). Practitioners focused on the needs of young people, almost to the exclusion of their own. Many did not consider the negative emotional impact of CSE cases on their welfare. These findings have important implications for practitioner wellbeing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Examined police officers' and social workers' experiences of investigating child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases and the impact on their welfare’ Key Practitioner Messages Practitioners rarely considered the emotional effects that CSE cases might have on them or ways to psychologically prepare themselves before meeting with young people. Practitioners reported a variety of ways they managed the impact of working with CSE which most often occurred outside of the workplace; a number of these ways could be actively promoted and developed within police forces and local authorities, especially preventative coping strategies. ‘Practitioners reported a variety of ways they managed the impact of working with CSE’

  May 24, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2439   open full text
• The Landscape of UK Child Protection Research 2010 to 2014: A Mapping Review of Substantive Topics, Maltreatment Types and Research Designs.
  Christine Jones, Julie Taylor, Kirsteen MacKay, Francesca Soliman, Estelle Clayton, Andressa Maria Gadda, Anna Anderson, Derek Jones.
  Child Abuse Review. February 03, 2016
  Child protection continues to be a pressing social problem. Robust and relevant research is essential in order to ensure that the scale and nature of child maltreatment are understood and that preventative and protective measures are effective. This paper reports selected results from a mapping review of research conducted in the UK and published between January 2010 and December 2014. The purpose of the review was twofold: to develop a typology of child protection research; and to use this typology to describe the features and patterns of empirical research undertaken recently in the UK in order to inform a future research agenda. The paper reports the maltreatment types, substantive topics and research designs used within empirical research published in academic journals. It identifies a number of challenges for the field including the need for conceptual clarity regarding types of abuse, greater methodological diversity and a shift of focus from response to prevention of child maltreatment. The importance of a national strategic agenda is also emphasised. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Robust and relevant research is essential in order to ensure that the scale and nature of child maltreatment are understood’ Key Practitioner Messages A substantial proportion of empirical research focuses on child maltreatment generally and less is known about some specific types of maltreatment such as exposure to domestic abuse and child trafficking. More robust evidence is particularly needed concerning the effectiveness of interventions and choice of preventative approaches. Research‐minded practitioners have an important contribution to make to the development of a practice‐relevant research agenda. ‘Research‐minded practitioners have an important contribution to make’

  February 03, 2016   doi: 10.1002/car.2429   open full text
• An Adolescent Parents' Programme to Reduce Child Abuse.
  Margaret T. McHugh, Alexandra Kvernland, Vincent J. Palusci.
  Child Abuse Review. December 30, 2015
  Teen pregnancy is a significant social, political and economic issue, and potential adverse outcomes for children of adolescent mothers include a higher incidence of low birth weight, prematurity, developmental delays, cognitive and behavioural deficits, and school failure. These children are also at a greater risk for abuse and neglect as well as intentional injury by their adolescent mothers. We evaluated child abuse reporting and the health outcomes for infants and their adolescent parents in Bellevue Hospital's Adolescent Parenting Program to assess whether better outcomes were achieved for mother‐baby dyads in our adolescent mothers' groups compared to the general clinic and New York City populations. We found that those who completed a full year of the programme during 2011–12 had some significantly improved measures compared to those who did not, with fewer child abuse reports and more well‐baby visits, more immunisations and earlier referral for developmental delays. There were additional health benefits for the adolescent mothers noted as well. We concluded that a specialised programme for high‐risk adolescent mothers and their babies offers a number of benefits compared to standard separate care, but more research and funding are needed to tailor programmes to the unique needs of adolescent mothers in diverse social and educational contexts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Adolescent parents have increased risk for several adverse child health and development outcomes for their children, including child abuse and neglect. An adolescent parenting programme focusing on simultaneous medical care for teen parents and their infants with multidisciplinary staff can provide important support and guidance to help teen parents improve their parenting skills. Additional benefits of simultaneous care include improved child immunisation rates and developmental outcomes and decreased reported abuse and neglect. ‘Adolescent parents have increased risk for several adverse child health and development outcomes for their children’ ‘We evaluated child abuse reporting and the health outcomes for infants and their adolescent parents in Bellevue Hospital's Adolescent Parenting Program’

  December 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2426   open full text
• Challenging the Notion of Failure to Protect: Exploring the Protective Strategies of Abused Mothers Living in Urban and Remote Communities and Implications for Practice.
  Kendra L. Nixon, Colin Bonnycastle, Stephanie Ens.
  Child Abuse Review. December 30, 2015
  Many children are exposed to intimate partner violence against their mothers. Countering assumptions that abused women ‘fail to protect’ their children, this paper presents the results of a Canadian qualitative study that examined the protective strategies of 18 abused mothers, most of whom are Aboriginal. Half of these women were living in a large city and half were living in remote, northern communities. Despite geographic location, abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to not only protect their children from immediate physical violence but also to mitigate the potential emotional harms of exposure to violence and to prevent their children from continuing the violence in their own future relationships. Relying on informal supports, such as family, was especially important for mothers living in northern, remote communities, and is not surprising given the few services available. Professionals must be aware of the range of strategies and approaches that mothers use, including those that do not involve formal systems (i.e. the police or shelter). Focusing on their strengths and protective capacities will help to empower abused mothers and limit unnecessary, inappropriate, or intrusive interventions. Recognising mothers' capacities will also lead to better outcomes for children, who fare best when their mothers are appropriately supported. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to protect their children from immediate physical violence’ Key Practitioner Messages Abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to protect their children from the harms of exposure to violence, and these may differ for mothers living in remote, isolated communities. Mothers' protective acts extend beyond calling the police or going to shelter, and include informal supports. Professionals must inquire about mothers' protective strategies and incorporate into case plans. Professionals must support abused mothers so that they can help strengthen the mother‐child relationship and help children recover from violence. ‘Professionals must inquire about mothers' protective strategies and incorporate into case plans.’

  December 30, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2417   open full text
• Participatory Action Research with Filipino Street Youth: Their Voice and Action against Corporal Punishment.
  Daniel Wartenweiler, Roseann Mansukhani.
  Child Abuse Review. November 24, 2015
  The study investigated perspectives on corporal punishment of adolescents from street families in Manila, with the aim of creating actions that address the issue in that specific context. Participatory action research (PAR) was employed as a research design, collecting qualitative data with 11 youth, selected through purposive sampling. Results showed that harsh corporal punishment is highly normative in that context, most frequently physically and emotionally abusive, and often co‐occurs with verbal abuse. It has negative effects on the youth's feelings towards, and their relationship with, their parents, and it leads to defiant behaviours. The youth planned an action project to address the issue of corporal punishment in their families: producing a video clip and holding a parents' meeting. Through the PAR process, the youth were empowered to voice their feelings and perceptions and to take action to address the issue of corporal punishment in their families and in the wider community. The study demonstrated how PAR can serve as a pathway towards empowerment for a very vulnerable group. ‘Investigated perspectives on corporal punishment of adolescents from street families in Manila’ Key Practitioner Messages: Little is known about children's perceptions related to corporal punishment, and children remain powerless to address this issue which most often happens in the intimate family context. Harsh corporal punishment is a highly normative experience for street youth in Manila, and is often physically and verbally abusive. The PAR process served as a pathway to empowerment for the youth, enabling them to address the issue of corporal punishment in their context. ‘Little is known about children's perceptions related to corporal punishment’

  November 24, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2421   open full text
• On the Road to Resilience: The Help‐Seeking Experiences of Irish Emigrant Survivors of Institutional Abuse.
  Jeff Moore, Christine Thornton, Mary Hughes.
  Child Abuse Review. November 16, 2015
  Understanding how survivors of complex trauma navigate towards resources can inform the design of interventions and health promotion strategies. However, there are little data on the resilience and help‐seeking experiences of this group or others who have experienced institutional abuse in childhood. This empirical study sets out to illustrate the help‐seeking experiences of Irish emigrant survivors of institutional childhood abuse (ICA). Twenty‐two survivors of ICA were purposefully recruited from community organisations in the UK and data were collected via semi‐structured interviews. As a result of negative initial help‐seeking experiences in Ireland, most participants engaged in long periods of self‐management and disclosed information about their childhood as part of a redress scheme in later life. Outside of this scheme, turning points, such as illness or family problems, and the needs of children were influential in seeking help. Peer support networks played an important role as a trusted signposting pathway towards formal interventions. Participants identified interpersonal barriers to formal help‐seeking as helping professionals' failure to share control, insensitivity to identity loss and literacy issues, and the lack of explicit boundaries. The paper concludes with a discussion about the implications for research and future practice. ‘This empirical study sets out to illustrate the help‐seeking experiences of Irish emigrant survivors of institutional childhood abuse’ Key Practitioner Messages: Turning points, such as illness and bereavement, and the desire to provide for children, influence the help‐seeking of survivors of ICA. Irish emigrant survivors of ICA cite failure to share control, insensitivity to identity loss, literacy issues and the lack of explicit boundaries as barriers to help‐seeking. General awareness of ICA can help practitioners in low‐threshold services prevent against culturally insensitive practice. Peer support networks can provide uniquely trusted signposting towards formal interventions.

  November 16, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2415   open full text
• Clinical Audit of Children's Missed Dental Appointments in a City‐Wide Salaried Community Dental Service in Relation to Guidance on When to Suspect Child Maltreatment.
  Jennifer C. Harris, Lauren M. Firth, Barbara L. Chadwick.
  Child Abuse Review. November 16, 2015
  Children's missed healthcare appointments may be an alerting feature of neglect so it is essential that concerns are shared with other professionals. The aim of this clinical audit was to investigate the management of missed dental appointments for children in a city‐wide salaried community dental service. Standards for communication with (a) the family, (b) other professionals and (c) child protection referral to social care were developed using NICE Clinical Guidance 89: When to suspect child maltreatment and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry's policy document on dental neglect. Information collected from a random sample of 100 clinical records included communication actions within six months of a missed appointment and dental outcome. After reporting the first‐cycle (C1) results, procedures were modified and staff training provided. Sampling and data collection were repeated annually for two further cycles (C2, C3). Communication standards were not fully met in any cycle. The missed appointment rate was 11–12 per cent. An initial small increase in interprofessional communication, including two child protection referrals to social care, was achieved in C2 together with a reduction in unresolved dental outcomes. However, omissions still occurred and improvements were not maintained in the third cycle, demonstrating insufficient consistency to ensure the protection of vulnerable children. ‘The aim of this clinical audit was to investigate the management of missed dental appointments for children’ Key Practitioner Messages This paper describes a method of auditing the management of missed dental appointments in relation to maltreatment guidance. We achieved initial small improvements in interprofessional communication and dental outcomes but also identified lapses which might indicate children at risk of neglect who could ‘slip through the net’. Dental services, other healthcare services and children's social care must work together to develop better communication pathways. ‘Dental services, other healthcare services and children's social care must work together to develop better communication pathways’

  November 16, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2419   open full text
• Infant Trafficking and Baby Factories: A New Tale of Child Abuse in Nigeria.
  Olusesan Ayodeji Makinde.
  Child Abuse Review. November 16, 2015
  Baby factories are new systematic abuse structures that are promoting infant trafficking, neo‐slavery and the exploitation of young women with unwanted pregnancies in Nigeria. Since this practice was first described in 2006, it has been growing rather than abating. This paper reviews the scientific literature, along with media reports, and critiques this phenomenon from a children's rights' perspective. Children born into baby factories are denied various civil rights. They also suffer abuse in the baby factories and as a consequence of being born in such places. This abuse can be classified into immediate and long term. Immediate abuse includes inadequate care and its repercussions, denial of birth registration, illegal adoption and murder. Long‐term or delayed abuse that they may be exposed to includes health‐related consequences, neglect, death, child labour, prostitution and other sexual abuse, organ trafficking and recruitment as child soldiers. Various factors are thought to drive the baby factory phenomenon which include poverty, high infertility rates and the profitability of local and inter‐country adoptions. Programmes directed at addressing the root cause of the problem are needed in order to eliminate infant trafficking. Also, clear laws that delineate inter‐country adoption and infant trafficking need to be enacted. Most importantly, baby factories need to be recognised as child trafficking routes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘New systematic abuse structures that are promoting infant trafficking, neo‐slavery and the exploitation of young women’ Key Practitioner Messages: A new type of child abuse and human trafficking that targets infants has emerged in Nigeria in what are described as ‘baby factories’. Baby factories are criminal entities that exploit young girls with unwanted pregnancies and the practice is growing. Children born in baby factories suffer a range of immediate abuses and are exposed to long-term abuses. Baby factories violate several articles in the Convention on the Rights of a Child. ‘Criminal entities that exploit young girls with unwanted pregnancies’

  November 16, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2420   open full text
• Interrupting the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence.
  Keri L. M. Pinna.
  Child Abuse Review. September 17, 2015
  Children exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk for a wide range of emotional and behavioural disorders. Conduct disorder, in particular, may ultimately lead to the perpetration of further domestic violence in the next generation. Parental characteristics such as warmth and positive attributions may mitigate the risk for intergenerational transmission of violence. Sixty‐one children, ages eight to 17, and their parents completed self‐report measures of disruptive behaviour, parental warmth and parental attributions in order to determine the extent to which parental warmth and attributions of child behaviours may relate to behaviour problems that serve as risk factors for the intergenerational transmission of violence. Children were also interviewed about stressful life events to which they had been exposed, in addition to domestic violence, in order to better understand results in the context of children's lives. As predicted, parental warmth and positive attributions were related to fewer disruptive behaviour problems, r = −0.35, p = 0.04 and r = −0.32, p = 0 .05, respectively. Results were similar for boys and girls, but specific to adolescents versus younger children. Findings were maintained after accounting for other forms of adversity. Potential implications for interrupting the intergenerational transmission of violence, particularly during adolescence, are discussed. ‘Parental characteristics such as warmth and positive attributions may mitigate the risk for intergenerational transmission of violence’ Key Practitioner Messages Children exposed to domestic violence are exposed to a wide range of other forms of adversity. Cumulative adversity may contribute to disruptive behaviours that may ultimately develop into violent acts, manifesting a transmission of violence from one generation to the next. Parental warmth and positive attributions of children's behaviours may be one way in which healthy parenting may prevent the intergenerational transmission of violence. These parenting factors may be particularly critical during adolescence.

