‘Like a fish in a bowl’: parents' perceptions of child protection services

Abstract

This research involved a small qualitative study focused on family experiences of child protection practice, commissioned as part of a Best Value review of child protection services in a large rural Midlands local authority. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 18 families who had received child protection services. Findings were mixed in relation to perceived helpfulness of the processes of child protection interventions, with 50% of families reporting some positive benefit and 22% reporting that such interventions had caused them harm. From the families' perspectives, factors that are associated with positive and negative outcomes are outlined. These include the availability of preventive services, crisis support, respite care, actual provision of services specified in protection plans and an engaging style of practitioners. Conclusions emphasize the value of research focused on family perceptions of services as an important contribution to quality control and service development in child protection service provision.

Parental Participation in Statutory Child Protection Intervention in Scotland

“…Attendance at case conferences, particularly initial and early case conferences, has frequently been reported in the findings of studies as distressing, intimidating, humiliating, frightening and disempowering experiences for parents (Buckley et al, 2011;Dale, 2004;Healy et al, 2012). Our findings resonate strongly with these observations.…”

“…We acknowledge that this constrains what we can report and reduces analytical nuance. It is, however, recognised that parents involved in the child protection system are affected by multiple chronic stressors (Dale, 2004). The parents in our sample were not markedly different in this respect.…”

“…Our findings resonate strongly with these observations. Akin to the findings of others, parents were intimidated by the large number of professionals in attendance and experienced the quasi-legal discursive practices which framed these meetings as intimidating and marginalising (Healy et al, 2011(Healy et al, & 2012Buckely, et al, 2011;Dale, 2004;Prince et al, 2005;Thomson & Thorpe, 2004). While parents fundamentally understood the functions of the case conference at the time of interview and discussed being informed about the nature and structure of case conferences, they also reported that this did not prepare them for the emotional impact of attendance:…”

“…Studies report that despite a range of negative experiences some parents consider that statutory child protection intervention makes a positive difference to their lives (Dale, 2004).…”

Re-visioning Child Protection Management Embedded in Family Empowerment

“…The research projects (Dumbrill, 2006;D'Cruz and Gillingham, 2014;Ghaffar et al, 2012;Harris, 2012;Johnson and Sullivan, 2008;Platt, 2008;Dale, 2004;Wiffin, 2010;Ivec et al, 2012) were methodologically similar (qualitative analysis, mostly undertaken through in-depth interview method) but conducted on diverse cross-cultural population groups (mixed, gender and culture specific cohort) in different parts of the world, with different sample sizes ranging between 9 to 45. In relation to sample size, researchers (D'Cruz and Gillingham, 2014;Dumbrill, 2006) discussed their struggle in recruiting participants, which reinforces the complexity of this area and needs more exploration and understanding of the resistance of the families.…”