26. Sexual abuse risk assessment for child protection and the family courts

An integrated approach is taken to assessment of adults who are suspected of, or are known to have abused children, and of their partners. The course provides a framework for preparation and production of reports for case conferences and family courts.

Course overview

This course is designed for Social Workers, Children's Guardians, Police Officers and other practitioners who assess men suspected or alleged to have sexually abused children, and Schedule One offenders living in family situations. Knowledge of abusers is applied to enhance understanding of and engagement with them, and of the protective partner or carer, in order to provide a fully integrated risk assessment. The course also informs the key issues of safety and empowerment for the partner or carer. It builds on the Department of Health 'Framework for the assessment of Children in Need and their Families' and offers skills training in motivational interviewing, interpreting information and report presentation.

Course aims

• To provide information on patterns and profiles of sex offenders
  
  
• To demonstrate how to use this knowledge to interpret information gained in interviews with men suspected, alleged or known to have sexually abused children
  
  
• To demonstrate how knowledge of abusers can increase understanding of the presentation of the protective partner/carer in the assessment interview
  
  
• To apply this knowledge in partner assessment to build on the Department of Health guidelines and maximise understanding of the partner to facilitate positive engagement and empowerment and inform child protection decision-making
  
  
• To provide an introduction to motivational interviewing
  
  
• To combine assessments of those suspected, or known to have abused, and their partners to provide a fuller, integrated assessment of risk, coherent interpretation of information and report production
  

For further information and to discuss your individual needs please contact the Training Co-ordinator on 01527 591922 or email: training@lucyfaithfull.org.uk