The multiple and competing functions of local reviews of serious child abuse cases in England DOI Creative Commons
Jonathan F. Dickens, Laura Cook, Jeanette Cossar

et al.

Critical Social Policy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 44(3), P. 447 - 467

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

When children are killed or seriously harmed from abuse neglect, there is pressure to ‘learn the lessons’ prevent similar events. England has a long-established system of locally-based multi-agency reviews for this, but recurrence tragedies and repetitive findings raise questions about its effectiveness. Reflecting building on our research into completed between 2017 2021, we analyse complexity that routine criticisms inter-agency working disguise, argue shaped by their multiple, competing functions. The stated purpose improve practice. Within this other overt ambiguous goals: establishing what happened, accountability, reassurance commemoration. Then covert functions: dissipate public outrage, deflect attention underlying causes, distort understandings work making it seem straightforward. Reviews would benefit paying more dynamics frontline practice local actions implement lessons.

Language: Английский

The multiple and competing functions of local reviews of serious child abuse cases in England DOI Creative Commons
Jonathan F. Dickens, Laura Cook, Jeanette Cossar

et al.

Critical Social Policy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 44(3), P. 447 - 467

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

When children are killed or seriously harmed from abuse neglect, there is pressure to ‘learn the lessons’ prevent similar events. England has a long-established system of locally-based multi-agency reviews for this, but recurrence tragedies and repetitive findings raise questions about its effectiveness. Reflecting building on our research into completed between 2017 2021, we analyse complexity that routine criticisms inter-agency working disguise, argue shaped by their multiple, competing functions. The stated purpose improve practice. Within this other overt ambiguous goals: establishing what happened, accountability, reassurance commemoration. Then covert functions: dissipate public outrage, deflect attention underlying causes, distort understandings work making it seem straightforward. Reviews would benefit paying more dynamics frontline practice local actions implement lessons.

Language: Английский

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