ASSESSING MANAGEMENT IN THE CHILD ABUSE FIELD

In order to identify essential elements of quality case management in the child abuse field and determine the relationships between case management and treatment outcome, 354 child abuse cases were studied using audit techniques developed in the medical field. It was found that the variables identified as contributing to quality case management do not necessarily directly affect treatment outcome: however the variables identified serve as important guidelines for future studies in this area.     

THE IMPACT ON FAMILIES OF REPORTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT

In order to evaluate the impact upon children and families of reported child abuse and neglect and the subsequent interventions, the casenotes of a random sample of substantiated cases (N=151) dealt with by the South Australian child protection agency were searched. The goal was to identify information concerning service delivery and changes for family members in the ensuing six months. Results relevant to both of these are presented and evaluated. An important corollary finding of this work was the absence of detailed information about outcome in the casenotes. We argue that this absence of feedback to child protection workers and policy-makers is likely to have detrimental effects on both worker morale and the quality of the services provided.     

BREAKING THE LAST TABOO: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE BY FEMALE PERPETRATORS

In the past two decades the truth about the sexual violation of children has been spoken over and over. Finally, the magnitude of this problem is being recognised. Volumes have been written about the prevention of and intervention in child sexual abuse, and services (although inadequate) have been established. Sexual abuse by women until recently, has been treated as a taboo subject. The knowledge that the overwhelming proportion of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by males left the issue of female perpetrators unexamined. Having only recently made progress in a hard-fought battle to place gender and male power at the centre of an analysis of sexual abuse, practitioners and theoreticians are understandably reluctant to focus any attention on female abusers. However, it is now becoming clear that a significant minority of victims are abused by women and it is essential that no child should be silenced by ideology which denies the reality of abuse by females. This article examines the controversies surrounding the issue of female sexual abuse and the struggles which we have in confronting this abuse. An explanation of sexual abuse by women within feminist understanding is proposed. Current evidence on the prevalence of female sexual abuse and characteristics of perpetrators is outlined. Practice implications for practitioners working with child victims or adult survivors are explored.     

REGULATING WORKERS COMPENSATION: THE MEDICO LEGAL EVALUATION OF INJURED WORKERS IN VICTORIA

Sociological research on occupational injury has been dominated by perspectives from the social organisation of work and the labour process. What is missing from this literature is an explanation of the actual experiences at the individual worker within the processes of legitimation of occupational injury. This study explores the experiences of injured workers as they move through the medico-legal process. Medical reports and clients perspectives were used to expose the positions of doctors, insurance companies, lawyers and workers compensation bureaucrats as they form a complex intersection of power and interest in the regulation of injured workers. In particular, the conflicting roles of doctors as both gatekeepers and service providers were highlighted in the maintenance of stigmatised damaged workers.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE POST-HOSPITAL CARE PLANNING OF ELDERLY PATIENTS IN AN ACUTE CARE SETTING

Post hospital care decision making is an issue for a vast number of elder persons and yet has received little attention from social work professionals. This paper reviews literature regarding attitudes of professionals, family members and patients themselves toward decision making in a hospital context. Furthermore, an exploratory study involving 40 hospitalized elderly patients highlights the potential risk in limiting patient involvement and identifies implications for practice with the elderly.