Citation

Spratt T, Kennedy M. Br. J. Soc. Work 2021; 51(3): 999-1017.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/bjsw/bcaa080

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research has demonstrated conclusively that the experience of adversities in childhood increases the risks for poor outcomes in the domains of physical and mental health and economic and social circumstances across the life course. This has produced a wave of interest in the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences internationally, with developments in policy across the UK nations reflective of this. The translation of such research and policy development has witnessed the growing dominance of the 'toxic stress model' as underpinning the early signalling of troubles in children. Such signals are further conceptualised as the presence of 'trauma'. It is upon these conceptual pillars that therapeutically orientated services are being built. In this article, we describe these developments, offering as they do, challenges to short-term interventions as well as providing opportunities for social workers to appropriate the developing knowledge base so as to inform more effective ways of working.

Language: en