Children at the Centre of Social Cohesion

1. Children at the Centre of Social Cohesion A Social Work Practice Perspective

2. Social Cohesion • The Council of Europe’s Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion (2004) defines social cohesion as: The capacity of a society to • ensure the welfare of all its members, • minimising disparities and • avoiding polarisation. • A cohesive society is a mutually supportive community of free individuals pursuing these common goals by democratic means.

3. Dimensions of Social Cohesion • 5 dimensions: • Belonging – Isolation (shared values, identity, feelings of commitment • Inclusion – Exclusion (equal opportunities of access) • Participation - Non-Involvement • Recognition – Rejection (respecting and tolerating differences in a pluralist society) • Legitimacy – Illegitimacy (with respect to the institutions acting as a mediator in conflicts of a pluralist society.) (Jenson 1998) • The above dimensions imply 2 main societal goals: • Reduction of disparities and inequalities. • Strengthening of social relations, interactions and ties. (Berger-Schmitt 2000)

4. Social Cohesion and Social Work Improving social cohesion is one of the main tasks and aims of the Council of Europe. Being a human rights profession social work has a central place in the promotion of social cohesion.

5. Social Cohesion and Social Work • The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe recognized in 2001: “that social work has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the response of economic and social changes and to the support of vulnerable people and communities during periods of change.” They are also: “recognizing that social work: • promotes the social welfare of individuals, groups and communities, • facilitates social cohesion in periods of change and • supports and protects the vulnerable members of the community, working in partnership with service users, communities and other professions. • Social workers … make an essential contribution to the promotion of social cohesion, both through preventive work and their response to social problems. • Social work is therefore an investment in the future welfare of Europe”.

6. Children and Social Cohesion • The European strategy for Social Cohesion acknowledges children as a group at particular risk of becoming vulnerable. • It states that making social cohesion a reality for children asks for a determined social policy.

7. Malta’s determined Social Policy • The Maltese National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006-2008 recognises that: • Children and young persons have rights that need to be promoted and observed so as to enhance their social inclusion.

8. Important Steps Forward • The setting up of the Office of the Commissioner for Children: • A formal mechanism to monitor, review and promote best practice by service providers. • Promoting children’s rights and interests. • The setting up of the Family Court where the voice of children in important matters concerning them such as family life can be heard.

9. Ensuring our Children are Protected • A society is cohesive when people accept responsibility for one another. • Therefore a cohesive society where the issue of protecting children is concerned, would be one whose members share the value of protecting children and together work towards this goal. The Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion (2004)

10. Child Abuse and Social Cohesion • The abuse and neglect of children can have long-term negative effects on: • Individuals • Families • Society • 14 out of every 1000 children living in Malta (0-17yrs) are referred to Child Protection Services every year. For example in 2004: • 88,300 minors were residing in Malta • 1200 minors were referred to Child Protection Services

11. Malta 2007 – the reality where child protection is concerned • No mandatory reporting is present in the Maltese Child Protection system: • Implication – children at risk may presently fall through the systems that should be protecting them such as health care systems and education systems. • Even if a report to Child Protection Services is made by professionals from different sectors who come across an abused child, these professionals very often ask to remain anonymous when parents are confronted – thus the strength of the arguments by CPS workers who are often the ones to confront is diminished.

12. Malta 2007 – the reality where child protection is concerned • Lack of a Shared Baseline amongst those responsible for protecting children: • Social Workers and the Police • Social Workers and Court • Social Workers and General Practitioners • Social Workers and Schools

13. Social Workers and the Police • A 14 year old was caught in prostitution at 3am and was accompanied home by the police. • On arriving at the minor’s residence the police found her 3 siblings (11 years, 8 years, 4 years) asleep with no adult in the house. • The police proceeded with the 14 year old’s case re. prostitution in Court but did nothing regarding the fact that the minors were found alone at home at night in a house with no electricity and in a severely neglected state! • What strength did the social worker’s confrontation have in the morning if the police did nothing about a situation which they actually witnessed!?

14. Social Workers and the Police • Child Protection Services received a report stating that: • A couple with drug-related problems had just abused drugs and were not in a position to care for their children. • Their 3 year old was in the bath. • Their one year old was also in the house. • CPS social workers conducted a home visit but nobody opened the door. • We asked the police to conduct a home visit hoping that if they were at home they would open up on seeing the police but police did not accept to do this saying we would have to lodge a formal report for this to be considered.

15. Social workers and the Police – an example of good practice • When a referral regarding sexual abuse is received by CPS it is normal procedure for parents to be asked whether they want to involve the police. • When this is done we work jointly with the Victim Support Unit of the Police. • Children are accompanied by social workers while police investigate the allegations being made. • Police are also the ones responsible for confronting the perpetrator while the social worker can continue to focus on the child. • The social worker will then prepare the child for court and s/he also supports the child in Court.

