Southampton Local Safeguarding Children Board Conference Safeguarding children

Southampton Local Safeguarding Children Board Conference Safeguarding children and young people living with domestic violence Lorraine Radford, Professor of Social Work & Social Policy, University of Central Lancashire, UK Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Domestic violence and children n 1 in 7 under 18 s (14. 2%) have lived with DV (Radford et al, 2013) n Almost 3% experience this in the past year n 20 -55% under 18 s living with DV also severely maltreated n 5% living with DV severely maltreated in the past year In the family courts: Half to two thirds of local authority child protection cases have a history of DV (Hester et al. 2007) 66% of scr cases show a history of DV (Brandon et al, 2008) 55% family law cases have allegations DV or child abuse (Cassidy & Stacey, 2011) Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Children might be harmed by: �Further abuse or neglect by the parent �Witnessing domestic violence �Emotional consequences of abuse- power and control dynamics of domestic violence �Living with the fallout �If the mother’s health and capacity to parent is undermined Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Impact on emotional wellbeing and relationships Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Impact of child abuse and neglect � Experiences of DV vary in severity, � � frequency and consequences (Johnson, 2005; Radford et al 2011) The impact varies from child to child, 40% no lasting harm in adult life Physical, emotional, behavioural, developmental impacts (suicide, running away, delinquency) Impact on child health ( eg low birth weight, delayed development, brain development etc) and mental health (Widom et al, 2000) - revictimisation Serious case reviews - high proportion of children who are killed live in families with multiple problems (Brandon et al, 2010) Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Intervening at different levels (Adapted from Garcia-Moreno) Transforming harmful norms: Reduce risks for child: 1. Support vulnerable families 2. Social security/cash transfers 3. Someone to turn to 4. Help to overcome harm 5. Prevent revictimization Laws & Policies Promoting CRC laws & policies: 1. Laws against violence 2. Training law enforcement 3. Child protection system building 4. Child friendly reporting Socio-economic conditions Individual characteristics and behaviour 1. Mass Media 2. Community mobilization 3. Family, community and participatory education. 4. Gender equitable attitudes in schools Cultural & Social Gender Norms Families & relationships Communities Countries Safe families and relationships: 1. Alternative care 2. Family support 3. Responses across different settings Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

What works for children? �Recent systematic reviews eg NICE 2013, Rizo et al 2011, EIF, 2014 �Limitations of evaluations �Promising findings for children 4 areas – counselling & therapy; crisis and outreach support; parenting programmes; multi-component interventions/parallel mother and child groups (Rizo et al, 2011). �Main focus on recovery after DV �Lack of research on perpetrators and fathers Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Applying Research to Practice n Training, supervision & support – multi agency context. n Identification & indicators. n Understanding, assessing and managing risks in the context of suspected or known domestic violence. n Safety first step. n Protecting the child and building resilience. n Working with abusive parents and with fathers. n Building strong attachments and supporting the relationship between the child and primary caregiver. Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Possible indicators �Physical – stomach aches, headaches, bedwetting �Emotional - Fear, anger, anxiety, separation anxiety, depression, sleep problems, nightmares �Behavioural - Aggression, restlessness & constant fidgeting, problems concentrating, breaking rules, conduct problems, �Developmental – loss of previously learned skills eg toilet training, naming colours �Social – Withdrawal from others and activities, missed appointments Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Challenges for identification �Conspiracy of silence �Assumption very young child is unaffected �Trauma impact �The shadow of the all powerful perpetrator �Undermining the primary caregiver Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Social work response, Laing & Humphreys, 2013 �Naming experience as DV is often the first step in the process of change - asking �Need for belief, validation and advocacy �Risk assessment & safety planning �Avoiding mother blaming �Strengthening mother child relationship – resilience �Evidence and documentation �Work in multi agency context Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Risk indicators for children • • • Age and vulnerabilities pregnancy, <12 months, <7 years Direct abuse, neglect or emotional abuse Parental drug, alcohol, mental health issues Whether child directly witnesses or drawn into the abuse – contact Child intervenes to protect Level of coercive control & isolation Victim denies/minimises impact on child Victim or perpetrator maltreated /in care system as child Perpetrator has unrealistic expectations of the child Missed appointments/resistant to professionals/frequent moves Professionals feel unsafe Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Protective factors for children • Child/mother relationship protective/nurturing/stable • Others can give emotional or practical support – peers, siblings, extended family • Presence of child acts as a restraint on DV • Perpetrator accepts responsibility and readiness to change • DV victim engagement/mother abused child willing to accept help • Doing well at school/sport/other areas • Self esteem, social skills, positive disposition • Time to recover • Nursery, school and community support Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Group work effectiveness �Evaluation by Sandra Graham-Bermann 2011 �Implementing and Evaluating the Kid’s Club & Mom’s Empowerment Program �Parallel groups for mothers and children �Child only �Case-management – intervention as usual Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

% Reduction in Clinical Range from Baseline to Post-intervention Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Examples of early responses Mothers �Freedom Programme Mothers and children: �Talking to My Mum (Humphreys, Thiara et al, 2006) �Recovery Toolkit for Adults, for children �You, Me & Mum �What About Me �DART (NSPCC) Children �Helping Hands �KIDVAs Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Empowerment Star for Women �Plots on scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) �Not ready for help, accepting help, believing things can be different/you don’t deserve it, learning and rebuilding an abuse free life, achieving independence & choice �Focus on supporting the process of change in 9 areas: �Safety; accommodation; support networks; �Legal issues; health & wellbeing; money; �Children; work & learning; empowerment & self esteem Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

My Star Tracker children & young people �Plots on scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) �Big concerns, some one is helping, no big concerns but things need to improve, things mostly ok but some changes needed, things are good �Star points - Physical health; Where you live; Being safe; Relationships; Feelings & behaviour; Friends Confidence & self esteem; Education & learning (Triangle Consulting, www. outcomesstar. org. uk) Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Psychological recovery �Limited evidence for psychological interventions and DV �Readiness to change & motivational counselling Laing & Humphreys, 2013 �Trauma focus - Judith Herman 3 stage therapy from recovering safety, reconstructing trauma story & restoring connection survivor and community Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

PATH research, Brierley, Agnew-Davies et al �Psychological Advocacy Toward Healing, PATH uses CBT, experiential, dynamic, psycho-educational and feminist theories in 8 session programme �Tested in before and after study with 106 women living in refuges. Found reduced psychological distress (measured by CORE-OM) from 1. 72 to 1. 34 �RCT set up with 250 women victims of aged 16+, to receive either advocacy only or advocacy plus psychological programme. Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Working to change abusers n Poor assessment of maltreatment n n n risk- focus on mothers Delay decisions – few get prompt decisive action Start again syndrome/failure to consider chronology 38% neglectful parents given ‘too many chances’ Lack of evidence of parental change Lack of resources safe contact Variations in LA practice -36 -81% of care planning for cases inadequate, lack services adolescents Better outcomes for children in care/not reunified Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm

Lorraine Radford lradford@uclan. ac. uk Connect Research Centre website http: //www. uclan. ac. uk/research/environment/groups/co nnect_centre_int_research_new_approaches_prevent_viol ence_harm. php Twitter@UCLan. Social. Work Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm