Brian Littlechild

The Stresses Arising from Violence, Threats and Aggression Against Child Protection Social Workers

• Summary: This article examines the effects of violence by service users in England and Finland against child protection social workers. Proposals derived from analysis of research findings for improved policies and practice in agencies, with particular reference to England, are discussed. In addition, results and implications of a smaller number of interviews with social workers in Finland are explored. • Findings: The research found that there are a number of different effects resulting from violence on child protection social workers, depending on the particular configuration of factors involved in any particular situation. These include concerns about the effects of user violence on the ability of social workers to protect children; the importance of managers keeping a focus on workers’ safety, particularly when threats are not always obvious to others; staff support strategies; responses to violent service users; and how workers’ experiences can be employed to improve risk assessment and risk management. • Applications: This article suggests that the experiences of and learning by social workers derived from incidents of violence need to be more systematically included in policy development and review. In addition, attitudes and procedures need to be in place which allow social workers to report their concerns and have them dealt with effectively.

Violence Against Social Workers

This article examines issues of violence against social work staff in England and Wales. Although there is a good representation of work addressing how individuals can best try to cope for themselves when confronted with violence, there is little published material that refers specifically to agency strategies that can best support workers in the front line of service provision. The underreporting of violence is considered, and the implications of this are discussed in relation to planning procedures that can help prevent violence. Particular attention is paid to issues of gender and ethnicity.

Structure and content of risk assessment proformas in mental healthcare

Background: The NSF specifies that mental health service providers should have a locally agreed proforma for assessing risk. Risk assessment proformas (RAPs) currently in use vary considerably in both structure and content. This study describes some similarities and differences. Method: We requested a copy of each provider trusts RAP. These were assessed across a range of structural characteristics, including layout, design, data coding, and were also studied for their content. Results: Some consistency was seen in the themes addressed: suicide/self harm, risk to others (notably violence) and vulnerability were well represented. Several additional themes were notable by their absence. There was general conformity in the way in which data was coded, with most using tick box categories. However, there were striking differences in layout quality and usability and many common problems were identified. Conclusions: RAPs as currently used in NHS mental-health practice vary in structure, content, length and quality. We question (i) the most common approaches in recording risk data in RAPs, and (ii) whether the focus on three domains of risk acts to neglect other, less dramatic, areas. Risk assessment procedures need to be critically evaluated and the introduction of standardized tools would be advantageous in this respect. Declaration of interest: This work was supported by NHS R&D Support funding awarded to Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust.

Risk assessment in mental health : staff attitudes and an estimate of time cost

Background: Risk assessment is a routine part of mental health services, with professionals being required to complete a risk assessment proforma (RAP) for every patient under their care. Aims: This study was designed to investigate staff attitudes to, and beliefs about, the completion of risk assessment paperwork. Method: We surveyed 300 professionals across one county to examine: (i) the amount of time taken to complete RAPs; (ii) attitudes towards completing such paperwork; and (iii) beliefs about the quality and usefulness of the information recorded. Results: We found considerable variation in the amount of time taken to complete RAPs. The median time was 18 minutes with doctors spending significantly less time than nurses. More favourable attitudes towards RAPs were seen in nurses than in doctors, in spite of the increased time spent completing them. Moreover, nurses also held more positive views about the value and benefit of the information recorded in RAPs. Conclusions: The findings suggest that RAP completion may account for a significant proportion of staff time. Inter-professional differences in belief and attitude were prominent and this should be an important consideration in the evolution of risk assessment procedures.

Risk Assessments for Mental Health Service Users Ethical, Valid and Reliable?

• Summary: This article considers the nature and basis of risk assessments in mental health services, based on empirical research on the tools used within NHS Mental Health Trusts in England which found a wide variety of such tools in use within them. • Findings: The article examines the problems and potential benefits in the use of such tools, and argues for an inclusive and holistic approach to risk assessments which incorporate our knowledge of the risks of risk assessments. The article pays particular attention to risk assessment procedures as relevant to social workers who have to uphold the requirements of the General Social Care Council Code of Practice, which provides particular emphasis on issues of risk, and service user and carer involvement in assessments. Potential biases and limitations of risk assessment approaches, it is proposed, need to be taken into account in order to have a balanced view of the value of such approaches. • Applications : The article provides a critique of the validity and effectiveness of current risk assessment tools, focusing in upon one key area in mental health work, the assessment and management of potential violence.

