Do parents and carers experiencing violent and challenging behaviour from their children fit with safeguarding models of support? Messages from a Facebook study
| Date | 28 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-06-2019-0018 |
| Published date | 28 November 2019 |
| Pages | 285-295 |
| Author | Philip Heslop,Su McAnelly,Jane Wilcockson,Yvonne Newbold,Maria Avantaggiato-Quinn,Cathryn Meredith |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
Do parents and carers experiencing
violent and challenging behaviour from
their children fit with safeguarding models
of support? Messages from a
Facebook study
Philip Heslop, Su McAnelly, Jane Wilcockson, Yvonne Newbold,
Maria Avantaggiato-Quinn and Cathryn Meredith
Abstract
Purpose –This paper reports research findings on the experiences of parents/carers of children with special
educationneeds and disabilities whopresent violent and challengingbehaviour. More specifically, thepurpose
of this paper is to explorehow parents/carers reporthow their support needs are met by social careservices.
Design/methodology/approach –The research is an empirical study which considers the challenging side
of parenting children with additional needs. Data were gathered through a national online social media focus
group and thematically analysed to identify emerging themes from an overlooked community. The study
applied a participatory approach, with researchers and participants collaborating in designing and producing
the research.
Findings –Participants reported a multitude of adversities and they experience difficulties in accessing
support from professionals. The parents and carers expressed a continued desire to care for their children,
often during much adversity and in receipt of little recognition or support from externalagencies. An emerging
theme was that they are often not assessed in their own right by agencies who focus on safeguarding.
Research limitations/implications –In this online participatory study, participants were self-selecting and
the research relied on self-report during online discussions.
Originality/value –This study is original in applying an innovative research methodology using online focus
groups with an under researched community. This online focus group generated real time data and offered
participants the opportunity to share information in their own environments. The themes emerging from this
research have implications for policy and practice for an under reported adult community who experience
increasing vulnerabilities.
Keywords Safeguarding, Carer vulnerability, Parents and adult carers, SEND children,
Social media focus group, Violent and challenging behaviour
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
This paper reports on themes emerging from an ongoing social media study of parents who
experience violent and challenging behaviour (VCB) from their children with special educational needs
and disabilities (SEND). The study seeks to explore how parents of SEND children displaying such
behaviours experience their world, and this paper specifically focusses on findings relating to how
parents experience support through current UK social care systems. The term SEND is recognised
and defined in Government documents and policy (Department for Education, 2015). VCB is a
less-defined and more contentious term selected as a practical label by the study’s participants.
Received 10 June 2019
Revised 8 August 2019
5 September 2019
Accepted 6 September 2019
Philip Heslop, Su McAnelly and
Jane Wilcockson are all based
at Northumbria University,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Yvonne Newbold is based at
SEND VCB Project,
London, UK.
Maria Avantaggiato-Quinn is
based at Northumbria
University, Newcastle upon
Tyne, UK and NTW, Newcastle
upon Tyne, UK.
Cathryn Meredith is based at
Northumbria University,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-06-2019-0018 VOL. 21 NO. 6 2019, pp. 285-295, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 28 5
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