Domestic violence refers to various forms of abuse between married or intimate individuals. The term has also expanded to include emotional, sexual, physical, financial, and psychological harm imposed by one person to another in a close relationship (Anon, 2007). Over the years, the term has also expanded to include physical or emotional abuse towards other members of the family such as children (Hester, 2011). Notably, this violence influences child development. The impacts are identified as Adverse Child Experience (ACE). ACE inhibits young children from developing effective social skills, as well as the ability to cope with stress (Hester, 2011). In the United Kingdom, approximately fourteen percent of youths under eighteen years face domestic violence (McLaughlin et al., 2018). Domestic violence thus remains a serious social problem primarily due to its potential to decrease the quality of children’s’ life. According to (Katz, 2015), the impacts of home-based violence on the welfare of minors has become a priority issue for child protection agencies and professionals.
States in the United Kingdom are authorized to formulate laws and policies aimed at protecting minors from any form of maltreatment. For instance, in Scotland, (GIRFEC) is a program that has been developed to protect minors from abuse and violence. In addition, the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) is responsible for overseeing child in Ireland while the Department for Education in England ensures that youngsters in the country live in secure and non-hostile school and home environments. Likewise, regional child protection agencies which are responsible for child protection initiatives are present in Wales (Allen, 2018).
Notably, home-based violence inflicts more suffering on women than men. One out of every four women suffers from domestic abuse. Nonetheless, only one out of six men suffer from home-based violence, which indicates that most of the victims are women (NSPCC, 2018).
Young children suffer both directly and indirectly from home-based violence (Devaney, 2015). When minors witness their parents fighting, they are passively affected. Nevertheless, when aggressive parents direct their anger towards the children and punish, intimidate, or reprimand the direct effects of violence at home are experienced. According to Callaghan (2015) progenies who experience home-based violence can be referred to as victims of abusive control. Hence, the recognition of minors as the direct victims of home-based violence would enable social workers to respond effectively to them. Callaghan (2015) further argues that protection initiatives are usually unsuccessful since minors are perceived as passive witnesses of adult conflict. According to Perryman and Appleton (2016) perceiving minors as direct victims would be a step towards attaining the goals of child protection. Dutton (2011) concludes that social workers play a crucial role in identifying minors who experience home-based violence with the aim of designing and implementing appropriate interventions to protect them from the adverse effects of abuse at home.
Aims and objectives
One of the central objectives of this study is to determine the role played by social workers in assisting children subjected to domestic violence. Secondly, the study aims at identifying the effects of home-based violence on the growth and development of minors. Notably, this information is critical in promoting an understanding of the extents to which violent environments affect children (Graca, 2017). The research is also targeted at determining the effects of various interventions used by social workers on children. Furthermore, another core objective is to assess the effectiveness of the interventions employed by social workers on children facing domestic violence, especially where their growth and development is concerned.
Finally, the current research aims to determine the correlation between two key variables which are domestic violence and child development. Husso et al. (2012) and other previous studies reveal that experiences of home-based violence results in adverse outcomes such as underachievement, depression, anxiety, and lack of social competence. The social workers should intervene early to protect minors from these effects.
Project Rationale
This research is significant because it gives insight on the role played by social workers in assisting children subjected to domestic violence. Recent reports indicate that the instances of home-based violence have dwindled in five years. Nonetheless, none of these reports acknowledge the critical part played by social workers in combating this heinous practice. Lapierre (2009) argues that approximately eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims usually seeks support from professional social workers before reporting the cases to the police. Peckover and Trotter (2015) contend that there is a need to determine the assistance that is provided to vulnerable children by social workers. Indeed, the information will be useful in gauging whether social workers contribute significantly to the lives of the victimized children that they encounter or not (Hester, 2011). Furthermore, the research will also foster the acquisition of information on the resources needed by social workers in performing their roles. As a result, it would be easy to evaluate if the resources are efficient and effective in meeting their intended needs or if there are existing resource deficiencies which inhibit social workers from providing quality assistance to children.
