Case Study:presentation
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Apr 3, 2024
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Case Study
Introduction (00:16)
Today’s presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities in child protection,
focusing on a family with five children facing complex issues, such as long-term neglect,
exposure to domestic violence, and potential neurological damage. Later, two strategies will
be outlined focusing on the 14-year-old, aiming to protect them from abuse and involve them
in decision-making. (03:15)
Based on the case study, describe the challenges/opportunities, that you identify in
working with this family (use the details of the family and the broader issues in child
protection work). Challenges (01:47)
The first challenge is that the family dynamic in this case is problematic since the
involvement of two different fathers for the five children poses a challenge in terms of
visitation arrangements. This situation creates different family cultures, affecting the children
negatively because each father’s side of the family may have its own set of values, and
expectations. Children may struggle to navigate these different family cultures, since they
may deal with questions about their identity and belonging, particularly if they feel different
from their peers (Fernandez & Delfabbro 2021). Another challenge is that there are concerns
about potential neurological damage for the 4- and 6-year-olds associated with foetal alcohol
syndrome, which could have been caused by their mother’s alcohol consumption during
pregnancy because of the abuse that the mother has encountered. This risk affects not only
the children but also their mother because another challenge identified is her financial
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dependence on abusive men, which allows her to put her children in danger if they return to
her care since the male visitors keep returning to her and possibly threatening her, raising
concerns about the family’s long-term safety. Another challenge is the children have
encountered long-term neglect and emotional abuse, which could have serious psychological
consequences for their development and impact their ability to develop healthy relationships
due to witnessing acts of domestic violence, being another challenge that can also
emotionally traumatise them. This type of abuse has the potential to have a mental impact on
the children, leading them to live in fear (Dodaj & Sesar 2020), while posing barriers for the
mother to seek help, putting herself and her children in danger. Another challenge is the
children’s living arrangements have been disrupted since the children have been placed with
two different families under two different temporary agencies. This separation impacts the
siblings mentally not allowing them to adapt to the new environment (Ainsworth & Hansen
2012) since they have attachment issues, causing them confusion since they are expressing a
strong desire to be reunited with one another and their mother, further allowing them to
disconnect with their community roots. Furthermore, the challenges of child protection
agencies in terms of high caseloads and insufficient resources contributes to communication
and coordination issues, impacting the quality of care provided to the children. Opportunities (01:22)
There is an opportunity for therapeutic support and early intervention to address potential
neurological concerns in children aged 4-6, with a focus on cognitive and emotional
development. This opportunity will allow for early diagnosis and assessment, lowering the
risk of academic difficulties and emotional struggles later in life while also enhancing the
child's ability to live a fulfilling and independent life (Moxley et al. 2012). There is an
opportunity for domestic violence intervention for the mother who is being abused, which
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involves working with domestic violence support services to address the root causes of
domestic violence, ensuring the mother's and children's safety. Here, the mother can be
offered support, resources, and protection to help her escape abusive situations. This
promotes financial empowerment, as avenues for financial assistance can be pursued to
empower the mother, reducing her reliance on potentially abusive individuals and
encouraging financial stability. This helps the mother to make decisions for herself and her
children without being controlled by others, and she can choose to leave the domestic
violence situation (Humphreys et al. 2010) while exploring safer living arrangements for
herself and children. Another opportunity is sibling reconnection, which can be addressed
through interventions that promote contact among siblings. This can be done through shared
activities, which helps to address their desire to be together and minimise the impact of
separation, since reconnecting with siblings provides a chance for shared memories, and
reestablishment of emotional connections, (James et al. 2008), helping them build a bridge to
their past. Another opportunity is the younger children being placed in kin carers, offers them
with pre-existing connection, which provides emotional comfort and a connection to their
cultural identity, as they are already familiar with the environment and cared for by someone
they know.
-
(03:31)
(03:05)
Outline 2 detailed strategies for one child to be both protected from abuse and
participation in decision making Detailed strategy to be protected from abuse (01:20)
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One strategy we can use to protect the 14-year-old, from abuse is individual counselling and
therapy. This strategy promotes emotional support and coping skills by creating a
confidential and supportive environment in which the child can openly express their
emotions, thoughts, fears, and experiences related to the abuse and the family circumstances
that affect their well-being. This strategy allows me to conduct a comprehensive assessment
of the child’s emotional well-being using a trauma-informed model, assisting in the
identification of any immediate concerns stemming from previous abuse or exposure to
domestic violence. By exploring these feelings, the child can process and make sense of their
trauma, and learn coping skills for managing stress and anxiety associated with the abuse
they witnessed through being given mental health resources like resilience-building
techniques to navigate and build positive connections outside their family environment.