  September 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2412   open full text
• Head Start's Impact on Cognitive Outcomes for Children in Foster Care.
  Kyunghee Lee.
  Child Abuse Review. August 22, 2015
  Using the Head Start Impact Study data, this secondary data analysis examines Head Start's impact on cognitive outcomes for children in foster care. Out of 4442 children, 162 children in foster care were selected to examine the following study questions. (1) Do children in foster care who enrol in Head Start have different child and family characteristics than those who do not participate in Head Start? (2) Do children in foster care who participate in Head Start have higher reading and math scores at ages five to six? (3) Do child and family characteristics moderate Head Start's impact on reading and math scores of children in foster care at ages five to six? There was no main Head Start impact on reading and math scores for children in foster care. However, Head Start impact was found for the child's gender and the caregiver's age. Girls who participated in Head Start obtained higher reading and math scores than boys. Children cared for by older caregivers had higher math scores than those cared for by younger caregivers. Baseline variables such as ethnicity, special needs status and cognitive skills prior to Head Start enrolment were directly associated with math and reading scores at ages five to six. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Examines Head Start's impact on cognitive outcomes for children in foster care’ Key Practitioner Messages Child welfare workers should consider enrolling more children who are in foster care in the Head Start programme. Head Start should address and implement programme performance standards and regulation specifically targeting children in foster care. Head Start should consider various family characteristics to maximise programme benefits for children in foster care. ‘Child welfare workers should consider enrolling more children who are in foster care in the Head Start programme’

  August 22, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2413   open full text
• A Retrospective Analysis of Children's Assessment Reports: What Helps Children Tell?
  Rosaleen McElvaney, Maebh Culhane.
  Child Abuse Review. July 31, 2015
  This paper explores a retrospective analysis of children's file data as a research method of gathering information on children's experiences of informal disclosure of child sexual abuse. This study extracted data from files where children were seen for a child sexual abuse evaluation in Ireland and the children were deemed to have given a credible account of abuse by the professionals concerned. A content analysis was conducted using themes identified in previously published research, based on direct interviews with children about their experiences of informal disclosure. The paper discusses the relative merits and limitations of this method, through reporting on the findings of the file analysis and comparing these findings with findings obtained from a smaller sub‐sample of this sample of children, who were interviewed about their experiences of disclosure. It is suggested that this method is worth exploring with a larger sample size which would enable statistical analysis and thus explore the predictive factors influencing early informal disclosure. Frontline services can contribute to the knowledge base on what helps children tell through service‐based research that uses data already collected from evaluation interviews with children, thus eliminating the need to interview children for research purposes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A content analysis was conducted using themes identified in previously published research’ Key Practitioner Messages Frontline professionals gather useful data on a daily basis on informal disclosures of child sexual abuse. Practitioners can contribute to the knowledge base on informal disclosure by systematically gathering information from service users. We need more information on what helps children tell. We therefore need to explore innovative methods of gathering such information directly from children in ways that do not rely on interviewing children repeatedly yet include the child's voice. ‘We need more information on what helps children tell’

  July 31, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2390   open full text
• An Open and Shut Case of Closed Questions: An Exploration of Joint Investigative Interview Training in Scotland.
  Susanne Goetzold.
  Child Abuse Review. July 31, 2015
  Children in Scotland who are subject to child protection interviews should be interviewed jointly by specially trained police officers and social workers who have attended training based on a national curriculum. This study, which was conducted in two Strands, explores the effectiveness of the training, focusing specifically on the free narrative phase of the interview. Strand A explores respondents' self‐evaluation, obtained through semi‐structured interviews with 16 participants, while Strand B comprises an analysis of 21 role‐play interviews. The findings show a considerable discrepancy between perceived practitioner confidence in ability and actual skill levels observed in role‐plays, where interviewers showed a persistent overuse of specific and closed questions, while neglecting the use of open prompts and open questions to encourage free narrative. The study concludes that the national curriculum is not as effective in preparing participants for the free narrative phase of the interview as perceived by participants. Possible reasons are explored. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A considerable discrepancy between perceived practitioner confidence in ability and actual skill levels’ Key Practitioner Messages Child protection interview staff were confident in their ability to conduct a free narrative phase in line with Scottish Government guidance. The curriculum for joint investigative interview training in Scotland appears to be based on an overly optimistic view of baseline skills amongst police officers and social workers. Greater attention may need to be given to ongoing support for both police officers and social workers involved in joint investigative interviews. ‘Greater attention may need to be given to ongoing support for both police officers and social workers’

  July 31, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2391   open full text
• The Importance of Perceived Organisational Goals: A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding Child Safeguarding in the Context of Domestic Abuse.
  Louise Caffrey.
  Child Abuse Review. July 25, 2015
  Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s raised concerns that the safeguarding implications of domestic abuse (DA) were not being sufficiently accounted for in child contact cases in England. Since that time, reforms have been introduced, which sought to emphasise the importance of safety in this context. Despite these developments, there is concern that problematic management of DA cases may have persisted. This article presents findings on the management of DA in supported child contact centres in England. The findings suggest that supported contact services continue to facilitate DA cases, although the service is not designed for this purpose. Using the systems thinking concepts of ‘local rationalities’ and ‘goal conflicts’, the article explores how problematic safeguarding practices made sense to those on the ground. The findings suggest that supported services are inappropriate for cases involving DA concerns, not just because they lack the resources to safely manage these cases, but because their perceived organisational goals can present a conflict for staff and volunteers in safely managing them. Ultimately, the article asserts the potential for perceived organisational goals to impact on practice and thus the importance of considering them in the design, commissioning or use of services. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Presents findings on the management of DA in supported child contact centres in England’ Key Practitioner Messages Supported child contact centres are inappropriate for cases involving DA concerns but continue to be used to facilitate such cases. Perceived organisational goals can impact on practice. It is therefore important to consider them in the design, commissioning or use of services. Systems thinking concepts, including ‘local rationalities’ and ‘goal conflicts’, can provide a useful framework for investigating the root causes of problematic practice. ‘Perceived organisational goals can impact on practice’

  July 25, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2396   open full text
• The Relationship over Time between International Adoption and Institutional Care in Romania and Lithuania.
  Shihning Chou, Kevin D. Browne.
  Child Abuse Review. July 14, 2015
  International adoption is seen by some as a solution to the large number of children in institutional care. However, our previous findings did not support the notion that international adoption contributes to the deinstitutionalisation of children (Browne and Chou, ; Chou and Browne, ). As our previous study was cross‐sectional, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship over time in a country that has banned international adoptions (Romania) and a country that has continued the practice (Lithuania). The numbers of children in care and the numbers of adoptions were obtained from government websites and by contacting government departments. A positive correlation was found between institutional care and international adoption in Romania between 1997 and 2012. The findings for Romania indicated that stopping international adoption was not accompanied by an increase in the number of children in institutional care. A reduction in institutional care in Romania only occurred after the ban on international adoption. However, no correlation was found for Lithuania as both practices remained constant between 2000 and 2012. The findings for Lithuania showed that continued international adoption was not accompanied by a reduction in institutional care. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘To investigate the relationship over time in a country that has banned international adoptions… and a country that has continued the practice’ Key Practitioner Messages The notion of international adoption being a viable way to reduce the extent of institutional care is not supported by evidence. The differences in the levels of national income and birth rates cannot always explain the differences in the development of children's services between countries.

  July 14, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2395   open full text
• Interventions to Improve the Response of Professionals to Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review.
  William Turner, Marianne Hester, Jonathan Broad, Eszter Szilassy, Gene Feder, Jessica Drinkwater, Adam Firth, Nicky Stanley.
  Child Abuse Review. June 29, 2015
  Exposure of children to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a form of child maltreatment with short‐ and long‐term behavioural and mental health impact. Health care professionals are generally uncertain about how to respond to domestic violence and are particularly unclear about best practice with regards to children's exposure and their role in a multiagency response. In this systematic review, we report educational and structural or whole‐system interventions that aim to improve professionals' understanding of, and response to, DVA survivors and their children. We searched 22 bibliographic databases and contacted topic experts for studies reporting quantitative outcomes for any type of intervention aiming to improve professional responses to disclosure of DVA with child involvement. We included interventions for physicians, nurses, social workers and teachers. Twenty‐one studies met the inclusion criteria: three randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 18 pre‐post intervention surveys. There were 18 training and three system‐level interventions. Training interventions generally had positive effects on participants' knowledge, attitudes towards DVA and clinical competence. The results from the RCTs were consistent with the before‐after surveys. Results from system‐level interventions aimed to change organisational practice and inter‐organisational collaboration demonstrates the benefit of coordinating system change in child welfare agencies with primary health care and other organisations. Implications for policy and research are discussed. © 2015 The Authors. Child Abuse Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. ‘We searched 22 bibliographic databases and contacted topic experts’ Key Practitioner Messages We reviewed published evidence on interventions aimed at improving professionals' practice with domestic violence survivors and their children. Training programmes were found to improve participants' knowledge, attitudes and clinical competence up to a year after delivery. Key elements of successful training include interactive discussion, booster sessions and involving specialist domestic violence practitioners. Whole‐system approaches aiming to promote coordination and collaboration across agencies appear promising but require funding and high levels of commitment from partners. ‘Training programmes were found to improve participants' knowledge, attitudes and clinical competence up to a year after delivery’

  June 29, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2385   open full text
• Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Children: Critical Issues for Multiagency Work.
  Sue Peckover, Berenice Golding.
  Child Abuse Review. May 21, 2015
  This paper reports upon the learning that emerged from a development project which aimed to facilitate improvements in multiagency work in domestic abuse and safeguarding children. The two‐year project (2011–13), funded by the Department for Education and led by WomenCentre, a specialist voluntary sector organisation based in West Yorkshire, was undertaken in nine local authorities in the north of England. Activities undertaken during the project included case mapping, service user and professional engagement exercises, observation of local multiagency meetings and provision of training. An evaluative research study examined the work of the project and the learning that emerged. Drawing upon data from telephone interviews with project participants, analysis of case mapping and project reports, this paper discusses some critical issues which emerged from this project. The paper draws attention to the different understandings and priorities which shape interprofessional practice in relation to safeguarding children and domestic abuse, and the complexities of the wider interagency environment including coordination, resources and expertise. Recommendations for improving multiagency work to achieve better outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic abuse are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘An evaluative research study examined the work of the project and the learning that emerged’ Key Practitioner Messages Multiagency working in domestic abuse and safeguarding children is complex and could be improved. The impact of professional differences in how cases are understood and managed, particularly in relation to ‘risk’, as well as different professional priorities and approaches to working with families should be recognised and considered within the multiagency context. Practitioners may want to consider whether ‘case mapping’ is pertinent to their own safeguarding practices and processes. ‘Multiagency working in domestic abuse and safeguarding children is complex and could be improved’

  May 21, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2392   open full text
• Applications of the Dynamic‐Maturational Model of Attachment with Children Involved in Care and Family Proceedings.
  Daniel T. Wilcox, Clark Baim.
  Child Abuse Review. April 03, 2015
  Attachment theory has had a profound influence on our understanding of human relationships. This paper focuses on the application of the Dynamic‐Maturational Model of attachment to children involved in care and family proceedings. It describes the central principles of attachment as developed by Ainsworth et al. (); Bowlby (); Crittenden () and Main (). Attachment patterns are explored and the circumstances under which these various engagement strategies arise. The authors provide two case examples of different insecure attachment styles. They include brief background information, observations about clinical presentation and formulation sections, offering the reader an opportunity to integrate their thinking about how different insecure attachment styles necessitate alternative intervention approaches. The paper highlights the complexity of assessing attachment in different circumstances, and the authors propose that this article should be viewed as a ‘primer’ for helping practitioners to take better account of attachment issues whenever undertaking assessments within the context of child and family proceedings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The paper highlights the complexity of assessing attachment in different circumstances’ Key Practitioner Messages Attachment theory applies to every stage of life. If the baby's care is predictable but not attuned, she learns that thinking protects her and displaying negative emotions endangers her. When the baby's carer is unpredictable and inconsistently attuned, she learns that exaggerating emotions gets results. Mother was unaware that her inconsistency worsened Tammy's behaviour. Anna experienced feelings of self‐blame due to her mother feeling overwhelmed. Assessing attachment can be very complex where a child experiences extended trauma. ‘Assessing attachment can be very complex where a child experiences extended trauma’

  April 03, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2380   open full text
• ‘I Miss My Little One A Lot’: How Father Love Motivates Change in Men Who Have Used Violence.
  Timothy R. Broady, Rebecca Gray, Irene Gaffney, Pamela Lewis.
  Child Abuse Review. March 17, 2015
  This paper presents selected findings from a research‐based evaluation of a men's domestic violence intervention programme, which aims to assist men to develop alternative ways of relating to their partners, children and others. The qualitative component of this evaluation involved conducting interviews with 21 group participants after their completion of the course. These interviews investigated several issues, including participants' perceptions of their relationships with their children. The main theme underpinning all discussions of children was an expression of love, in that love for their children served as a motivation to stop using violence and to develop alternative ways of relating to all family members. The paper concludes by discussing the potential of men's relationships with their children as powerful contexts, or points of leverage, through which the impact of their violent behaviour can be realised and confronted. By realising the impact that violent behaviour can have on children's wellbeing and fathers' interpersonal relationships with them, it is argued that intervention programmes can support men to develop more appropriate ways of relating to their children, and thus safeguard children from potential long‐term consequences of domestic abuse. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The main theme underpinning all discussions of children was an expression of love’ Key Practitioner Messages Men attending domestic violence intervention programmes demonstrate a wide range of attitudes towards their partners and former partners, but unanimously report a desire to maintain meaningful relationships with their children. Men who have used violence in their family relationships can be challenged and motivated to change through realising the impact of their behaviour on their children's wellbeing and their father‐child relationships. ‘Unanimously report a desire to maintain meaningful relationships with their children’

  March 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2381   open full text
• ‘Teachers Matter’: The Impact of Mandatory Reporting on Teacher Education in Ireland.
  Ashling Bourke, Catherine Maunsell.
  Child Abuse Review. March 15, 2015
  The role of teachers in safeguarding the welfare of children is long acknowledged. However, recent research in Ireland found that the training provided to teachers on child protection issues was lacking (Buckley and McGarry, ). The frequent interactions that teachers have with children and their expertise in terms of typical child development place them in an ideal position for identifying possible signs of abuse. Yet despite this advantage, research indicates that schools fail to report a substantial proportion of suspected child abuse cases (Kenny, ). The oft‐cited reasons for this may be conceptualised as: explicit reasons, such as a lack of knowledge about child abuse issues; and implicit reasons, such as the individual teacher's belief system about abuse. The current paper discusses implicit as well as explicit obstacles to teachers’ ‘engagement’ with, and consequent barriers to their responding to, child protection issues. The current changes in initial teacher education and the introduction of mandatory reporting for professionals in Ireland, offer an opportune time to raise this issue and highlight the need for holistic education in child protection for teachers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Research indicates that schools fail to report a substantial proportion of suspected child abuse cases’ Key Practitioner Messages Teachers need comprehensive education on child protection issues in order to fulfil their role as mandated reporters. Both implicit and explicit barriers impede teacher's reporting of abuse and neglect. Education must go beyond policies and procedures and be holistic in addressing an implicit belief system in relation to child protection. Education must also aim to reduce interagency conflict, oft cited as a deterrent to reporting, perhaps through increased contact between child protection and education professionals. ‘Education must go beyond policies and procedures and be holistic in addressing an implicit belief system in relation to child protection’

  March 15, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2379   open full text
• A Life Less Ordinary: Foster Carers' Views and Experiences of Negative Peer Interactions in Fostering Households.
  Christine Barter, Eleanor Lutman.
  Child Abuse Review. March 03, 2015
  The purpose of this paper is to explore negative peer interactions in foster care. Looked after children and young people have highlighted the impact of negative peer interactions, and especially peer violence and intimidation, on their care experiences. However, to date, no specific fostering research has addressed this important issue. In response to this gap, we undertook focus groups with 32 foster carers in the South West of England. Group discussions were semi‐structured based around the issue of negative peer interactions in foster care. The analysis revealed five main associated themes: the impact on the carers' birth children; a lack of placement planning; inadequate referral information; a negative view of social work support; and insufficient external interventions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘We undertook focus groups with 32 foster carers in the South West of England’ Key Practitioner Messages Negative peer interactions, particularly violence, were a major concern for foster carers, especially if they negatively impacted on the welfare of carers' birth children. An absence of pre‐placement referral information on negative peer interactions was commonly reported and placed all children in the fostering household at risk. Associated social work support and external interventions were often perceived as lacking and inadequate. Fostering procedures, review and decisions need to recognise the impact of peer violence on all members of the fostering household.

  March 03, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2377   open full text
• Turning It Around: What Do Young Women Say Helps them to Move On from Child Sexual Exploitation?
  Philip Gilligan.
  Child Abuse Review. March 02, 2015
  Twenty‐four young women and one young man, aged between 13 and 23 years, who are current or former service users of two voluntary‐sector projects specialising in services for young people and who have been or are at risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE), shared their views about what had helped and what will help them to move on from CSE. They were accessed via the projects and invited to choose how they gave their views, which ultimately they did through combinations of semi‐structured interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, artwork and poetry. Their views are summarised in the context of other relevant literature. The findings emphasise that: these young people have important things to say about what will help them; they need workers who are friendly, flexible, persevering, reliable and non‐judgemental; they need information, advice, safe places, enrichment experiences and services which are available during evenings and at weekends; and they are unlikely to engage positively with statutory services (police and children's social care) unless those services convince them more effectively that they will listen to, protect and respect them. Their pain, resilience and anger are illustrated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘These young people have important things to say about what will help them’ Key Practitioner Messages Young women affected by CSE: Have important things to say about what will help them; Need workers who are friendly, flexible, persevering, reliable and non‐ judgemental; Need information, advice, safe places, enrichment experiences and services which are available during evenings and at weekends; Are unlikely to engage effectively with statutory services (police and children's social care) unless those services demonstrate that they will listen to, protect and respect them. ‘[They] need workers who are friendly, flexible, persevering, reliable and non‐judgemental’

  March 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2373   open full text
• Intervening with Severely and Chronically Neglected Children and their Families: The Contribution of Trauma‐Informed Approaches.
  Tristan Milot, Diane St‐Laurent, Louise S. Éthier.
  Child Abuse Review. March 02, 2015
  Many clinicians and researchers have proposed considering child abuse and neglect from a traumatic stress perspective to better understand how they so profoundly impact child development. According to this perspective, child maltreatment (both child abuse and neglect) is viewed as a chronic interpersonal trauma which may severely interfere with normal developmental processes, often resulting in long‐lasting behavioural, emotional and psychophysiological dysregulations. In this paper, we summarise theoretical and empirical literature addressing the traumatic nature of child neglect, with a specific focus on short‐term consequences of neglect in childhood. We then give an overview of some key intervention elements stemming from trauma‐informed approaches with traumatised children and their families.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘We summarise theoretical and empirical literature addressing the traumatic nature of child neglect’ Key Practitioner Messages Child neglect is viewed as a chronic interpersonal trauma which may severely interfere with normal developmental processes, often resulting in long‐lasting behavioural, emotional and psychophysiological dysregulations. Key intervention guidelines stemming from trauma‐informed approaches include: A detailed assessment of the child's trauma history and characteristics Providing a safe environment for the child Helping the child build feelings of emotional security Improving parental sensitivity Developing child emotional self‐regulation Offering emotional therapeutic support to the parent.