Working with aggressive and violent parents in child protection social work

Abstract This article examines the findings from research into the effects of parent service user aggression and violence against child protection social workers. First, the types of violence that are most prevalent, and the effects on workers are discussed. Next, the problematic areas to be addressed in order to provide the most effective forms of support and supervision are set out. The links between risks to workers and risks to abused children within violent families are also examined.

‘If I feel like this, how does the child feel?’ Child protection workers, supervision, management and organisational responses to parental violence

This study analysed workers’ experiences of supervision following interactions with hostile and intimidating parents. This analysis examined management and organisational responses to worker stress, and assessed the adequacy of support that workers received. An online survey was designed to collect data on workers’ experiences and free text responses were qualitatively analysed for references to the supervision they received in response to working with parents. 590 participants responded to the survey. 402 were qualified social workers, and 423 worked in child protection. Participants had experienced a range of violent behaviour from parents. The overwhelming theme in responses was the lack of support and supervision workers received, often in stressful and frightening circumstances. Approximately one quarter of participants only used organisational procedures, guidelines or protocols on dealing with hostile parents. Workers reported that mismanaged parental hostility affected their practice and the quality of protection that children received. The violence experienced had a significant negative impact on their personal and professional lives. Organisational responses in the form of supervision and education were often inadequate and resulted in children receiving reduced quality of protection. Recommendations for policy and practice change are discussed, with the aim of caring for workers and the children they protect.

The Effects of Violence and Aggression From Parents on Child Protection Workers’ Personal, Family, and Professional Lives:

This article presents findings from a survey of the experiences of child protection workers in England when working with parents who exhibit aggression and violence. This work explores the effects on workers in their professional lives, and on themselves and their families in their private lives. The article examines workers’ thoughts and experiences about the effects of parental hostility on workers’ ability to protect children. The article also details workers’ experiences of the nature and effectiveness of training and support in this area. These findings are then examined in the light of the results of an analysis of the literature, including the findings from serious case review (SCR) reports in England (official inquiries into the causes of child deaths where the children are known to social and health services). The majority of the 590 respondents in the survey were social workers (n = 402; 68%), reflecting the fact that case management of child protection cases in the United Kingdom is the responsibility of social workers working in statutory agencies. This article addresses, from a consideration of the secondary analysis and the original research findings from the survey, how individual workers, managers, and agencies can best understand and then respond effectively to aggressive parental behaviors.

The changing status and growth of social work education worldwide: Process, findings and implications of the IASSW 2010 census

The dramatic growth in social work education is documented in the International Association of Schools of Social Work’s 2010 census of institutions offering at least one degree program in social work. The census gathered data on program structure, personnel, student enrollment and curriculum from 473 respondents in the five IASSW regions. Half of the respondents reported requiring course content in social work history, values or ethics, and 20 percent of required courses are taught by non-social work educators. The expansion of social work programs is indicative of social work’s untapped potential for delivering social justice content on the international stage.

Restorative Justice, Mediation and Relational Conflict Resolution in Work with Young People in Residential Care

Conflict resolution approaches such as restorative justice and mediation are becoming increasingly important in policy and practice in work with children and young people, be this in relation to work with separating parents to minimise the difficulties and conflicts involved for their children, or in relation to youth justice. One of the main aims of such conflict resolution approaches in social work is to develop techniques and skills for workers and service users to enable them to deal with their conflicts and disputes in a more positive manner than is often currently the case. This article examines these approaches in family disputes and youth offending areas, and then develops these considerations further to examine the possibilities for extending restorative justice approaches within a relational conflict resolution approach for young peoples residential units, and more widely in group care settings.