‘If kids don't feel safe they don't do anything’: young people's views on seeking and receiving help from Children's Social Care Services in England

Abstract

This paper presents findings from qualitative interviews with 24 young people (11–17 years) who have been referred to Children's Social Care Services in England. The paper explores young people's experiences of help seeking and their experiences of receiving help for maltreatment through statutory agencies. A central finding is the importance of relationships for young people when seeking and receiving help. It is through trusting relationships with professionals that young people are most likely to disclose maltreatment and/or engage with services. The paper concludes that young people's expectations and needs are not always met by the current safeguarding system and that the system needs to become more child‐centred if it is to address the concerns maltreated young people have consistently voiced through research.

Young People Who Have Been Maltreated: Different Needs--Different Responses?

“…This was supported by findings in our interviews with young people who said they wanted more autonomy and control over what happens to them (see Rees et al, 2010 andGorin, forthcoming 2012).…”

“…The picture of course is far more complex than professionals simply acting or not, on the age of a child referred but as social workers said, cases have to prioritised using some criteria, and when resources are sparse this is likely to impact disproportionately on the older age group. Existing evidence does not support the view that young people are more resilient or that they are necessarily more able to communicate about maltreatment, as their increased awareness of the impact of disclosure raises a different range of barriers to young people (see Jobe and Gorin, Forthcoming 2012, for more detail).…”

“…The use of a multi-agency approach is supported by Pearce (2006) who argues that the child protection process should be used as part of a multi-agency approach to address the diverse needs many young people present. There is evidence from young people to suggest that a multi-agency approach is likely to be more acceptable to young people, especially as it gives the opportunity to allow for continuity of workers who are known and trusted by young people (Rees et al, 2010, Jobe andGorin, forthcoming 2012). What children and young people want from the child protection system is clear and has been echoed throughout our and other direct research with children and young people.…”

“…What children and young people want from the child protection system is clear and has been echoed throughout our and other direct research with children and young people. They value the development of a consistent relationship with one trusted professional, they want to be fully informed about what is happening to them and their families, they want to be listened to and they want their views to be taken into account (Butler and Williamson, 1994;Saunders and Mace, 2006;McLeod, 2007;Willow, 2009;McLeod, 2010;Jobe and Gorin, Forthcoming 2012).…”

“…Resource issues and system constraints were also seen to be affecting young people because practitioners had less time to build effective relationships and there were fewer services available to meet their needs (see also Jobe and Gorin, forthcoming 2012 …”