  March 02, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2376   open full text
• Child Neglect and Onset of Substance Use Disorders among Child Welfare‐Involved Adolescents.
  Marina Lalayants, Jonathan D. Prince.
  Child Abuse Review. January 17, 2015
  In relation to child abuse, child neglect has been understudied even though it is more common and causes at least as much harm. While child maltreatment (in a single category) has been linked to substance use disorders (SUD), and while child abuse alone (without neglect) has been linked to SUD, it remains unclear whether differences exist in the link between SUD and child abuse alone (without neglect) versus SUD and child neglect alone (without abuse). Utilising the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II, 2014): Wave I – 2008–09; Wave II – 18 months later: N = 5872), we used logistic regression to longitudinally assess whether past‐year abuse versus past‐year neglect in Wave I are equally influential in predicting newly diagnosed substance dependence in Wave II (among youth without SUD in Wave I). After adjusting for several factors, we found that past‐year child neglect in Wave I was a significant predictor of newly diagnosed substance dependence in Wave II among youth who did not have SUD in Wave I. Other forms of youth maltreatment were unrelated. The findings suggest that child welfare and substance abuse professionals could pay special attention to youth with past‐year neglect in order to help prevent the emergence of new substance dependence disorders. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Child neglect has been understudied even though it is more common and causes at least as much harm’ Key Practitioner Messages Child neglect was found to be a significant predictor of newly diagnosed substance dependence. Child welfare and substance abuse professionals could pay special attention to youth in the child welfare system to help prevent the emergence of new substance dependence disorders. Models such as differential response and home visitation could help address child neglect and prevent negative outcomes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Neglect was found to be a significant predictor of newly diagnosed substance dependence’

  January 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2372   open full text
• When the Primary Caregiver is Missing: Investigating Proximal and Distal Variables Involved in Institutionalised Children's Adjustment.
  Lavinia Barone, Antonio Dellagiulia, Francesca Lionetti.
  Child Abuse Review. January 17, 2015
  Institutional rearing and structural neglect represent a primary caregiver deprivation experience and fall outside the range of the average expected typical childhood environment. Research indicates that variables related to proximal processes, such as the quality of care, rather than only distal variables, such as the duration of institutionalisation, may affect the adjustment of institutionalised children. The present study involved 100 Ukrainian children aged four‐ to eight‐years old (39 institution reared and 61 family reared) and investigated children's adjustment as a function of two distal variables and one proximal variable: age at admission and the duration of institutionalisation; and the current quality of care, as represented by favourite caregivers' perceived helplessness in the caring task. Attachment shortcomings and cognitive impairments were reported for institutionalised children, independently of the duration of institutionalisation. Low scores for professional caregivers' helplessness were associated with better scores for indiscriminate friendliness and non‐verbal reasoning in children. We conclude that caregiving variables matter and attention needs to be paid to them in order to improve the wellbeing of children in potentially neglectful contexts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The present study involved 100 Ukrainian children aged four‐ to eight‐years old’ Key Practitioner Messages Institutionalisation is a structural neglect condition, increasing the risk for children's social‐emotional and cognitive impairment. Professional caregivers often lack information on how to support children and are faced with challenging working conditions, resulting in an emotionally distant caregiving. The study showed that institutionalised children's attachment and cognitive development are two compromised domains.

  January 17, 2015   doi: 10.1002/car.2365   open full text
• Maternal Borderline Personality Disorder and Risk of Child Maltreatment.
  Sarah Laulik, Jayne Allam, Kevin Browne.
  Child Abuse Review. December 29, 2014
  A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between parental personality disorder and child maltreatment. This article reports on the findings of a study focusing on a subsample of 46 maltreating mothers who had all been referred for psychological assessment in the context of care proceedings. Of the 46 mothers, 13 met the full diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Of the remaining 33 mothers, 18 presented with strong features of BPD but did not meet the full criteria and 18 presented with no significant features of BPD. Results indicated that maltreating mothers with diagnosed BPD were more likely than those with BPD features and those with no significant features to have engaged in the perpetration of physical and multiple (physical abuse and neglect) types of child maltreatment. No association was found between BPD and child neglect alone. Compared to the two other groups, mothers with BPD were identified as a particularly traumatised subgroup. The tentative conclusion that may be drawn from these findings is that maltreating mothers with BPD may represent a particularly high‐risk subgroup. The results are discussed with reference to existing empirical research. Implications for clinical practice and future research are then considered. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘46 maltreating mothers… referred for psychological assessment in the context of care proceedings’ ‘Maltreating mothers with BPD may represent a particularly high‐risk subgroup’ Key Practitioner Messages BPD is a risk factor for interpersonal violence. Results of this study suggest that BPD may also be a risk factor for the perpetration of physical child abuse and multiple maltreatment (physical abuse and neglect) amongst mothers involved in care proceedings. Maltreating mothers with BPD may represent a particularly high‐risk subgroup.

  December 29, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2360   open full text
• A Brief Discussion About Measuring Child Molester Cognition With the Sex With Children Scale.
  Jamie Walton, Simon Duff, Shihning Chou.
  Child Abuse Review. December 17, 2014
  This article reviews the Sex with Children (SWCH) scale and compares its psychometric properties to alternative measures in the field. Examination of the scale indicates that it is one of several instruments which do not proportionally tap into all implicit theory schemas that have been proposed in the literature. This does not help clinicians who aim to target pro‐offending schema since the scale appears to neglect certain types of beliefs that are considered to be important in the investigation of child molester cognition. Similar to many other instruments in the field, the SWCH scale is unlikely to identify offenders who outwardly endorse child abuse items, and its discriminant validity may be better viewed as a capacity to differentiate those who disagree less from those who disagree more. The scale possesses excellent reliability properties compared to other instruments. However, recently reported area under the curve calculations indicate that the scale's predictive power for sexual and violent reconviction is no better than chance. It would be useful to develop the SWCH scale so that it does not under‐represent important types of pro‐offending schema. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘One of several instruments which do not proportionally tap into all implicit theory schemas’ Key Practitioner Messages The SWCH scale has demonstrated excellent reliability properties. The SWCH subscales represent two sexual schemas indicating that the SWCH scale is one of several measures in which nonsexual schemas are under‐represented. Mean scores are low for child molesters indicating that respondents do not often endorse child abuse items outright. It is difficult for clinicians to determine if low endorsement indicates little or no pro‐offending beliefs, post hoc neutralisations or dishonest responding. ‘The SWCH scale has demonstrated excellent reliability properties’

  December 17, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2361   open full text
• Under‐Fives Child Mortality and Child Abuse‐Related Deaths in the Former USSR: Is there an Under‐Reporting of Abuse‐Related Deaths?
  Colin Pritchard, Saalim Mirza.
  Child Abuse Review. October 21, 2014
  The study explores the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) countries’ under‐fives child mortality rates (CMR) and child abuse‐related deaths (CARD) since the end of the Soviet Union, and asks whether there has been an ‘under‐reporting’ of CARD? World Health Organization under‐fives mortality rates per million (pm) were extracted for 1988–90 and compared with 2008–10 for CMR and confirmed and possible CARD. Possible CARD are undetermined deaths (UnD) and ill‐defined signs and symptoms (IDSS) deaths as these categories have been linked to under‐reporting of CARD. CMR and CARD odds ratios were calculated and correlated to determine the possible under‐reporting of CARD. Seven countries met the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) objective of reducing CMR; five halving their previous USSR rate. The Russian CARD rate at 29 pm is the highest, but six countries’ rates were less than ten pm. UnD increased in Kazakhstan 13‐fold, Belarus eight times, Ukraine seven times and Russia more than four times. IDSS deaths trebled in Belarus, and rose more than 25 per cent in Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine. CARD significantly correlated with UnD but not with CMR. Odds ratios of CMR to all three CARD categories were substantial, more than 4.1:1 in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, indicating possible under‐reporting of CARD. Despite CMR improvements, this first‐ever study of the former USSR countries should alert the authorities of Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to the extent of possible child abuse. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Seven countries met the UNICEF objective of reducing CMR Key Practitioner Messages: This first‐ever study of child mortality and child abuse deaths in the former USSR found improvements in child mortality but unrecognised child protection issues. Child homicides ostensibly fell in every country but Russia. Major rises in undetermined and ill‐defined deaths in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine are indicative of under‐reporting but did not occur in the other former USSR countries. There is an urgent need to focus upon violence against children as either child abuse is not recognised, or it is being deliberately ignored. ‘Either child abuse is not recognised, or it is being deliberately ignored’

  October 21, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2355   open full text
• Predictors of Group Treatment Outcomes for Child Sexual Abuse: An Investigation of the Role of Demographic and Abuse Characteristics.
  Atara Hiller, Craig Springer, Justin Misurell, Amy Kranzler, Shireen Rizvi.
  Child Abuse Review. October 20, 2014
  Research has begun to identify factors that may moderate the effects of interventions for symptomatology associated with child sexual abuse (CSA). However, there is disagreement about which factors may be important for different populations. The present investigation examined predictors of treatment outcomes among 166 predominantly economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse CSA survivors between the ages of six and ten, who were treated using game‐based cognitive‐behavioural therapy (GB‐CBT). Predictor variables included demographic characteristics (i.e. age, gender, ethnicity, household income) and abuse‐related risk factors (i.e. degree of invasiveness of abuse, frequency of instances of CSA and type of relationship to the perpetrator). Treatment outcomes included internalising and externalising symptoms, sexually inappropriate behaviours, knowledge of abuse and personal safety skills. Results indicate that participants' responsiveness to treatment was not impacted by demographic or abuse‐related risk factors. Thus, group treatment appears to be effective for treating a wide range of problems following CSA, irrespective of clients' varied demographic background and abuse characteristics. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘166 predominantly economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse CSA survivors between the ages of six and ten’ Key Practitioner Messages: GB‐CBT is an integrative treatment approach for survivors of CSA, combining features of trauma‐focused cognitive‐behavioural therapy (TF‐CBT), play therapy and group therapy. It is important to investigate whether demographic and abuse characteristics impact treatment outcomes for CSA to determine whether children respond differently to treatment based on pre‐existing characteristics. GB‐CBT participants experienced improvements in internalising and externalising symptoms, sexually inappropriate behaviours and personal safety skills, irrespective of their demographic backgrounds and varied abuse histories. ‘GB‐CBT is an integrative treatment approach for survivors of CSA’

  October 20, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2343   open full text
• A Nationwide Survey of Peer Review Practices in Child Maltreatment Teams.
  Christopher Greeley, Jaennie Yoon, Xuan Tran, Angelo Giardino.
  Child Abuse Review. September 13, 2014
  Medical evaluations for suspected child sexual abuse carry a significant medico‐legal burden and are often performed in a variety of clinical settings, by clinicians with different levels of expertise and experience. Peer review or professional practice evaluation is an important component for quality assurance. We surveyed 255 programmes which provided sexual abuse evaluations which were identified through queries with national child abuse professional organisations. We sought information on team composition and setting, patient population characteristics and each site's peer review process. Of the 129 responding programmes, 42 per cent (n = 44) reported having a written peer review process. There were no differences between practice types with regards to having a written peer review process, the percentage of cases reviewed, the documentation type reviewed or the percentage reporting an external review process. The majority of programmes (n = 89, 85%) reported that they review both chart and photo documentation during the peer review process. Our data support that most programmes involved in child maltreatment evaluations undergo some form of peer review, but there exists a large amount of heterogeneity in the process by which it occurs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘We surveyed 255 programmes which provided sexual abuse evaluations’ Key Practitioner Messages: Peer review is an important process to ensure high quality of clinical practice. The majority (80%) of programmes which perform child sexual abuse evaluations reported performing some form of peer review. Most peer review involves both chart and photo documentation reviews. ‘Most peer review involves both chart and photo documentation reviews’

  September 13, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2337   open full text
• Childhood Trauma among Mexican American Gang Members and Delinquent Youth: A Comparative Exploratory Study.
  Alice Cepeda, Avelardo Valdez, Kathryn M. Nowotny.
  Child Abuse Review. September 13, 2014
  Abstract This paper examines the association between childhood trauma and gang membership. Specifically, this study compares histories of potentially traumatic events as assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire among a street‐recruited random sample of Mexican American male gang members and a matched comparison group of delinquent youth. The gang and delinquent youth samples are then compared to normative samples of adolescent male psychiatric inpatients and male undergraduates. The findings show that gang members generally report experiencing lower levels of childhood trauma compared to those in the sample of delinquent youth. In fact, gang members' levels of childhood trauma more closely resemble those of the undergraduate sample. However, this analysis suggests that gang membership, and delinquency in general, may be associated with physical neglect. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Gang membership, and delinquency in general, may be associated with physical neglect’ Key Practitioner Messages: Childhood trauma prevalence and delinquent youth comparison groups are rare in gang research. Childhood trauma rates (emotional, physical and sexual abuse) were found to be lower among a sample of gang‐involved Mexican American males compared to non‐gang delinquent youth. Levels of physical neglect should be assessed for in youth regardless of gang membership. Future research should focus on family‐level sociocultural interventions that may be beneficial for gang‐involved youth and trauma‐informed interventions that may be particularly beneficial for delinquent youth in low‐income communities.

