Safeguarding children living with trauma and family violence : evidence-based assessment, analysis, and planning interventions

351 Pages·2009·1.231 MB·English

by  Arnon Bentovim, et al

Safeguarding Children Living
with Trauma and Family Violence
BestPracticeinWorkingwithChildrenSeries
EditedbyBrigidDaniel,ProfessorofSocialWork,DepartmentofAppliedSocial
Science,UniversityofStirling
Thetitles intheBestPracticeinWorkingwithChildren series arewrittenforthemulti-agency
professionalsworkingtopromotechildren’swelfareandprotectthemfromharm.Eachbookin
the series draws on current research into what works best for children, providing practical,
realistic suggestions as to how practitioners in social work, health and education can work
togethertopromotetheresilienceandsafetyof thechildrenintheircare.Brigid Danielis
Professor of Social Work in the Department of Applied Social Science at the University of
Stirling.Sheisco-authorofseveraltextbooksandpracticeresourcesonchildcareandprotection.
Shewasamemberofthemulti-disciplinaryteamthatcarriedoutanationalministerialreviewof
childprotectionpracticeinScotland.
alsointheseries
SafeguardingChildrenandSchools
EditedbyMaryBaginsky
ForewordbyBrigidDaniel
ISBN:9781843105145
ChildNeglect
PracticeIssuesforHealthandSocialCare
EditedbyJulieTaylorandBrigidDaniel
ForewordbyOliveStevenson
ISBN:9781843101604
SafeguardingChildreninPrimaryHealthCare
EditedbyJulieTaylorandMarkusThemessl-Huber
ForewordbyBrigidDaniel
ISBN:9781843106524
Safeguarding Children
Living with Trauma
and Family Violence
Evidence-Based Assessment,
Analysis and Planning Interventions
Arnon Bentovim, Antony Cox,
Liza Bingley Miller and Stephen Pizzey

Foreword by Brigid Daniel
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
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Firstpublishedin2009
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www.jkp.com
Copyright©ArnonBentovim,AntonyCox,LizaBingleyMillerandStephenPizzey2009
Forewordcopyright©BrigidDaniel2009
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedinanymaterialform(including
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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Safeguardingchildrenlivingwithtraumaandfamilyviolence:evidence-basedassessment,
analysisandplanninginterventions/ArnonBentovim...[etal.];forewordbyBrigidDaniel.
p.cm.-- (Bestpracticeinworkingwithchildren)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.

ISBN 978-1-84310-938-9 (pb : alk. paper) 1. Children and violence. 2. Family
violence--Psychologicalaspects.3. Children--Servicesfor.4. Socialworkwithchildren. I.
Bentovim,Arnon.
HQ784.V55S232009
362.76'20973--dc22
2008051578
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
ISBN9781843109389
ISBNpdfeBook9781846429385
PrintedandboundinGreatBritainby
AthenaeumPress,Gateshead,TyneandWear
Contents
Foreword 9
BrigidDaniel
Introduction 11
1 Growing Up in a Climate of Trauma and Violence: 14
Frameworks for Understanding Family Violence
ArnonBentovim
2 Assessing Children’s Needs: A Model of Assessment, 75
Analysis, Planning Interventions and Identifying
and Measuring Outcomes for the Child
AntonyCox,LizaBingleyMillerandStephenPizzey
3 Collecting Information: Evidence-Based 106
Approaches to Assessment
AntonyCox,LizaBingleyMillerandStephenPizzey
4 Gathering Infor mation, Analysis and Planning 124
Interventions: A Case Example – The Ward Family
StephenPizzey,LizaBingleyMillerandAntonyCox
5 Assessing Strengths and Risks with Children 148
and their Families: Operationalizing the Assessment
Framework Where There are Safeguarding Concerns
ArnonBentovim,LizaBingleyMillerandStephenPizzey
6 Assessments Where There are Continuing 216
Safeguarding Concerns
ArnonBentovim
7 Therapeutic Intervention with Children Living 270
with Trauma and Family Violence
ArnonBentovim
8 Principles and Practice in a Safeguarding Context: 303
A Case Example – The Green Family
ArnonBentovim
APPENDIX 325
BIBLIOGRAPHY 336
SUBJECTINDEX 346
AUTHORINDEX 350
List of Tables
1.1 Theimpactoffactorsrelatedtolivinginaclimateofviolence 32
andthelikelihoodofdevelopmentofabusivebehaviour
1.2 Relationshipbetweentherateofrecordedparentalproblems 59
andthelevelofsocialworkintervention(Cleaveretal.1999)
1.3 Riskanddevelopmentalfactorsforchildrenwithparents 62
withpsychiatricproblems,substanceabuseanddomesticviolence
(Cleaveretal.1999)
3.1 ContentsoftheHOMEInventorysubscales 114
5.1 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesineachdimension 150
5.2 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheeducationdimension 153
5.3 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheemotionaland
behaviouraldimension 155
5.4 Indicatorsofstrengths anddifficultiesintheidentitydimension 159
5.5 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthefamilyandsocial
relationshipsdimension 161
5.6 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthesocialpresentation
dimension 164
5.7 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheself-careskillsdimension 165
5.8 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthebasiccaredimension 167
5.9 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheensuringsafetydimension 169
5.10 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheemotionalwarmth
dimension 173
5.11 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthestimulationdimension 174
5.12 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheguidanceand
boundariesdimension 177
5.13 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthestabilitydimension 179
5.14 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthefamilyhistoryand
familyfunctioningdimension 181
5.15 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthewiderfamily
dimension 186
5.16 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthehousingdimension 187
5.17 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheemployment
dimension 188
5.18 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesintheincomedimension 189
5.19 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthefamily’ssocial
integrationdimension 190
5.20 Indicatorsofstrengthsanddifficultiesinthecommunityresourcesdimension 191
6.1 Step1:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 253
6.2 Step2:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 254
6.3 Step3:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehbilitation 254
6.4 Step4:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 255
6.5 Step5:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 256
6.6 Step6:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 256
6.7 Step7:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 257
6.8 Step8:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 258
6.9 Step9:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 259
6.10 Steps10,11and12:Areastobeconsideredandprospectsforrehabilitation 260
8.1 Profileofprotectionandharm:parentingcapacitydimensions 307
8.2 Profileofprotectionandharm:familyandenvironmental
dimensions 312
List of Figures
1.1 Theoreticalmodelforunderstandingprocessesinvolved 33
indevelopingsexuallyabusivebehaviour
2.1 TheAssessmentFramework(DepartmentofHealthetal.2000) 79
3.1 TheFamilyAssessmentm odeloffamilyfunctioning 117
4.1 Wardfamilystructure 125
6.1 Parentalstrengthsandpositiveimpactsonchilddevelopment 228
6.2 Parentaldifficultiesandharmfulimpactsonchilddevelopment 229