16. Social Workers and Court • Positive: • Introduction of video conferencing technique used for children to give witness. • Less positive: • Legal procedures and processes do not always lend themselves well to protecting children. This is because the legal system is based on presentation of evidence and facts while social work assessments of children’s welfare do not only entail a presentation of facts and proof. • In addition when a case is taken to Court, for example when a care order is issued, and the case does not hold in Court, social workers encounter difficulties in continuing to work with the families. This could result in the children being put at an increased risk.

17. Social Workers and General Practitioners • No referrals ever reach Child Protection Services from GP Private Practice Clinics. • Very rarely are referrals received from polyclinics. • Health Care systems in Britain and other countries are one of the main sources of referrals to Child Protection Services.

18. Working with the Health system - an example of good practice • Mrs. Borg, a single mother who suffers from mental health difficulties had been followed by the mental health team in the community for a number of years. • At a particular point her mental health difficulties began to seriously impinge on the welfare of her 7 year old daughter as she began to neglect her basic needs and to revert to corporal punishment.

19. Working with the Health System • After the community social worker drew Mrs. Borg’s attention to this situation but with no particular improvement in the minor’s situation, a referral was made to Child Protection Services. • Interventions began to be carried out jointly by the community social worker and the CPS worker and improvements began to be noted. • The situation was followed jointly by both services for 6 months after which the case could be closed from CPS and could continue to be followed by the community worker.

20. Reflections on Mrs. Borg’s case study • As opposed to common belief Mrs. Borg did not begin to negatively regard the mental health social worker because joint work was carried out, but was more open to working with the child protection social worker! • This joint approach resulted in both the child and the mother benefitting in the long run because through this joint approach the abuse was minimised as the mother felt supported during the time CPS were involved.

21. Social Workers and Schools • Positive: Schools are a major source of referrals to Child Protection Services in Malta. • Negative: Almost all referrals from schools emphasise the importance of not disclosing the source of referral to the parents.

22. Malta 2007 – the reality where child protection is concerned • Difficulties to find emergency and long-term placements for children: • Implication – children may at times be left in at risk situations due to lack of placements. • This is more of a reality for: • those aged over 9 years of age. • those who have some form of disability.

23. Malta 2007 – the reality where child protection is concerned • Difficulties for social workers to follow children if parents are resistant to interventions or do not cooperate. • Child Protection Social Work is not carried out in the context of a legal framework. Therefore as social workers we are often at the parents’ mercy!

24. Areas of Development • A legal framework that ensures children’s right are protected. • Promotion of Shared Responsibility in relation to Child Protection. • The development of family services based in the community. • Encourage children’s participation in decision-making processes.

25. Shared Responsibility • Promotion of Joint Working - All agencies and professionals should: • Be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect • Be alert to the risks that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children • Share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of the child’s needs and circumstances

26. Shared Responsibility • Contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare • Take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against specific plans • Work cooperatively with parents, unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the child’s safety. Working together to safeguard children (2006)

27. Looking forward • The National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006-2008 states that the present challenges include: • The strengthening of initiatives and services through: • effective collaboration, • co-ordination and • networking. • On-going reforms in the education sector promoting opportunities for both formal and informal learning, personal development and creativity. • The strengthening of the Department for Social Welfare Standards which is specifically responsible for: • (a) establishing standards and protocols of practice, and • (b) monitoring implementation of services;

28. Looking forward • Introduction of adoption and foster care legislation, which should facilitate further the role of various professionals. • Ongoing research and evaluation studies, and information campaigns (such as those carried out by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and the Commissioner for Children). • Greater emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that focus on prevention and early intervention programmes.

29. “Building a Europe For and With Children” • This is a 3 year programme launched by the Council of Europe in January 2006. • It addresses social, health and educational dimensions of the various forms of violence against children. • 7 good reasons for building a Europe for and with children: • Children are not mini human beings with mini human rights • Children are vulnerable- they need more protection, not less • No violence against children is justifiable • All violence against children can be prevented • Protecting children calls for a strategic approach • Children’s rights concern us all • Children’s rights make Europe grow.

30. Looking ahead… May 2006… • Work on increasing awareness of the particular nature of the work carried out by CPS including the difficulties & limitations. • Hopefully this will lead to workers within CPS feeling more supported by other teams and other professions. • Continue working with the aim of increasing understanding that the responsibility for child protection is a shared responsibility.

31. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

32. References • Berger-Schmitt Regina (2000). Social Cohesion as an Aspect of the Quality of Societies: Concept and Measurement. Centre for Survey Research and Methodology, Mannheim. • Jenson, J. (1998). Mapping social cohesion: the state of Canadian research. Canadian Policy Research Networks, CPRN Study No. F/03, Ottawa. • National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006-2008, Ministry for the family and Social Solidarity, Malta. • Working together to safeguard children – a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (2006). HM government, London.