Stop ‘Group-Think’ and Do Your 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. One woman told us;
“the team assigned to us falsely accused me of ‘suspected’ child abuse because I chose to stay with my husband, twisting of facts and heresay. Each and every member of the social work team engaged in attacking me and attempting to assassinate my character. They used my post-natal mental health against me to support their biased views. It was agony. Being a good mother is the cornerstone to my life and their ill-informed judgements were completely soul destroying. The turning point in my case was when one of the Social Workers read a research paper that I gave her. The paper was instrumental in first educating her and then the rest of the team. After this they definitely cooled off and I was later completely vindicated. That Social Worker will always be treasured by me and indirectly improved the quality of life for me and my children”.
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) 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 offenders (who are not in the DarkWeb). 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). 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 Non-Offending Partners
Research shows that traditionally NOP’s find professionals treat them with suspicion and mistrust, particularly when they choose to remain in the relationship.
Other research also shows that with the cohort of IIOC offenders using mainstream websites to offend, there is an overestimation of the risk of reoffending and prediction of contact offences. Ultimately, this creates a ‘heavy-handed’ approach and lengthy involvement by Social Services.
Recidivism rates for IIOC offenders are approximately 3-5%. While lower reconviction rates do not minimise the seriousness of IIOC 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 secondary perpetrators.
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 they stay in the relationship. NOPs 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 IIOC 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 non-offending parent to be very 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 mother, 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 usually held in May.
Selection of Media and Articles. Referenced by StopSo.
Research Papers Click Here.