An exploration of child protection practices with vulnerable children in New South Wales

Abstract

Child vulnerability is a serious concern around the world, despite efforts made by government and non-government organisations. This research examines child vulnerability and protection practices used to safeguard the well-being of children in New South Wales using a grounded theory research approach. In-depth interviews were carried out with nine purposively selected child protection officers from non-government organisations. The research has four aims. The first aim was to understand the nature of child vulnerability in NSW, and the findings show emerging forms of child vulnerability, especially in a COVID-19 era, including a growing exposure to domestic violence and its implications for childhood trauma. Sexual abuse cases in residential care are a concerning issue, especially when residential care environments are presumed to be safe spaces for children. The cycle of trauma continues as parents’ past trauma often affects children’s mental health. Although removing children from parents can be a necessary step for Child Protection Workers (CPWs), findings suggest that it is traumatizing for both parents and children without any guarantee of the child’s development. Additionally, neglect, physical abuse, complex trauma, mental stress, and witnessing drugs and alcohol are a few more vulnerabilities found in children. The second aim of the research was to understand CPWs’ approach to identifying and assessing child vulnerability, which includes gathering information through observations, interactions with children and their parents, and carefully examining parents’ capacity to protect children. The third aim of the research was to understand the strategies CPWs adopt to address child vulnerability, which were risk reduction, service provision, support, and post intervention strategies. Risk reduction includes removing children from situations that can jeopardize their lives and practicing safety plans for them. The services provided by CPWs include mental health support by providing referrals to mental health professionals, foster care services, education, and NGO-delivered workshops. Support strategies include intervention models, safety nets, financial aid, and parental involvement. However, children being left out due to the unavailability of services is a concerning issue. Some of the values, such as compassion, problem-solving skills, empathy, and unbiased professionalism, help guide CPWs in making decisions in the field, which contributes to the fourth aim of the research. Overall, this research concludes that child protection for vulnerable children is an evolving practice that needs to respond to the changing nature of vulnerabilities. Therefore, there is a need to modify and explore new forms of support for vulnerable children, such as rethinking custody and removal practices in non-life-threatening situations, to minimise the trauma associated with the removal of children. There is a need to reform residential care settings to maximise the security and safety of children. The reform process requires interagency collaboration to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable children.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Rimple Mehta (Supervisor) & Daniel Doh (Supervisor)