There has been a growing awareness of the need to consider the particular problems for families with multiple adversities in relation to child protection policy. A recent report on Case Management Reviews (CMRs) commissioned by the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) found that the majority of children subject to a review were living in families where parents were experiencing multiple problems (Devaney et al, 2013). Reflecting this, the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) has prioritised the need to develop within each Safeguarding Panel a process to review cases in order to enhance learning on key issues identified from CMRs. This process includes long standing children in need/ protection cases where neglect and multiple advertises have been a causal factor (SBNI, 2013). Further regarding child protection issues, it is worth noting that UK analyses examining multiple risk factors and adversities have not included child abuse and neglect, and any information about prevalence in NI is generally limited. There has also been little research here and elsewhere in the UK to explore the views and experiences of high need families with multiple problems.
This qualitative study aimed to address this knowledge gap by conducting thirty-four in-depth interviews with seventeen parents. The interviews were the second stage of a wider project examining how to most effectively address the needs of families experiencing multiple adversities in Northern Ireland. Including a comprehensive international literature review conducted in Stage One, it is anticipated that the project findings will usefully inform policy and practice. The final stage of the project will involve knowledge transfer events with key stakeholders and service providers from statutory and non-statutory agencies; the purpose of these will be to present and discuss the project’s findings, share learning and identify and influence developments in delivering (integrated) services to families with multiple and complex needs.