Mums experiences of social work after domestic incident

[Shstewart]

Hi everybody,

My name is Stacey and I am trained as a social worker - I've worked in both Child Protection and Children In Care social work before returning to Nottingham Trent University to undertake a PhD that looks at mothers experiences of domestic abuse and social work.

I am looking for participants, both social workers and mothers.
The criteria for mothers; anyone who has been, or is in, an abusive relationship AND who has had, or who has, involvement with children's services.
The criteria for social workers; anyone who has worked in Child Protection.

I’d like participants to be involved in different parts of the research, so you have a choice of how you can be involved. My approach seeks to ensure that participant’s stories are told accurately, from their point of view. You are not expected to take part in all of the roles, so if this sounds interesting to you we can discuss it and find what suits you best.

I have chosen this method because I want to understand if current approaches to mothers within child protection social work revictimise women with violent partners. This interests me because during my time in social work I was made very uncomfortable by the way social workers work with women who had experienced domestic abuse. Social workers have to decide whether domestic abuse is having a damaging impact on the child and if there is, how to manage the risk and make sure the child is protected. In this situation, they often focus their attention on the main caregiver who is often the mum. This can lead to decisions being made by a social worker which takes away the mothers ability to make decisions, and often leaves her feeling powerless. These decisions may assume that the mum has enough support and money to leave the relationship safely, that the mum hasn’t been protective of her children and it does not place responsibility for the abusive behaviour on the right person. It can also ignore the statistics about the risks to mothers leaving abusive relationships.

I know this chain of events can happen, and I want to investigate it with mothers and social workers. I want to hear if you have experienced or behaved like this. I want to hear about experiences that were positive and very different from this. Most of all, I want to hear from you about what you experienced in this situation. If you're interested in my project, want to have a chat, make a comment, or even become involved, please don't hesitate to text, call or email me – 07565472560, [email protected].

With very best wishes
Stacey

[DancingLedge]

Not a participant, but sounds like an interesting area of research.

[Shstewart]

Thanks DancingLedge- for your comment and the time you took to read my post :)

[PotteringAlong]

This has just appeared in my active conversations - I don't fit your criteria but it sounds fascinating. Good luck.

[donajimena]

Sorry another one just posting to say what an interesting and hopefully helpful study you are doing.
I left an abusive relationship and it was extremely difficult (the practicalities not the decision) no SS involvement thankfully and all is good now. Good luck

[nightshade]

Very difficult to promote choice and empowerment of mum and protection of child in these situations...

Often that is why social services take a hardline...to ensure that the mother protects the children by insisting that the relationship ends...often mum is not strong enough..too scared...brainwashed to make these decisions of her own volition...

I have historically worked several cases where a clear line with mum, although traumatic at first has allowed her to eventually free herself and move on..

Also in some ways ito means the perpertrator has someone else to blame other than the victim for the ending of the relationship...

[leghoul]

What an interesting area. I strongly feel that the approach can cause women to feel they have no asupportive place to turn because if they tell their GP, or health visitor, or similar, that they are experiencing domestic violence it will trigger off this system which will ultimately not place blame squarely on the perpetrator but will swiftly escalate to huge life changes or you lose your children- without simultaneously supporting through those huge life changes, such as exiting a relationship, which as you say is often the most dangerous time. I definitely feel it revictimises and also drives the hiding of domestic violence. Good luck with the research.

[leghoul]

But I do agree that sometimes it's the hard line that drives change- I am not sure it is as supportive as it could be

[nightshade]

I would agree with you Leghaul. .sometimes it's not as supportive as it should be however that is where often we would have referred on to women's aid or family centre etc for therapeutic support...

And you are right..often the hardline is the impetus for change...the idea that social services are bigger and stronger than the perpetrator...I've been very privileged to have years worth of extreme abuse disclosed by a mother that she has never voiced before following an extremely hard line approach ...also tearful thank yous and fond goodbyes after deregistering children and discharging care orders....

[Shstewart]

Thank you for all of your thoughts!

[Toffeelatteplease]

I think you might have some trouble finding participants. I was banned from sharing what happened in family courts from anyone and told I could be held in contempt if I did.

[FV45]

You talk about violent partners. Are you looking for mothers who have experienced physically abusive relationships or emotionally abusive as well?

[Toffeelatteplease]

And violence towards mum or alledged violence towards child

[Shstewart]

FV45- Any type of abusive behaviour
Toffeelateeplease (good choice of drink!) - hmm difficult.... maybe we could chat?

[Toffeelatteplease]

We probably should. But I'd start now by saying I'm not fond of social workers!!

[Shstewart]

that's okay! :)

[FV45]

I will email you when I’m on laptop

[Shstewart]

Thanks FV45! I look forward to hearing from you :)

[JD360]

Place marking and will email tomorrow. Does this have to be something that you are going through now.? Or in the past

[Shstewart]

Hi JD360,
Any kind of involvement at all is fine - so past or present :)

[Shstewart]

Good morning,

Thank you to everyone who has shared their views and ideas with me about the research, and thank you to everyone who has participated. I have reached my limit for this project, but if you are interested in the topic and want to be updated on the progress or involved in the future, then please private message me your details and I will keep them stored safely.

Best wishes and I hope you have wonderful weekends
Stacey