It could be argued that both Amy and Sophie have suffered physical and emotional abuse in some way. Corby (2000) defines physical abuse as hitting, shaking, burning etc as physical harm to the child. Physical harm could also cause ill health to a child. From this definition we can argue that Amy and Sophie have suffered physical abuse, as they were not given enough food to eat, that can result to ill health. Also, Amy being sexually abuse could result in physical abuse, as the stepfather is forcing Amy to do stuff.
According to Corby (2000), emotional abuse is the ill treatment of a child. This may involve in telling the child they are worthless or unloved. It also includes exploitation of children. In Amy and Sophie case, it could be argued their mother was not affection with them and they may feel unloved. Also, the stepfather abusing Amy can lead Amy feeling worthless and emotionally unstable.
There are social issues that may be a reason that can increase a risk of a child getting abuse. Beckett (2007) argues there is a link between sexual abuse and marital dysfunction, presence of stepfather in the family and parental alcoholism. In Amy and Sophie case these things are related to them. Beckett (2007) found that 10.4 percent of child sexual abuse involves close family. Anderson et al (1993) in Beckett (2007) suggested that stepparents were roughly ten times more likely to sexually abuse than biological parents. Stepparents sometimes find it impossible to care for children who are not their own.
A good deal of abuse and neglect is linked to stresses of one kind or another, to which different individuals are more or less vulnerable. Under stress related abuse and neglect might include abuse in situation where parents have drug and alcohol problems (Beckett, 2007). In Amy and Sophie case, their mother is alcoholic, which can relate to a reason why she neglected her children.
Different kind of stress can push an adult towards physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. These stresses are taken from Betty Carter and Monic McGoldrick (1989) in Beckett (2007). Horizontal stressors refer to challenging events that occur, as we move through life, some of which are practicable, some are not. For example, a birth of a child. Vertical stressors, on the other hand, are areas of difficulty that we carry from the past. Life becomes stressful when the horizontal and vertical stressors interact. For example, a different exam is moderately stressful for most people, but may be far more stressful for a person from a family background in which a person’s worth is measured by academic achievement (Beckett, 2007).
Looking at the problem this way, when carrying out assessments, it becomes a matter of trying to identify the horizontal and vertical stressors that are contributing to the abusive or neglectful behaviors. Sometime child protection plan may be able to actually reduce or remove some of the present stressors (Beckett, 2007).
Another factor that may increase risk of a child is sexual abusers themselves are sexually abused as children. It is estimated by CSA perpetrators in typically range from 20% to 30%, according to Ferguson and Mullen (1999:49) in Beckett. It could be argued that stepfather may have been abused himself when he was a child.
Crittenden and Ainsworth (1989) in Corby (2000) argue that when a mother does not response to their child, it leads the child to be insecure, a lack self worth and an inability to relate to others. This interaction lessens the child chances of making peer relationship later on because of no trust of others. This pattern may then be repeated with their own child, thus providing explanation of how abuse is transmitted from one generation to next. It could be argued Amy and Sophie mother was not cared for when she was a child, leading her being neglectful to her children now.
Schools can make sure they support abused children, by having practitioners working in their schools. This is good for the child as the environment is familiar and the children know the staff their. They already have a relationship and know the routine and rules. This is a good opportunity to work with the child to ensure all is well. Practitioners can ensure that abused children feel safe. A child may need reassurance, a adult to trust, to have someone to listen to them etc. For this reason, practitioners have a main role to care for a child when needed. The practitioner can build positive relationships with the child and show respect and regard for the child (Howe, 2005). All these things can be done for Amy and Sophie to ensure they are well cared for and have their holistic development addressed.
Practitioner can support families in keeping their children safe and intervening early to prevent a child abuse (Hearn, 1995). In Amy and Sophie case, we are told that the practitioners do intervene early when they become suspicious that something is wrong.
Multi-agency is where different people from different profession work together for the benefit of a child. Multi-agency are those people who work with children and families. In addition, they have the same aims and common purposes. Children needs are at the centre of multi-agency workers and children have a right to high quality responsive and flexible service (Wigfall and Moss, 2001).
