Abstract
Case studies of filicide reveal patterns of missed opportunities for responding to warning signs which, when understood in the context of multiple stressors, are seen as indicators of risk for harm, and potentially fatal harm. This chapter proposes there is research to be done, questions to be asked and actions that can be taken to stop violence and filicide. The chapter explores how to connect knowledge to action to help professionals and families respond to the information given, suspend personal judgements about whether the individual will or will not harm themselves, their partner or their children, and take action to avert the potential for harm. By integrating research findings with practice insights, this chapter draws on wider disciplines, related to managing change and effective communications, to describe a pathway to promoting prevention and early intervention responses to recognise risks and enable safety. An example of such a practice change initiative is suggested for filicide prevention, supported by a possible social media innovation: #KnowAskDo.
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Notes
- 1.
For further information on the out-of-home care review, refer to Sir Martin Narey (2016) Residential Care in England, Report of Sir Martin Narey ’s independent review of children’s residential care. Manchester: Department of Education.
- 2.
Thanks to Alicia McCoy , General Manager Research and Impact at Family Life for her assistance with the survey and data analysis, and the practitioners at Family Life for their participation and enthusiastic engagement with the practice-based research project and the follow on reflective practice and development. Involvement in the study has in fact had a lasting effect on our own screening and assessment practice and particularly increased the focus on men as parents and partners who so often get lost in the child protection system. We have now developed an early intervention proposal under the opportunities created through the RCFV, which are currently with Victorian Government members of parliament concerned to focus on more than “men and violence”.
- 3.
For further information on Victorian initiatives, see VicHealth. Research and Publications. Available at: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications
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Cavanagh, J. (2018). What Can Professionals and Families Do? Missed Opportunities to Protect—Sharing Knowledge to Inform Practice Change for Identifying Risks and Enabling Safety. In: Brown, T., Tyson, D., Fernandez Arias, P. (eds) When Parents Kill Children. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63097-7_11
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