Inspectors are to probe how agencies respond to child victims of domestic abuse.
The latest round of joint targeted area inspections (JTAIs) will, in particular, look at how councils, relevant health bodies, the police and probation protect and promote the welfare of unborn children and those aged 0-7.
Inspectors will evaluate the multi-agency arrangements for responding to child victims at the point of their identification, assessment, planning and decision-making in response to referrals, protect, supporting and caring for child victims or those at risk and preventing children from becoming victims.
Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMI) Probation will begin the programme of inspections this month.
What inspectors found previously on domestic abuse
The inspectorates carried out a JTAI programme on the response to children living with domestic abuse in 2016. This found that:- Too little was being done to prevent domestic abuse and repair the damage that it does.
- Work with families was often in reaction to individual crises rather than preventive.
- Agencies did not always focus enough on the perpetrator of the abuse.
- There was not a clear and consistent understanding about what information professionals can share within agencies and across agencies.
'Emphasis on physical violence as abuse indicator'
However, a 2022 analysis of serious cases by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel found that practitioners often categorised the impact on children as “emotional harm” or “neglect” instead.The same report identified an “overly simplistic and optimistic” approach to domestic abuse and its impact on children, with an overemphasis on physical violence as the primary indicator of abuse and as a means of assessing the risk posed by the abuser.
Non-physical incidents were seen as “low-level” and so were not responded to appropriately and often conflated with “parental conflict”.
More recently, a BBC report revealed that more than a third of social work courses lacked specific training on coercive and controlling behaviour, prompting university social work leaders to say that it was not in their remit to train students in specialist areas of practice.
'Over-reliance on individual casework'
In response to that debate, academics Brid Featherstone and Kate Morris shared findings from research into domestic abuse and child protection.They found "despite sterling attempts by amazing practitioners and managers, they were often trapped within approaches that relied on individual casework and risk management," which "translated into the outsourcing of safety and protection responsibilities to those most vulnerable and least able to respond (often impoverished mothers)".
The JTAI will draw on evidence including practice observations, an audit of six children's cases in each area, sampling of a wider group of children's experiences, analysis of performance data, interviews with practitioners, managers and leaders and the views of children and families.
What agencies will be judged on
Evaluation criteria include:- Practitioners and support staff see the impact of domestic abuse through the eyes of the child, respond to children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, are well trained, confident, and knowledgeable and demonstrate professional curiosity, enabling them to identify how to help and protect children and to take action to do so.
- Children’s welfare is promoted and protected through effective and timely responses to adult victims of domestic abuse. Practitioners recognise that abuse does not necessarily end when the relationship ends, and may in fact escalate, and they take steps to reduce the risks.
- Assessments of children and ongoing plans include contributions from all agencies. They are timely and dynamic, and consider strengths within the family as well as risks.
- Risk of harm to children is reduced through the identification and assessment of adults who pose a risk of domestic abuse. These adults are held to account through appropriate and targeted interventions by all practitioners.
- Children and their families are listened to. Multi-agency practice focuses on children’s needs and experiences and is influenced by their wishes and feelings. Practitioners identify and respond to the needs of children who may be unable to share their views, including unborn children.
- Leaders ensure that practitioners’ training, learning and supervision enable them to identify and respond effectively to children who are victims of domestic abuse. This includes single- and multi-agency training that ensures children receive an effective multi-agency response.
'Time to revisit this important issue'
Ofsted's national director for social care, Yvette Stanley, said that, since the last JTAI on domestic abuse, "positive steps have been taken to recognise and tackle the impact domestic abuse can have on children".She added: "The time is right to revisit this important area and look at what is happening now to prevent abuse and to promote and protect children’s welfare.