  September 13, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2340   open full text
• Evaluating Programmes for Violent Fathers: Challenges and Ethical Review.
  Nicola McConnell, Julie Taylor.
  Child Abuse Review. September 13, 2014
  A range of challenges exist when evaluating programmes for violent men about domestic abuse. Delivered in five UK sites, the Caring Dads Safer Children programme is designed to enhance the parenting behaviour of violent men. At the end of the first delivery programme in each site, a review was undertaken at the request of the ethics committee: to ensure that the evaluation was not raising further ethical issues; to check on the wellbeing of service users and their families; to scrutinise the evaluation process in terms of data quality and quantity; and to inform service and evaluation changes as necessary. In‐depth interviews were undertaken with practitioners delivering the service and analysed inductively. While some practitioners expressed concerns about the burden on service delivery and challenges to their relationship with families due to the use of standardised measures in the evaluation, others demonstrated how robust evaluation procedures enhanced assessment and service delivery. Organisations need to be confident that the cumulative effects of any disadvantages posed by the use of standardised measures do not outweigh the benefits and plan for potential barriers and resistance to their implementation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Delivered in five UK sites, the Caring Dads Safer Children programme is designed to enhance the parenting behaviour of violent men’ Key Practitioner Messages Programmes for violent men present a number of challenges for practitioners including difficulty in engagement and high attrition rates. Robust evaluation is important in illuminating the efficacy of programmes for violent men. Using routine or standardised measures can positively inform work with perpetrators and their families when used alongside practice wisdom. Practitioners may become sceptical of evaluation if the use of measures is perceived to impact negatively on service delivery. ‘Practitioners may become sceptical of evaluation if the use of measures is perceived to impact negatively on service delivery’

  September 13, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2342   open full text
• ‘No‐One Runs Away For No Reason’: Understanding Safeguarding Issues When Children and Young People Go Missing From Home.
  Louise Hill, Julie Taylor, Fiona Richards, Susan Reddington.
  Child Abuse Review. July 11, 2014
  An estimated one in nine children will run away from home or substitute care before their 16th birthday in the UK. This paper explores the safeguarding concerns and responses for children and young people who run away or go missing from home. The majority of children and young people run away from home due to family relationship problems. Running away or being physically absent from home may be due to abuse and neglect. One in 11 children reported being hurt or harmed whilst running away. For some young people, ‘running to’ a person or situation can present many risks and can be part of a coercive and exploitative relationship. Despite these multiple indicators of risk, there has been little focus on safeguarding policies and practice for children and young people who run away from home. Drawing on a case example of a third‐sector service using Return Interview Assessments, this paper argues that professionals must ensure that all children and young people who run away or go missing from home are given meaningful opportunities to be listened to, and taken seriously, in order to ensure that a wide range of safeguarding concerns can be addressed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages: When a child runs away from home, something may be wrong in that child's life. Some children run away or are absent from home due to abuse or neglect. Some children are ‘running to’ a place or person, which can place them at even more risk of harm. All children who run away need to have an opportunity to talk about what is happening in their life without feeling judged. ‘there has been little focus on safeguarding policies and practice for children and young people who run away from home’ ‘Some children are ‘running to’ a place or person, which can place them at even more risk of harm’

  July 11, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2322   open full text
• ‘I'm Working Towards Getting Back Together’: Client Accounts of Motivation Related to Relationship Status in Men's Behaviour Change Programmes in New South Wales, Australia.
  Rebecca Gray, Timothy Broady, Irene Gaffney, Pamela Lewis, Tibor Mokany, Brian O'Neill.
  Child Abuse Review. July 10, 2014
  Research in Australia has examined factors associated with filicide in order to more accurately instigate points of intervention. Factors include parental separation/divorce, depression in the perpetrator and domestic violence. Therefore, services that facilitate men's behaviour change programmes provide one such point of intervention. Relationships Australia NSW offers ‘Taking Responsibility’: an 18‐week programme that addresses men's use of violence and abuse in their intimate relationships, through group work and individual support. Fundamental to this programme is the whole family's safety, which is managed through initial screening, ongoing contact and access to additional therapeutic services. Programme evaluation has revealed that men's change factors are influenced by varying levels of motivation, at intake and throughout. These accounts have indicated that the relationship status with their partner affects their motivation, which in turn has the potential to affect their investment in the programme. This relates to both increased and diminished motivation. Partners and former partners, however, expressed ambivalence towards their continuing relationships. Given the risk factors for filicide associated with domestic violence and separation, these interviews contribute to what is known about men's motivation to change violent and abusive behaviours, and in turn the clinical objectives for professionals working on these programmes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Fundamental to this programme is the whole family's safety’ Key Practitioner Messages: The client's relationship status often changes throughout the course of a men's behaviour change programme. A separation can negatively affect motivation and behaviour change processes. Professionals working with men who use violence are advised to raise the topic of the client's relationship status, to prevent attrition, and work with them to broaden their motivations. ‘A separation can negatively affect motivation and behaviour change processes’

  July 10, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2318   open full text
• Paternal Filicide in the Context of Domestic Violence: Challenges in Risk Assessment and Risk Management for Community and Justice Professionals.
  Peter G. Jaffe, Marcie Campbell, Laura Olszowy, Leslie Hazel Anne Hamilton.
  Child Abuse Review. April 16, 2014
  Paternal filicide in the context of domestic violence is a rare event that is often hard to predict and prevent. However, the results from current research with domestic homicide review committees suggest that warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children. Even in cases where the dangers to adult victims were recognised, the potential harm to the children was not seen. Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge against the mother for leaving the abusive relationship. The findings suggest that adult homicides and child homicides, which take place in the context of domestic violence, have similar warning signs. The findings have implications for all professionals working in the healthcare, social service, education and justice sectors. In particular, there is a need for close coordination among family and criminal courts, professionals to ensure that the safety plan for a parent in these circumstances extends to the children as well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge’ Key Practitioner Messages Paternal filicide is a rare event that is often hard to predict and prevent. Current research with domestic homicide review committees suggests that warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children. Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge against the mother for leaving the abusive relationship. There is a need for close coordination amongst family and criminal Court professionals to ensure that the safety plan for a parent in these circumstances extends to the children as well. ‘Warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children’

  April 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2315   open full text
• The Relevance of Long‐Term Antecedents in Assessing the Risk of Familicide‐Suicide Following Separation.
  Mark Sachmann, Carolyn Mary Harris Johnson.
  Child Abuse Review. April 16, 2014
  Familicide‐suicide following separation is under‐researched and remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Findings from previous research are inconclusive in relation to both risk factors and perpetrator motivation. This article explores the relevance of long‐term biopsychosocial antecedents in cases of familicide‐suicide that occurred in Western Australia between 1986 and 2005. A conceptualisation of the hypothesised risk factors in familicide‐suicide is proposed based on attachment theory, personality dysfunction, the neurobiology of trauma and the possible unconscious motivation of perpetrators, which may prove helpful in assessing the risk of familicide‐suicide in family court cases. The research identified and articulated a number of warning signs to familicide‐suicide that are often not identified, or appreciated, by decision makers. Suggestions are offered for changes to practice that may be helpful in identifying and responding to high‐risk cases in a way that enhances safety. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A conceptualisation of the hypothesised risk factors in familicide‐suicide is proposed’ Key Practitioner Messages Clinicians need to be aware of the dynamic psychosocial risk factors associated with violent acting out such as: The combination of Cluster B personality diagnoses. A history of domestic violence. Early childhood trauma requires good interagency communication and cooperation.

  April 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2317   open full text
• Child Protection and Cross‐Sector Practice: An Analysis of Child Death Reviews to Inform Practice When Multiple Parental Risk Factors Are Present.
  Margarita Frederico, Annette Jackson, Jenny Dwyer.
  Child Abuse Review. April 16, 2014
  This paper draws upon the findings of an analysis of 16 child death reviews of children known to child protection services in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of the research was to assist in understanding the impact on children of the coexistence of the parental risk factors of mental health problems, family violence and substance abuse. The common coexistence of the three risk factors was identified by the Victorian Child Death Review Committee in its analysis of child death reviews conducted by the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner. The researchers analysed a group of review reports and interviewed and surveyed practitioners in a range of fields. Lessons from filicide research have been integrated into the findings identifying lessons for policy and practice, and the importance of multi‐service collaboration. A framework for understanding different elements of sharing knowledge is presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. understanding the impact on children of the coexistence of the parental risk factors of mental health problems, family violence and substance abuse Key Practitioner Messages Research on filicide and child death reviews can contribute to understanding risk to children and informing practice. The need to pay increased attention when parental substance abuse, mental health problems and family violence coexist. A gender analysis contributes to understanding families and informing systems responses. A multi‐service collaborative framework can support sharing of knowledge when parental risk factors coexist. A multi‐service collaborative framework can support sharing of knowledge when parental risk factors coexist

  April 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2321   open full text
• Child Death Reviews: Developing CLEAR Recommendations.
  Helen Buckley, Caroline O'Nolan.
  Child Abuse Review. April 16, 2014
  This paper is based on a study commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in Ireland. It addresses the topic of recommendations emanating from child death inquiries and reviews; it looks at the factors which privilege some recommendations over others when it comes to implementation and explores whether a more collaborative approach to development might be more beneficial. As part of the study, the researchers to propose a new model for developing recommendations which will address the complexity of child protection practice, reflect its core principles and promote learning. ‘New model for developing recommendations which will address the complexity of child protection practice, reflect its core principles and promote learning’ The study found that recommendations were generally implemented when they fitted with social norms and aspiration of the time and particularly when they synchronised with policy developments that had already been initiated and required increased investment and public support to reach completion. The research drew a distinction between addressing and implementing recommendations, and overall found that a type of ‘recommendation fatigue’ had evolved following the succession if inquiries. It proposed that in the future, recommendations should be drafted in collaboration with key stakeholders which would provide the team with a range of expert knowledge strengthen the methodological rigour of the process and promote the likelihood that they would be feasible and realistic. The study proposed a new model of CLEAR recommendations (Case for change; Learning orientated: Evidence based; Assigning responsibility and easy to Review). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages When inquiry or review recommendations are too numerous, impractical, expensive, lack relevance and are too far out of step with social norms, they are unlikely to be implemented A collaborative approach can ensure that recommendations are informed by relevant sources of information, knowledge and expertise. Recommendations should be framed in a way that illustrates the rationale for change, promotes learning, cites evidence and identifies the organisations responsible for implementation.

  April 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2323   open full text
• Filicide and Parental Separation and Divorce.
  Thea Brown, Danielle Tyson, Paula Fernandez Arias.
  Child Abuse Review. April 16, 2014
  This paper discusses the findings of a ten‐year study of filicide in Victoria, Australia, using the data from selected case files held in the Victorian coroner's office for the period 2000–09. The study sought to examine whether separation is a factor in filicide cases, as well as the role of other factors, such as domestic violence and mental illness. Also, the study sought to identify whether filicide perpetrators had contact with support services, including family and friends, general practitioners, mental health services and child protection services, in order to ascertain how these services might more appropriately identify those families most at risk prior to the filicide. The study found that while separation was a factor identified in a significant number of cases, more cases analysed showed evidence of mental illness, mainly depression. These findings suggest the need for improved strategies in preventing filicide by identifying risk factors and improving service responses for victims prior to these tragic events. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘While separation was a factor identified in a significant number of cases, more cases analysed showed evidence of mental illness, mainly depression’ Key Practitioner Messages: Filicide is uncommon but does occur. Perpetrators fall into three main groups and a different scenario is associated with each group. Associated (risk) factors were found to be mental illness (especially depression), separation, domestic violence and substance abuse. Any client/patient with mental illness and partner separation should be probed for thoughts of harm. Engagement with services is a protective factor.

  April 16, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2327   open full text
• Child Protection in Islamic Contexts: Identifying Cultural and Religious Appropriate Mechanisms and Processes Using a Roundtable Methodology.
  Aisha Jane Hutchinson, Patrick O'Leary, Jason Squire, Kristen Hope.
  Child Abuse Review. April 03, 2014
  This paper reports on a piece of research which brought together eight Islamic scholars, four child protection academics and two international development agencies to identify mechanisms and processes which safeguard children from harm that are congruent with Islamic scholarship and practices. Roundtable methodology was used to share knowledge, build networks and increase engagement with child protection by bringing together different stakeholders to share experiences and encourage collaboration in a relatively cost‐effective manner. Four key themes were identified following initial qualitative data analysis of the roundtable discussion: (1) The convergence and divergence in Islamic thought on issues of child protection; (2) knowledge sharing and partnership working; (3) individual and collective wellbeing; and (4) mechanisms and tools for intervention. Findings from the roundtable indicate that a reliance on solely Western‐based models does not allow for the trust and credibility that enable intervention at a deeper level in Islamic communities. Critically, the roundtable highlighted a significant gap in how Islamic knowledge and principles are practically applied to child protection policy and practice in international development contexts. Next steps are identified for building a knowledge base that can be practised in Islamic communities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Bringing together different stakeholders to share experiences and encourage collaboration in a relatively cost‐effective manner’ Key Practitioner Messages Religious communities are invaluable partners for protecting children and enhancing wellbeing. Despite clear guidance from the Quran and the Sunna about the principles of child protection in Muslim communities, local customs and socio‐political contexts can challenge their application. Mutual learning and shared knowledge between child protection actors and religious actors is key. Community harmony needs to be considered alongside individual experiences within families. Mistrust of ‘outsiders’ is a significant barrier to engaging with organic child protection mechanisms in Islamic contexts.

  April 03, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2304   open full text
• Attachment Interventions with Foster and Adoptive Parents: A Systematic Review.
  Laura Kerr, Jill Cossar.
  Child Abuse Review. March 14, 2014
  Children who have been adopted or fostered are at high risk of experiencing interpersonal difficulties and placement breakdown may occur if these difficulties are not addressed through interventions. The aim of this review was to identify the impact of attachment interventions with foster and adoptive parents on children's behavioural, emotional and relational functioning. A systematic search process was undertaken; electronic databases were searched; key journals were hand searched; reference lists of included articles were searched; and authors who have published work in the field were contacted. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. There is some evidence to support the positive impact of these interventions for children, particularly young children aged six months to six years. However, overall, the studies were of relatively poor methodological quality, making conclusions about the efficacy of these interventions difficult. Further research is therefore required to draw clearer conclusions about the impact of attachment interventions for fostered and adopted children. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Ten studies met the inclusion criteria’ Key Practitioner Messages A number of the reviewed studies reported positive outcomes in child behavioural functioning and to a lesser degree in emotional and relational functioning following intervention. Interventions focused on constructs such as parental sensitivity, attunement to the child and the impact of abuse and neglect on attachment to new caregivers. When quality criteria were applied, two studies focused on children aged six months to six years were found to be methodologically strong, providing some evidence for the benefit of early attachment‐based interventions within this population. ‘Two studies focused on children aged six months to six years were found to be methodologically strong’

  March 14, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2313   open full text
• British Children Can Be Trafficked Too: Towards an Inclusive Definition of Internal Child Sex Trafficking.
  Helen Brayley, Ella Cockbain.
  Child Abuse Review. March 04, 2014
  In research, policy and practice, internal trafficking has been long overshadowed by its international counterpart. Despite the introduction of specific legislation against internal sex trafficking, confusion remains in Britain around how this crime is distinguished from other forms of sexual exploitation. In particular, there have been growing tensions around whether British children can be victims. The need for clarity and consistency has been highlighted by a series of high‐profile cases involving British minors being moved within the UK for sexual exploitation. This article brings ongoing definitional debate into the academic arena, exploring the contents and validity of common arguments against accepting Britons as valid victims. It engages with academic studies, government and third‐sector reports, parliamentary debate and legal statute. Additionally, it features arguments raised by practitioners and policy‐makers at conferences, training and meetings. It proposes an inclusive and more clearly delineated definition of internal child sex trafficking. The acceptance and application of a standardised definition would facilitate more effective, transparent and consistent multi‐agency interventions and data collection. The article will be of interest to practitioners, policy‐makers and academics. It focuses on the UK but contributes to wider international discourse around internal trafficking. ‘There have been growing tensions around whether British children can be victims’ Key Practitioner Messages: Internal trafficking must be better understood and more clearly defined. In the UK, confusion has focused on whether Britons can be internally sex trafficked. Both internal sex trafficking law and associated legislative intent readily accommodate British victims. There are practical and theoretical flaws in the most common arguments against labelling Britons as trafficked. A new inclusive definition of internal child sex trafficking is proposed: its application could support more cohesive, consistent and transparent policy, practice and data monitoring. ‘Both internal sex trafficking law and associated legislative intent readily accommodate British victims.’

  March 04, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2307   open full text
• Health, Developmental and Support Needs of Vulnerable Children – Comparing Children in Foster Care and Children in Need.
  Shanti Raman, Sharmishta Sahu.
  Child Abuse Review. February 18, 2014
  The health needs of children in foster care (FC) have been well described and pathways to health assessment established. Such pathways for other vulnerable children are scarce. We aimed to describe the health and service needs of children attending community paediatric (CP) clinics specifically set up for children exposed to psychosocial risk factors in South Western Sydney (SWS), and to compare the needs of children in FC to those in parental care. We analysed the clinic records of all children attending CP clinics for vulnerable children in SWS in 2008. Of the 98 children seen, the mean age was 4.6 years, the majority (88%) had abuse documented and 57 per cent were in FC. Family risk factors included parental substance use (65%), domestic violence (57%) and parental mental health disorder (33%). Health needs identified included speech delay (45%), developmental delay (39%) and incomplete immunisation (34%); many children required specialist referral. Behavioural and educational difficulties were encountered in almost one‐half of the children. There were no significant differences in health/support needs between those in FC and those in parental care. Pathways to early identification/intervention need to be broadened beyond those established for children in FC, to include those exposed to a range of psychosocial adversities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Behavioural and educational difficulties were encountered in almost one‐half of the children’ Key Practitioner Messages Children in FC and children exposed to psychosocial adversities have a range of health, developmental and psychosocial problems. There are no differences in health or service needs of children exposed to psychosocial adversities, whether they are in FC or parental care. Early identification can lead to intervention and the amelioration of risks. Improving access to paediatric and psychosocial assessments for all vulnerable children rather than just children in care is crucial. ‘Early identification can lead to intervention and the amelioration of risks.’

  February 18, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2305   open full text
• A Review of Safeguarding Cases in Sport.
  Daniel Rhind, Jamie McDermott, Emma Lambert, Irena Koleva.
  Child Abuse Review. February 18, 2014
  This study represents the first investigation into incidents of safeguarding concern in sport within the UK. Questionnaires were completed by 41 lead welfare officers from national governing bodies. A total of 652 cases were reported by a range of key stakeholders, covering a variety of different forms of abuse. Physical and sexual abuse were found to be the most frequently alleged forms of abuse. The majority of alleged perpetrators and victims were males. The need for a standardised form for collecting case data as part of normal practice is highlighted along with the necessity for training and support to manage safeguarding cases both internally and externally to sport organisations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Physical and sexual abuse were found to be the most frequently alleged forms of abuse’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES: A total of 652 safeguarding cases were managed in sport by this sample during 2011. Physical and sexual abuse were the most frequently reported. The majority of victims were boys. There is a need to collect standardised data regarding all cases.

