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.
‘Young children are particularly vulnerable, both to maltreatment and to inept adult questioning’
Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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.
‘It is important to distinguish allegations of maltreatment from those concerning poor standards of care’
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’
‘A one-size-fits-all intervention approach is not appropriate’
This study compared the behaviours of previously institutionalised Romanian foster children (ages 6–12) with normative data for non-referred children. We hypothesised that foster children would have higher scores (more unfavourable outcomes) on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF) (all syndromes) than norms. Results were mixed, showing that (a) boys and girls have Attention Problems with the TRF, but not the CBCL; (b) girls have fewer Internalising Problems than norms (CBCL and TRF); and (c) boys have more problems than norms for Attention, Inattention, Hyperactivity, Aggressive, Externalising, and Total Problems with the TRF; and more problems than norms on Social, Rule-Breaking, Externalising, and Total Problems with the CBCL, but fewer problems for Attention. In addition, many differences between Romanian foster children and norms were insignificant. Sampling issues and norms, reporting differences between foster parents and teachers, individual differences, as well as the better than expected results for foster children when compared to norms may stem from a variety of causes that are discussed in this report. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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’
‘A significant issue which exacerbates the stress experienced by young witnesses’
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’
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’
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’
What Is Known
What This Study Adds
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’
The primary findings of this study indicate that:
‘Families where children died were not using very many services’
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’
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’
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’
‘Establish links with research centres’
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’
‘Confidentiality is of paramount importance.’
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’
When considering a young person for possible placement in secure accommodation, practitioners should ensure that:
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.
‘An examination to exclude associated trauma, a child protection assessment and a full clinical assessment’
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’
‘Many papers presented similar findings’
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’
‘Most accounts show internal reasons for suspicion of their truth.’
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’
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’
‘The criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system’
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’
‘There is confusion in relation to identifying child sexual exploitation’
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’
‘Little attention is given to protecting children and young people from laterre-victimisation’
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’
‘Should be actively encouraged and supported to tell their children about their attendance’
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’
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 © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Stronger negative affective evaluations and weaker empathic reactions, in turn, predicted stronger culpability attributions’
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.
Do all newly qualified primary-level teachers report the same experience of child protection practices in their schools? Drawing on findings from a recent Irish study, this paper will consider the operation of official child protection guidelines in schools based on the reported awareness and knowledge of a sample of newly qualified teachers. Their knowledge of child protection guidelines pertains to experience of induction into child protection practices upon taking up employment in the school and their awareness of a designated liaison person, school child protection policy and the procedures for reporting a suspected child protection issue within the school. The findings of this research indicate that schools' compliance with national guidelines on child protection is certainly inconsistent and such an ad hoc approach can be seen to impact on the perceived confidence levels of newly qualified teachers in dealing with child protection issues in the school. Given the crucial role teachers play in the safeguarding of children and the potential for strengthening this role, this paper argues for the standardisation of the operation of child protection procedures across all schools and the provision of training for all school staff. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘This paper argues for the standardisation of the operation of child protection procedures’
Mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting laws apply to teachers in many countries of the world. However, such laws have not yet been introduced for teachers in Malaysia, and there is debate about whether the laws should be extended to teachers at all. This paper aimed to investigate the level of support among teachers to assume mandatory reporting duties and to identify factors determining this support in Malaysia. A total of 668 teachers from 14 randomly selected public primary schools completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Results showed that 44.4 per cent of the respondents supported legislation requiring teachers to report child abuse. Teachers of Indian ethnicity, those with a shorter duration of service in teaching (< 5 years), the availability of knowledgeable and supportive school staff and a higher level of commitment to reporting were significant factors affecting teachers' support for mandatory reporting. This study provides important insights into factors influencing teachers' support for the introduction of mandatory reporting legislation for teachers in Malaysia. Teachers do not unanimously support these laws and there is a lack of clarity about what such laws will mean for teachers. The data highlight the need for specific training programmes to raise teachers' awareness, build their confidence and enhance their willingness to report child abuse. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘44.4 per cent of the respondents supported legislation requiring teachers to report child abuse’
‘The criminal justice system are not being provided with the appropriate data to measure throughput through the system’
Knowledge and expertise about safeguarding children and child protection are both essential skills for schoolteachers. Since 2004, specific learning about these topics has been included in the curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate trainee teachers. This article explores the development of child protection education and learning for trainee teachers at the University of the West of England, and reflects on some of our experiences, learning to date and student feedback. Child protection education is a feature of all undergraduate and postgraduate trainee teacher courses at this university. Our model differs from others as it is embedded in face-to-face learning which is led by four professionals from relevant disciplines: education, health, police and social work. Evaluations have been mostly positive, and it is intended that such reflections might be helpful to other higher education institutions, local authorities and schools in informing the development of their curricula. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Our model is embedded in face-to-face learning which is led by four professionals from relevant disciplines’
Behaviour and Education Support Teams (BESTs) were developed as a significant element of the Every Child Matters programme. Although varying in composition, they were generally designed to provide support for groups of schools in relation to behavioural, emotional and educational issues. They have not been subject, however, to a great deal of published research and their development, furthermore, raised significant issues about prevention and the preventive process, in particular the capacity to reach vulnerable children and families where thresholds for mainstream services were high. This paper, comparing a BEST with a children's services team, examines the nature of work undertaken. It shows the ‘service on offer’ from the two agencies differed markedly, with BESTs undertaking a more child-focused approach. The implications of the development of additional services for prevention and the preventive process are discussed Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Designed to provide support for groups of schools in relation to behavioural, emotional and educational issues’
Over the past 15 years, there has been a growing concern regarding child protection (CP) in the sport context yet there remains a lack of research into how key stakeholders view related CP policies. The present exploratory case study of a UK ballet organisation focuses on the following research questions: (1) What are the key elements of good practice for CP in ballet? and (2) Which discourses are adopted by ballet stakeholders when discussing CP-related experiences? Semi-structured interviews and self-report semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with 13 stakeholders drawn from ballet teachers, students and administrators. Inductive analysis revealed five welfare discourses: positive, neutral, negative, contradictory and rationalising. A tendency to normalise negative experiences in ballet was also identified. The CP-related policy knowledge of teachers and administrators was generally satisfactory with some gaps being highlighted. Recommendations for implementation of CP policy in ballet are outlined. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Semi-structured interviews and self-report semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with 13 stakeholders’