Violent experiences heighten the risk for the development of low self-esteem and depression (Barner and Carney, 2011). This research examines the connection between home-based violence and defective human development. The relationship that will be identified is critical for the development of strategies to prevent home-based violence. Undeniably, Social workers help the clients to recover from the post-violence trauma. Callaghan, Alexander, Sixsmith, and Fellin (2016) argue that youngsters suffer more long-standing effects of home-based violence when they persevere and experience this violence for a long time. Social workers are therefore responsible for identifying such children and ensuring that they are protected from more harm since they are unable to defend themselves (Justiceinspectorates.gov.uk., 2018). This study will give insight into the methods that are used by social workers to identify children living in hostile environments. The information gathered in this study will be used to determine whether these methods are fruitful in identifying most of the affected children or not. As a result, other recommendations can be given to ensure that many victimized minors are located and helped.
In addition, the research is also crucial since it examines the interventions used by social workers to help minors to recuperate from post-violence trauma. Family support interventions such as family therapy programs, among others will be evaluated. Specifically, family therapy programs are said to be productive in alleviating the cognitive and emotional effects of home-based violence on children and other family members (Robbins and Cook, 2017). The information that will be obtained from various literature on these interventions can be used to make comparisons and decision making on the most effective interventions that should be employed by social workers in their quest to restore the victimized children’s cognitive and emotional wellbeing (Barner and Carney, 2011).
Child safety and protection should be one of the core priorities of different societies. Concurrently, factors that deter the healthy growth and development of children would be easily identified and dealt with accordingly. Home-based violence affects the social skills of young individuals and affects their stress coping abilities (Belshaku, 2016). This research explores the various ways in which social workers can contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of victimized minors. Social workers must determine children who come from violent homes (Barner and Carney, 2011). Notably, the identification of the early warning signs of the impacts of home-based violence on minors is a skill that is mandatory for all social workers since it fosters the implementation of early interventions.
Howard (2009) argues that sufficient evidence has been provided by many studies to prove that direct and passive involvements in home-based violence can have adverse consequences for youngsters. Howard (2009) examines the relationship between home-based violence and the prevalence of mental ailments in children. Even though further research is required, it is clear that violence at home negatively affects a child’s mental health. Majority of the children from violent homes display several signs such as being anti-social, anxious and depressed, overly aggressive, and deteriorating academic grades (Barner and Carney, 2011). When such signs are detected, the social worker should conduct thorough investigations to further to determine if the root causes of these symptoms are domestic violence (Campo, 2015). The recognition of these early signs enables social workers to make recommendations for interventions during the early stages of these problems.
Indeed, Home-based violence augments the risk of developing social problems. These problems range from mental health problem and alcohol abuse (Husso et al., 2012). Social workers offer professional support to victimized minors, as well as their families. More information on home-based violence and the various impacts that it has on youngsters is essential in informing the policy direction and redefining the responsibilities of the social worker in improving the health and academic outcomes of the affected children (Stanley, Miller, and Foster, 2012).
Research questions
1. What are the growth and developmental impacts of domestic violence on children?
2. Which strategies are employed by social workers to identify children facing domestic violence?
3. How productive are the intercessions used by social workers in promoting the healthy development of minors?
4. What effects do the interventions used have on children?
5. Is the legal framework in the UK productive in keeping youngsters safe as they receive services from social workers?
Policy and legislative framework
Aggressive behaviors that hurt children should be prohibited. Undeniably, all forms of violence against another person violate human rights. In the UK, any actions that jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of children and adults face harsh legal penalties. Any kind of abuse against minors is not tolerated in the country. George and Stith (2014) claim that strengthening the fight against domestic violence is contingent on the collaboration of different parties in society. The partnerships should, therefore, be emphasized to complement the effort of the government and other Non-governmental organizations (Matczak, Hatzidimitriadou, and Lindsay, 2011). The community partnership initiative, for instance, is one of the programs that has been established in the fight against home-based violence. The program has been a critical tool in restoring the dignity to the affected progenies (Stanley, Miller, and Foster,2012). Additionally, the initiative also initiates interventions to help the those that have been victimized as a result of violence in their homes. Presently, the ministry of justice in the United Kingdom offers £68 million per year to support those who have suffered home-based violence. The financial assistance enables young and adult victims to cope quickly and effectively. Additionally, the funds are also offered in the form of scholarships and cater for other child-related expenses (Holt, 2017).
