Statistics relating to child protection in Northern Ireland

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has published has published statistics relating to child protection in Northern Ireland for the quarter ending 30 September 2011. Findings include: as at 30 September 2011, 2,220 children were listed on the Child Protection Register, an increase of below 1% on the previous quarter.

Source: Northern Ireland Executive Press Release 16 December 2011

How do children cope with sexual abuse?

Summary: Explores coping strategies of sexually abused children as described by adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Discusses minimising, rationalising, disassociation, splitting, denial, creating chaos, misusing substances, supervigilance, disappearing, running away, fantasy and lying. Concludes that coping mechanisms are the child’s way of surviving but that some strategies stop being helpful in adulthood.

How often are teens arrested for sexting?: data from a national sample of police cases.

Summary: Reports on the findings of a US study examining characteristics of youth sexting cases handled by police and their outcomes in response to clinical and other concerns about the risks of sexting behaviour. Two-thirds of the cases involved an “aggravating” circumstance beyond the creation and/or dissemination of a sexual image. In these aggravated cases, either an adult was involved (36% of cases) or a minor engaged in malicious, nonconsensual, or abusive behaviour (31% of cases). Found that overall, arrest is not typical in sexting cases with no adults involved.

How often are teens arrested for sexting?: data from a national sample of police cases.

The importance of professional growth

Summary: Looks at comments in the Munro Report (Munro, 2011) that the over-reliance on procedure in safeguarding has undermined professional judgment. Argues that there should be a new emphasis on professional growth for everyone working in child protection, including those in schools.

Latest safeguarding findings.

Summary: Explores the main findings of the report ‘Safeguarding children across services: messages from research’ (Davies & Ward, 2012). The report looks at 15 research studies, aiming to identify how best to safeguard children. Discusses early intervention, the need for early recognition, social work interventions, keeping the child in the family, understanding child development and inter-agency working. Concludes that while many of the findings are not new, as the report is based on research evidence gathered from well respected sources, it should be taken into account in post-Munro planning for the ongoing improvement of safeguarding.

Tackling gang violence

Summary: Looks at what can be done to identify children at risk of becoming a member of a gang; how members can be supported to exit the gang lifestyle; and the implications for schools of the UK government’s proposals to tackle gangs

Post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents.

Summary: Briefly reviews treatment approaches to Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young people, in particular the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Outlines criteria for diagnosing PTSD, clinical features of PTSD, risk factors and management. Aimed at helping clinicians and others working with children to recognise the signs of PTSD and ensure they know when to refer cases on to a GP and/or CAMHS if specific intervention is required.

Group work with adopted adolescents.

Summary: Reports on the setting up and running of a group for adopted adolescents providing them with a means of reflecting on their experiences and contributing to the development of services. Considers the literature on trauma, teenagers and group work, and recounts how the group originated and evolved. Discusses the model for the group, issues that have arisen and reflects on what has been learnt.

Exploring foster carer perceptions and experiences of placements and placement support.

Summary: Reports the findings of a qualitative study exploring foster carers’ experiences of placements and placement support, including their views of services. Based on interviews with eight foster carers with fostering experience ranging from two to 22 years. Results suggested that the support foster carers received played an important role in determining the success of placements and there were interactions between this support and foster carers’ relationship with social workers and the child. Successful placements occurred when both relationship cycles worked effectively in the context of appropriate support.