Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T21:09:46.639Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Child death inquiries Moving beyond the rhetoric of learning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Judith Gibbs
Judith Gibbs*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work and Social Policy, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga Campus PO Box 821, Wodonga, Vic 3689 Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The process of reviewing deaths of children who had formerly been known to a child protection agency is emotive, and its value is often contested. This paper is written with the frontline practitioner in mind, and grapples with the complexities of how inquiries can make a difference in the world of all relevant stakeholders. It is contended that a goal of individual and systemic learning can be achieved if inquiries take place in a healthy, collaborative learning culture, if they are embedded in a multi-sectoral systemic framework, and if a reflective analysis is undertaken. Such inquiries would prioritise an understanding of the individual, organisational and systemic factors that influence thinking, feeling and doing. When constructed and experienced as opportunities for individual and collective learning, inquiries have the potential to add value to the whole service system and the practice of frontline workers, along with meeting the need for public accountability.

Type
Research Article
Information
Children Australia , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , 2009 , pp. 9 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Armytage, P. & Reeves, C. (1992) ‘Practice insights as revealed by child death inquiries in Victoria and overseas’, in Calvert, G., Ford, A., & Parkinson, P. (Eds.), The practice of child protection: Australian approaches, (pp. 122–1139), Sydney: Hale and Iremonger.Google Scholar
Bingley Miller, L. & Fisher, T. (1992) ‘Some obstacles to the effective investigation and registration of children at risk: Issues gleaned from a worker's perspective’, Journal of Social Work Practice, 6(2), 129–140.Google Scholar
Brandon, M., Dodsworth, J. & Rumball, D. (2005) ‘Serious case reviews: Learning to use expertise’, Child Abuse Review, 14, 160–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandon, M., Belderson, P., Warren, C., Howe, D., Gardner, R., Dodsworth, J., et al. (2008) Analysing child deaths and serious injury through abuse and neglect: What can we learn ? A biennial analysis of serious case reviews 2003-2005, London: Department of Children, Schools and Families.Google Scholar
Bunting, L. & Reid, C. (2005) ‘Reviewing child deaths: Learning from the American experience’. Child Abuse Review, 14(2), 82–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Connolly, M. & Doolan, M. (2007a) ‘Responding to the deaths of children known to child protection agencies’, Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 30, 1–11.Google Scholar
Connolly, M. & Doolan, M. (2007b) ‘Child deaths and statutory services: Issues for child care and protection’, Communities, Families and Children Australia, 2(1), 26–38.Google Scholar
Cooper, A. (2005) ‘Surface and depth in the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report’, Child & Family Social Work, 10, 1–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corby, B. (2004) ‘The costs and benefits of the North Wales Tribunal of Inquiry’, in Stanley, N. & Manthorpe, J. (Eds.), The age of inquiry: Learning and blaming in health and social care, (pp. 116–129), London: Routledge.Google Scholar
de Boer, C. & Coady, N. (2007) ‘Good helping relationships in child welfare: Learning from stories of success’, Child & Family Social Work, 12, 32–42.Google Scholar
Falkov, A. (1996) Study of working together ‘Part 8’ Reports. Fatal child abuse and parental psychiatric disorder: An analysis of 100 area child protection committee case reviews conducted under the terms of Part 8 of Working Together under the Children Act 1989, London: UK Department of Health.Google Scholar
Fanning, D. (2006) A child death review process for Tasmania: Advice to the minister for Health and Human Services, Commissioner for Children Tasmania, unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Ferguson, H. (2004) Protecting children in time: Child abuse, child protection and the consequences of Modernity, London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Ferguson, H. (2005) ‘Working with violence, the emotions and the psycho-social dynamics of child protection: Reflections on the Victoria Climbié case’, Social Work Education, 24, 781–795.Google Scholar
Fish, S., Munro, E. & Bairstow, S. (2008) Learning together to safeguard children: Developing a multi-agency systems approach for case reviews, pre-publication draft 28/7/08, Social Care Institute for Excellence UK.Google Scholar
Fook, J. (1996) The reflective researcher, St Leonards: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Gibbs, J.A. (2002) Sink or swim: Changing the story in child protection—A study of the crisis in recruitment and retention in rural Victoria, unpublished doctoral dissertation, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga, Australia.Google Scholar
