Preoccupation with Thresholds in Cases of Child Death or Serious Injury Through Abuse and Neglect

• NCJ Number: 224977
• Journal: Child Abuse Review Volume: 17 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2008 Pages: 313-330
• Author(s): Marian Brandon; Pippa Belderson; Catherine Warren; Ruth Gardner; David Howe; Jane Dodsworth; Jane Black
• Date Published: September 2008
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research); Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study examined “serious case reviews” of child deaths or serious injury (investigations conducted when abuse and neglect are known or suspected factors in such cases) in England for 2003-2005, in order to examine the role of “thresholds” (criteria set for when an agency will officially intervene without family cooperation in order to protect a child) within and between child protection agencies as a risk factor.

Abstract

The study found that in the 47 cases intensively examined (out of 161 total cases), there was often confusion and disagreement among agencies involved with child protection about what services could be offered with and without voluntary cooperation of the family. Varying thresholds for mandatory intervention and varying assessment findings hindered joint, coordinated action. Forty-seven percent of the children who received care reviews were under 1 year old, suggesting a limited opportunity for assessment and decisionmaking about the intervention required. Many of the younger children were assessed at just under the threshold for mandatory intervention, and many older youth were assessed at “level one,” which involved receiving general services voluntarily sought by their parents. The latter findings suggest that deceptive or partial parental voluntary compliance with child protection services or inadequate assessment could prevent or delay an agency’s understanding of the risk of harm to a child. The study recommends that all practitioners, including those working only with adults who are parents, should be alert to the risk of significant harm to children. Further, all staff who are working at the lower levels of the protection continuum should be alert to the need to upgrade intervention to a higher level. Also, staff should receive the training and supervision required to assess cases holistically and thoroughly, so as to weigh accurately the interacting risk and protective factors. 2 tables, 3 figures, and 36 references