Transcript Working with neglect - top tips for practitioners

WORKING WITH NEGLECT - TOP TIPS FOR
PRACTITIONERS
James Blewett
King’s College London
Hillingdon SCB Conference 4th November 2010
NEGLECT

Long regarded as the most widespread but also
one of the most complex areas challenging
areas for practitioners

At 31 March 2010, there were 35,700 children
who were the subject of a child protection plan.

In 2009-10 53% of new CP plans were because
of neglect
THE CHALLENGE

Covers a wide range of behaviours

Complex interface with poverty and other environmental
factors—societal versus parental neglect

The relationship between parental physical and mental
difficulties is not fully understood (the role of resilience)
(Blewett et al, 2010, C4EO)

The danger of a “culpability model”—is the parent to blame?
THE CHALLENGE CONTINUED

Historically has been an area that has in itself been
neglected
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Danger of being seen as “soft abuse”

The impact can be hard to measure episodically

Interventions tend to need to be sustained in order to
measure the capacity for change (Turney and Tanner,
2005)—not conducive to how our services are
configured
TOP TIP1—HIGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT

Neglect is rarely focused on a single event but
is a long term process

Understanding the long term dynamic of
difficulties in the family, their relationship with
professionals and sources of resilience is
crucial
TOP TIP 2—MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH

Social care is not always organised for long
term involvement

Universal agencies have a crucial role in both
the short and long term (non stigmatising)

Avoid playing pass the parcel with risk!
TOP TIP 3—BE CLEAR ABOUT THE CONCERNS

It important not to focus on parental
behaviours themselves (substance misuse,
mental health difficulties)

It is the impact on the child that establishes
your mandate for intervention
TOP TIP 4—HOW MUCH CHANGE NEEDS TO
OCCUR?

Too much can be read into too small areas of
improvement

Are the family clear about what is expected to
change
TOP TIP 5—HAVE AN ACHIEVE AND PURPOSEFUL
PLAN

Avoid a CP plan that appears to be testing
compliance

Construct a plan with the family and other
professionals that is do-able and achievable
(avoid a full time job description)

Think about the whole systems impact of a plan
TOP TIP 6 USE SPECIALIST ASSESSMENTS
WHERE APPROPRIATE

Be clear about the limits of your and your
colleagues areas of expertise

Use specialist assessment in a clear and
focused way

Don’t use specialist assessments to simply
defer decision making
TOP TIP 7 BE WARY OF SEEING PROCEDURAL
COMPLIANCE AS AN END IN ITSELF

Meeting and plans on paper do not achieve
change

The role of conference chairs

The capacity for professionals to challenge
each other’s decisions (escalating concerns)
TOP TIP 8 AVOID DRIFT
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Be wary of taking your eye off the ball with the
competing demands of high caseloads

Is enough change happening quickly enough
for this child

Are we giving mixed messages to the family
(episodic concern)
TOP TIP 9 BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF
INTERVENTIONS

The relationship between practical and emotional
support

What is the purpose of financial and material support

Do (should) we have the resources for long term support
of the degree needed

What do we consider is evidence of “success” and
progress e.g. Parenting groups
TOP TIP 10 ATTEND TO YOUR OWN TRAINING
AND SUPPORT NEEDS

Good supervision is crucial

This work is emotive and complex. Ensure you
get access to the training you need
FINAL THOUGHT
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Although by its very nature neglect can be
difficult, frustrating and to a degree de-skilling
remember you can make a fundamental
difference to the lives of some children and
their carers