Citation

Robinson JA. Child Abuse Negl. 1979; 3(3-4): 749-755.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Child Abuse has, in recent years, gained considered prominence as a cause of infant death. Declining mortality from other causes, together with an expansion of knowledge surrounding the "battered child syndrome", has resulted in increased professional awareness of this problem. Nevertheless, several cases reported in the United Kingdom during the mid 1970's demonstrated that knowledge and awareness alone were insufficient to prevent injury to, or death of children as the result of parental violence. It appeared that a vital consideration in interpreting events, and offering help to children and their families was the ability of various workers to communicate effectively with one another, and to achieve a common purpose.In 1976, a study was undertaken within Staffordshire Area Health Authority into the problems of communication between health visitors and social workers. The terms of reference were:- "To investigate the need for inter-disciplinary training for health visitors and social workers, in the area of communication relating to Child Abuse". For the purpose of the study Child Abuse was defined as:- "The ill treatment or neglect of children from birth up to sixteen years of age, including severe emotional deprivation".The cultural determinants of communication behaviour were considered from three perspectives. Firstly, how formal descriptions of roles may lead to overlap of professional activity, and possible role conflict. Secondly, whether basic professional training develops an awareness of the roles of other community workers, and thirdly, how organisational structures facilitate, or inhibit, lateral communication between workers who are functionally independent. Areas of concern were identified, organisational factors were outside the terms of reference of the study, but it was suggested that other needs could be met by the provision of inter-disciplinary in-service education and training programmes.