| The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has published statistics relating to child protection in Northern Ireland for the year ending March 2011, and statistical trends for Northern Ireland between 2005/06 and 2010/11. Findings include: as at 31 March 2011, 2,401 children were on the child protection register in Northern Ireland, a rise of 2% from 2010; and between 2006 and 2011, the numbers of children on the Child Protection Register increased by 46%. |
| Source: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Children Order Statistics for Northern Ireland 20 January 2012 |
| Further information: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: press release 20 January 2012 |
| Children Order Statistical Trends for Northern Ireland 2005/06 to 2010/11 |
| Children Order Statistical Tables for Northern Ireland 2010/11 |
Category Archives: News
The UNCRC and social workers’ relationships with young children.
| The UNCRC and social workers’ relationships with young children. |
| Summary: Uses practical examples to illustrate how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), together with the detailed advice and guidance contained in the UNCRC general comments numbers 5, 7 and 12, provides the best framework for developing effective social work relationships with young children. Applies the UNCRC to inquiry and serious case review findings and from that develops practice principles. Also discusses findings of the Munro Review (2011) regarding the relationship between social workers and children. Concludes that despite many legislative, policy and practice changes, further practice improvements at ground level are required. |
| Publication details: Child Abuse Review Volume 20 Issue 6, 2011 pp 395-406 |
| Authors: Winter, Karen |
Contextual predictive factors of child sexual abuse: the role of parent-child interaction.
| Contextual predictive factors of child sexual abuse: the role of parent-child interaction. |
| Summary: Reports on research into the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Colombia and the role of family and community factors in its occurrence. Findings include that families who communicated with their children were less likely to report sexual abuse. Affection and negative treatment towards children were not associated with sexual abuse. Families who experienced partner violence and violence in the community were more likely to experience child sexual abuse. |
| Publication details: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume 35 Issue 12, 2011 pp 1022-1031 |
| Authors: Ramirez, Clemencia, and Pinzon-Rondon, Angela Maria, and Botero, Juan Carlos |
Barriers to successful treatment completion in child sexual abuse survivors.
| Barriers to successful treatment completion in child sexual abuse survivors. |
| Summary: Reports on a US retrospective cohort study of child sexual abuse (CSA) patients (3-16 years) referred to mental health services following a child advocacy centre (CAC) assessment. Study aimed to identify factors associated with successful completion of mental health treatment and to describe characteristics of CSA patients who engaged in mental health treatment versus those who did not. Found no difference between participants that completed therapy and those who did not in relation to demographic characteristics or abuse severity. Engaging nonoffending caregivers in therapy services had a positive effect on the completion of treatment by sexually abused children. |
| Publication details: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume 27 Issue 1, 2012 pp 23-39 |
| Authors: McPherson, Paul, and Scribano, Philip, and Stevens, Jack |
Understanding caregivers’ attitudes towards physical punishment of children: evidence from 34 low-and middle-income countries.
| Understanding caregivers’ attitudes towards physical punishment of children: evidence from 34 low-and middle-income countries. |
| Summary: Presents findings from 34 household surveys carried out between 2005 and 2006 which found that despite the general link between beliefs and behaviour, there were large proportions of children who were physically punished despite their mothers or primary carers believing this method to be unnecessary. Highlights the need for further research into why physical punishment is used when caregivers do not think it necessary. Also looks at the link between factors such as socioeconomic background and education and attitudes to physical punishment. |
| Publication details: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume 35 Issue 12, 2011 pp 1009-1021 |
| Authors: Cappa, Claudia, and Khan, Shane M. |
ICDP approach to awareness-raising about children’s rights and preventing violence, child abuse, and neglect.
| ICDP approach to awareness-raising about children’s rights and preventing violence, child abuse, and neglect. |
| Summary: Looks at the role of the International Child Development Program, a community-based social programme to support families, in preventing child abuse (in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The focus of the programme is to identify and reward positive aspects of caregivers’ interaction with children in order to build secure attachment. Includes a review of research into the programme, which can also be viewed at: http://www.icdp.info/evaluation.html |
| Publication details: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume 35 Issue 12, 2011 pp 1053-1062 |
| Authors: Hundeide, Karsten, and Armstrong, Nicoletta |
Forensic issues in adolescents with developmental disabilities.
| Forensic issues in adolescents with developmental disabilities. |
| Summary: Covers the assessment, intervention and treatment options for adolescents with a wide range of developmental disabilities, including autistic spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury and developmental traumatology. Describes the challenges and opportunities to consider when working with this population. Outlines the issues to consider when working in secure and community settings, as well as legal aspects and the complex issues surrounding risk assessment. |
| Publication details: London: Jessica Kingsley, 2011 pp 287 |
| ISBN: 9781849051446 |
| Shelf mark: QML D |
| Authors: Gralton, Ernest ed. |
Children’s perspectives on integrated services: every child matters in policy and practice.
| Children’s perspectives on integrated services: every child matters in policy and practice. |
| Summary: Provides a critical review of the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda established by the Labour government in 2003. Part one looks at the development of ECM and historical context; part two considers contemporary practice and evaluates how ECM is working as an interagency initiative; and part three explores ECM in light of contemporary issues such as children’s rights and participation. Illustrates children’s experiences and perspectives of children’s services throughout, which provides a running commentary on the efficacy of ECM. |
| Publication details: Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011 pp 234 |
| ISBN: 9780230230392 |
| Shelf mark: QLE AGP |
| Authors: Kellett, Mary |
Developing a template for National Child Protection Index Reports.
| Developing a template for National Child Protection Index Reports. |
| Summary: Attempts to produce a template for child protection indicators to complete a National Child Protection Index Report. Discusses practice implications arising from its use in pilot data collection in Indonesia and northern Uganda. |
| Publication details: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume 35 Issue 12, 2011 pp 1002-1008 |
| Authors: Ager, Alistair, et al. |
Child protection systems in the United Kingdom: a comparative analysis.
| Child protection systems in the United Kingdom: a comparative analysis. |
| Summary: Compares the UK child protection system with other systems across the world. Also looks at differences between the four UK nations, reflecting on the impact of devolution and critically analysing the development of child protection systems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Considers policy and procedures to safeguard children; managing individual cases where there are child protection concerns (including inter-agency guidance); assessment frameworks; child death review processes; and offender management systems (including vetting and barring). Based on the work and findings of the University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Centre for UK-wide Learning in Child Protection. |
| Publication details: London: Jessica Kingsley, 2012 pp 256 |
| ISBN: 9781849050678 |
| Shelf mark: QLJ JD8 E |
| Authors: Stafford, Anne, et al. |