Studies suggest that the adoption of a zero-tolerance approach for violence, strengthen the fight against home-based violence. The approach is one of the policy frameworks that the government and other organization should adopt. Harsh legal actions are imposed on the perpetrators of violence-related crimes under the zero-tolerance approach (Stanley, Miller, and Foster, 2012). The initiative is also far more effective than others since it also recognizes that men and boys can also be victimized as opposed to just young girls and women. The approach contradicts the opinion held by most people that girls and women are the only ones that suffer domestic violence.
Wilcox (2012) contends that the pursuit of those accused or suspected of being violent to their partners even in the privacy of their homes by the criminal and civil justice department will decrease the rates of home-based violence since many offenders will be prosecuted. These legal actions will inhibit other individuals who have the potential to inflict harm on their loved ones from engaging in any violent activities (Holt, 2017). The legal actions would change the behaviors of many offenders which is a crucial step in the fight against domestic violence in children. Programs aimed at improving the attitudes of society toward home-based violence would be even more effective when the victims are encouraged to participate in anti-violence initiatives (Meltzer et al.,2009). Encouraging the victims to share their experiences and voice their opinions can aid in the early identification of the roots of the delinquent act. Identifying the causes of social issues such as the one examined in this study is the key to combating home-based violence, as well as its impacts on progenies (Duggan, 2018). Likewise, the introduction of the legal meaning of domestic abuse is the other framework for reducing domestic abuse (Stanley, Miller, and Foster,2012). The notion of domestic violence is highly misunderstood by many organizations and people. Sardenberg (2011) argues that a direct relationship exists between stereotyping and home-based violence. Hence, even when Home-based violence victims confide in others in the society about their plight, they are treated negatively which inflicts more pain.
The national laws and professional principles are the foresee the implementation and operations of social work. Al child-based operations are keenly organized to protect progenies from any harm. Before the year 1999, the child protection laws were formulated in Westminster and enforced throughout the UK (Cater and Øverlien, 2014.). However, over the years, devolution has resulted in the transference of child protection responsibilities to different nations. The child protection laws against multiple forms of cruelty and maltreatment towards children can be traced back to the 1880s. The laws have however been refined over the years due to the different kinds of domestic abuse that have emerged over the years (Dutton, 2011).
In the UK, The Children Act (2004) (CA 2004) is the primary legislation that oversees child protection services within the jurisdiction. The CA 2004 complements the Children’s Act (1989) and defines the terms of care for children, from infanthood to eighteen years of age. Most importantly, the legislation stipulates the responsibilities of social workers who are solely responsible for child welfare (Wessexlmcs.com, 2018). Section 17 of the CA (1989) defines the duties of social workers when dealing with minors who are deprived of a satisfactory level of health and parental care. The section also guides social workers on how they can examine minors to gauge whether they require support services. A well-defined criterion is which can be used when the social worker is conducting an assessment of the victimized minor is also provided in this section (Överlien and Hydén, 2009). Part 47 of the C (1989) holds local authorities responsible for investigating any suspected forms of child maltreatment, such as children witnessing violence at home (Wessexlmcs.com, 2018). The rationale behind placing this obligation on local authorities is to enhance the children welfare. A social worker who is located in education setups, health institutions, and other support services also have the same responsibility (Stanley, Miller, and Foster, 2012).
