Jane HernonProf Marian BrandonProf Gillian Schofield

Disabled young people’s perspectives of thechild protection system in England

Disabled young people’s participation in child protection

• Participation “multi-layered concept” (Kirby et al 2003)

• Disabled children have a right to participate in decisions that affect them (Article 12, UNCRC 1989, Article 7, UNCRPD 2006)

• Disabled children’s right to protection (Article 16, UNCRC 1989)

• Munro review recognised children’s views important in improving outcomes in child protection

• Little currently known about disabled children’s experiences of child protection (Stalker and McArthur, 2012)

Study Aims and Methods

• Explore disabled young people and their families’ perspectives of child protection in England

• Promote awareness of disabled young people’s views and priorities for support

• Qualitative semi-structured activity-based interviews

Study Recruitment

• 16 disabled young people aged 11-17

• Current or previous child protection involvement

• 10 young people living at home, 6 living in care

• 10 Girls, 6 Boys

• Range of different impairments, including autism, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, physical or mental health condition

Emerging themes from young peoples interviews

•Young people participate less in child protection

•Less information and choice

•Unsure how views represented or considered

•Little evidence disability taken into account

•Range factors promote or hinder participation

Disabled young people’s participation in child protection

Engagement

Participation

HIGH

HIGH

Only speaking

softly

It all gets sorted

Young and dim

It just didn’t

happen

Low participation / Low EngagementIt just didn’t happen (Nicola, 16)

Nicola: I just wanted to know stuff what's happening and that, but they just didn't let me

… I would have liked to have told them what I thought but it just didn't happen. I was young then, I was like 10 or 13 or something.

Nicola: I just wanted to know stuff what's happening and that, but they just didn't let me

… I would have liked to have told them what I thought but it just didn't happen. I was young then, I was like 10 or 13 or something.

Low participation / Low engagementIt will look like I am different (Ethan 16)

Ethan: I just dislike Social Workers in my life because they’re just really annoying … like, she pushed Mum to get masks for when I am cleaning out the animals but then at college I really don’t want to be wearing masks if I don’t have to because then it will look like I am different to everyone else so when I go to college if it can’t be seen I want to try and keep it like that …

It is a bit of a gamble with animals but I have been fine around them for ages so … and like I prefer animals more than humans.

Ethan: I just dislike Social Workers in my life because they’re just really annoying … like, she pushed Mum to get masks for when I am cleaning out the animals but then at college I really don’t want to be wearing masks if I don’t have to because then it will look like I am different to everyone else so when I go to college if it can’t be seen I want to try and keep it like that …

It is a bit of a gamble with animals but I have been fine around them for ages so … and like I prefer animals more than humans.

High participation / Low EngagementYoung and dim (Louise 17)

Louise: In the end I was just like ‘look it is my turn to speak this is about me basically … the Chair lady she was like ‘yes she is right, it is her chance to speak’ so I did and I said absolutely everything that I needed to say…

Sister: They didn’t really ever take Louise’s point into consideration though did they?

Louise: No because I was young, they were saying young and dim basically … she said I was extremely vulnerable, needed like extra looking after … so by that I thought she meant she was basically taking the mick because I am dyslexic and got a few mental problems…

Louise: In the end I was just like ‘look it is my turn to speak this is about me basically … the Chair lady she was like ‘yes she is right, it is her chance to speak’ so I did and I said absolutely everything that I needed to say…

Sister: They didn’t really ever take Louise’s point into consideration though did they?

Louise: No because I was young, they were saying young and dim basically … she said I was extremely vulnerable, needed like extra looking after … so by that I thought she meant she was basically taking the mick because I am dyslexic and got a few mental problems…

Low participation / High EngagementOnly speaking softly (Chloe 17)

Chloe: They thought mummy was ill and, I mean I think she is and I didn’t really go to this meeting … but then I regretted it and then I thought I was going to get wrong and they would put me in Care and do things I didn’t want to do and I just really wanted to stay with mum

What do you think makes it difficult?