Because the emphasis is on empowerment and self-advocacy, the 14-year-old can gain a
deeper understanding of the dynamics of abuse, as I can provide psychoeducation on abuse,
which includes recognising unhealthy relationships and identifying signs of potential harms
and taking potential steps to address the situation when it occurs (Pattison & Harris 2006),
allowing them to prioritise their own and their siblings' safety. Once the child is comfortable
with the counselling session, I can consider providing support groups for children who have
experienced situations, since sharing experiences with peers can reduce feelings of isolation
and build a sense of belonging (Jackson et al. 2023). To ensure that the child is coping well, I
can plan for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the counselling process, including weekly
check-ins and assessments that can help identify positive changes, improvements, and
challenges. Detailed strategy for participation in decision making (01:30)
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One strategy for allowing the 14-year-old to participate in decision making is to focus on
child-centered advocacy, which involves recognising and respecting their perspective by
acknowledging their unique experiences and emotions during family intervention and
separation, while applying the Lundy model of child participation to ensure their rights are
met under Article 12 of the UNCRC 1989. Here, I can facilitate open discussions and feelings
about family separation and potential long-term care arrangements. This active participation
not only upholds the principles of autonomy, but also recognises the child’s right to
participate in decisions that directly affect their future. For example, family group
conferencing can be considered to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the child
to express their story and expectations, allowing their perspectives and voice to be considered
and respected (Williams & Parry 2023), which aligns with Lundy's model of children having
a voice in decision-making. This facilitates effective communication, allowing me to act in
the best interests of the child, allowing the child to be well-informed about the decisions
made, the reasons for them, while making appropriate interventions that meet their
expectations (Toros 2021). The child will be included in every stage of the process until a
resolution process is found, most suited to their needs and their siblings too. Relational
participation model can be applied here since it emphasises the importance of building trust
and connection between one another (Tilbury 2007). Here, I will be spending more time to
get know the child, engaging in conversations, and setting realistic goals to improve family
communication, address concerns, and maintain siblings' bonds, with the primary goal being
to maintain their future envisioning. Therefore, the strategy's effectiveness can be assessed by
gathering feedback from the child regarding their satisfaction and comfort with the decision-
making process. Thank you for listening!
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References
Slide 2: Challenges Involved Ainsworth, F & Hansen, P 2012, ‘Doing harm while doing good: the child protection
paradox’, Child & Youth Services,
vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 146-157. Dodaj, A & Sesar, K 2020, ‘Consequences of child abuse and neglect’, The Central
European Journal of Paediatrics, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 168-181. Fernandez, E & Delfabbro, PH 2021, Child protection and the care continuum: theoretical,
empirical and practice insights, Routledge, Milton Park Abingdon, Oxon. Slide 3: Opportunities Involved Humphreys, C, Thiara, RK & Skamballis, A 2010, ‘Readiness to change: mother-child
relationship and domestic violence intervention’, British Journal of Social Work,
vol. 40, no.
3, pp. 1-19. James, S, Palinkas, LA, Leslie, L & Monn, AR 2008, ‘Maintaining sibling relationships for
children in foster and adoptive placements’, Children and Youth Services Review,
vol. 30, no.
1, pp. 90-106. Moxley, KM, Squires, J & Lindstrom, L 2012, ‘Early intervention and maltreated children: a
current look at the child abuse prevention and treatment act and part c’, Infants & Young
Children,
vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 3-18. Slide 4: Strategy One Pattison, S & Harris, B 2006, ‘Counselling child and young people: a review of the evidence
for its effectiveness’, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 233-237.
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Jackson, AL, Frederico, M, Cleak, H & Perry, BD 2023, ‘Interventions to support children’s
recovery from neglect: a systemic review, Child Maltreatment,
vol. 0, no. 0, p. 1-14. Slide 5: Strategy Two Tilbury, C 2007, Good practice in child protection,
Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest. Toros, K 2021, ‘Children’s participation in decision making from child welfare worker’s
perspectives: a systematic review’, Research on Social Work Practice,
vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 367-
374. Williams, T & Parry, S 2023, ‘The voice of the child in social work practice: a
phenomenological analysis of practitioner interpretation and experience’, Children and Youth
Services Review,
vol. 148, no. 1, pp. 1-7. 1283