Working with Mothers of Sexually Abused Children provides child protection professionals with the guidance they need to make the right decisions in cases of suspected or proven sexual abuse and ensure the best outcome for the child.
Assessments and interventions used for other forms of abuse, such as physical abuse or neglect, elicit a great deal of information, but do not fully address the issues and needs in relation to child sexual abuse. This book lays out a new model for understanding, assessing and working with mothers of sexually abused children or partners of known or suspected sexual offenders - a model which combines offender knowledge with understanding of mothers and partners.
It is structured around the following central critical questions:
· Did she know it was happening?
· Is she able to protect the child?
· What do I need to do to ensure that the child is safe?
Combining research and empirical evidence with case studies, exercises and practical guidance, this book is essential reading for child protection professionals working with children and families.
Introduction. 1. The complexity of assessing non-offending mothers and partners. 2. Did she know? Can she protect? Belief, disbelief and denial. 3. The addition of the offender perspective to our understanding of mothers and partners. 4. Understanding sex offenders: how much do we need to know and why? 5. Two simple models for understanding sex offenders for use when working with mothers and partners. 6. Applying knowledge of sex offenders when working with mothers and partners. 7. The impact of the offender on the mother/child relationship. 8. The effect of the offender on family dynamics. 9. What can hinder a good assessment? The need to see it from the mother's or partner's perspective. 10. Are we all speaking the same language? The need for improved inter-agency understanding. 11. Assessment of the mother/partner: pre-assessment planning. 12. The importance of engagement and motivation. 13. The assessment interview: what questions to ask, why, how and when. 14. Intervention: empowering mothers and partners to assist and to protect their child and family.
Jenny states ""My aim throughout the book is to provide a basic grounding in understanding sex offenders and to weave that knowledge much more into our understanding of mothers and partners"". For me the book does exactly that. It deals with what can be some potentially emotive issues with great care, whilst ensuring that the practitioner has a clear understanding of why things should be done in the way Jenny suggests. The work is based on theory but it is also firmly based on Jenny's excellent knowledge and understanding of the subject area. All in all it weaves theory with the knowledge and skills required to achieve the aims and objectives of the intervention, while illustrating practice application. The book is a 'must read' for all those who are involved in this area of work as well as those who assess children and families in other situations.