I am building up my confidence … I am not speaking up well, I am only speaking softly …I find it hard, I do understand some things, yes and I finally get what they are saying if they repeat it twice.

Chloe: They thought mummy was ill and, I mean I think she is and I didn’t really go to this meeting … but then I regretted it and then I thought I was going to get wrong and they would put me in Care and do things I didn’t want to do and I just really wanted to stay with mum

What do you think makes it difficult?

I am building up my confidence … I am not speaking up well, I am only speaking softly …I find it hard, I do understand some things, yes and I finally get what they are saying if they repeat it twice.

High participation / High engagementIt all gets sorted (Jack, 16)

Jack: Saying my stuff in front of family and all that it’s just too much …

So how do you feel your views get put across?

Jack: Well usually I pass them onto to Luke (SW), and Luke passes them onto to everyone else … and yeah it all gets sorted. So Luke’s like my messenger … it works good cos’ that way I’ve got like my say in it, Luke passes it on for me. It all gets said, Luke gets me, gets all the details back.

Jack: Saying my stuff in front of family and all that it’s just too much …

So how do you feel your views get put across?

Jack: Well usually I pass them onto to Luke (SW), and Luke passes them onto to everyone else … and yeah it all gets sorted. So Luke’s like my messenger … it works good cos’ that way I’ve got like my say in it, Luke passes it on for me. It all gets said, Luke gets me, gets all the details back.

High participation / High engagementShe just sits and listens to my bit (Jon, 16)Jon: Well I don’t hide when Nina (SW) turns up that is kind of a difference … she just sits and listens to my bit and then doesn’t say ‘oh well I am sure they didn’t mean it’ when they definitely do.

Mum: Do you remember when we had to go for that meeting and she sent you photographs through in advance … of what the building was going to look like and what the room was going to look like?

Jon: Yes she did! Mum a load of police cars now made me feel very…

Jon: Well I don’t hide when Nina (SW) turns up that is kind of a difference … she just sits and listens to my bit and then doesn’t say ‘oh well I am sure they didn’t mean it’ when they definitely do.

Mum: Do you remember when we had to go for that meeting and she sent you photographs through in advance … of what the building was going to look like and what the room was going to look like?

Jon: Yes she did! Mum a load of police cars now made me feel very…

They put it across together brilliantly without just us (Ben, 13)How were Ben’s views put across at the conference? Mum: They put it across together brilliantly without just us … they put it across of how they think he would feel about it all and how it was affecting him and in school it was affecting him by, he would get easily frustrated … he used to hit out a lot …

How were Ben’s views put across at the conference? Mum: They put it across together brilliantly without just us … they put it across of how they think he would feel about it all and how it was affecting him and in school it was affecting him by, he would get easily frustrated … he used to hit out a lot …

Conclusion - Disabled young people’s participation child protection

Barriers EnablersLack information about process and choice

Not supported to be confident expressing their views

Views not represented and/or valued

Professionals don’t engage young people’s perspectives

Process not young people or disability friendly

Clear and understandable information

Support and choice about how they participate

Views considered and taken seriously

Consistent relationship trusted professional

Process account young people’s needs / power differences

Participation – It’s a good thing

‘Meaningful participation is a process, not simply the application of isolated, one-off participation activities or events’ (Kirby et al, 2003)

Jack: It’s a good thing cos’ you get to tell them what you want. You can tell them what you feel, um, what you’re thinking … it gets them along with it .. so you’re open minded, so everyone knows.

Nicola: It's a good thing then they should go. They wanna know what's happening whether they are going in foster care or not. I know it's gonna be sad but I would want to know stuff. And I think other kids think that too.

Thank youReferencesKirby, P., Lanyon, C., Cronin, K. and Sinclair, R. (2003) Building a culture of participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation. Research Report, London, Department for Education and Skills

HM (2011) The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report - A child-centred system. London, TSO (CM 8062)

Stalker, K. and McArthur, K. (2012) Child abuse, child protection and disabled children: A review of recent research. Child Abuse Review, 21, 1, 24-40

Contact: J.Hernon@uea.ac.uk