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Introduction

I was on duty when a case came in that needed investigating. I opened the report, read the current concerns, and then read the history. There were fifteen previous reports, all relating to domestic violence. Another worker and I attended the home, and I decided to change my usual approach. I read through each report, explaining the actions Child Protection had taken in the past— Child Protection had referred the parents to counselling on numerous occasions— including parenting classes, anger management counselling, relationship counselling, and family counselling. Furthermore, removing the father from the home, moving the mother and children into safe accommodation and placing the children into foster care all on numerous occasions.

Realization and Response

After reading these reports aloud, I asked the mother, “What do you think Child Protection can do for you because from what I have read, we have tried everything.” The mother’s response was, “It sounds bad when you read the reports out like that. No one has ever done it like that before.” This moment highlighted the breakdown in their relationship and the ineffectiveness of repeated interventions. I recommended more in-depth, long-term counselling and warned that any further violence could result in removing the children for a lengthier period. This approach was aimed at emphasizing their toxic, codependent relationship and the need for a real change.

Sometimes, giving someone an answer isn’t helping them resolve the problem.

The types of Domestic / Family Violence

• Physical & Sexual
• Emotional
• Financial
• Verbal
• Abuse by proxy
• Familial Homicide

Cycle of Violence:

• Tension Building
• The Incident
• Honeymoon Period
• The Calm

The Facts

• Brain Development: Exposure to violence between ages birth and 3 years can cause permanent brain damage.
• Impact on Children: Affects behaviour, cognitive development, mental and physical well-being, and is a leading cause of homelessness.
• Prevalence: 1 in 6 women and 1 in 9 men experience physical or sexual abuse before age 15.
• Pandemic Effect: Domestic violence cases increased by 22 to 33% globally during the pandemic.

Discussion:

Examining critical incidents resulting in death or serious harm reveals that many domestic violence incidents had prior contact with the Child Protection System. The majority of perpetrators of family-domestic violence were once children exposed to violence, substance abuse, and parental mental health issues—issues that the Child Protection system failed to mitigate. This highlights the urgent need for reform.

Reforming Child Protection is not just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative. Until we fix this broken system, we cannot claim to be effectively safeguarding our most vulnerable members of preventing the cycle of violence from continuing.

In the beginning, a tragic event started me on my journey to a destination and my love for helping children of all ages and their families.

However, what I was not prepared for was that the people who assisted me and paved the way for my advancement in my chosen career in Child Protection were the same people who tried to bring me down.

This book will give you insight into what it is like to work in Child Protection. It will show you the difficulties and sometimes dangers workers face on a daily basis. Furthermore, the novel will also highlight the satisfaction you get when you can assist a child and their family through a traumatic event.

My career at Child Protection spanned nearly a decade, and during that time, I was bullied by management. I observed management bully other workers; I was also aware of workers consuming drugs, both outside work hours and during work hours.

This novel is a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens at Child Protection when the public is not watching or listening.

Child Protection is not an easy career path, but it can be a good job if you like long hours, have a thick skin, keep your head down, keep your mouth shut, and abide by everything that management wants you to do, even when you know it is wrong or unfair.

about the Author: The life of Jo Cooling is like living in a theme park: one minute, it’s like riding a roller coaster, baking cupcakes, cookies, and slices. With a kitchen covered with chocolate, flour, and cooking utensils. Also trying to develop new tastes and ideas for her growing baking business.

Sometimes, she feels like she travels through life in a Dodge ’em car. All the while, she works to complete two novels while caring for two Cavoodles, who believe their mother was placed on this earth purely to play with them 24 hours a day.

But no matter how out of control her life can be at times, eventually, she ends up sailing around on the Walt Disney teacup ride on top of the world. However, when she relaxes, the Cavoodles see this as an opportunity to snuggle on Mum’s lap.

Jo’s work career has been just as colorful as her current life. She has worked in horse and car racing, sold lingerie, designed websites, been a Personal Assistant, and worked as a Law Clerk.

Jo looks at life like a box of chocolates: each day unwraps a new layer, revealing unexpected flavors and textures.

Buy the book at Amazon, Amazon AU, Indigo Chapters, or Booktopia.

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