Identifying and Responding to Child Neglect in Schools
Victoria Sharley
Cardiff University
Victoria is a Lecturer in Social Work with Children and Families at the University of Bristol. She has a background in statutory child protection practice and is a registered Social Worker. Her main research interests are interagency responses to child neglect, cultural conceptualisations of neglect, international social work, and child protection and care. Victoria undertook her Doctorate at Cardiff University, within the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE). CASCADE aims to improve the well-being and safety of children and their families and is concerned with all aspects of community based responses to social need. Prior to her Doctorate, Victoria practised as a specialist Domestic Violence & Abuse Social Worker, and Practice Educator in Children's Services in England.
Abstract
Objectives The study investigates the involvement of schools in identifying and responding to child neglect. It examines the effectiveness of the inter-agency relationship between the education system and Child Protection... [ view full abstract ]
Objectives
The study investigates the involvement of schools in identifying and responding to child neglect. It examines the effectiveness of the inter-agency relationship between the education system and Child Protection services within a multi-disciplinary environment. The project sits within Children’s Social Care and Research Development Centre (CASCADE) at Cardiff University and aims to understand how schools identify child neglect, by investigating the quality and breadth of the relationships between education and social care. The results of the research will inform policy and inter-agency practice, aiming to improve the wellbeing of neglected children.
Methods
The study comprises of two phases: (1) Analysis of a sample of child protection case files from three Local Authorities with differing levels of social deprivation and varying rates of neglect (n=150). (2) Qualitative school-based interviews at primary and secondary schools in each of the three areas (n=30). This paper focuses upon the findings from the second phase of the study, drawing upon semi-structured interviews undertaken with a range of participants from a wide range of teaching and non-teaching roles. Interviews explored staff experiences, feelings and the perceived needs of neglected children.
Results & Conclusion
Interviews have been thematically analysed, and qualitative findings from the study will be summarised and presented to the conference. The paper examines the notion of unevenness between the two fields of responsibility focusing upon five themes that explore the differences between school staff and social work practitioners; (i) visibility of neglect, (ii) professional relationships, (iii) power of child-protection services, (iv) rules and regulations, and (v) lack of professional confidence. The research fits closely within the conference sub-theme ‘Multidisciplinary, interagency approaches and child protection units’, making an original contribution to the interpretive challenges faced in the partnership between education and social care, in the delivery of school-based service provision for children experiencing neglect.
Authors
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Victoria Sharley
(Cardiff University)
Topic Area
Multi-disciplinary Interagency Approaches (MDIA) and Child Protection Units [Micromanageme
Session
Oral4 » Session1-Multidisciplinary Interagency Approaches (11:00 - Monday, 2nd October, Europe 1 Room)
Presentation Files
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