Section Two
The approach used for research is contingent on the nature and objectives of a study. The principal goal of this research is to enhance the value of social workers. The value added is essential in providing unconditional support to vulnerable children (Holt, 2017). Indeed, the acquisition of knowledge on the impacts of home-based violence on the lives of youngsters is essential. This knowledge helps social workers to intervene and assist victimized children. Notably, the laws and policies that protect minors from any form of violence, as well as the professional role of the social worker, will also be explored in the study. A review of the recent and relevant articles that have been published on the duty of social workers in the United Kingdom will also be conducted.
Literature reviews refer to in-depth evaluations of the previous studies on a particular field of study. The field of social work is quite dynamic, and new child protection initiatives and regulations are developed and restructured now and then (Walby, Towers, and Francis, 2015). To ensure that the survey covers only the relevant information, the sources used shall not be older than ten years. Evidence-based practice (EBP) will also be employed in this study. The EBP approach is commonly used in social work. The EBP framework utilizes three guiding principles which include the available research knowledge, clinical expertise, and patient preferences (Lapierre, 2009). Notably, the approach has gained prominence as the basis for social work over the years, in an attempt to promote integrity in social practice. This study will focus on one of the pillars of EBP, which is to advance the current research knowledge (Överlien and Hydén, 2009).
Literature search
A systematic review of the articles, books, and other relevant materials that support research arguments in a particular study is referred to as a literature search. This section of the research covers the techniques that are used by the researcher for the selection of the best sources for the study. Additionally, this section comprehensively scrutinizes the articles that are to be critiqued in the research. The research questions and hypothesis will further be answered and tested respectively, using the relevant, valid, and consistent data that is obtained in the literature search. An inclusion and exclusion criterion will be used in the literature search. All the articles for the study will address the effects of home-based violence on minors and explore the responsibilities of the social workers in such scenarios.
All the articles that do not examine these critical factors will be excluded. Furthermore, all the articles used in this study will not be more than ten years old. Articles published earlier than 2008 will be ignored. Additionally, articles written in other languages apart from English are also excluded from this study. Nonetheless, the articles used previously in the annotated bibliography will be included in this research regardless of when they were published. As is required of any quality research, the limitations of previous studies on the same topic will be highlighted to determine if more research should be conducted for the acquisition of more valid information on the subject.
Notably, the use of several sources enables researchers to carry out thorough research and make comparisons between the evidence provided in different articles. Hence, researchers can gauge whether the evidence is consistent and accurate, or not. Each of the sources will answer the research question in one way or another. Recent articles that explore feminist opinions on the issue of home-based violence will also be selected since they will enable the researcher to evaluate this social issue from a feminist viewpoint. The thematic synthesis and meta-ethnography methods will be employed to develop quality arguments to answer the research question and test the hypotheses. Remarkably, personal experiences not only promote wisdom but one’s ability to make sound judgments on the validity of different arguments (Shorey et al., 2011). Hence, professional reflections will be used to complement the published materials to come up with quality arguments that effectively answer the research questions. The laws that have been established to combat this contemporary issue will be examined to check the effectiveness and level of compliance.
The qualitative research method will be used for the acquisition of data in this research. Qualitative methods are not only cost-effective, but they also expose researchers to a wide range of information which can be used in the study. Through this research method, vast knowledge of the responsibilities of social workers in protecting children from violent backgrounds will be obtained. Several articles that touch on the effects of violent home environments on child development will be collected.
The findings and discussion section gives thorough scrutiny of the outcomes of violent home environments during childhood and adulthood during childhood and the future. The extents to which home-based violence has amplified in the UK will also be explained in this particular section. The primary themes of the research will be highlighted after the relevant articles are scrutinized. Thereafter, the dilemmas faced by the social workers will be evaluated to identify the factors that inhibit the attainment of social work goals. Social workers, just like other professionals in different fields, encounter dilemmas which deter them from realizing their goals. An analysis of these dilemmas will provide critical information on how various dilemmas can be handled and the potential solutions to each.
