The Vulnerabilities of Children whose Parents have been Sexually Abused in Childhood: Towards a New Framework

Correspondence to Carol-Ann Hooper, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK. E-mail: cah13{at}york.ac.uk Summary Concerns about the parenting capacity of adults with a historyof childhood sexual abuse have often been framed in individualizingand pathologizing ways. This paper draws on qualitative researchwith twenty-four women survivors of childhood sexual abuse todevelop a new framework for understanding the possible vulnerabilitiesof their children that may help inform anti-oppressive practice.The framework places the mother-child relationship in its broadercontext, taking account of the role of the immediate family,the extended family, the community and the state. Within eachlevel of context we identify the range of issues that couldcontribute to children’s vulnerability, elaborating theprocesses involved. Some issues recur within different contexts,for example the impacts of survivors’ issues around attachment,and others connect across contexts, such as the impact on childrenof deterioration in their mothers' mental health when appropriateservices are not available. All of these issues may affect survivors’well-being and access to social support and hence their abilityto care effectively for their children. Ways of supporting bothsurvivors and their children involving greater collective responsibilityfor children, effective collaboration between mental healthservices and child-care services, and professional responseswhich take account of contextual issues are identified.     

Organizational Research and Social Work: Issues in Application Illustrated from the Case of Organic and Mechanistic Systems of Management

Summary An increasing number of social workers are concerning themselveswith the organizational context of social work and with theapplication of organizational research material to their sphere.This article focuses upon a particular industrial study andcritically examines the recommendations by three writers, ofthe introduction in social services departments of an organizationalform identified in the study. As well as suggesting some implicationsof the study for social work, the discussion illustrates thekinds of issues and complexities which can arise in the applicationof such material     

Sexually Abused Children's and Young People's Perspectives on Investigative Interviews

Correspondence to Helen Westcott, Lecturer in Psychology, Gardiner Building, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Summary The findings of a small qualitative study of sexually abusedchildren's and young people's experiences in investigative interviewsare presented. Fourteen children, nine girls and five boys,aged six to eighteen years participated. They were questionedabout all aspects of the investigative interview: its location,duration, structure and content. Additionally, the childrenwere asked about the presence of others during the interview,and their feelings concerning the interview, as well as whatthey liked/disliked, found helpful/unhelpful, about the interviewand interviewers. A number of issues were raised by the youngpeople, concerning their choice about what was happening (e.g.where the interview was held and who was present), as well asdifficulties with some interviewers' language, and problemswith evidential requirements for specific details. The interviewswere experienced as stressful by the majority of children. Methodologicalissues are highlighted, and the findings are discussed in thelight of recent legislation affecting children, especially the1991 Criminal Justice Act and ‘Memorandum of Good Practice’.     

Key Issues for Social Workers Placing Children for Family Based Respite Care

Correspondence to Dr. Carol Robinson. Summary This paper seeks to address some of the issues surrounding theplacement of children with handicaps who, at their parent'srequest, go to stay with paid carers working in a family basedrespite care service. The content of the paper derives froma detailed evaluation of the Avon Respite Care Scheme. Thisevaluative study began in April 1984 and was completed in July1986. In order to provide an adequate picture of the contextin which the research was conducted, a brief outline of theliterature and the organization and philosophy of the serviceis provided. Thereafter, the aims of the research and the sourcesof the evidence used are described. In the latter part of thepaper. the results and their implications for social workersinvolved in placing children in family based respite care schemesare discussed.     

Research note. Gaining access to looked after children for research purposes: lessons learned

Summary This article provides a researcher's account of gaining accessto looked after children for the purpose of conducting a studyof children's experiences of family life. Based on a researchproject involving two social services departments, it givesa stepwise account of the process, from approaching social servicesdirectors to actually gaining access to looked after children.It describes the different methods of allowing access employedby the two departments and the advantage and disadvantage attachedto each method from a researcher's perspective. It providesinformation about the timespan involved and the delays experiencedin contacting social services staff. It discusses the issueof adults' involvement in preventing children from participatingin research and the effect this has on the number of childrenresearchers are able to contact.     

Family Placements for Adults and Children--A Double Comparison

Correspondence to Dr M. Hill, Centre for the Study of the Child and Society, Lilybank House, Bute Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RT. Summary This article compares family placements for adults with thosefor children with special needs. Findings are presented of apostal survey which was carried out in the UK and closely basedon a survey undertaken shortly before in the USA and Canada.There were a number of similarities between the programmes foradults and specialist schemes for children, despite their differentpurposes, origins and contexts. Although outcomes are oftengood, both types of project have worrying levels of breakdown,whilst a number of adult schemes are precarious in status andresourcing.     

