Assessing Disorganized Attachment Behaviour in Children lays out an evidence-based model for working with and assessing children with disorganized attachment and their adult carers: families whose extreme, erratic and disturbing behaviour can make them perplexing and frustrating to work with. The model is designed to identify key indicators and explanatory mechanisms of child maltreatment: disorganized attachment in the child, a parent's unresolved loss or trauma, disconnected and extremely insensitive parenting, and low parental mentalisation. The book also outlines ways of assessing children for disorganized attachment and carer capacity, and proposes interventions. Accessible and practical, this book is essential reading for child protection professionals.
Introduction. David and Yvonne Shemmings. 1. The Maltreatment Pathway Model and its components. David Shemmings, Professor of ChildProtection Research, University of Kent and co-Director of the university's new Centre for Child Protection. 2. The Notion of 'Interventive Skills'. DavidShemmings. 3. Using Interventive Skills in Practice. Yvalia Febrer, Project Director, Frontline, London. THE EXPLANATORY MECHANISMS OFABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL CAREGIVING. 4. Identifying Unresolved Loss and Trauma using the Adult Attachment Interview. David Shemmingsand Tania Young, Children's Social Care, Lewisham. 5. Exploring 'Mechanisms of Maltreatment' in a Family. Alice Cook, Family AssessmentPractitioner, St Michael's Fellowship, London. 6. Identifying Low Mentalising Capacity using the Adult Attachment Interview. David Wilkins, PrincipalChild and Family Social Worker, Enfield, London. 7. Using a Guided Parenting Task. Lissil Averil, Social Worker, Great Ormond Street Hospital,London. 8. Working with Disconnected or Insensitive Carers by increasing Mentalising Capacity. Yvonne Shemmings, Continuous ProfessionalDevelopment Specialist, and Alice Cook. UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN'S DISORGANISED ATTACHMENT. 9. Using a modified Strange SituationProcedure. Yvonne Shemmings, and Michelle Thompson, Senior Manager, Young Mums and Dads Project, St Michael's Fellowship, London. 10. UsingModified Story Stems. David Wilkins, Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Enfield, London. 11. Using Modified Story Stems in a case of ChildSexual Abuse, Francisca Serrette, Social Worker, Camden, London. 12. Exploring Children's Inner Worlds. Fran Feeley, Social Worker, St. Michael'sFellowship, London, and Claire Denham, Social Worker, Lewisham, London. 13. Using the Child Attachment Interview. David Phillips, manager of theMoorfield Family Assessment Centre, Enfield, London. 14. Working with Children with Disorganised Attachment. Claire Denham, and Jo George, SocialWorker, Lewisham, London. RELATED TOPICS. 15. Attachment to People and Place with Traveler Families. Mel Hamilton-Perry, Social Worker,Norfolk, specializing in work with Gypsy and Traveler Families. 16. Introducing the ADAM Project across the whole Children and Families Departmentin Enfield, London. David Wilkins. 17. Introducing the ADAM Project in Lewisham, London. Tania Young. 18. Fake It till you Make It. Sonja Falck,Psychotherapist and Executive Coach, Harley Street, London, and David Shemmings. Conclusion. David and Yvonne Shemmings.
This book is written primarily for professionals working with families where there are child protection concern...Many social work practitioners will already be familiar with the work of David and Yvonne Shemmings, who developed the Assessment of Disorganised Attachment and Maltreatment (ADAM) Project and the subsequent training programmes from 2009 onward... The editors highlight the importance of professional supervision during the work... I think that this publication will appeal both to newly qualified and experienced social work professionals. It provides some valuable insight into the progress of the potential child protection risks. It is refreshing to read a publication which highlights and values the casework relationship between family members and practitioner.