The acquisition of relevant sources of information is contingent on the credibility of the databases used. Google scholar, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest were the preferred search database for the articles. The SAGE articles and Science Direct were also used to foster access to more relevant materials for the research. Similarly, the SCIE website was also used to access recently published reports on home-based violence and its effects on children. Likewise, Summon, an online library was also used to obtain data that can be used to answer the research questions. Finally, published government articles on child-based legislations were accessed online from the search engine. The sites provide not only access to recent peer-reviewed articles but also evidence-based research. The date was indicated during the search to provide access to only articles and books that are not older than ten years. Indeed, these recent sources offer the most updated information. Recently published materials are preferred for this study due to newly formulated child protection laws and policies which are aimed at protecting minors against violence
Furthermore, the search was narrowed down to the UK context to gain more information on recent child protection laws and initiatives. However, few studies on the prevalence of home-based abuse as well as those that examine the social worker’s role in protecting minors in other countries have been used in this research for comparison purposes. The search profile in the online databases and libraries was modified to provide only the articles relevant to the topic. Several keywords were also employed to generate relevant research materials.
The selected articles met all the requirements in the table below.
Search Criteria
Hypotheses
Home-based violence adversely affects the behaviors, emotions, psychological and physical wellbeing of the children. The legislation meant to protect the children shapes the role of the social worker. The nature of the intervention is also determined by social values, culture, resources, time constraint, and context.
Period
2010 to date
Language
English
Country
UK
Keywords
Protection policies, child abuse, maltreatment, children welfare, violence, intimidation, child protection,
Findings
The section explores the results of existing pieces of literature on the research topic. The chapter examines how domestic violence affects the children emotionally, behaviour-wise, psychologically, and physically (Jewkes, Flood, and Lang, 2015). The extent to which the legal policies and laws have been able to solve the problem will also be discussed, based on the previous literature. Moreover, the effectiveness of the social worker's intervention in child protection will also be explored in connection to previous research.
According to (NSPCC) 2016, approximately twenty percent of minors in the United Kingdom have experienced a single form of home-based violence during their infancy. This percentage also represents the number of children exposed to factors that inhibit their healthy growth and development which is also detrimental for their normal functioning in the future. Humphreys and Absler (2011) conduct research whose findings indicate that sixty-two percent of the children in violent families often sustain severe physical injuries (Gov.uk, 2018). Notably, physical harm is primarily caused by displaced regression, a kind of ego defense mechanism, through which anger is transferred to third-parties who pose no threat (Skinner, Hester, and Malos, 2013).
Furthermore, most of these studies claim that displaced aggression is most common in women as opposed to men. Mullender (2002) argues that the transference of anger to innocent children is because women are the ones who are most affected by home-based violence. Extreme punishments also lead to the demise of children. In most cases, displaced aggression results in the death of innocent children and women. Pearlman et al. (2016) argue that about nineteen children and twelve women were killed by their fathers and husbands between 2005 and 2015, due to displaced aggression. Child-based homicides have become an issue of grave concern in the United Kingdom. The government of UK has in return formulated laws to prevent child mortalities resulting from home-based violence (Swanston, Bowyer and Vetere, 2014). Studies indicate that child-related killings take place through the child contact arrangements, a formal plan that allows children to meet with their fathers for some hours or days in a week when the parents have divorced.
Gov.uk (2018) reveals that around thirty- nine thousand infants below one year are subjected to violence at home by their parents due to substance abuse. It is common for partners in a violent relationship to turn to drug and alcohol abuse. Concurrently, the violent parent is bound to be exceedingly aggressive when drunk or high. Drug and substance abuse is frequent exposure to the perpetrators of domestic violence. Devaney (2015) argues that the exposure of children under the age of one to extreme violence results in poor mental abilities which are caused by emotional torture and negligence.
