Disorganised attachment, child maltreatment and the role of teachers

Disorganised attachment, child maltreatment and the role of teachers

Professor David Shemmings OBE PhDUniversity of Kent UK

Visiting Professor of Child Protection Research Royal Holloway University of London

co-Director of the ADAM Project and co-Director of the University of Kent’s online Child Protection Centre

Director of the West London Advanced Child Protection Pathway

d.shemmings@kent.ac.uk

adamproject.tiddlyspot.com (no ‘www’)client

adamproject.tiddlyspot.com (no ‘www’)client

DISORGANISED ATTACHMENT An irresolvable paradox wherein the haven of safety is at once the source of alarm (Main and Hesse, 1990)But, remember, it is temporary and fleeting

ADAM Project members Lewisham (x6) Tower Hamlets (x3) Croydon (x3) Merton (x2) Enfield – all teams, all staff Hounslow (x2) Essex (x6) SW Essex NHS PIMH Surrey NHS Bromley (x3) Camden (x5) Surrey NHS (x9) Barnet x10) Brent (x3) Havering (x2) Hammersmith and Fulham (x3)

Richmond (x4) Bedford (x3) Caldecott, Kent (x3) Stoke Surrey (x7) Stockholm (x2) Dusseldorf (MoD x 2) Cyprus (MoD x 2) Southwark (x2) Nottingham Coventry Manchester St Michael’s, London (x5) Medway (x7) Belfast (NIGALA) Newham (x2)

7

importance of ‘base rate’ in risk assessment

Mental ill-health 27% in SCRs

But 25% in Gen Pop

Substance misuse 44% in SCRs

But 34% in Gen Pop (9% drug; 25% alcohol)

Domestic Abuse 34% from SCRs

But 24% in Gen Pop

Linkages, mechanisms, pathways

disconnected parenting

extremely insensitive parenting

disorganised attachment behaviour (there may be

sub-divisions)

unresolved loss and trauma

low mentalising capacity

dissociation /PTSD

(Other – e.g. one-off extreme violence, family suicide/homicide)

DRD4 7+ polymorphism, MAO-A, 5HTT … and other influences?

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Impulsivity , low distress tolerance, low consequence

appraisal

enhanced communication skills

Needed for assessment, help and support … but also to share concerns

Intelligent kindness Unsentimental compassion Non-directive – i.e.‘gentle’ - curiosity