The place of procedures in child abuse investigations

Abstract

Summary Heidi Koseda starved to death in a back bedroom while relatives and neighbours tried fruitlessly to alert social workers to their concerns about her. Darren Clarke's relatives also failed to get the help they wanted from the police, NSPCC, and Social Services when they feared for his safety. These children's deaths produced great public distress not only because of their horrifying form but because it seemed that they could have been and should have been prevented. The public services involved in cases like these came in for angry criticism. Consequently, each service has brought in changes designed to improve their response to allegations of child abuse, hoping to avoid the mistakes made in these tragedies. For social workers, the changes have taken the form of highly formalised procedures governing their practice. Practitioners in child protection work have more guidelines, handbooks and procedure manuals than any of their colleagues in other social work specialisms. This marks a substantial cha...