Foreword
This latest book in our series exemplifies our aim to offer support for ‘Best
PracticeinWorkingwithChildren’.Basedoncontemporaryresearchevidence
and rooted in a consistent theoretical framework the book offers systematic
anddetailedguidanceonhowtohelptraumatizedchildren.
Asaresultofsignificantpolicydevelopment,andassociatedtraining,pro-
fessionals who encounter children now have greater awareness of the
symptomsandindicationsofabuseandneglect.Teachers,doctors,nurses,psy-
chologists,adultmentalhealthworkers,substancemisuseworkersandothers
are now much more sensitive to signs of unmet childhood developmental
needs. They are also much clearer about the need for a timely response to
prevent significant harm to ongoing development and the key role they can
play in ensuring that the professional network is mobilized. However,
increasedawarenessisofnobenefitunlessitleadstochildrengettingthehelp
thatisneeded.
Alltoooftenoursystemsstallorrunintothesandoncetheinitialprocess
ofidentificationofabuse orneglectiscompleted.Oncethepriorityofimmedi-
atesafetyisaddressedchildrenandtheirparentscanoftenfeelasiftheyareleft
adriftwithlittlesupport.Butitisatthispointthattherightkindofprofessional
supportcanmakethecrucialdifferenceforthetrajectoryofachild’songoing
development.Certainly,manyabusedandneglectedchildrencanbesupported
effectively by non-abusing parents, carers, wider family and friends. But,
equally,therearemanychildrenwhoselivesintheshort,andlonger,termwill
be transformed by sensitive and appropriate therapeutic support, tailored to
theirneeds.
Thebookaddressestraumaanditsimpactuponchildren.Traumaisoften
associatedwithindividualeventsordisastersandtheiraftermathandthebook
providesadetailedandsophisticatedanalysis of traumaandhelpstoexplain
the impact of traumatic incidents of physical or sexual abuse. But the book
takes the subject much further by exploring the impact of more chronic
9
10 / SAFEGUARDINGCHILDRENLIVINGWITHTRAUMAANDFAMILYVIOLENCE
circumstances. This detailed attention to the ‘climate’ of care is timely and
essential. There is now an accumulation of evidence about the devastating
impactof growingupunderenduringlystressfulconditions.
Recentpolicydevelopmentshavealsostressedtheimportanceofcompre-
hensive assessment and planning. Practitioners often struggle with making
senseofalltheinformationthatcanbecollatedfromarangeofsources.And,
again,thereisnopointtoassessmentactivityifitdoesnotleadtoapurposeful
plan for intervention. Using detailed worked examples, this book takes the
Department of Health triangle as the starting point and augments it with
dynamicnewconceptstoassistwithassessmentandanalysis. Crucially,thereis
detailabouthowtoconsidertheinteractionoffactorsacrossdifferentdomains
andhowtoanalysetheimplicationsforintervention.
For decades our systems have been preoccupied with investigation; this
book takesusbeyondinvestigationandre-assertstheimportanceof offering
childrenconsideredandeffectivetherapeuticsupport.
BrigidDaniel,
Universityof Stirling