Acknowledging what's left unsaid

  • Judith Staff
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20 May 2014 23:45 #1 by Judith Staff
Acknowledging what's left unsaid was created by Judith Staff
"Interviewing" children about safeguarding/child protection concerns can be really tricky. Sometimes, it is what is NOT alluded to which holds the key information.

I was handed a concern recently about an older child. I did not know the child at all and the child had never accessed PB work. I began to have a chat with the child and, unsurprisingly, they were incredibly guarded about how things were 'at home' and issues which might have contributed to staff raising a concern during an open-ended discussion.

Taking a different approach, having realised the child did not feel safe telling me anything, I began to talk about developing a network. The child engaged in this really well, naming 5 people with ease and understanding about talking with someone if feeling unsafe; the child named 2 cousins in their late teens, the class teacher, a classroom support assistant and an auntie....not a parent or immediate family member in sight. Incredibly informative and illuminating!
The child asked afterwards if they could have the paper with their network on which I of course explained was theirs to keep!

Feeling relieved the child went home with a little something perhaps of use, I am not sure where to go next? If anywhere?....

Ideas welcome, as always :)
judith

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21 May 2014 03:00 #2 by Di Margetts
Replied by Di Margetts on topic Acknowledging what's left unsaid
Hi Judith
My first response is wait!
next time you see the young person perhaps ask if they have needed to use their network and if so did it help or were things resolved. You may have a 5 minute opportunity to do EWS or network review ... oh dear who am I to be telling you what to do.
Cheers from Di

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21 May 2014 07:46 #3 by Maureen Miller
Replied by Maureen Miller on topic Acknowledging what's left unsaid
Hi Judith

Completely agree with Di - the importance of waiting for a child to feel safe with you is so important. This also applies to adults, who can take even longer to trust if they have had poor experiences in the past.

You might want to ask this child if she has shared her network with those on it - do they know she has chosen them? - or discuss the qualities of those she has selected.

Just some thoughts as I am sure you know where you are going with this.

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22 May 2014 06:50 #4 by Ann Seal
Replied by Ann Seal on topic Acknowledging what's left unsaid
Hi Judith,
Agree with Di and Maureen. Another idea may be to involve the child with some peers in a small group session to teach them some PBs .perhaps some feelings work to start, then EWS and theme 1. See where it leads from there. Making opportunities to talk to the child one to one afterwards would be important as they are possibly more likely to talk to you about feeling safe /unsafe after thinking time. Good luck. Sounds like this youngster has the start of a trust relationship with you.
Best wishes as always
Ann

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