Premium
Keeping the focus on children: the challenges of safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse
Author(s) -
Peckover Sue,
Trotter Fiona
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1111/hsc.12160
Subject(s) - safeguarding , thematic analysis , focus group , intervention (counseling) , work (physics) , child protection , domestic violence , service (business) , public relations , scope (computer science) , nursing , medicine , qualitative research , psychology , medical education , poison control , political science , suicide prevention , sociology , environmental health , business , social science , marketing , engineering , mechanical engineering , computer science , programming language
Safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse is a key responsibility for all professionals working with children and families, but can be difficult to achieve in practice. Despite a policy emphasis on early intervention and child‐centred work, limited attention has been paid to how professionals in universal and additional support services address this important area of work. This paper reports findings from qualitative research undertaken in one local authority area in the north of E ngland during 2011 which examines the challenges facing professionals in safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse. Six mixed professional focus groups were held, attended by a total of 23 participants. Discussion focused upon participants’ awareness of domestic abuse, how they assessed and met children and young peoples’ needs, and their views about service provision and safeguarding processes. Data were transcribed and thematic analysis undertaken. The themes presented in this paper – embodied recognition, someone else's job, service gaps, skills deficits, and focusing upon children and young people – illustrate the scope and limitations of professionals’ work with children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Areas for practice improvement are discussed.