  February 18, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2306   open full text
• Internet Child Sex Offenders' Concerns about Online Security and their Use of Identity Protection Technologies: A Review.
  Myles Balfe, Bernard Gallagher, Helen Masson, Shane Balfe, Ruairi Brugha, Simon Hackett.
  Child Abuse Review. February 18, 2014
  The purpose of this article is to review what is known about the technologies that internet child sex offenders use to abuse or exploit children, offenders' attitudes towards online security and surveillance risk, and their use of identity protection tactics and technologies. The peer‐reviewed literature on internet sex offenders published between 2000 and 2011 was surveyed. Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children. Offenders' awareness of internet‐related risk appears to exist along a continuum. A number of psychological and demographic factors may influence offenders' perceptions of online security risk and their willingness to take security precautions. A surprisingly large number of apprehended offenders in the time period examined by this review did not seem to use any technologies to disguise their identities. A major research programme into internet offenders' use of identity protection technologies, and their use of technologies in general, is needed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Internet child sex offenders use a mixture of new and old technologies to abuse children.’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES: Internet child sex offenders use a variety of commonly available technologies, such as social networking sites and peer‐to‐peer platforms, to abuse children. Offenders are a diverse group when it comes to how they perceive risk and act on those perceptions. The risk perceptions and risk management behaviours of individual offenders can be dynamic. In the period surveyed by this review (2000–11), some studies found that surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities. ‘Surprisingly few offenders used technological measures to protect their identities.’

  February 18, 2014   doi: 10.1002/car.2308   open full text
• Why Have We Made Neglect So Complicated? Taking a Fresh Look at Noticing and Helping the Neglected Child.
  Brigid Daniel.
  Child Abuse Review. November 21, 2013
  The experience of chronic neglect is extremely harmful to children's physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural development. As an area of research it has been traditionally described as neglected, and as an arena of practice it is viewed as complex and intractable. Over the last few decades, however, there has been a body of evidence building up to help with the understanding of the impact of neglect upon children and to guide intervention. This paper draws on experience as a researcher in the field to present some thoughts on our current understanding of neglect, and how we can move forward with more appropriate responses. It argues that existing evidence is not being used to best effect and that current protective systems, like those in the UK, are still struggling to provide an effective response to neglected children. The language of neglect has become over‐complicated and the systems and processes for assessment, planning and intervention are mired in bureaucracy. Some of these complexities are explored in more detail and a model is proposed that would support a more direct and straightforward response to children whose needs are not being met. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘current protective systems’ ‘are still struggling to provide an effective response to neglected children’ Key Practitioner Messages Agencies and practitioners need to avoid being driven into developing complex responses by the complexity of neglect as a phenomenon. Separate ‘child protection’ and ‘family support/child in need’ pathways are not helpful for neglected children. In relation to a neglected child, practitioners can consider what the child needs and what they need people to think about and do on their behalf.

  November 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2296   open full text
• ‘Drugs and Relationships Don't Work’: Children's and Young People's Views of Substance Use and Intimate Relationships.
  Sarah Galvani.
  Child Abuse Review. November 21, 2013
  Responding effectively to children and young people's (CYP's) needs in relation to the overlapping issues of parental substance use (alcohol and other drugs) and domestic abuse requires an understanding of their perspectives and experiences. This study set out to explore the views of CYP on the impact of substance use on violent and abusive behaviours within intimate relationships in order to inform practice and policy development. Fourteen young people attended focus groups at three different specialist substance use support services for families in England. The results showed clear ambivalence about alcohol use in particular and its impact on violent and abusive behaviours. They did not blame substances for subsequent violent or abusive behaviour overall, however, the quantities and type of substances used were considered key to such behaviour. Most importantly, the CYP reported that getting help with substance problems does not automatically improve relationships, indeed, there are situations when pressure to change substance use can make relationships worse. The implications for social care practice are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Clear ambivalence about alcohol use in particular and its impact on violent and abusive behaviours’ Key Practitioner Messages CYP need clear and factual messages about the relationship between substance use and violent and abusive behaviours, particularly messages about the quantity and types of substance. This requires practitioners to be confident in their knowledge and have accurate and age‐appropriate information to give to CYP. Practitioners need to ask CYP about their experiences of the impact of substance use on the family and the relationships within it. It is possible that relationships were abusive and/or the parenting was not ‘good enough’ before the substance use and will not improve in its absence. The CYP highlighted how relationships face different pressures at different times in the process of changing substance use behaviour. CYP need to be supported and consulted throughout. ‘Relationships face different pressures at different times in the process of changing substance use behaviour’

  November 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2292   open full text
• Young People Transitioning From Out‐of‐Home Care: A Critical Analysis of Leaving Care Policy, Legislation and Housing Support in the Australian State of Victoria.
  Philip Mendes, Susan Baidawi, Pamela Snow.
  Child Abuse Review. November 20, 2013
  Young people transitioning from out‐of‐home care are a particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged group. In recent years, there have been significant improvements in Victorian policy and legislation providing support to care leavers. However, these supports remain discretionary rather than mandatory, and many care leavers experience difficult transitions in key areas such as housing, health, education and employment. This study reports on a research project based on a partnership between Monash University and seven non‐government child and youth welfare agencies. A key aim was to identify practices and policies that could reduce the over‐representation of young people transitioning from out‐of‐home care in the youth justice system. The interviews and focus groups conducted with 77 stakeholders revealed major limitations in the application of leaving care policy and legislation, and associated deficits in the availability of appropriate housing. Some key implications for policy and practice reform are identified. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘many care leavers experience difficult transitions in key areas such as housing, health, education and employment’ Key Practitioner Messages Many care leavers have difficult transitions from out of home care due to the absence of a safety net. Post‐care supports should be mandatory, not discretionary. Care leavers should be assisted according to their developmental needs, rather than a random chronological age

  November 20, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2302   open full text
• Doing ‘Serious Case Reviews’: The Views and Experiences of NHS Named and Designated Safeguarding Children Professionals.
  Sue Peckover, Sue Smith, Fiona Wondergem.
  Child Abuse Review. November 07, 2013
  Serious case reviews (SCRs), undertaken when a child has died or been seriously harmed, are an important feature of child protection in England. They are substantial exercises, but little research has examined the everyday work processes associated with their production. This study, undertaken during 2011, explored the views and experiences of NHS Named and Designated Nurses and Doctors for Safeguarding Children about their involvement in SCRs. Nineteen telephone interviews were undertaken and the data thematically analysed. The study found that doing SCRs involved additional work and staff did not always feel fully supported or prepared. Doing SCRs is a rigid and bureaucratic process which sometimes detracted from the case itself. The study also found mixed views about the value of SCRs and the extent to which they promote learning and child‐centred practice. The findings contribute to overall understanding of how this process is undertaken, and help open up to scrutiny the work required and the challenges generated for those involved in SCRs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Doing SCRs is a rigid and bureaucratic process which sometimes detracted from the case itself’ Key Practitioner Message: SCRs are substantial exercises; little previous research has examined their production. Undertaking SCRs requires considerable time, effort and can be emotionally difficult; NHS staff involved in their production face challenges in doing this work. Producing SCRs may distract from the value of the outcomes and the extent to which they promote learning and child‐centred practice.

  November 07, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2301   open full text
• Risk and Protective Factors for Physical and Emotional Abuse Victimisation amongst Vulnerable Children in South Africa.
  Franziska Meinck, Lucie D. Cluver, Mark E. Boyes, Lodrick D. Ndhlovu.
  Child Abuse Review. October 09, 2013
  Little is known about risk and protective factors for emotional and physical child abuse in South Africa. Existing research has focused largely on sexual abuse and relied on recollections of childhood abuse from university and high‐school students or data from criminal reports. The objective of this study was to establish risk and protective factors for severe physical and emotional abuse amongst a large cross‐sectional community sample of South African youth. Confidential self‐report questionnaires were completed by children aged 13–19 (n = 603, 47.9% female) with local interviewers in deprived areas of South Africa. Standardised measures of abuse, hypothesised risk factors and socio‐demographic variables were used. Factors associated with severe physical and emotional child abuse were experience of family conflict (p = 0.003), unequal food distribution (p < 0.014), inconsistent discipline (p = 0.012), number of caregiver changes (p = 0.022), living with a step‐parent (p = 0.034), caregiver disability (p = 0.004), food insecurity (p = 0.006), bullying (p < 0.001), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)‐related stigma (p < 0.001), sexual abuse (p = 0.003), school non‐attendance (p = 0.006) and non‐achievement (p = 0.015). These identified risk and protective factors at community, school, caregiver and household levels have the potential to affect the risk of abuse for children in South Africa, and may be valuable fields for future intervention efforts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The objective of this study was to establish risk and protective factors for severe physical and emotional abuse amongst a large cross‐sectional sample of South African youth’ Key Practitioner Messages Risk and protective factors for physical and emotional child abuse have not been thoroughly studied in South Africa.Risk and protective factors for child abuse in South Africa include poverty, AIDS‐related stigma, bullying, school non‐attendance and achievement, sexual abuse, caregiver disability, inconsistent discipline, family conflict and living with a step‐parent.Future research should focus on longitudinal data to establish causality and to examine the relationship between child abuse and caregiver AIDS sickness.

  October 09, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2283   open full text
• The Use of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory in the Assessment of Parents involved in Care Proceedings.
  Sarah Laulik, Jayne Allam, Kevin Browne.
  Child Abuse Review. October 04, 2013
  Assessing for potential physical abuse is a fundamental task for those professionals undertaking assessments of parents involved in care proceedings. One tool developed to help assist in this endeavour is the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory (Milner, , ). The CAP Inventory provides an estimate of parental risk of child abuse and is one of the most widely used psychometric tools by psychologists in child protection settings. This review evaluates the psychometric properties of this measure and provides an overview of its potential uses, as well as its limitations. It concludes that there is evidence to support the validity and reliability of the CAP Inventory for use in care proceedings. Specifically, the review indicates that the CAP Inventory has good levels of reliability and validity (construct, content and concurrent). The only aspect of validity for which there is a lack of evidence is that of predictive validity and this is due to a dearth of prospective studies. Given the above, the practical, clinical and ethical implications for the use of the CAP Inventory in the assessment of parents involved in care proceedings are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘There is evidence to support the validity and reliability of the CAP Inventory for use in care proceedings’ Key Practitioner Messages: The CAP Inventory is one of the most widely used tools in child protection settings. A critical evaluation revealed that the tool has strong psychometric properties. Practitioners can be confident in the validity and reliability of the CAP Inventory. The CAP Inventory is able to detect potentially abusive individuals in situations (such as parenting capacity assessments) where they are keen to present a positive (but misleading) impression of themselves.

  October 04, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2294   open full text
• The Impact of Limited Organisational and Community Resources on Novice Child Protection Workers: A Queensland Example.
  Annerley Bates.
  Child Abuse Review. July 04, 2013
  A high turnover of staff at the Queensland statutory child protection agency, combined with a lack of experienced prospective employees, means that the agency is increasingly relying on new university graduates. However, the availability of resources is a risk to the continued engagement of child protection workers because they do not feel that they are able to adequately service the clients who they work with, and is one reason why they may choose to leave the agency. In order to gain a greater understanding of how graduate child protection workers perceive both organisational and community resourcing, this study interviewed 20 child protection workers who were still in their first 12 months of employment in the agency. The results suggest that insufficient staffing within the agency affected the work of the child protection workers. Participants identified that additional organisational resources of that which would improve the capacity of child protection workers to fulfil their role in a more efficient and safe manner included motor vehicles and administrative support. Participants expressed the view that resources external to the organisation were necessary to promote practice and improve outcomes for children and families. In the absence of additional resources being made available, effectively allocating resources within child protection offices, as well as encouraging the workers to develop their knowledge of available resources, should help address this issue. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The results suggest that insufficient staffing within the agency affected the work of the child protection workers’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Dissatisfaction with resourcing both within a statutory child protection agency and within community‐based organisations external to the agency affect child protection workers' job satisfaction.Effectively allocating existing resources within child protection offices and encouraging new child protection workers to develop their awareness of external resources should assist these practitioners to fully utilise the resources available to assist children.

  July 04, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2286   open full text
• Sexual Exploitation, Selling and Swapping Sex: Victimhood and Agency.
  Jane Dodsworth.
  Child Abuse Review. June 28, 2013
  Drawing on a qualitative study of women involved in sex work in the UK, this paper focuses on the participants who became involved in sexual exploitation or, what some of them saw as, selling or swapping sex for non‐monetary ‘payment’, under the age of 18. A central aim of the study was to develop an understanding of how the meaning ascribed to risk and protective factors influenced perceptions of victimhood and agency. Findings indicate that the key determinants of pathway outcomes were: whether, and how, the search for approval and affection was resolved; whether feeling ‘different’ led to a sense of defeat or strengthened resolve; whether coping strategies were adaptive or maladaptive; and whether individuals experienced the availability of a secure base. The findings suggest the need for policy which acknowledges the expertise and views of the young people involved, recognises the importance of early intervention, and is holistic in service provision not only for young people who are victims of sexual exploitation, but also for those who perceive that they have exercised agency, albeit from limited options, about their involvement in selling or swapping sex. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘How the meaning ascribed to risk and protective factors influenced perceptions of victimhood and agency’ Key Practitioner Messages Policy and service provision must acknowledge the agency, expertise and views of the young people involved in sexual exploitation.We need to build on the good practice already in existence in continuing to develop a model of intervention which promotes security and resilience.Service interventions with young people involved in or at risk of sexual exploitation, selling and swapping sex must be trust building, respectful, relationship based, solution focused and strengths based. ‘Service interventions must be trust building, respectful, relationship based, solution focused and strengths based’

  June 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2282   open full text
• Contact, Cigarette and Flame Burns in Physical Abuse: A Systematic Review.
  Alison M. Kemp, Sabine A. Maguire, Rebecca C. Lumb, Stacey M. Harris, Mala K. Mann.
  Child Abuse Review. June 28, 2013
  This systematic review identifies features of intentional non‐scald burns in physical abuse. Fifteen bibliographic databases of international literature (1950–2011) were searched to identify potential studies that were critically appraised using standardised methods. Primary studies with confirmed intentional non‐scald burns in children aged < 18 years were included to provide a descriptive analysis of the causation, appearance and distribution of burns. ‘This systematic review identifies features of intentional non‐scald burns in physical abuse’ Twenty studies were included: one cross‐sectional, one case control and 18 case studies/small case series representing 73 children with intentional non‐scald burns. The majority were contact burns from household items: the agents included cigarettes (18), irons (9), electric fires/heaters/radiators (10), cigarette lighters (2), hairdryers (7), curling tongs (3), chemicals (3), microwaves (2) flame burns (7), miscellaneous (7) and burns of unknown cause (5). The burns occurred throughout childhood. The majority of children were older than three years. The characteristic features were of clearly demarcated contact burns or scars in shapes that mirrored the agent. They were predominantly recorded on the limbs, trunks and the backs of hands; they were frequently multiple and co‐existed with additional signs of abuse. These features should raise concerns of suspected physical abuse. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Intentional Non‐scald Burns The commonest reported cause of intentional non‐scald burns are contact burns: cigarettes, irons, hairdryers or domestic heaters.Burns are often clearly demarcated in the shape of the causative agent.Burns are found on the limbs, back or trunk, in locations other than the palms of the hands.Burns are often multiple and may co‐exist with other injuries suspicious of abuse.Single or multiple circular, deep‐cratered burns are consistent with cigarette burns. ‘The commonest reported cause of intentional non‐scald burns are contact burns’

  June 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2278   open full text
• Playing through Pain: Children and Young People's Experiences of Physical Aggression and Violence in Sport.
  Anne Stafford, Kate Alexander, Deborah Fry.
  Child Abuse Review. June 26, 2013
  While there has been some focus on physical abuse in the general child abuse literature, there have been few studies examining the physical abuse of children in sport. This article focuses mainly on peer physical harm in sport. However, we argue that to fully understand physical harm between young people in sport requires understanding: (1) the ‘sporting ethos’ prevalent in sport where training and competing to the limits of physicality are part of the culture; and (2) the physical harm that occurs between coaches and young people as a context for understanding physical harm between young people. Results are based on a convenience sample of 6124 young people (age 18–22) who completed an online survey about their experiences of participating in sport as children; 89 follow‐up interviews were conducted with a sub‐set of these young people. Findings suggest that in sport, where training and competing to the limits of physicality are inherent to sporting achievement, physical harm is common and takes on a different form to physical harm of children in other settings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Results are based on a convenience sample of 6124 young people’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Sport practitioners and sport bodies should put in place policies, procedures, training and practice which enable adults to systematically tackle harm occurring in sport settings including between peers.Practitioners involved in working with children and young people in sport settings should take steps to promote a more positive sporting and coaching ethos and build upon what children and young people value about sport participation.

