How Safe Are Our Children

A new report from the NSPCC:
"This report compiles the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across each of the four nations in the UK.

It sets out 19 different indicators and each indicator looks at the question from a different perspective. These indicators will be regularly updated as new statistics are published.

The report allows us not only to understand how many children are being abused and neglected, but also to track progress so that society can be held to account for its responsibility to children. Only by monitoring the extent of child abuse and neglect in the UK can we judge whether efforts to prevent maltreatment and to protect children are working."

Neglect and Serious Case Reviews

A research report conducted by the University of East Anglia on behalf of the NSPCC examines data on neglect from serious case reviews covering the period 2003-2011. Findings include

• Neglect is far more prevalent in serious case review than previously understood
• Neglect needs to be treated as urgently as other forms of maltreatment, due to the potentially life-threatening nature of neglect 
• Neglect with the most serious outcomes is a danger to children of all ages.

Brandon, M., Bailey, S.,Belderson, P. & Larsson, B. (2013) Neglect and serious case reviews: a report from the University of East Anglia commissioned by NSPCC 

Child Poverty

An infographic from the Washington Post using UNICEF data on child poverty across 35 nations.

Burnout in Child Protection Work

The experience of child protection has been documented in a study (not yet published) of child protection workers in Northern Ireland. The research has been conducted in the province since 2009, gathering data on five characteristics of resilience, organisational factors and demographic variables. Lowered resilience among staff often started with an excessive workload, leading to emotional exhaustion, de-personalisation and low levels of personal accomplishment. More information is available in the Guardian, 23 April, 2013.

Social Pedagogy in Fostering

The Fostering Network has launched a programme called Head,  Heart, Hands which aims to promote social pedagogy in fostering in the UK. Downloadable resources associated with the programme can be accessed via the link above. Read more about it in the Guardian.