Children and young people with a hidden disability: an examination of the social work role

Summary There has been little research attention paid to the natureand extent of social work intervention with children and youngpeople with invisible impairments. The recent study describedhere found that children and young people with a hidden andstigmatizing impairment received a social work service whichwas at a minimal level. The children and young people were affectedby physically induced incontinence, and described how they facedan environment which created particular tensions. Their parentsconcurred with this overall picture and reported unmet needs.Recommendations are made about social services input, but itis recognized that the level of social services interventionavailable to these families may, in part, be a reflection ofa low priority assigned to disabled children generally. It isargued that, although such an assignment is a common picturein recent research about social services provision to disabledchildren, a change in priorities is needed which recognizesthe importance of coherent support to disabled children as ameans of improving their environment and thereby reducing families'stress levels and the likelihood of abuse or rejection.     

Young Men Living Through and with Child Sexual Abuse: A Practitioner Research Study

to andrewdurham{at}warwickshire.gov.uk Summary This paper uses a post-structural framework to examine the experienceand impact of child sexual abuse on the lives of seven youngmen aged between 15 and 24. The study highlights the importanceof survivors' perspectives and of allowing children and youngpeople to speak for themselves and theorize their own experiences.The study's sensitive methodology allowed the young men to besupported throughout the research and feel able to impart hiddenfeelings and anxieties which they had held on to for significantperiods of time. The research showed how the perpetrators tookextensive measures in targeting and gaining access to and silencingthe boys they sexually abused. Through purposefully constructedrelationships, the boys were made to feel responsible and guiltyabout being abused and therefore found it extremely difficultto tell. A social context of patriarchal relations, with genderconstructions characterized by compulsory heterosexism and homophobiasignificantly exacerbated the experiences of the young men.This context was shown to create circumstances and ‘normal’power relationships that allowed the abuse to happen, creatingmany opportunities for the abusers to justify their actionsand further silence their victims.     

Why Social Work? A Comparison of British and New Zealand Studies

Summary The results of a survey of social work students in New Zealandare briefly reported and contrasted with two British studieswhich have employed the same methodology. The validity of certainpropositions concerning the socialization of the entrant intothe social work occupation is assessed.     

Conciliation: A New Approach to Family Conflict Resolution

Summary This article criticises the traditional ‘adversarial’approach to divorce and argues for new methods of conflict resolutionto reduce the destructive impact of divorce on the family asa whole, and to give higher priority to the needs of children.These methods need to be developed in conjunction with lawyers,so that conciliation can be integrated with legal proceedingsarising from separation and divorce. The article discusses therelevance of conciliation to different forms of marital breakdown,and attempts to define some of the main elements of the conciliationprocess.     

Implementing the Children Act: The Regulation of Day-care Services for Young Children

Correspondence to Julie Bull, Research Officer, Thomas Coram Research Unit, University of London, Institute of Education, 27/28 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA Summary This article presents the findings of the first stage of a studyundertaken by the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Universityof London for the Department of Health. The study aims to monitorand evaluate the implementation of Parts III and X of the ChildrenAct, which relate to the provision of dhy-care and pre-schooleducation for children under eight. The article reports thefindings of the first stage of the study on the aspects of implementationinvolved in the regulation of children's services, which isone of the most significant of the changes heralded by the Actfor under-eights' services. Based on the findings of a studyin eighteen English authorities and eight Welsh counties, thearticle outlines the different approaches taken to regulationin terms of organizational structures, degree of consultationwith providers, and overall approach to implementing the newsystem. The response of providers as reported by local authoritystaff is also discussed. The findings of the study are set inthe context of the current policy debate about the role of regulationand the status of the recommendations in the Guidance accompanyingthe Act. As well as outlining the degree of vanation found amongauthorities and indicating some of the ‘pressure points’in implementation, the article raises issues of critical concernabout the role of regulation in the context of the private marketof day-care provision.     

Parenting by men who abuse women: issues and dilemmas

Summary Enabling children of abused women to maintain a positive relationshipwith the perpetrator is extremely complex in the light of thepotential danger for women and children and the conflictingneeds, interests and rights of different family members. Nevertheless,we can no longer ignore the role of abusive men as fathers.Holding such men accountable for their children's well-beingmay, under certain conditions, contribute to the healthier emotionaldevelopment of their children. This article critically discussesthis controversial issue by examining available literature on(a) children's perceptions of their violent fathers, (b) abusivemen as parents, qualifications for abusive men's access to theirchildren, and (d) intervention with children of abusive menand their fathers.     

Consumer Views of a Family Centre Drop-In

Correspondence to Katy Cigno, Department of Social Policy and Professional Studies, University of Hull, HU6 7RX Summary The family centre Drop-in is a phenomenon which has developed,often in a haphazard way, at the ‘soft end’ of socialwork, mostly in the voluntary sector. Nevertheless, the literatureand the results of a small case-study argue that it has an importantplace in the lives of a wide range of families and is a partof community support networks. For some users, it provides avital alternative to social work help, or an essential supplementto it. Users' views indicate that a Drop-in achieves its broadaims of helping to prevent family breakdown by relieving isolation,of providing a welcoming environment where people can make friendsand children can play, of promoting self-esteem through itsactivities and encouraging users to help each other. There arelimits to how many families can benefit at any one time. Userslike most the relaxed family atmosphere and being able to helpand be helped informally. They are most critical of gossip,cliquiness and dependency among the users. ‘It is exactly what I wanted. I loved going ... You mix.It's very important to have friends. When I could have half-killed[child] there was someone to take her off me. We helped oneanother. We got involved with each other and each other's children.’     

