Citation

Driscoll J, Hutchinson A, Lorek A, Kiss K, Kinnear E. Int. J. Child. Rights 2021; 29(2): 400-425.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Brill Academic Publishers)

DOI

10.1163/15718182-29020005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Covid-19 and the resulting "lockdown" and social distancing measures significantly disrupted the mechanisms by which child maltreatment may be identified or disclosed and children's voices in relation to their protection are heard. This paper reports on the first stage of a multi-disciplinary study in which 67 interviews were undertaken with strategic and operational leads in all professions with child protection responsibilities from 24 London boroughs in June to early September 2020.

FINDINGS highlight disruptions to communication pathways caused by redeployment and the closure of universal and early help services, and concerns about the effectiveness and safety of distanced interactions. Innovations in practice to overcome these challenges are reported, including risk reevaluation exercises, keeping in touch strategies and online innovations. Lundy's model of participation rights is employed to identify lessons for addressing the invisibility of some groups of children, enhancing access to and quality of communication, and embedding responsibility for listening to children.

Language: en

Keywords

care proceedings; child protection; children’s voice; covid-19; digital communication; interagency working; participation rights; safeguarding practice