  June 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2289   open full text
• Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: Delays, Non‐disclosure and Partial Disclosure. What the Research Tells Us and Implications for Practice.
  Rosaleen McElvaney.
  Child Abuse Review. June 26, 2013
  This paper reviews the research on disclosure of child sexual abuse with specific reference to delays in disclosing, non‐disclosure and partial disclosure of experiences of child sexual abuse. Findings from large‐scale national probability studies highlight the prevalence of both non‐disclosure and delays in disclosure, while findings from small‐scale qualitative studies portray the complexity, diversity and individuality of experiences. The possible explanations regarding why children are reluctant to disclose such experiences have significant implications for addressing the issue of child sexual abuse from the perspectives of child protection, legal and therapeutic professionals. The importance of understanding the dynamics of disclosure, in particular the needs of young people to maintain control over the disclosure process, the important role that peers play in this process, the responses of adults in both informal and formal networks, and the opportunities to tell, is key to helping young people speak more promptly about their experiences of sexual abuse. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The importance of understanding the dynamics of disclosure’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Children typically delay disclosing experiences of abuse.Asking children questions about their wellbeing gives them the opportunity to tell when they are ready.The challenge is to find the right questions at the right time.Peers can be the right people to ask these questions.Adolescents need to know about how to ask and what to do if someone tells. Adolescents need to know about how to ask and what to do if someone tells.

  June 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2280   open full text
• Assessing Risk of Victim Crossover with Children and Young People who display Harmful Sexual Behaviours.
  Stuart Allardyce, Peter Michael Yates.
  Child Abuse Review. June 26, 2013
  Assessments of children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours need to consider – at a broad level – the safety of other children at home, in the community and in the wider family. To date, issues of victim selection have been marginalised in the relevant literature. Drawing on our experience of working with this client group, this article uses four composite case studies that reflect the heterogeneity of children and young people who sexually abuse and applies recent research findings about intra‐ and extra‐familial sexual abuse to make suggestions for good practice in assessment and intervention with young people who display harmful sexual behaviours in different settings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Issues of victim selection have been marginalised in the relevant literature’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Young people with harmful sexual behaviour are a heterogeneous group who may be more likely than adults to vary victim type.A formulation approach to risk assessment allows us to move beyond merely the likelihood of future risk, to consider more dynamically issues of victim selection and circumstances in which risks may present.Assessments of family relationships, in particular sibling relationships, can help sharpen our approach to risk assessment and the potential for family‐community crossover.

  June 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2277   open full text
• A Balancing Act: A Family Perspective to Sibling Sexual Abuse.
  Michael Keane, Andrea Guest, Jo Padbury.
  Child Abuse Review. June 26, 2013
  This article will focus on responding to harmful sexual behaviour by young people towards their siblings and other young children in their family network. It will explore a framework for practice of engaging children and their families following disclosure of sexual abuse, developed by the Sexual Abuse Counselling and Prevention Program at the Children's Protection Society (CPS) in Melbourne, Australia. This article will detail statutory and policy frameworks that provide a context for therapeutic intervention. This particularly applies to consideration of the separation of young people from their families, and where this occurs, to the matter of their reunification with their families. The CPS is particularly exercised by the challenge of achieving a balance in individual safety and the wellbeing of all family members. The article will look at examples of work in which balancing the best interests of different family members which at times are in potential if not actual conflict poses a challenge to counselling staff. The article will provide ideas and approaches to consider for those programmes that walk this difficult journey with families. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘This article will detail statutory and policy frameworks that provide a context for therapeutic intervention’ Key Practitioner Messages In working with sibling sexual abuse, therapeutic work should equally consider the needs of the victim and the offending sibling.Joint work with all family members can contribute to creating a safe environment, which promotes family healing.Safety planning needs to occur in partnership with parents and statutory bodies. ‘Safety planning needs to occur in partnership with parents and statutory bodies’

  June 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2284   open full text
• Understanding the Causal Pathways to Child Maltreatment: Implications for Health and Social Care Policy and Practice.
  Eileen Munro, Julie S. Taylor, Caroline Bradbury‐Jones.
  Child Abuse Review. June 25, 2013
  This article examines current understandings regarding the causes of child maltreatment and its prediction and prevention. The answers to why some people hurt children, when others in similar circumstances do not, remain obstinately elusive. We look to philosophy to help understand the complexity of causal pathways of maltreatment. We draw on the seminal work of Mackie () on probabilistic causation and his notion of the ‘INUS condition’ (INUS is the acronym for insufficient but non‐redundant part of a condition that is itself unnecessary but sufficient for the result). This theory holds particular relevance for exploring complex social phenomena. Taking child abuse as an issue, we show how the concept of the INUS condition offers a new way of thinking about causal factors when they are neither necessary nor sufficient. It can be applied to clarify the complex nexus of potential risk factors that may – or may not – ‘cause’ adult perpetration of abuse. It also provides a framework for integrating the research on resilience factors with that on risk. Finally, we discuss the lessons for research, policy and practice that arise from this way of conceptualising the underlying causality of child maltreatment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The concept of the INUS condition offers a new way of thinking about causal factors’ Key Practitioner Messages: There have been major efforts to create models of risk and prediction in child protection but it remains an imprecise science.Risk factors appear to be neither necessary nor sufficient conditions for maltreatment to occur.In this article, we adopt a philosophical position to help make sense of the complex causation of maltreatment.We show the implications of these new perspectives for health and social care policy and practice.

  June 25, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2266   open full text
• Child Death Review Processes: A Six‐Country Comparison.
  Sharon Vincent.
  Child Abuse Review. June 25, 2013
  This paper compares and contrasts child death review (CDR) structures and processes in six countries – Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, England and Wales. It presents findings from a comparative study based on analysis of data from 18 case studies. Data were collected through a combination of documentary analysis, interviews and observations. The study found that CDR processes vary according to: where the function is located and whether review is undertaken at state, local or national level; whether review is rooted in legislation; the focus of review; whether dedicated funding is provided; whether families are involved in the process; and whether structures are supported by useful data systems. It was not possible to evaluate the effectiveness of different review systems but the findings suggest that structure makes little difference in terms of determining the extent to which CDR findings inform prevention effort and activity. While factors such as lack of funding, lack of national data, or lack of legislation may hinder the work of CDR teams, CDR findings have informed prevention initiatives despite such barriers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘It presents findings from a comparative study based on analysis of data from 18 case studies’ Key Practitioner Messages Standardisation and aggregation of data at national or state level are crucial for effective CDR. A model of individual review, cross‐case review and themed review can result in real learning and practice change. A public health model of CDR offers the most potential in terms of prevention. Families can contribute key information but participation must be managed sensitively and take account of cultural issues. ‘A model of individual review, cross‐case review and themed review can result in real learning and practice change.’

  June 25, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2276   open full text
• ‘What's Going On’ to Safeguard Children and Young People from Child Sexual Exploitation: A Review of Local Safeguarding Children Boards’ Work to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation.
  Jenny J. Pearce.
  Child Abuse Review. June 21, 2013
  This article draws on findings from research into the implementation by local safeguarding children boards (local government multi‐agency panels responsible for child protection in England) of national guidance on safeguarding children from child sexual exploitation (CSE). Despite there being some excellent examples of practice, a lack of awareness of the issues faced by sexually exploited children or a lack of resources to address them meant that only a quarter were implementing the dual aim of the guidance: protecting children and prosecuting abusers. The research developed a data monitoring tool, its use showing that children experiencing CSE had multiple problems, many already receiving support from a range of service providers for other related problems. This suggests that there might be scope for better early identification and prevention of CSE. The research showed new forms of CSE, including peer‐on‐peer sexual exploitation, raising important questions about engaging with children who were both perpetrators and victims of abuse. Finally, research findings identified methods of disrupting and prosecuting abusers, giving insight into some of the complexities involved in achieving both. In the main, safeguarding children was best facilitated through co‐located multi‐agency teams where child protection and law enforcement practitioners worked together. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘There might be scope for better early identification and prevention of CSE’ Key Practitioner Messages: Local safeguarding children boards have a key responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation and disrupt and prosecute abusers.Sexually exploited children experience a range of different problems, and are often known to service providers who need better training to respond to the abuse.Exploitation is changing, including peer‐on‐peer sexual violence.Protection can be achieved through co‐located multi‐agency teams supported by direct service provision to young people.

  June 21, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2269   open full text
• Post‐separation Fathering and Domestic Abuse: Challenges and Contradictions.
  Stephanie Holt.
  Child Abuse Review. June 13, 2013
  This paper explores the experience of post‐separation fathering, in the context of a prior history of domestic abuse from the perspectives of mothers, fathers, children and professionals participating in a three‐year doctoral research project. A mixed methodological research design conducted over two phases involved both the completion of survey questionnaires by 219 mothers and the participation in focus groups and individual interviews by children and young people, mothers, fathers and professionals. The findings highlight clear evidence of post‐separation contact facilitating the continued abuse of women and children. The findings also highlight a lack of attention to the parenting of abusive men who were identified as struggling to realise their fathering aspirations and take responsibility for the impact of their abusive behaviour on their children and ex‐partners. Particular constructions of family life are found to sustain the often unmonitored presence of abusive men in post‐separation family life. This paper concludes by asserting the need to prioritise the construction of fathers as ‘risk’ in the context of post‐separation father‐child contact. Doing so does not mean excluding fathers from children's lives; rather, what is critical is to find ways to ensure that abusive men can be ‘good enough’ fathers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Clear evidence of post‐separation contact facilitating the continued abuse of women and children’ Key Practitioner Messages Separation is not a ‘vaccine against domestic violence’, with women and children at risk of continued abuse in the post‐separation period.Abusive men need to be held responsible for their abusive behaviour before the potential for safe contact can be considered.All of the key players – mothers, children and fathers – may need support from the impact that domestic violence has on parenting capacity and family life. ‘Abusive men need to be held responsible for their abusive behaviour before the potential for safe contact can be considered’

  June 13, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2264   open full text
• Taking a Long View in Child Welfare: How Can We Evaluate Intervention and Child Wellbeing over Time?
  Janice McGhee, Fiona Mitchell, Brigid Daniel, Julie Taylor.
  Child Abuse Review. June 10, 2013
  This paper synthesises ideas generated from an international knowledge exchange seminar series to explore the potential and pitfalls in utilising routine administrative data and survey data for longitudinal research about children involved in public child welfare services. Methodological, technical and ethical issues are explored, including the challenges in capturing the nature, focus and intensity of intervention. It is suggested that assessing child wellbeing across a range of dimensions in the short, medium and long term may provide a better conceptual basis for research than defining specific outcomes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Synthesises ideas generated from an international knowledge exchange seminar series’ Key Practitioner Messages: In responding to child maltreatment, it is crucial to record and understand the social context. Information systems can be used beyond individual cases, disciplines and jurisdictions. Their potential when combined will help us understand child maltreatment to a greater degree. Child protection work is complex and practice is not straightforward. Understanding what works best, for whom and in what circumstances can be enhanced by looking at multiple disciplines over long periods of time.

  June 10, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2268   open full text
• Growing Up under a Shadow: Key Issues in Research on and Treatment of Children Born of Rape.
  Elisa Van Ee, Rolf J. Kleber.
  Child Abuse Review. June 10, 2013
  Children born of wartime rape are particularly vulnerable and their case is complex as their needs intertwine with the needs of their mothers or their cultural community. To analyse the status of children born of rape and identify both risk factors and key issues, a systematic search among medical and psychological research articles was performed. In addition, historical, sociological and human rights literature was explored. Risk factors for the wellbeing of children born of rape are: pregnancy and delivery; poor parent‐child relationships; discrimination and stigmatisation; and identity issues. Three key issues which should direct research and clinical practice are formulated: perceiving children born of rape as secondary rape victims; the existence of multiple perpetrators; and competing rights and interests. To assist children born of rape, clinicians, as well as researchers, are confronted with the challenge to develop a comprehensive perspective that considers the needs and rights of both children and mothers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Three key issues which should direct research and clinical practice are formulated’ ‘A comprehensive perspective that considers the needs and rights of both children and mothers’ Key Practitioner Messages Children born of rape face serious mental health risks. Perceiving children born of rape as secondary rape victims is of importance as this highlights the risk of confrontation with the direct trauma of the mother via the mother‐child relationship. Acknowledging the existence of multiple perpetrators creates the opportunity to hold those involved accountable for their behaviour. Clinicians have to develop a comprehensive perspective that considers the needs and rights of both children and mothers.

  June 10, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2270   open full text
• Sexual Abuse and Drug Abuse among Homeless Children in Ahvaz, Iran.
  Mahmood Baratvand, Mansour Soodani, Eghbal Zarei, Abdolrahim Asadollahi.
  Child Abuse Review. June 10, 2013
  This study conducted in the Ahvaz Correction Centre (ACC) in 2008 explored the relationship between variables such as drug abuse and sexual abuse and homelessness among children. The sample consisted of 28 children (mean age = 14.5 years) selected by snowball sampling. Data were collected by social workers practising in the ACC. The mean age of children beginning life on the streets was 11.71 years, and the group lived on the streets, on average, for 2.69 years. The group was held in the ACC, on average, for 11.68 months. Sexual abuse and drug abuse were common behaviours among the children, and robust relationships were found between these variables and age during the first experience of shelter‐seeking. The children had committed crimes such as pick‐pocketing, sexual abuse against other children, drug addiction and drug trafficking. It was found that many of their families had a history of conflict and/or divorce and most children had a family member with a criminal record. The children were also disadvantaged by a lack of education, with illiteracy common among them and their parents. A significant relationship was established between the children's family situation and the length of their detention (r = 0.47), while children who maintained links with their family members were less likely to return to crime after release from the centre. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A history of conflict and/or divorce and most had a family member with a criminal record’ Key Practitioner Messages In this sample of street children in Iran, half had begun living on the streets before the age of 11 years.A majority of the children had engaged in criminal behaviours, particularly the misuse of drugs.Many of these children had either perpetrated or been victims of sexual abuse while living on the streets.Criminality in the family of origin was a common finding.

  June 10, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2263   open full text
• Rights, Responsibilities and Pragmatic Practice: Family Participation in Case Reviews.
  Kate Morris, Marian Brandon, Paul Tudor.
  Child Abuse Review. May 29, 2013
  This article considers the experiences of families and professionals in case reviews where a child has died/suffered serious injury as a result or abuse or neglect. There is an expectation in the four UK nations that families will be included in such case reviews. The article draws on a study of policies and practices, and family accounts of involvement. An overview of UK policies and practices is described, and the broader questions that emerge for participatory practices identified. Family experiences in this complex area of practice are considered, and recommendations made for practice. The uneven picture of family involvement is argued to reflect uncertainty about the purpose, value and role of family involvement. Concerns are raised about the unresolved dilemmas arising from family involvement and the potential for practice to be unhelpful if not carefully examined. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘An overview of UK policies and practices is described, and the broader questions that emerge for participatory practices identified’ Key Practitioner Messages: Family involvement in reviews is an expectation across the UK nations, but with limited practice guidance. Family perspectives add invaluable insights and support learning for future protective services. Professionals have common drivers for family involvement in reviews, but few policies articulate the purpose of participation. Family involvement raises difficult questions for participatory practices. Without further clarity and adoption of principles for practice, dilemmas will remain whatever review models are adopted.