Caring for Troubled Children in Flanders, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom

Correspondence to Dr Matthew Colton, Lecturer in Applied Social Studies, Centre for Applied Social Studies, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP. Summary This article reviews research on residential care and otherservices for troubled children in Flanders, the Netherlands,and the United Kingdom. We begin by looking at Flanders andthe Netherlands. This includes an account of the organizationof services and a critical evaluation of initiatives resultingfrom the growing dissatisfaction with residential care overrecent years. We then compare the evidence from these two countrieswith the situation in the United Kingdom. Notwithstanding importantdifferences, there are clear similarities in the issues surroundingthe residential care of children in the three countries. Weconclude by outlining likely future developments in residentialchild care.     

An Act of Empowerment: The Children, Young Persons and their Families Act (1989)

Correspondence to Marie Connolly, Department of Social Work, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 1, New Zealand. Summary In 1989, New Zealand introduced child protection legislationthat embraces a model of family decision making. The model,based on traditional indigenous decision-making practices, hasrevolutionized social work with children and families in thechild care and protection area. This paper considers the developmentof the legislation in terms of its antecedent factors and itsvision. It looks particularly at some of the care and protectionprovisions of the legislation, and explores, by use of casestudy, some of the issues of using a family decision-makingprocess as a practice model.     

Prison Welfare and Voluntary After Care

Summary Some findings of a survey into the experiences of men releasedfrom prison are reported, where they relate to their use ofprison welfare and after care services. These are discussedin the context of issues such as through-care, rate of take-up,and the factors which may be influential in determining whethera man makes use of after care on release from prison. It isproposed that for more isolated men the probation service shouldadopt a ‘reaching-out’ strategy.     

Career Patterns in Child Care--Implications for Service

Correspondence to Dr David H. Thorpe, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Department of Social Administration, Fylde College, Lancaster LA1 4YF Summary This paper reports an empirical study of the 12-month careersof 231 children who entered care in one local authority in 1985.Career is analysed primarily in terms of length of time in care(weeks), legal status, age on ently to care and placement changesin care. The study shows that almost half the children who enteredcare went home within 6 weeks, and that those who stayed onin care after that time stood only a 1 in 3 chance of goinghome before one year. Onl a quarter of these children remainedin the same placement during their year in care. Drawing onbackground data derived from recently published child care researchand successful diversionaiy intermediate treatment schemes thepaper outlines child care practices which are targeted on childrenwho remain in care beyond 6 weeks and who would benefit fromintensive efforts to restore them to natural parents.     

The Beckford Report: A Critical Appraisal

Correspondence to Nigel Parton, Department of Behavioural Sciences, The Polytechnic, Queensgate Huddersfield HDI 3DH. Summary This paper provides a critical analysis of the Beckford Reportand its implications for social work and the personal socialservices. Four interrelated themes are explored: the relationshipbetween social work practice, statutory responsibilities andthe law; the attitudes of social workers towards children andfamilies; the social work skills required; and the assumptionsthat are made about child abuse and the role of social workers.This is then related to recent research findings in the areaof policies and decision making in child care. It concludesby arguing that the report is in great danger of misdirectingour attentions from the major issues concerned with social workwith children at risk.     

Residential Programmes for Children and Youth: An Exercise in Re-framing

Summary The key functions of residential programmes for children andyouth irrespective of their location in the health care, education,social welfare or criminal justice system are identified inthis paper. The issues of mandate for and status of those servicesis addressed. Finally, a series of propositions are offeredwhich seek to show how those factors influence the social positionand public credibility accorded to those important componentsof the group care field.     

Patterns of Provision in Respite Care and the Children Act

Summary This article presents the findings of a three-year study intorespite care services to disabled children and discusses thesein the light of the 1989 Children Act. The aims and methodsof the research are first outlined and the various servicesincluded in the study are described. Access to services was found to be uneven, with families fromlow socio-economic groups and from black and ethnic minoritycommunities apparently having less choice. The characteristicsof users are identified: some of these varied according to typeof facility used or amount to care received. Agency records and registers were often found to be inaccurate:the Children Act will require authorities to maintain updatedregisters. New powers to charge for services may create furtherbarriers to access although requirements to take account ofchildren's racial and cultural background should extend it.The Act will help authorities regulate the amount of respitecare children receive and introduces certain safeguards. Itsemphasis on consulting young people is to be welcomed. Overall,the new legislation has the potential to improve many aspectsof respite care; its ability to do so will depend on havingadequate resources.