Ethical dilemmas arising in practice when working with child abuse PRACTICE vs protocol Ethical dilemmas arising in practice when working with child abuse

Statistics 2011/2012 : 54000 reported crimes against children 50% were sexual offenses 2013: 57 children were raped DAILY One third intakes at TBC children who sexually abused other children 40% intakes CHILDLINE children who sexually abused other children Dept. of Welfare: 288 children were in prison for crimes of sexual abuse

CONFIDENTIALITY When does a therapist need to report abuse? All therapists/counsellors are legally obligated according to the CHILDREN’S ACT 38, 2005 to report any reasonable suspicion or actual knowledge of child abuse to the relevant welfare body. Can therapy take place without the permission of both parents? Can forensic assessments take place without the permission of both parents? Therapy should not be used as a safety net Confidentiality should for part of the contracting phase

The Link between woman and child abuse Children who live with domestic violence typically are aware that it is happening and are now considered to be affected by fear, anxiety, and disruption to their lives Women often come with children Women may abuse their children out of frustration from their own abuse Women may abuse their children if the children resemble the abuser or if they are used by the abuser to terrorize the woman Children often get hurt inadvertently when trying to protect their mothers or accidently in the line of fire

DYNAMICS of abuse SPLITTING: In practice and policy Legislation that addresses to child abuse and legislation that addresses women abuse Organizations that serve women and organizations that serve children Funding Shelters

Dynamics of abuse Denial that the abuse took place Denial of responsibility Denial of impact

Ethics and law re child offenders The CHILD JUSTICE ACT 75, 2008 Aim is to keep children out of prison Central concepts are restitution, rehabilitation and reintegration emphasis on RESTORATIVE PROCESS FOR JUVINILE OFFENDERS

AGE CAPACITY Definition of a child: any one under the age of 18 Under the age of 10 the child has NO criminal capacity Between age 10 and 14 can be tried and convicted but it has to be proven that the child knows the difference between right and wrong Over 14 child has criminal capacity

TEAMWORK- NEVER IN ISOLATION SUPERVISION CRITICAL THOUGHT CONCLUSION TEAMWORK- NEVER IN ISOLATION SUPERVISION CRITICAL THOUGHT