Opening a closed door: sexual abuse team investigations: an exploratory study looking at the investigation of child sexual abuse complaints in Lower Hutt

Abstract

The study aimed to provide data on the subject of combined police and social worker sexual abuse team investigations and non-offending parents' evaluation of this sexual abuse team process in Lower Hutt. Seven social workers from the Department of Social Welfare, five police officers from the CIB and ten non-offending parents in Lower Hutt were interviewed, from mid October 1988 to March 1989. The study was exploratory research and involved three parts: - (i) a literature review; (ii) a consultative net working approach which involved actively discussing the research project with practitioners and policy makers in the field; (iii) indepth semi-structured taped interviews with social workers, police officers and non-offending parents, providing descriptive, qualitative material on the subject of sexual abuse team investigations. Of the police and social workers interviewed, all supported the combined team approach to child sexual abuse. In their practice, workers actively supported the child victims and their families. The majority of parents expressed satisfaction with the service they had received. They identified the positive aspects of the investigation process as prompt actioning of the initial referral; workers ensuring parents saw their child's video taped interview and regular support and communication from the police and social workers. Where this did not happen, parents were negative about the service. None of the parents had experienced blame from the police and social workers for their child's sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse investigations were stressful for all concerned. From the report Puao-te-ata-tu, social workers had developed the practice of family decision making. However the investigation of the child sexual abuse complaint was seen by the police and some of the social workers as being outside the realm of family involvement. Other issues discussed by police and social workers included training, staffing, agency policy, resourcing the area, the court process, and options for offenders. Issues for parents were the process by which they learnt about the abuse, their own grief process, being blamed by their child's other parent and the conflict between the roles of parent and witness in court. The majority of parents would recommend the service to other parents. Suggestions were given for improvements in the child sexual abuse investigation system. The study has shown the issues and experiences for both the practitioners and recipients of the child sexual abuse service. This information has provided further data on the service and, has given feedback to the practitioners and policy makers in the area.