Complexity Theory: Developing New Understandings of Child Protection in Field Settings and in Residential Child Care

Stevens, Irene; Cox, Pat

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcm052

Cited by 65 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Awareness of complexity science's worth for understanding issues in social work practice and education (Stevens and Cox, 2008;Wolf-Branigin, 2009) and social work research (Trevillion, 2000;Wolf-Branigin in press) is developing. Concepts from complexity science most relevant for understanding processes in Northside Children's Fund Programme evaluation are: deterministic chaos; complex adaptive systems; non-linear relationships; emergence; networks; the inter-connections between networks and agents and the demise of history as the 'master key' (Cilliers, 1998).…”

Section: Complexity Science: Key Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexity Science: Understanding Research Processes and Improving Research Practice

Cox

2012

Journal of Social Service Research

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ABSTRACT.Reflecting on experiences of co-researching with young people aged thirteen to fifteen in evaluating a government-funded initiative within their own communities, the author explores both some of the consequences of this endeavour and learnings from reflections on research processes therein. Reflections upon lessons learned are analysed through applying some key concepts from complexity science to the research. It is argued that complexity science assists in reflection and in reaching more in-depth understandings of research processes. The author outlines how these concepts could be applied in research more generally and concludes that learnings from this experience are relevant to researchers everywhere.

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Section: Complexity Science: Key Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexity Science: Understanding Research Processes and Improving Research Practice

Cox

2012

Journal of Social Service Research

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“…A striking feature is the complexity and confusion that surrounds understandings of CSE by all involved; multiple factors coalesce to the point that uncertainty prevails. CSE needs to be acknowledged as complex child abuse phenomena (Stevens and Cox, 2008) and one which results in systemic challenges for social work intervention and practice. The need to be heard and believed is presented in these books as central to the young people being able to move on post-abuse; their return to safer lives occurs in tandem with professional and public recognition of their abuse.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I Have My Life Back’: Recovering from Child Sexual Exploitation

Palmer

Foley

2016

The British Journal of Social Work

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Despite intense focus on child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the UK, little is known about how and why some young people manage to recover from sustained exploitation by multiple perpetrators. Using thematic analysis, three published memoirs by young people (female) about their sexual exploitation by groups of men in the UK are analysed for insight into what contributes to positive short and long-term outcomes. Despite the populist nature of the publications, the memoirs offer an important insight into young people's understandings of their exploitation. The rich detail inherent to memoir exposes the complexities and dilemmas faced by the young people and the professionals involved. Being listened and believed by family and professionals is the most significant aspect to positive adaptation post exploitation in these accounts. However, the dynamics of grooming and the nature of contemporary social work intervention and investigation render disclosure difficult. As these accounts illustrate, CSE is characterised by uncertainty and complexity and this is the domain in which social work needs to intervene more successfully to support young people.

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“…Probable signs of child abuse are difficult to interpret and may or may not point to actual abuse (Hoefnagels, 2001). This uncertainty can never be completely resolved, as it is inherently related to the contingent and complex nature of the social world (Littlechild, 2008;Stevens and Cox, 2008). Overlooking these limitations may lead to a tunnel vision and eventually to wrong decisions, based on either false positives or false negatives (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inquiries into Fatal Child Abuse in the Netherlands: A Source of Improvement?

Kuijvenhoven

Kortleven

2010

British Journal of Social Work

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In some Western societies, inquiries into fatal abuse of children known to agencies are nowadays a common phenomenon. They have been carried out in the UK for many years, but have recently also emerged in the Netherlands. The main aim of these inquiries is to improve child welfare and protection practice in order to reduce the chance of further child deaths. However, there is reason to critically consider the feasibility of this aim, as British research into child death investigations suggests that they have hardly worked and even may have had counter productive consequences. This paper examines for the first time all Dutch public inquiry reports into child abuse fatalities. It is shown that the problems highlighted in the reports are highly similar to those recurring in their British counterparts. Furthermore, there are considerable similarities between Dutch and British investigations regarding the solutions they propose. Like British inquiries and reviews, Dutch inquiries largely focus on changing procedures, introducing decision-making instruments and increasing monitoring. This one-sided emphasis on bureaucratic measures, the paper argues, does not rate the human side of child protection work at its true value, and makes it questionable whether the inquiries will contribute to improving practice.

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Complexity Theory: Developing New Understandings of Child Protection in Field Settings and in Residential Child Care

Cited by 65 publications

References 10 publications

Complexity Science: Understanding Research Processes and Improving Research Practice

Complexity Science: Understanding Research Processes and Improving Research Practice

‘I Have My Life Back’: Recovering from Child Sexual Exploitation

Inquiries into Fatal Child Abuse in the Netherlands: A Source of Improvement?

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