Indeed, the issue of domestic violence has gained the attention of many movements and organizations in not only the UK but the other countries worldwide. Meltzer et al. (2009) claim that this is because domestic violence is an extremely sensitive issue. In most cases, minors who experience violence are likely to manifest depressive symptoms and personality disorders, which significantly affect their lives. The system of identifying and punishing the people who subject children to various forms of violence has proven to be faulty and ineffective. Nonetheless, Meltzer et al. (2009) suggest that exposure to early childhood violence does not necessarily cause delinquency in the children’s later life. Home-based violence is prevalent in the UK. According to Jewkes, Flood, and Lang (2015), the lack of effective policies and systems to foster the identification of victimized children and the perpetrators has rid the country of many innocent lives.
Notably, the perpetrators of violence walk free in the neighborhoods of the United Kingdom as they deny their involvement in any kind of abuse. Most of the times, these individuals come up with excuses to cover up their abusive behaviors and strive to depict themselves positively in society. Hence, identifying them and their victims proves difficult since the victimized fear what may happen to them lest they utter a word to the police. Abusive individuals act normally in public but reveal they're true natures in the privacy of their homes (Overlien,2009). Abusive behaviors, if not controlled, amplify and transform into physical confrontation and fights. In the UK, few individuals have been convicted for home-based abuse, despite the prevalence of this heinous crime.
Cottrill and Cottrill, (2018) suggest that only ten percent of the home-based cases are legally charged. Law enforcers give little attention to this type of violence which may be due to the presence of patriarchy in the society, as well as the fact that most cultures consider violence between couples normal. Furthermore, Gov.uk (2018) argues that over one million cases were reported to law enforcers in the year 2016. Out of these cases, four hundred and twenty-one thousand were considered criminal offenses while the rest were overlooked (Beetham, 2017). Moreover, only one hundred thousand perpetrators were legally charged, out of which seventy-five thousand were convicted (Gov.uk, 2018). The data shows that a large percentage of these cases are not appropriately dealt with by the court of law.
The current legal framework has been ineffective in solving violence-related problems. Less than twenty-four percent of violence cases are brought to the attention of law enforcers (Gov.uk, 2018). It is further argued that the police receive calls regarding domestic violence after every 30 seconds Gov.uk (2018). The perpetrators of domestic violence have a high probability of repeating violent offenses (Ramsay et al., 2012). It is common for these offenders to repeat the same criminal offenses even after they have been incarcerated. Gov.uk (2018) argues that seventy-three percent of the convicted criminals repeat the same crimes after they have served their sentences.
Approximately eighty-five percent of the victims of home-based violence seek assistance from social work professionals before reporting to the court of laws (Bancroft, Silverman, and Ritchie, 2011). The individuals seek support from the professionals at least five times before the issue is completely solved. Therefore, social workers play a vital role in findings solution to the problem of domestic violence. Research done by the national statistics estimates that one out of four women report being harmed by their male partners, while one out of six men is abused by their partners (Trotter, 2015). Social workers are held accountable for promoting the safety of minors and empowering the victimized individuals who are mostly women.
Social workers are required to follow the stipulated legal procedures during the child-based interventions to avoid any negative implications that the interventions may bring forth. Since women are primarily held responsible for their childcare; it is crucial for child protection policies to be redesigned in a way that they empower mothers (Skinner, Hester, and Malos, 2013). However, male victims should also be assisted due to the numerous impacts that violence has on individuals and their families. A study done by Hester (2012) showed that a third of the women who faced repeated cases of home-based ended up neglecting their children. The research indicates that women have a higher probability of being victimized by their male partners.
Several pieces of literature prove that emotional distress and negative family relationships adversely affects children. Physical and verbal aggression is a type of domestic violence that is mostly overlooked in the family and social work context. However, its impact is manifested by children through their behavior and personalities. Moreover, many studies suggest that violent and aggressive actions are commonly exhibited by progenies exposed to either verbal or physical abuse. Anxiety, unhappiness, anger, and confusion are the qualities displayed by children from violent domestic families (Thor
