A Word on ‘Group-Think’ and Research
All too often the families of those who offend are more traumatised by Social Services just as much (and sometimes more) than the actual offending behaviour of their loved-ones. You can be the leader within your team by refusing to join the ‘group-think’. Be a leader, not a follower. Research is changing legislation. Don’t wait until new policy drips down to Social Work practice. You can start now.
You are a Children’s Social Worker and…
The phone rings. A new case. A new family, where the father has been arrested for viewing indecent images of children (IIOC)/child sex abuse material (CSAM) or having a sexual communication with/or about a child online.
What are your next thoughts? – Does your mind automatically go to the darkest places?
Your instincts might be to make sure he is not allowed anywhere near his own children. Yet, research has shown these are typical fear-based reactions that over estimate risk for IIOC/CSAM offenders (who are not in the Dark Web). Family members too can suffer greatly from these fear-based reactions.
An independent risk assessment is necessary and very important. This should be done as quickly as possible to minimise the disruption to the children’s lives. There’s lots to learn about this rising crime. Please take the time to go through this website (especially this page and research papers). Digest the research studies and share with your colleagues.
Look at the whole picture of the family and the children’s relationship with their father. Above all else, please consider that this family has just had their entire world blown apart. They all need empathy, compassion and warmth.
Engaging with Families
Research shows that traditionally families of those arrested find that professionals treat them with suspicion and mistrust, particularly when they choose to support the one who offended.
Other research also shows that with the cohort of IIOC/CSAM offenders using mainstream websites to offend, there is an overestimation of the risk of reoffending and incorrect prediction of contact offences. Ultimately, this creates a ‘heavy-handed’ approach especially with social services over-estimating risk where there is none. The attitude of “if in doubt, chuck him out” goes against the European court of human rights to a normal family life. It advocates social services involvement should not be prolonged for children.
Recidivism rates for CSAM offenders is incredibly low (<5%). While lower reconviction rates do not minimise the seriousness of CSAM use, these findings highlight the need for comprehensive assessment to include absorbing and applying the latest research in order to make sound risk decisions that consider the low recidivism rates.
Partners (especially those who stay), feel negatively viewed by safeguarding professionals. Partners do not condone their spouse’s offence at all yet feel under scrutiny instead of supported. After all, they have been victimised too in this crisis. Many report being treated as contagiously guilty.
The children protection measures are often counter-productive. The Children and Families Act (2014) emphasised the need for children to remain in their family units without excessive intervention from Social Services. Unfortunately, the majority of children of online offenders experience excessive disruption to the family unit and long-term ongoing negative intervention.
Helpful Tips
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- Don’t Judge. Especially when people support the offender. They and their children are secondary victims/survivors who are extremely traumatised. SWs are there in a child-protection capacity only. A condemning attitude further traumatises. Around half of partners stay in the relationship and their spouse eventually does return to the family home.
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- Realistic About Risk. Research shows that there is an overestimation of risk with CSAM offenders who view material on mainstream websites. Don’t be part of the “if in doubt chuck him out” game. Organise a risk assessment asap. There are complex pathways to offending and porn addiction often plays an major role in the majority of cases. Have a trained expert complete an independent risk assessment as soon as possible. See below for help. Article 1 and Article 2.
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- Be Kind. Families suffer from extreme bullying, coercive control and stigma-baiting from their relatives and society. Why do the privileges and protections granted to most of society remain shockingly out of reach for the family members of people who have offended?
A tidal wave has ripped these lives apart. Be kind to the families who has been left to pick up the pieces. Children especially need the present parent to be strong for them during this crisis. Support the parent rather than be condemning, for their sake and for the children’s sake. When you knock the victims of the knock, it’s the children who suffer.
Expert Risk Assessments
Expert risk assessments more accurately assess risk and avoids errors in intervention that can further traumatise the family.
–Victoria Appleyard Therapy.
-Rachel Fox Therapy and Forensic Risk Assessments.
-Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
–Phoenix Forensics.
Online Training
Child Protection and the Hidden Victims of Harmful Sexual Behaviours and Offending. One day course. Provided by StopSO.
Research Collaboration: StopSO Annual Conference. Online Conference
Selection of Media and Articles. Referenced by StopSo.
Research Papers Click Here.
Open Letter to Social Services
“I imagine if I chose not to support my husband then I would have been commended instead of condemned.
We had a horrendous experience, everything was twisted to support biased thinking. It was pure agony not to be believed because being a good mother is the cornerstone of my life. It was like accusing the pope of being atheist!
But there is a God and He works through people. One day I sent our social worker a research paper about how innocent family members of the knock are treated appallingly. The paper was a pivotal turning point and eventually we were completely vindicated after copious assessments and long wait times.
My open message to social workers is to read the research around this new wave epidemic of CSAM cases. Understand that the majority are no risk (low risk in your language) to their own children. Many of the offenders ended up there because of their maladaptive coping mechanisms and porn addiction. Most have never, nor would ever commit a contact offence. They typically don’t use the dark web. They are the low hanging fruit and are easy to catch because they are clueless about covering their tracks. Most will never use CSAM again now that they’ve been caught and will get rehabilitated.
The best way forward is to arrange an independent risk assessment. Don’t wait or take the attitude of assuming high-risk so break up the family in the mean time. I know you want to protect our children, but so do we. Ask your manager about training courses specifically for these offences. These are available online from STOPSO”.