‘Can you hear me?’ How a holistic approach incorporates the voice of children who have a disability and/or mental health issue and are exposed to poverty and abuse.

Susanne Llopis Disability Liaison Professional Community Living

Presentation Special needs Additional needs for children and their parents Risk factors Consequences of maltreatment Integrated Child Centred Approach Holistic Approach Case Study Conclusion

Special needs children: Definition of ‘special needs’ is broad and includes a variety of different disabilities, health and mental health conditions that require special intervention, services, or support. (

Additional needs for Children Adequate care/ Therapeutic interventions Protection/ Support Parents Specific knowledge/ education Resources/ support

Risk Factors Primary caregiver Family Child/young person – age/disability/mental health Environmental

Consequences of child abuse and neglect Physical Health Psychological Behavioural (Child Poverty Action Group Inc/New Zealand : Child Abuse: What role does poverty play? June 2013)

Consequences for children with disabilities and/or mental health issues: More pronounced because of their already vulnerable physical and psychological state (Fact Sheet: Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities:

Solutions?

Integrated Child Centred Approach Incorporating the child’s voice: Understanding and interpreting a child’s concept of the world; their beliefs, values and worries Engaging children, young people as participants in the process (

Listening To Children “The right to speak is the right to be listened to; in practice there is a gap between speaking and being listened to.” (

Listening to children Hearing and responding to voices of children is critical: In understanding the impact of harm In developing new and innovative ways to respond to abuse and neglect In being responsive to what children identify as the key issues causing them most concern (Children with Disabilities/Australia: Enabling and Protecting /Issues Paper, ABN ; Children and Youth Services review 3/2011: Maltreatment of children with developmental disabilities: An ecologial systems analysis)

‘Children’s Teams’ Multi-Agency Service Response Right service at the right time Children have on plan (

Is that enough?

Holistic Approach Relationship of trust / Key worker Family Driven/ Incorporates Child’s voice Identifies multiple needs of family Individualised Services Collaboration between formal and informal support

Case Study: Ellen, Tom, Mike and Tessa’s story Mike was diagnosed with a mild Intellectual Disability Ellen, mother, overwhelmed with situation Tessa, Mike’s sister, felt misunderstood Tom, father, was in prison/domestic violence

Ellen’s voice  “... You have been the only consistent support over the last year. That has helped us hugely and has encouraged us. Encouragement was what we have so desperately needed...”  “... Agencies came and told us what I have to do. You were listening and supported us in a way I could understand...”

Conclusion Acknowledge complexity and multiplicity of risk factors Family driven wrap around service Collaboration with holistic interventions/ Early interventions Education for professionals to identify child abuse at an early stage Better outcomes

Websites and resources: Altogether Autism: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Service (NASC): services/needs-assessment-and-service-coordination-service Brainwave Trust: Listening to young disabled children The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities

Disability Liaison Professional Susanne Llopis Phone: