doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200004594
Article type: Original Research
1 January 1995
Volume 20 Issue 3
doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200004594
Article type: Original Research
1 January 1995
Volume 20 Issue 3
Breach of duty: A new paradigm for the abuse of children and adolescents in care
Anne Forward
Anne Forward
CITATION: Forward A. (1995). Breach of duty: A new paradigm for the abuse of children and adolescents in care. Children Australia, 20(3), 1039. doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200004594
Abstract
Analysis of the issue of abuse in care reveals that common structures and processes for response to allegations operate within a paradigm of minimalist child protection and that this paradigm is inadequate to the effective management of the problem. The paper will argue that a shift of paradigm is required. Concepts of individual pathology and deficiency, conflicts of interest in reporting and investigation and tolerance for all but seriously inadequate care for children must be replaced. A paradigm of duty of care would result in policy and procedure which embraced agencies' moral and legal duties towards children and assessed allegations or harm from this holistic perspective.