  May 29, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2272   open full text
• How Young Is Too Young? The Evidence of Children Under Five in the English Criminal Justice System.
  Ruth Marchant.
  Child Abuse Review. April 29, 2013
  Perceptions of children's competence as witnesses have shifted repeatedly in the last few decades. Recent international research confirms that very young children can provide reliable descriptions of past events when properly interviewed. In England, the legislative foundations are now in place to enable the evidence of very young children to be heard and tested: clear guidance is available for interviewing teams, prosecutors and advocates, and the judiciary. Yet practice with very young children is erratic across England, both at investigation and at trial. Many practitioners do not feel confident to interview or cross‐examine very young children and in some areas children under five are not interviewed at all. Very few under fives give evidence in English courts, although this is beginning to change. ‘Very few under fives give evidence in English courts, although this is beginning to change’ This paper briefly summarises recent research and current guidance and explores the reasons for variability in practice. A range of practical strategies are suggested to enable very young children to give their best evidence. These strategies link the research base to the author's direct involvement as a registered witness intermediary in more than 70 investigative interviews and criminal trials with children aged two to five.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Very young children are particularly vulnerable, both to maltreatment and to inept adult questioning. Very young children can give reliable and accurate evidence. There is now consistency and clarity of guidance in relation to the evidence of very young children at interview and at trial. The communicative competence of very young child witnesses depends heavily on the competence of interviewing teams, intermediaries, advocates and the judiciary. ‘Young children are particularly vulnerable, both to maltreatment and to inept adult questioning’

  April 29, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2273   open full text
• Maltreatment in Foster Care: A review of the evidence.
  Nina Biehal.
  Child Abuse Review. February 28, 2013
  This article examines the evidence on maltreatment in foster care, drawing on a critical review of research published in the USA, the UK and Australia. Few studies have reported on the extent of maltreatment in this setting and the evidence that does exist is inconclusive. The limited available evidence suggests that maltreatment may be reported for up to two per cent of children in foster care in any one year, but much depends on the definitions used and on local variation in thresholds for investigation. The article discusses the perpetrators and nature of this maltreatment and problems with substantiation, and highlights important gaps in the existing research. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages: It is important to distinguish allegations of maltreatment from those concerning poor standards of care. However, the boundary between the two may sometimes be unclear. Poor assessment and supervision of foster carers may increase the risk of maltreatment. Precipitate responses to allegations of poor standards of care, without a proper assessment of the balance of risks, may themselves be harmful to children's emotional wellbeing. ‘It is important to distinguish allegations of maltreatment from those concerning poor standards of care’

  February 28, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2249   open full text
• How Consistently Do We Measure Bruises? A Comparison of Manual and Electronic Methods.
  Zoë Lawson, Frank Dunstan, Diane Nuttall, Sabine Maguire, Alison Kemp, Stephen Young, Michael Barker, Laura David.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  Bruises in suspected abuse are routinely measured for clinical and forensic purposes. We aimed to determine the consistency of electronic and manual bruise measurements. Over two sessions, 45 observers recorded the greatest lengths of eight bruises in cross‐polarised images. Observers were presented with six images in each session; four were common to both sessions. Manual measurements were achieved using a paper tape‐measure on hard‐copy images; electronic measurements used ImageJ software for digital on‐screen images. Differences in mean measurements between methods were tested using paired t‐tests; within‐ and between‐observer variations were computed. On average, manual measurements were smaller than electronic measurements. Observers were prone to rounding bias in manual measurements. Overall standard deviations of measurements (0.39–0.63 cm) did not differ greatly between methods. Measuring electronically, observers showed more consistency between sessions than measuring manually. Electronic measurements had greater variation between observers than manual measurements. Overall, 95 per cent of measurements for a given bruise lay within a range of 2 cm. We conclude that measurement of a bruise by either method varied. In clinical practice, we recommend that a right‐angled linear scale is included in any photographic image of a bruise, such that clinicians can standardise the estimate of bruise size. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘45 observers recorded the greatest lengths of eight bruises in cross‐polarised images’ ‘We recommend that a right‐angled linear scale is included in any photographic image of a bruise’ Key Practitioner Message: Measurements produced by different observers varied widely when assessing the same bruise Less variation was found when observers repeated the measurement electronically, than when done manually In contrast, electronic measurements varied more than manual measurements between different observers Defining the boundary of a bruise allows a more detailed assessment of size, shape, location, pattern, and colour Including a right‐angled linear scale is recommended in any photographic image of a bruise

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2217   open full text
• Street Boys and Girls: A Case Study in Mauritania.
  Jérôme Ballet, Augendra Bhukuth, Katia Radja.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  The phenomenon of street children could have gender‐specific aspects. The cultural hypothesis emphasises the fact that the social roles assigned to boys and girls lead to gender‐based differences in the way that the process of migration onto the street is viewed. The validity of this hypothesis is tested using data on street children in Mauritania. Our study analyses the family background of the children. The results support this hypothesis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The phenomenon of street children could have gender‐specific aspects’ Key Practitioner Message: Studies on street children do not usually provide comparison between boys and girls despite gender specificities being important. Differences in family structure have been correlated to child gender. For example, parental absence. No significant difference emerged in terms of physical violence between the two groups in the typology.

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2196   open full text
• Case, Service and Family Characteristics of Households that Experience a Child Maltreatment Fatality in the United States.
  Emily M. Douglas.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  Child maltreatment fatalities have increasingly received attention over the past three decades and yet there is a dearth of information concerning case, service and family/household factors associated with maltreatment fatalities. This is a US multi‐state study of 135 child welfare workers who experienced the death of a child on their caseload. They reported on the case, service and family/household characteristics of a child who died on their caseload. Results indicate that workers had seen victims one week prior to their death and were closely monitoring families. The most frequently mentioned family characteristics included: parental unemployment, parental mental health, experiencing a major life event and parents' inappropriate age expectations of the child. Parental alcohol and substance use were more common among infant victims; and parental perceptions of the child being ‘difficult’ were more common among older victims. The results are discussed with regard to future research and prevention for the field. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A US multi‐state study of 135 child welfare workers who experienced the death of a child on their caseload’ Key Practitioner Messages: The primary findings of this study indicate that: Workers have regular contact with children leading up to the time of their death. Children die even when they are being closely monitored and have had a full‐risk assessment. Families where children died were not using very many services. ‘Families where children died were not using very many services’

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2236   open full text
• Child Maltreatment and Household Dysfunction in a British Birth Cohort.
  Rachel Denholm, Chris Power, Leah Li, Claudia Thomas.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  In this article, we assess the prevalence of child maltreatments, their co‐occurrence and associations with household dysfunction in a large population cohort. Information from the 1958 British birth cohort on childhood abuse, neglect and household dysfunction recorded at 45 years and during childhood was used. Prevalence was calculated in three samples: individuals with each measure (n = 9310–15 583); 45‐year‐old participants (n = 9310); and all surviving to 45 years (n = 17 313) includes imputed data. A cumulative neglect score was derived. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was applied to establish the co‐occurrence of maltreatments. In the three samples, 14.2 to 17.1 per cent of participants reported any form of abuse: psychological (10.0–12.5%), physical (6.1–9.0%), sexual (1.6–2.9%) and witnessing abuse (6.0–8.5%). A high neglect score (≥ 3; prevalence 25.9–32.1%) was positively associated with any form of abuse (30% increase/unit). LCA identified 8.2 per cent of participants at risk of both abuse and neglect, and 24.9 per cent at high risk of neglect ‘only’. Measures of household dysfunction were associated with all types of child maltreatment, particularly with abuse and neglect. Approximately one‐third of this population sample showed a high risk of child maltreatment; over one in ten reported any form of abuse. Those from dysfunctional family backgrounds were particularly vulnerable to both child abuse and neglect. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Those from dysfunctional family backgrounds were particularly vulnerable to both child abuse and neglect’ Key Practitioner Messages What Is Known Child abuse and neglect are common and likely to co‐occur. Measures of household dysfunction are associated with child maltreatment. What This Study Adds Child maltreatments co‐occur in the 1958 cohort: one in three had an increased risk of neglect, and of these 25 per cent were at risk of abuse. Individuals from dysfunctional family backgrounds were at an increased risk of maltreatments in childhood. Dysfunctional family background was more strongly associated with abuse and neglect together than neglect alone.

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2235   open full text
• Grading the Graded Care Profile.
  Robin Sen, Pam Green Lister, Paul Rigby, Andrew Kendrick.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  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.

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2257   open full text
• A Preliminary Test of a Social Information Processing Model of Parenting Risk in Adolescent Males at Risk for Later Physical Child Abuse in Adulthood.
  Sandra T. Azar, Yuko Okado, Michael T. Stevenson, Lara R. Robinson.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  Social information processing (SIP) theory has been useful in understanding male aggression both generally and within intimate relationships. This study examined a SIP model of parenting risk in adolescent males (N = 77) who are not yet parents but have characteristics found in adult men who have physically abused children. Three SIP factors were predicted to play a role in the use of punishment: rigid and inappropriate child expectations (schema), problem‐solving abilities and attributions of negative child intent. The adolescents in this study exhibited SIP difficulties at levels similar to those found in maltreating mothers and mothers at risk for perpetrating child maltreatment. As predicted, those who had more unrealistic expectations gave significantly more irrelevant solutions to child‐rearing problems, made more negative intent attributions and assigned higher levels of punishment when presented with aversive child behaviour scenarios. Testing of the full model using structural equation modeling revealed, as predicted, significant direct paths between two SIP elements (problem‐solving and attributions) and punishment levels assigned to children. An indirect path between expectations and punishment through attributions was also found. History of abuse did not add to the model in this at‐risk sample. Implications of findings for prevention and future directions are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Three SIP factors were predicted to play a role in the use of punishment’ ‘Significant direct paths between two SIP elements and punishment levels assigned to children’ Key Practitioner Message The SIP model argues that caregivers who have unrealistic expectancies of children show poorer problem‐solving in child‐rearing situations, and make more negative intent attributions to children's behaviour are at greater risk for inadequate and inappropriate parenting, including child maltreatment.

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2244   open full text
• ‘Just be Brave’ – The Experiences of Young Witnesses in Criminal Proceedings in Northern Ireland.
  David Hayes, Lisa Bunting.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  The last three decades have witnessed considerable interest in the position of children and young people acting as witnesses in criminal cases and on how best to facilitate them to give their best evidence and minimise the trauma involved. This paper presents the findings of a small‐scale study in Northern Ireland examining the experiences of young witnesses pre‐trial, during the trial and post‐trial. Interviews were carried out with 37 young witnesses and 33 parents, and a questionnaire was completed by 16 volunteers and practitioners working in a local young witness support scheme. The findings indicate that the prospect and actuality of giving evidence in a criminal trial are anxiety‐provoking and stressful for the majority of young witnesses. Particular issues identified are delay, both in terms of cases coming to court and in waiting times at court, the availability of pre‐trial preparation and support, facilities at court buildings and the treatment of young people during cross‐examination by defence lawyers. The paper concludes that there is a continuing need to strive for improvement, and that this necessarily involves reviewing the experiences of young witnesses and seeking their views on measures designed to enable them to give their best evidence. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A small‐scale study in Northern Ireland examining the experiences of young witnesses pre‐trial, during the trial and post‐trial’ Key Practitioner Messages: Acting as a witness is a stressful experience for children and, for some, distress can persist post‐trial regardless of the trial outcome. Delay, both in cases coming to court and waiting times at court, is a significant issue which exacerbates the stress experienced by young witnesses. Pre‐trial support is highly valued but referrals to witness support schemes need to be made in a timely manner to ensure that young witnesses are appropriately assessed and supported. ‘A significant issue which exacerbates the stress experienced by young witnesses’

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2242   open full text
• Individual, Family and Abuse Characteristics of 700 British Child and Adolescent Sexual Abusers.
  Simon Hackett, Josie Phillips, Helen Masson, Myles Balfe.
  Child Abuse Review. February 27, 2013
  The individual, family and abuse characteristics of 700 children and young people referred to nine UK services over a nine‐year period between 1992 and 2000 as a result of their sexually abusive behaviours were examined. The most common age at referral was 15 years, though a third of all referrals related to children aged 13 or under. Thirty‐eight per cent of the sample were identified as learning disabled. Surprisingly high rates of sexual and non‐sexual victimisation were present in the backgrounds of the children and young people referred. A wide range of abusive behaviours was perpetrated with just over half of the sample having penetrated or having attempted to penetrate another individual. Victims were usually known to the abuser but in 75 per cent of cases were not related. Fifty‐one per cent of the sample abused females only, though 49 per cent had at least one male victim. The implications for policy and practice with children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Thirty‐eight per cent of the sample were identified as learning disabled’ Key Practitioner Messages Children and young people who sexually abuse others are a diverse group with a complex set of motivations, background experiences and varying types of abusive behaviour. Children and young people with learning disabilities who sexually abuse comprise a particularly vulnerable group with specific intervention needs. A one‐size‐fits‐all intervention approach is not appropriate, but child‐centred services that focus on both care and control aspects are warranted. ‘A one‐size‐fits‐all intervention approach is not appropriate’

  February 27, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2246   open full text
• Being Parents and Workers: Qualitative Insights from Child Protection Workers.
  Rebecca O'Reilly, Lesley Wilkes, Lauretta Luck, Debra Jackson.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  As a parent of their own children, balancing home and work for child protection workers (CPWs) can be difficult. This may contribute to the sustainability of the CPW role for those workers who are also parents, and to the complexity of establishing viable child protection services (CPSs). This paper explores CPWs experiences of being both a parent and a CPW. Findings, drawn from a larger case study which aimed to investigate CPW work practices and the challenges caused by them for workers, will be used to explicate this issue for workers and the organisation. Fifteen CPWs employed by a busy, moderate‐ to high‐risk CPS participated in the larger case study with 14 participants undertaking qualitative semi‐structured, open‐ended interviews. Data pertaining to the dual roles of being a parent and a CPW were categorised into categories, minor categories and sub‐categories. The two sub categories represented in this paper are: ‘CPWs: Life as a Parent’ and ‘CPWs: Parent as a Worker’. Being a parent and a CPW impacted on both professional practices and personal parenting experiences. Strategies by the organisation that supported parent workers in maintaining family‐work balance assisted CPWs to be able to maintain stability in their role. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Being a parent and a CPW impacted on both professional practices and personal parenting experiences’ Key Practitioner Messages Balancing child protection roles with parenting roles is difficult. CPW roles impact on parenting and parenting roles impact on child protection work. Family‐friendly workplace policy for CPWs is required to benefit CPW health and promote sustainability in this role.

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2254   open full text
• Histories in Abusive Childhood Fractures: A Case Series.
  Brennan Wilson, Hilary Smith.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  A retrospective review was carried out of the histories given by the carers of children aged from newborn to three years with abusive fractures of the shafts of long bones, regardless of the truth or falsehood of their statements. Textual analysis of the medical and legal records was used to extract and define recurrent themes in a recursive fashion. Statements and reports were studied relating to 18 children under three years old with proven child abuse, including 13 boys. Seventeen of the 18 families presented to the health services because of signs of major injuries. Five families spontaneously described a ‘trigger account’, a minor household incident said to have caused the major injury. After repeated questioning, a total of 41 accounts were produced. Thirty‐one of these were minor household incidents and nine were confessions or accusations of rough handling of the child. The accounts were often vague or uncertain and multiple accounts were often given to explain the same injury. Three accounts were challenged by another carer. The misleading accounts given by parents and carers formed a distinctive ‘narrative’ and can be considered a likely indicator of serious child abuse. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘The accounts wereoften vague oruncertain and multipleaccounts were oftengiven to explain thesame injury’ Key Practitioner Messages Carers of children with abusive long bone shaft fractures often give typical histories. At presentation to the health services, they may give no history or they may describe a narrow range of trivial accidents. On further questioning, they may give further accounts including accusations of rough handling. Most accounts show internal reasons for suspicion of their truth. These accounts may be used to identify abusive fractures. ‘Most accounts show internal reasons for suspicion of their truth.’

