How can we really stop child abuse??

Question

Like most people I get upset when watching the child abuse adverts on the TV and every month I donate money to the NSPCC, but are we fighting a battle that we can never win?
What happens behind closed doors can not be seen and therefore can not be stopped, when a child is found dead from years of torture and abuse theres always an interview from the neighbour or school teacher saying they thought something was not right! why didnt they report it then?? but even if they did report it the social workers dont just turn up unanounced, they phone and make an appointment, then when they get there the child is well dressed and stuffing sweets down their throats with big smiles on their faces so the social think everything is ok and leave it at that, why dont they just turn up and see the reality??
I think social workers are like the police they spend their time just catching the easy ones, like the police would rather spend their time giving out speeding fines than catching the real

criminals the social workers just catch the easy targets eg parents with learning difficulties have their children taken away even though they are loved and cared for.
My question is, what can we really do??

Answer 1

Working in the child protection field for 5+ years I have to respectfully disagree with you.
I see everyday children being brought into foster care due to abuse, and/or neglect. Each year the number of new children brought into foster care is proof there is ways to stop child abuse. The only way we can't stop it, is when people with knowledge of the abuse is not reporting it.
Social workers CAN NOT remove a child from a home, a child can only be removed from the parent one of three ways.
1. A police officer has to determine the child is in immindent danger a that very moment. Then they can/will declare the child and place the child with a social worker to be placed into foster care.
2. Endorsement upon summons~ this is when a social worker has documented neglect or abuse over a period of time but there is not enough to show immenant danger. So the judge reads the affidvate and determins if there is enough to remove the child. If he finds there is, a social worker and police will go to the home and remove the child.
3. Rule 16/Expansion law~ When a child is in the juvenile court system and is about to be released from juvenile jail and the judge feels it's not in the best interest for the child to return to the parents or if the parents refuse to take the child home. The judge orders him to foster care.
Once a child is removed from the parents, it starts a child protection act against the parent/s. The parents then have to do what is asked of them from multiple people before they can have their children returned to them.
Educating parents only helps them and their children. The best place (usually) for a child is with their parents. So we try hard to return the child to the parents when possible.
Believe me, teachers DO report, but there has to be enough evidence to remove. A lot of times, if law enforcment shows up and there is no imm danger at that moment nothing can be done.
It is EVERYONES responsiblity to report abuse when they suspect it is going on.


The problem I see is people are affraid to report, saying I'm not sure if it is happening.
It is NOT their placed to determine if abuse is happening that is what the experts are for. If they determine abuse has not occured then no damage. If they determined abuse has occured they that person helps a child.

April is child abuse and awareness month!!
Report if you suspect abuse is occuring, the child will thank you!

Answer 2

You don't seem to have all of your facts straight. When initial contact is made with the family, the visits are always unannounced. For example, when a child abuse report is received, the social worker will just show up at the residence or school, sometimes with the police in tow if deemed necessary. Announced visits are only part of a continuing care plan (ie. checking up on families that have already been investigated and/or reunited.) Also, teachers, doctors and all child care workers are mandated reporters. This means that they must make a child abuse report any time they even suspect child abuse, they do not have to wait for proof. This is how it works in my state (California). Most states are similar. Unfortunately, there will always be some abuse that never gets reported, or we only find out about it too late. Please don't be too hard on the social workers, in general they have societies best interest at heart and work hard.

Looks like you're from the UK. Not sure how things work over there but I'd bet your social workers are good, hardworking people too.

Answer 3

It's the responsibility of everyone in society to report suspected child abuse - no matter how vague their suspicions. It will not stop it - but it will reduce it a lot.

I think the NSPCC needs more focus. I stopped donating to them when they brought in their "Full Stop" campaign against smacking children. I am a responsible parent, and have smacked my children (lightly) perhaps twice a year. I consider this to be a part of responsible parenting - and so do many other parents. The NSPCC has alienated many people with it's campaign against smacking and also by it's very aggressive donor-marketing techniques. It's a shame, it used to be a good organisation.

Answer 4

You do what you can. Respecting all parties and never acting on emotion. Hard isn't it?
All the real fights can never be won, but they can be lost.
Our response to the problem must continually evolve with the circumstances. Every safe child is a battle won, the war goes on.

Answer 5

Well, the liberals are coming to your rescue. There is a movement to make it illegal for a parent to physically discipline their child in the US.

The same way Schools are not longer allowed to give swats.

In other words, no more spankings.

Does that encroachment on parental rights bother anyone?

Answer 6

By making child abuse a once in a life time crime ,get caught ,get hung nosecond offences.It may also be prudent to sack all incompetent social workers police and judges who fail to deal with the perpatrators.

Answer 7

i read a report in a scottish newspaper last Autumn of
a social worker accused of abusing children under his
care did not hear anymore about it

so who covered up the abuse in children homes which
has now been exposed after children suffered from
years ?

Answer 8

You can't.

The thing is child abuse has always happened ... it's not the world that has got worse since the Industrial Revolution, but the news coverage that has got so much better.

Sorry if that's disappointing or depressing, but that's humanity isn't it!

Philip

Answer 9

it is ironic but the people who are the staunch opposers of child abuse are sometimes involved in the crime.

it is very difficult to control and you ask of stopping it. but i certainly don't mean that nothing should be done.
i guess capital punishment for those who commit this crime.

and it might be difficult and even useless but we can try and make children aware of the issue so that they are alert and can do something about it.

Answer 10

I think you are quite delusional, you are suggesting that they stop a crime before it happens. There is no set stereotype of a child abuser, and Social Workers do not have special policing powers to arrest, detain, and remove someones kids. You need a court order from a JUDGE.