Shelina Bahar ID: 318199 Group 20
Children should not be forced into care despite being exposed to domestic violence
Shelina Bahar ID: 318199 Group 20
Children should not be forced into care despite being exposed to domestic violence
Safeguarding is the foremost priority for all adults when it comes to protecting children. whether it’s the child’s parents or any other adults from any services that are associated with the child and family. When trying to protect children, their immediate safety should not only be the priority, but future protection should be considered too. When a child is exposed to domestic violence, there are many questions as to what is better for a child when it comes to deciding, whether a child remains with the family or taken into care. To protect children from harm and abuse an increasing number of children are being put in care. But being put in care is having an adverse effect on children. Although authorities believe children are at risk of being hurt mentally physically and emotionally if they remain in an abusive household. There are many evidences that show that children are more effected when they are separated from parents and family. Children are more effected when they removed from the family home. Children should be given a choice to stay with family or relatives. moving homes more often not only effects them physically, mentally and emotionally but also their social lives are affected which increases vulnerability. More and more children are ending in care due to lack of support for vulnerable families. Evidence shows children do better in life when they remain with family, when provided the support.
Children should be given the right to choose or at least have a say in the decisions that are made regarding their care. Regardless of the parent’s ability to protect their child they should also be involved in making choices as to where their child is placed. In circumstances where this is not possible family members or close friends should be allowed to get involved. Removing children away from the family home and relatives makes children more vulnerable to abuse and unstable in life (Busby,2018). Children should be given the opportunity to choose and stay with one (non-abusive) parent. In circumstances where it is not possible for a child to live with either parents the child should be placed in the care of close family or relative the child is familiar with. This will help the child feel comfortable and easily adjust and feel secure. Social service believes due to nature of abuse and circumstances it is not always recommended for parents or children to be involved in making decision. Children exposed to violence in the home are also victims of physical mental and emotional abuse, therefore are not in the right frame of mind to make decisions. There is an increasing number of children being taken into care because of abuse and neglect (Gov 2018). Therefore, children who witness domestic violence are victims and need to be safeguarded, hence taken into care (women’s aid, 2018). Every child is different and will react to witnessing abuse differently. However, despite the facts and impacts of exposure to domestic violence there is evidence that children who are taken into care end up being more problematic and vulnerable to abuse and can be groomed and recruited into gangs. These reports cannot be ignored and must be taken into consideration because children should not just be protected from immediate harm but for future too.
Authorities still feel that the experiences that children go through can leave children with complex emotional and mental health needs, which can increase their vulnerability to abuse. Many reports have shown that children thrive and achieve excellent academic results when given the right support and environment in care (mortimer, 2015). Children can benefit more from being in care away from abusive homes and can have better outcomes with a safe home and environment (women’s aid 2018). When children are taken into care it is never certain a placement will be for until the child reaches eighteen, therefore a child can be moved multiple times which not only increases the difficulties a child faces in settling in, building trust, making new friends and all that effects their education too. A child therefore feels instability and insecurity in life. Reports have revealed that children are being labelled as ‘Pin ball’ kid as they are bounced around from one home to another. Children are more effected when they have to deal with multiple moves, loosing school friends the stress of living with strangers, and it also affects their education as they are moved midterm which results in poor academic results, all these changes bring instability to a child’s life and therefore, has more adverse effects than experiencing abuse. Moving homes and schools several times puts them at risk of falling through the gaps in the schools and social care system, which opens them to abuse and exploitation by gangs (Weale, 2018). There can be other options to avoid removing a child from the family home. Early intervention services can help prevent children being taken into care. When domestic violence or abuse is identified family intervention services can provide parents with positive parenting programmes and domestic violence training programmes to help educate parents and bring awareness which will help them realise the impacts and effects their behaviour is having on their child (smith, 2018).
The Final argument is that vulnerable children and their families are not getting enough support to keep children out of care, reports say families are missing out on vital support due to ‘severe funding pressures’ schools have had to make significant cutbacks and therefore, schools and the social care system is not able to provide the level of support a child and the family requires (Busby 2018). Authorities feel despite the support provided to Children families, intervention services working with women who suffer abuse, have seen that women return to the abusive partners and still putting their children in significant harm. Therefore, support is inconclusive (Dodgson, 2017). Abusive partner and women who suffer domestic violence Reports say, ‘the economic and social cost are unsustainable’. Nearly half of the budget is spent on thousands of children in care. Also, almost three in four children are taken into care, impacting on the Cost of putting a child in care (Butler, 2018). This clearly indicates that much more can be done and money can be spent on areas that can help and support family’s bond well and keep children with families, ensuring these children get stability in live.
In conclusion children should not be forced into care despite being exposed to domestic violence. While safeguarding children, care providers must not forget the impact of removing a child from its home and the instability it brings with it which impacts the child’s future. Children flourish more when nurtured by parents and supported by schools. Therefore, when a referral is made to social services, all intervention services should build a support plan that allows the children to stay together with the parents in safety. Where in cases it is inevitable authorities should try and place children with close family members or people children are familiar with and kept in one place and not continuously moved around. This will ensure that children feel secure and are able to trust the carer they are placed with. Reports have shown and refer to children as ‘pin ball kids’ (Guardian,2018), which means children are moved too many times which allows them to fall through gaps in schools’ systems, which opens them to abuse or to exploitation by gangs. Providing security and support at early stages will prevent negative outcomes and provide better futures where children excel in their education, career and their relationships.