Interagency Working in Child Protection and Domestic Violence

ABSTRACT

Integrated responses to domestic violence bring together key related areas such as child protection. This study examined important learning from an established integrated response in Queensland. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 members of the integrated response regarding the operation of the model. Progress was evident in the operation of the model, often harnessed by increased collaboration and trust. Challenges remained regarding how differing mandates created inherent tensions, as well as differences in philosophical orientations to domestic violence and child protection. Gaps in understanding and a reliance on informal relationships were most evident amongst front-line workers. Results helped conceptualise a model for measuring integration within inner and outer circles. Social work has a key role in creating a dynamic model that is able to continually critically evolve to meet safety needs of women and children experiencing domestic violence.

IMPLICATIONS

• Leadership and organisational developments allow for closer alignments in philosophy, approaches to, and understandings of domestic violence across integrated response agencies.

• Integrated responses to domestic violence can critically evolve by unpacking the philosophical positions of member agencies, and through identifying tensions between organisations.

• Relationships and trust between integrated response member agencies allow interagency information sharing to occur, enhancing safety for women and children.

整合反家暴的各种反应把儿童保护等重要的相关领域拢到了一起。本文研究了昆士兰一种很成熟的综合措施。我们对实行该措施的30位工作人员就其运作的情况作了访谈。模式的运行有明显的进步，有更多的协作和委托加入进来。挑战依然存在，不同的委托方造成了内在的紧张，对于家暴以及儿保的哲学思想也不尽相同。理解上的差异以及对非正式关系的依赖在一线工作者那里尤为显著。我们的研究结果有助于理解测量内外圈子整合情况的模式。对于形成一个有力的、能不断发展以解决妇女儿童免遭家暴的需求的模型，社会工作起着重要的作用。

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic and Family Violence
• Child Protection
• Integrated Response
• Collaboration
• Interagency Working
• Gold Coast, Australia

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial and other support it has received from Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) towards this research and, through it, the Australian Government and Australian state and territory governments. The findings and views reported in this paper are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to ANROWS, the Australian Government, or any state or territory. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the input from the Project's Advisory Group and participants in each state's case study research.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial and other support they have received from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) [Grant number RP.14.19] towards this research and, through it, the Australian Government and Australian state and territory governments. The findings and views reported in this article are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to ANROWS, the Australian Government, or any state or territory.