Assessment of serious injuries to infants

["Peter Dale" <pdale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Many thanks to everyone who responded to my recent request for information
about the current status of child protection risk assessment instruments.
This provided really useful information about the risk assessment scene in
Australia and USA.

I have a further request. The particular context of our current research is
in relation to serious physical injuries to infants where there are
discrepant explanations. 'Discrepant explanations' refers to additional
features where the parents/carers offer (either or several): no
explanations; inconsistent explanations; conflicting explanations;
explanations that are discrepant with expert medical opinion; explanations
that are discrepant with the views of investigative/assessment
practitioners; explanations which create opposed views within the
professional network.

This project is a specific focus from a wider programme which began in 1997
relating to a review of nearly 200 independent assessments of cases of
serious child abuse.

The focus on serious injuries with discrepant explanations arises through
practice experience that these cases are very problematic to resolve in
child protection systems. They have the potential to polarise professional
opinions and to paralyses assessment and decision making processes.

The main aims of the research are 3-fold:

i) to identify and analyse the salient features from these cases to better
understand the circumstances in families which give rise to serious violence
to infants

ii) to discover the longer-term outcomes within family or care systems

iii) to highlight key assessment issues and decision making dilemmas in this
particularly complex context of child protection practice.


I would very much appreciate any references to similar studies or practice
experience with this particular group - or comments as to how your local
child protection systems manage these dilemmas.

Many thanks,


Peter Dale (PhD)
NSPCC, East Sussex, UK