HELEN RICHARDSON FOSTER

MAKING SENSE OF THE CHILD’S LIVED EXPERIENCE IN CASES OF NEGLECT

SUMMARY OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the information shared at initial child protection conferences where there are concerns that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, serious harm as a result of experiencing neglect.

Why neglect?

Child neglect presents a challenge for practitioners in terms of its definition, assessment and the appropriate response to it (Horwath, 2007). Research has indicated that practitioners do not pay sufficient attention to the impact of the parent or carers’ neglect on the child, in terms of the child’s daily lived experience or the cumulative effect on their health and wellbeing (The Lord Laming, 2009, CM 5730, 2003, Brandon et al., 2008, Ofsted, 2010, Brandon et al., 2010, Horwath, 2002, Horwath, 2007).
The research will examine information shared at initial child protection conferences in order to gain an understanding of the promoters and inhibitors to child focused decision-making in cases of child neglect.

Why child protection conferences?

Child protection conferences are a critical part of decision making in the child protection process. They are complex events and research on their efficacy is dated (Farmer and Owen, 1995; Bell, 1996a, Bell, 1996b, Farmer and Owen, 1995). Furthermore, no studies have specifically focused on conferences in cases of suspected neglect.

About the study

This research is an ESRC CASE studentship in collaboration with Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board. The majority of the research will take place in Derby city.

I am a full time student, currently in year 1.

Data collection is planned for 2011-2012, to complete in late 2013.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1)Who shares what information about a child and their family at a child protection conference?

2)To what extent is information about parenting capacity, context and issues explored in relation to the impact on the developmental needs of the child?

3) How has information been obtained and presented about the child’s experiences, wishes and feelings?

4) If the child is present at the conference to what extent are they given a voice?

5)To what extent do conference members provide information about a day in the life of the child?

6)What information is used to inform the content of the child protection plan?

7)What promoters and inhibitors do the workforce identify in relation to maintaining a child focus?

8)What difference is there to the quality of information about individual children and their lived experience if more than one child in the family is discussed at the conference?

REFERENCES

BELL, M. 1996a. An account of the experiences of 51 families involved in an initial child protection conference. Child & Family Social Work, 1, 43-55.

BELL, M. 1996b. Why some conferences are difficult: a study of the professionals' experience of some initial child protection conferences. Children & Society, 10, 51-63.

BRANDON, M., BAILEY, S. & BELDERSON, P. 2010. Building on the learning from serious case reviews: A two-year analysis of child protection database notifications 2007-2009. London: Department for Education.

BRANDON, M., BELDERSON, P., WARREN, C., HOWE, D., GARDNER, R., DODSWORTH, J. & BLACK, J. 2008. Analysing child deaths and serious injury through abuse and neglect: what can we learn? A biennial analysis of serious case reviews 2003-2005.

CM 5730 2003. The Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report. London: The Stationery Office.

FARMER, E. & OWEN, M. 1995. Child Protection Practice: Private risks and public remedies. A study of decision-making, intervention and outcome in child protection work, London, HMSO.

HORWATH, J. 2002. Maintaining a focus on the child? First impressions of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families in cases of child neglect. Child Abuse Review, 11, 195-213.

HORWATH, J. 2007. Child neglect: Identification and assessment, Palgrave Macmillan.

OFSTED 2010. Learning Lessons From Serious Case Reviews 2009–2010: Ofsted’s evaluation of serious case reviews from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. Manchester: Ofsted.

THE LORD LAMING 2009. The Protection of Children in England: A progress report. London: The Stationery Office.