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2256   open full text
• Factors Promoting Resilience Following Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Structured, Narrative Review of the Literature.
  Clare Marriott, Catherine Hamilton‐Giachritsis2, Chris Harrop.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  The aim of this paper was to review research investigating resilient outcomes for people with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and implications for practice, as well as to consider issues for clearer definitions. Fifty English language peer‐reviewed studies (1991–2010) met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed papers identified a number of factors that were repeatedly associated with individuals showing resilient outcomes to CSA. These included inner resources (e.g. coping skills, interpretation of experiences and self‐esteem), family relationships, friendships, community resources (e.g. church or school), as well as some abuse‐related factors (e.g. older age at onset). A large number of methodological concerns within these studies were also noted, including the way in which resilience, CSA and protective factors were defined. However, despite this, many papers identified similar factors that could be utilised to develop both effective prevention programmes and resilience interventions for the survivors of CSA. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Fifty English language peer‐reviewed studies (1991–2010) met the inclusion criteria’ Key Practitioner Messages There is a wealth of research investigating resilience in people who have experienced CSA. Many papers presented similar findings. Interpersonal features were repeatedly identified; but importantly so were familial support and stability, peer friendships, appropriately timed social support, academic success, spirituality and a sense of community. It seems likely that health promotion initiatives and social policies and programmes can improve resilient outcomes for people with a history of CSA, using both individual and systemic interventions. ‘Many papers presented similar findings’

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2258   open full text
• Occult Rib Fractures: Defining the Cause.
  Ben Cosway, Narad Mathura, Alison Mott, Maria Bredow, James Fraser, Alicia Rawlinson, Christina Wei, Manigandan S. Thyagarajan, Sara Harrison, Alison Kemp.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  The probability of physical abuse (PA) is high in children with occult rib fractures. Other causes include non‐intentional trauma, post surgery and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Bone fragility increases the risk of fractures, namely metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP), osteogenesis imperfecta, rickets and rare metabolic bone diseases. ‘Occult rib fractures have a high probability of physical abuse’ This case series describes 61 children under two years of age with rib fractures and associations with clinical and radiological features and aetiology. There were 20 cases of PA, 11 post surgical and three non‐intentional trauma. Two cases had fractures following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 18 MBDP and one metabolic bone disease. In six cases, the cause remained unknown. The number and distribution of rib fractures and the age of infants did not discriminate between MBDP and PA. Fractures were predominantly posterior, postero‐lateral or lateral. All cases of MBDP had a gestational age of 31 weeks or less and birth weight < 1.25 kg. Each child with MBDP had at least one additional risk factor. Chronic lung disease was recorded in seven, prolonged total parenteral nutrition in ten, steroid use in four, furosemide medication in eight and necrotising enterocolitis in three. All PA cases had other associated injuries or signs of neglect. We recommend a comprehensive assessment of infants with occult rib fractures including an examination to exclude associated trauma, a child protection assessment and a full clinical assessment to exclude risk factors for co‐existing bone fragility. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages: The number and distribution of rib fractures and the age of infants do not discriminate between PA and rib fractures seen in MBDP. Assessment of infants with occult rib fractures should include an examination to exclude associated trauma, a child protection assessment and a full clinical assessment to exclude risk factors for co‐existing bone fragility. ‘An examination to exclude associated trauma, a child protection assessment and a full clinical assessment’

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2260   open full text
• Risk Assessment and Secure Accommodation Decision‐Making in Scotland: Taking Account of Gender?
  Autumn Roesch‐Marsh.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  Risk assessment has become a key area of focus for child protection practice in recent years. Recent research has begun to identify how risk assessment practices and discourses in social work are gendered, particularly in relation to parenting and offending. There has been less attention paid to how gender impacts upon risk assessment practice with young people who present risks to themselves and/or others. This article begins to address this gap by exploring some of the findings from a recent study of secure accommodation decision‐making in Scotland. The article examines how risk assessment practices on the part of social workers and senior decision makers were influenced by gender discourses. The findings highlight the complexities of taking account of gender within the risk assessment process and the article concludes by making some suggestions for practice. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘How risk assessment practices on the part of social workers and senior decision makers were influenced by gender discourses’ Key Practitioner Messages When considering a young person for possible placement in secure accommodation, practitioners should ensure that: They undertake a collaborative, holistic, person‐centred risk assessment. This risk assessment must consider how the risks that the young person faces are gendered, without stereotyping. This risk assessment should consider the social and structural factors that have created these risks for young men and women and interventions should also target these wider issues.

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2259   open full text
• A Review of Maternal Neonaticide: A Need for Further Research Supporting Evidence‐Based Prevention in Australia.
  Lillian De Bortoli, Jan Coles, Mairead Dolan.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  The risk of being killed is greatest within the first 24 hours of birth. Despite this, less is known about neonaticide compared with other homicides, particularly those occurring in the Australian context. A highly publicised case of neonaticide attracting an 18‐year sentence recently provoked debate about the introduction of prevention strategies, such as ‘Safe Havens’ and baby hatches in Australia. This paper reviews the limited international literature on risk factors associated with neonaticide and provides an insight into recent developments on the introduction of Safe Haven laws in the US. Little is known about the risk factors associated with neonaticide in Australia. Given recent interest in developing policies to prevent or reduce neonaticide in Australia, there is a pressing need for more research in this area. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Little is known about the risk factors associated with neonaticide in Australia’ Key Practitioner Messages: Early identification improves positive outcomes for pregnant women and babies.Education initiatives to target non‐antenatal professionals as well as other non‐medical professionals who may come into contact with potentially high‐risk women.Training must include recognising signs of a neglected and hidden pregnancy as well as early signs of pregnancy.Upon suspicion of pregnancy, referral to an appropriate professional should be made.Confidentiality is of paramount importance. ‘Confidentiality is of paramount importance.’

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2250   open full text
• Factors Influencing the Uptake of Research Evidence in Child Welfare: A Synthesis of Findings from Australia, Canada and Ireland.
  Helen Buckley, Lil Tonmyr, Kerry Lewig, Susan Jack.
  Child Abuse Review. February 26, 2013
  This paper draws on three studies conducted in Australia, Canada and Ireland which explore the factors influencing research utilisation in the child protection sector in each country. The paper recognises that research uptake is complicated by a number of factors. It also acknowledges critiques which cite the equally significant influence of ideologies, context, unpredictability, time constraints and political expediency. However, all three studies recognised the increasing importance of evidence‐based practice. The methods used in the three studies were not identical but the frameworks used were sufficiently similar to enable the classification of both common and dissimilar barriers and facilitators to research use. Those which they identified were categorised into four types: individual, organisational, environmental and characteristics relating to the nature of research material. Implications were identified for policy makers, service providers and research producers. The point was made that we now live in a period where unprecedented means of knowledge transfer and exchange provide unique opportunities to improve the lives of children and families. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘All three studies recognised the increasing importance of evidence‐based practice’ Key Practitioner Messages Avail of opportunities to attend learning events.Draw on research findings when conducting assessments, writing reports, devising intervention plans, evaluating programmes and tendering for funding.Establish links with research centres.Become involved in the conduct of research.Support colleagues (champions) who display particular interest and motivation in the use of research evidence by recognising and/or rewarding effort.Avail of opportunities to undertake further study that includes a research component. ‘Establish links with research centres’

  February 26, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2262   open full text
• Invisible Victims: Recorded Crime and Children in the UK.
  Lisa Bunting.
  Child Abuse Review. February 25, 2013
  While violence against children is a common occurrence only a minority of incidents come to the attention of the authorities. Low reporting rates notwithstanding, official data such as child protection referrals and recorded crime statistics provide valuable information on the numbers of children experiencing harm which come to the attention of professionals in any given year. In the UK, there has been a strong tendency to focus on child protection statistics while children as victims of crime remain largely invisible in annual crime reports and associated compendia. This is despite the implementation of a raft of policies aimed at improving the system response to victims and witnesses of crime across the UK. This paper demonstrates the utility of a more detailed analysis of crime statistics in providing information on the patterns of crime against children and examining case outcomes. Based on data made available by the Police Service for Northern Ireland, it highlights how violent crime differentially impacts on older children and how detection rates vary depending on case characteristics. It makes an argument for developing recorded crime practice to make child victims of crime more visible and to facilitate assessment of the effectiveness of current initiatives and policy developments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Children as victims of crime remain largely invisible in annual crime reports and associated compendia’ Key Practitioner Messages UK recorded crime is not routinely disaggregated by age and there is limited consideration of the changing patterns of crime against children. Practitioners working to reduce offending against children and to support victims through the criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system. Lack of information on the reasons why cases remain undetected means that strategies to reduce case attrition are essentially ‘flying blind’. ‘The criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system’

  February 25, 2013   doi: 10.1002/car.2252   open full text
• Twenty‐First Century Party People: Young People and Sexual Exploitation in the New Millennium.
  Margaret Melrose.
  Child Abuse Review. November 13, 2012
  This article reviews existing evidence and debates in relation to young people and sexual exploitation in the light of new empirical evidence generated through primary research. This research explored the types of sexual exploitation that practitioners had worked with in the preceding year and Local Safeguarding Children Boards’ responses to young people's sexual exploitation. The findings indicate that there may be several models of sexual exploitation operating simultaneously in any particular area, and the article therefore suggests that the discourse on young people's sexual exploitation that has dominated policy and practice for more than a decade in the UK requires reconsideration to account for the complex forms of sexual exploitation young people experience in the 21st century. The paper suggests that, in order to provide young people with the most appropriate support, practice responses need to be developed from the concrete conditions in which young people are subject to sexual exploitation, rather than applying abstract ‘models’ that fail to capture the lived experience of the young people concerned. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘There may be several modes of sexual exploitation operating simultaneously’ Key Practitioner Messages There is confusion in relation to identifying child sexual exploitation.Several models of child sexual exploitation may be operating simultaneously in any one place and at any one time.Practitioners need to account for the agency and decision‐making process of young people when working with those who are sexually exploited. ‘There is confusion in relation to identifying child sexual exploitation’

  November 13, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2238   open full text
• A Comparison Study between Official Records and Self‐Reports of Childhood Adversity.
  Ricardo J. Pinto, Ângela C. Maia.
  Child Abuse Review. November 13, 2012
  The aim of this paper was to assess the degree and nature of any mismatch between officially recognised child maltreatment and adolescent self‐report of adverse child experiences. Participants included 136 adolescents (72 males, 64 females, Mage = 17 years, age range 14–23 years) who had been confirmed as victims of maltreatment prior to age 13 by Child Protective Services. Participants' self‐reports were obtained in adolescence, at least four years after identification. Physical neglect was the most prevalent experience found in the records (87%, n = 118). When this experience was assessed through self‐report, only 36 per cent (n = 49) of participants reported physical neglect. Sexual abuse was self‐reported by 17 per cent (n = 23) of the sample, compared with eight per cent (n = 11) in the records. Only 17 per cent (n = 23), a small number of self‐reports, were consistent with official records. Kappa values show that agreement is low (under 0.40) for seven of the ten categories. Our findings suggest substantial unreliability in the reporting of child abuse and neglect, including household adverse experiences. They also suggest the failure of professionals to discover several adverse experiences during childhood, even after identification by authorities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Only 17 per cent, a small number of self‐reports, were consistent with official records’ KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGES Child protection practitioners need to be aware of multiple experiences that can co‐occur with the suspicion or situation initially reported to child protection agencies. Little attention is given to protecting children and young people from later re‐victimisation. The conclusions from the relationship between childhood maltreatment and later outcomes should be approached with caution when retrospective reports or official data are used alone. ‘Little attention is given to protecting children and young people from laterre‐victimisation’

  November 13, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2232   open full text
• The Need for Accountability to, and Support for, Children of Men on Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes.
  Susan Alderson, Nicole Westmarland, Liz Kelly.
  Child Abuse Review. November 07, 2012
  Many domestic violence perpetrator programmes have incorporated the issue of children's safety and the harmful parenting of domestically violent fathers within their programme content. However, little attention has been paid to the services offered to, and possible outcomes for, the children of men on such programmes. This paper draws on a survey of 44 domestic violence services and 73 interviews with men who were on, or had completed, a programme, ex/partners, programme workers and programme funders/commissioners, to explore how a positive outcome for children might be conceptualised. Despite a desire to improve the situation of children, very few organisations provided a direct support service to the children of men on programmes. Work with men and support for their ex/partners operated as some form of proxy service to children. Many men had not told their children they were attending a perpetrator programme, and we suggest that more encouragement to do so would improve perpetrator accountability and respect for children. A positive outcome for children from their father's involvement on the programme is identified as having three dimensions: changes in the father that would benefit children; changes in the father‐child relationship; and changes in the child's functioning. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Very few organisations provided a direct support service to the children of men on programmes’ Key Practitioner Messages: A positive outcome for children whose father has participated on a domestic violence perpetrator programme has a range of dimensions.Men on domestic violence perpetrator programmes should be actively encouraged and supported to tell their children about their attendance.There is a need for more direct support services for the children of men on domestic violence perpetrator programmes. ‘Should be actively encouraged and supported to tell their children about their attendance’

  November 07, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2223   open full text
• Why the Father Wound Matters: Consequences for Male Mental Health and the Father‐Son Relationship.
  Eric D. Miller.
  Child Abuse Review. September 20, 2012
  Adult men often report a sense of feeling a father wound when reflecting on their own father‐son relationship. Perhaps in part due to a rejection of traditional fathering practices that may have contributed to such wounds, fathers today are increasingly adopting a ‘new involved father’ role that is more welcoming of emotional expression and involvement in a child's life. This paper argues that adopting this new role may allow men to not only connect with their sons, but also to come to terms with problematic aspects of their own father‐son relationship. In this way, fathering a son may allow men to alter aspects of their self. Limitations and future directions for the father wound construct are also discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘A ‘new involved father’ role that is more welcoming of emotional expression and involvement in a child's life’ Key Practitioner Message This papers offers a critical review and analysis of the father wound concept and its larger clinical and social developmental significance for males.Traditionally, many adult men report a sense of loss or grief when considering their own father‐son relationship.Becoming a father, particularly to a son, may allow men to come to terms with earlier father‐son wounds to the betterment of these aforesaid fathers and their sons.

  September 20, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2219   open full text
• Culpability Attributions towards Juvenile Female Prostitutes.
  Tasha A. Menaker, Audrey K. Miller.
  Child Abuse Review. May 14, 2012
  This study addresses a gap in the research literature concerning predictors of culpability attributions towards juvenile female prostitutes (JFPs). Three hundred undergraduate participants read a vignette describing a JFP and responded to a series of measures. Results supported a causal pathway whereby stronger perceiver sexism predicted stronger negative affective evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions toward, the JFP. Stronger negative affective evaluations and weaker empathic reactions, in turn, predicted stronger culpability attributions toward the JFP. Also, participants who were provided information about the JFP's extensive victimisation history and coercion into the trade, relative to participants who were not provided this information, attributed lesser culpability to the JFP. Finally, stronger culpability attributions toward the JFP related to weaker recommendations of restorative justice (i.e. counselling/mental health services for the JFP) and stronger recommendations of retributive justice (i.e. incarceration for the JFP). Study implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Stronger negative affective evaluations and weaker empathic reactions, in turn, predicted stronger culpability attributions’ Key Practitioner Message Stronger perceiver sexism predicts stronger negative evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions towards a juvenile female “prostitute.”Stronger negative evaluations of, and weaker empathic reactions towards a girl in the sex trade in turn predict stronger culpability attributions towards her.Provision of information about a prostituted youth's victimisation history and coercion into prostitution mitigates culpability attributions toward her.Public education that highlights juvenile prostitution as a form of child sexual exploitation may be critically important to minimising punitive social cognitions about survivors of the commercial sex trade.

  May 14, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2204   open full text
• National Clinical Nursing Guideline for Identifying and Intervening in Child Maltreatment within the Family in Finland.
  Eija Paavilainen, Aune Flinck.
  Child Abuse Review. May 11, 2012
  The purpose of this article is to present the clinical nursing guideline we developed to help nurses to identify and intervene in child maltreatment, defined as physical and psychological abuse and neglect. The guideline is based on a review of 77 research articles and review and discussion papers searched systematically from databases. According to this review, child maltreatment is associated with risk factors which may manifest themselves in the child, the parents or in the whole family. Knowledge and assessment of these risk factors are of the utmost importance. Particular attention needs to be paid to the accumulation of risks in the family. Physical and other signs caused by maltreatment are central to the identification of maltreatment. Important opportunities for identification and intervention are home visits to families with children, and during clinic visits, with questions and discussion about child‐rearing practices, the parents' or carers' relationship and violence which might be present in family life. ‘Particular attention needs to be paid to the accumulation of risks in the family’ The guideline summarises the most compelling multidisciplinary research evidence in order to make recommendations which guide nurses and other professionals on providing care to families with children and in developing identification and intervention practices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages The guideline is based on a systematic review which presents research evidence for developing identification and intervention practices concerning child maltreatment.Important issues are the occurrence of risk factors, signs of maltreatment in a child and methods of identification and intervention.Next steps are implementing the knowledge into multiprofessional practice and evaluating its usefulness by further research.

  May 11, 2012   doi: 10.1002/car.2207   open full text