Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook - Health Service ...

Social Work Procedures and Practice
• Does the child display emotional symptoms such as hypervigilance,
attachment issues, ‘clinginess’, insomnia, nightmares,
poor appetite, depression, not knowing how to play or relax as a
result of an unpredictable and frightening parent?
• Does the child display behavioural issues and/or concentration
deficits in school/early years setting?
The impact on the non-abusing parent/carer’s ability to parent and
protect the child
• What is the non-abusing parent’s ability to parent and protect the
child or children?
• The effects of violence (e.g. pain, distress, anger, irritability, fear,
reduced mobility, hospitalisation) may affect parenting capacity, as
may mental illness or substance misuse problems that emerge as
a consequence of domestic violence.
• capacity, e.g. adult mental health issues, substance misuse,
neglect issues, adult intellectual disability, social isolation, child
disability.
Consider interlinking risk factors that may be affecting parenting
• are not necessarily individual occurrences, but rather part of a
process within the context of the child’s safety and welfare.
Check with the non-abusing parent what explanations have
• been given to the child about the domestic violence and the
Practitioners need to be aware that domestic violence incidents
perpetrator’s behaviour.
Other important issues to consider during the assessment
• Are there any protective factors? What are they?
Is the mother pregnant or had a baby in the last 18 months?
•
• Has there been involvement from the Gardaí? How often?
• Are there any legal issues to consider?
• Has the perpetrator breached protective Court orders for either
mother or child?
• Does the perpetrator have a criminal record?
• Is the family experiencing financial stress?
• Are the mother and child isolated, with limited support?
• During home visits check for pets – animal abuse is often an
indicator of domestic violence.
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