27 August 2012
Pioneering child protection partnership formed at University
A shared interest in protecting children has led to a pioneering partnership between the University of Dundee's School of Education, Social Work and Community Education (ESWCE) and Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).
'Child Death Reviews: Learning The Lessons, Differently' recognises the potential for collaborative work between forensic anthropologists and social work staff undertaking child death reviews (CDR).
The new partnership has obtained funding of £18,000 from the Scottish Universities Insight Institute (SUII) to host a series of knowledge exchange events that will explore how experts from different disciplines can enhance the review process and help to ensure that lessons from child tragedies are learned and applied in the future.
Around 260 children die or are seriously harmed in the UK each year. CDR processes in the UK have evolved almost exclusively from social work, but the new partnership aims to think about the review process differently by bringing together experts from the fields of forensic investigation, psychology, education, design, statistics, policing, law, social work and health.
The project is being led by Alyson Leslie of ESWCE and Professor Sue Black, Director of CAHID. Alyson has been involved in the CDR process for more than 20 years and is the only UK practitioner currently working across jurisdictions to examine ways of ensuring that the learning from investigations is applied in ways that improve practice and protect children.
Professor Black and her colleague, Dr Craig Cunningham, are involved in supporting criminal investigations throughout the UK by examining and interpreting evidence from child fatalities.
Alyson Leslie said key stakeholders will consider how to best capture, process and disseminate information in the aftermath of child tragedies in order to reduce the number of children dying.
"Our shared interest includes exploring how information gathered by experts can inform the story of the victim and their final hours and increase understanding of factors that turn a stable situation into a lethal one for a child," she said.
"There has never been a collaboration between social work professional and forensic scientists like this, but we have a shared interest is in what we can learn from the tragedy of child deaths to keep other children safe.
"Our colleagues from CAHID were interested in ways their findings could assist learning in the field of child protection and in ways of optimising the investigation and review of child death. The funding will enable us to bring together, from across all jurisdictions of the UK and beyond, professionals and practitioners from forensic science, policing, health, law and social work.
"They will look at the information that is captured in the investigation and review of child deaths and how it can be better used to inform policy and to equip professionals in the field of child protection."
Although 'Learning The Lessons' will be led by ESWCE and CAHID, it will bring together experts from many other areas and organisations. Other partners in the project include the Scottish Government, the US Center for Child Death Review, the University of Nottingham and the MARS project at Stirling University.
This innovative partnership also recognises the potential contribution of experts in design and knowledge transfer. As a result, Hazel White from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) will work on the project alongside other experts in the field of design, knowledge transfer, and interdisciplinary working from the Universities of Strathclyde and Stirling.
The project will provide a rare opportunity to bring together key figures who have traditionally worked separately in their fields. It is hoped this will bring fresh perspectives to problem areas and develop collaborations which support policy and public interest in the protection of children internationally.
Professor Black said, "Child deaths are one of the most challenging aspects of our forensic work. It is vital that we learn from the regrettable mistakes of the past, enforce rigorous good practise and safeguard the future wellbeing of children.
"Sometimes the work that we do becomes insular and blinkered and it is a huge revelation to be able to step back and to take on board the views, experiences and expertise of others in allied disciplines. I really welcome the opportunity to work with Alyson on this very important project and look forward to benefitting enormously from her vast experience."
Notes to editors:
About the Scottish Universities Insight Institute (SUII)
The Scottish Universities Insight Institute supports programmes of knowledge exchange which address and provide insight on substantial issues that face Scotland and the wider world. Our programmes break down disciplinary and organisational barriers in bringing together academics from different backgrounds, policymakers and practitioners. We mobilise existing knowledge in fresh ways through sustained and collaborative focus on a shared issue and aim to support decision makers in all sectors of society in being better informed.
More information is available at www.scottishinsight.ac.uk.
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