Hassall, I. (2006) ‘What is to be done about child homicide in New Zealand?’, Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa. Retrieved January 24, 2008 from www.acya.org.nz.Google Scholar
Hemmelgarn, A.L., Glisson, C. & James, L.R. (2006) ‘Organisational culture and climate: Implications for services and interventions research’, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13, 73–89.Google Scholar
Hochstadt, N.J. (2006) ‘Child death review teams: A vital component of child protection’, Child Welfare League of America, 4, 652–670.Google Scholar
Horwath, J. (1995) ‘The impact of fatal child abuse cases on staff: Lessons for trainers and managers’, Child Abuse Review, 4, 351–355.Google Scholar
Howe, D. (1992) ‘Child abuse and the bureaucratisation of social work’. The Sociological Review, 40, 3, 491–508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, S. (2003) ‘Managing the aftermath of serious case reviews’. Child Abuse Review, 12, 261–269.Google Scholar
Lawson, B., Masson, H. & Milner, J. (1995) ‘There but for the grace…? Developing multi-disciplinary training following a local child death inquiry’, Child Abuse Review, 4, 340–350.Google Scholar
McCashen, W. (2005) The strengths approach: A strengths-based resource for sharing power and creating change, Bendigo: St Luke's Innovative Resources.Google Scholar
McKeown, K. (2000) A guide to what works in family support services for vulnerable families, Ireland: Department of Health.Google Scholar
Morrison, T. (1997) ‘Emotionally competent child protection organisations: Fallacy, fiction or necessity?’ in Bates, J., Pugh, R., & Thomson, N. (Eds.), Protecting children: Challenges and change, (pp. 193–211), Aldershot: Arena.Google Scholar
Munro, E. (1999) ‘Common errors of reasoning in child protection work’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 23, 745–758.Google Scholar
Munro, E. (1996) ‘Avoidable and unavoidable mistakes in child protection work’, London: LSE Research Articles Online. Available at: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/archive/00000348/ Google Scholar
Munro, E. (2004) “The impact of child abuse inquiries since 1990’, in Stanley, N. & Manthorpe, J. (Eds.), The age of inquiry: Learning and blaming in health and social care, (pp. 75–91), London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Munro, E. (2005) ‘A systems approach to investigating child abuse deaths’, British Journal of Social Work, 35, 531–546.Google Scholar
New South Wales Child Death Review Team (2003) Fatal assault and neglect of children and young people, Sydney: NSW Commission for Children and Young People.Google Scholar
Obholzer, A. & Roberts, V.Z. (Eds.) (1994) The unconscious at work: Individual and organisational stress in the human services, London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Office of the Child Safety Commissioner (2008) VCDRC Annual report of inquiries into child deaths: Protection and care, Melbourne: Author.Google Scholar
Office of the Child Safety Commissioner (2009) VCDRC Annual report of inquiries into child deaths: Protection and care, Melbourne: Author.Google Scholar
Osmond, J. & Darlington, Y. (2005) ‘Reflective analysis: Techniques for facilitating reflection’, Australian Social Work, 58(1), 3–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reder, P. & Duncan, S. (2003) ‘Understanding communication in child protection networks’, Child Abuse Review, 12(2), 82–100.Google Scholar
Reder, P. & Duncan, S. (2004a) ‘From Colwell to Climbié: Inquiring into fatal child abuse’, in Stanley, N. & Manthorpe, J. (Eds.), The age of inquiry: Learning and blaming in health and social care, (pp. 92–115), London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Reder, P. & Duncan, S. (2004b) ‘Making the most of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report’, Child Abuse Review, 3(2), 95–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruch, G. (2000) ‘Self and social work: Towards an integrated model of learning’, Journal of Social Work Practice, 14(2), 99–112.Google Scholar
Ruch, G. (2005) ‘Relationship-based practice and reflective practice: Holistic approaches to contemporary child care work’, Child & Family Social Work, 10, 111–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruch, G. (2007) ‘“Thoughtful” practice: Child care social work and the role of case discussion’, Child and Family Social Work, 12, 370–379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rustin, M. (2005) ‘Conceptual analysis of critical moments in Victoria Climbié’s life’, Child & Family Social Work, 10, 11–19.Google Scholar
Scott, D. (2006) Sowing the seeds of innovation in child protection, paper presented at 10th Australasian Child Abuse and Neglect Conference, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved July 23, 2007, from www.nzfvc.org.nz/accan/speakers Google Scholar
Sinclair, R. & Bullock, R. (2002) Learning from past experience: A review of serious case reviews, London: UK Department of Health.Google Scholar
Stanley, J. & Goddard, C. (2002) In the firing line: Violence and power in child protection work, Chichester: Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Stanley, N. & Manthorpe, J. (Eds.) (2004) The age of inquiry: Learning and blaming in health and social care, London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Vincent, C. (2006) Patient safety, London: Elsevier.Google Scholar