There are many benefits of multi-agency workers, such as it should lead to better outcomes for children, as the holistic need are addressed. It can also lead to joint sharing of resources, which is a good thing for the child, as all agencies that work with the child will have the same resources and information on that child. This will lead to the children care being looked after better and results being faster (Wigfall and Moss, 2001). In Amy and Sophie case, the teacher can work with other agencies, such as the social services, to ensure they have the right information to look after the child.
The universal system is an system that is around the child, which ensures that it has better outcome for children. It support families and ensures to prevent any abuse by having early identification and intervention. For this reason when the government spends money for children, do they spend more money in social services to protect those children who need protection or do they put money to other agencies, such as schools, so they can protect a individual. This is where the conflict is, however the government tends to spend money where it will benefit the most (Hearn, 1995).
As we see from Amy and Sophie case if the family does not meet the threshold, they are continue to be a concern until they reach a certain level for the social services to intervene. In Amy and Sophie case the social services do not do anything until there was enough evidence, which can be late for some cases where the child could die. It could be argued whether to put funds into family support to prevent abuse.
Common Assessment Framework (CAF) promotes earlier intervention where additional needs are observed. It reduces the number and duration of different assessment processes that a child needs to undergo. It improves the quality and consistency of referrals between agencies by making them more evidence based. It also promotes the appropriate sharing of information (Wilson and James, 2002). This policy ensure that all teacher record any information they thing will be useful evidence. It ensures that all agencies work together to promote the child well-being.
In 2003 (January) the Laming Report was published to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Victoria Climbié. The report emphasized the needs for clear accountability about who is responsible for the welfare of children (Doyle, 2005). Every Child Matter (2010) was published in 2003 (September), is one of the responses to protecting and safeguarding children. It was to ensure all children have the support that they are healthy; safe; enjoy and achieve; make positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. The Children Act 2004 implemented many of the proposals of Every Child Matters and provides a legislation framework to encourage integrated planning, commissioning and delivery of services (Doyle, 2009).
Mueller and Silverman (1989) in Corby (2000) argue that the way children manage peer relationships have important implications in later life. Children who been neglected do not have a peer relationships, according to research. It is found they are withdrawn from their peers in play and general interaction with them. This finding is correct in Amy and Sophie case, where we are told in the video that Amy and Sophie are withdrawn and do not interact much.
Martin (1972) in Corby (2000) argue that children who are abused have delay in language and school work because of lack of trust in their environment, which in turn results in being afraid of risk taking. In Amy and Sophie case we are told from the teachers that both Amy and Sophie are behind in their schoolwork.
Browne and Finkelhor (1986:149) in Corby (2000) stressed that children who are sexually abused are fearful. Gomes-Schwartz et al (1990) in Corby (2000) found that 45 per cent of children experienced fearful reaction to what happen to them within the first 6 months following the onset of abuse. This mean that the foster parents and teachers must ensure Amy that everything will be all right and to ensure she is well looked after.
Bagley and Ramsay (1986) in Corby (2000) report a low self-esteem rate of 19 per cent among women sexually abused as children. This mean when Amy and Sophie grow up the teacher must try to raise their self-esteem, by ensuring they interact more.
According to Howe (2005) children who are abuse feel frighten about the world being a dangerous, uninterested and unpredictable. They feel helplessness from not having a sense of control over events. They could feel a shame of what has happen to them. In Amy and Sophie case, who ever looks after them can ensure they get counseling, so they can discuss their feeling.
According to Corby (2000) one of the long-term affect of being abuse is mental illness. Carmen et al (1984) stressed that there was a need to spend more time focusing on the abuse children suffered rather than directly on the psychiatric illness itself. In Amy and Sophie case, when they get counseling they should express whatever feeling they have and to encourage them to talk about what happened.
Overall, many people who work with children such as schools, social services etc have responsibility to ensure that all children are cared for and to ensure they get a good protection when needed.
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Reference
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