Research has shown that black young people, especially black male children, are exposed to additional risks that can complicate the assessment process and ongoing work. It is crucial for practitioners and professionals to be proficient in considering and evaluating individual, familial, and community/contextual risks that impact the behaviors of these children and young people.
Learning Outcomes:
Describe the difference between a planned and dynamic risk assessment and the importance of the ongoing review of any work undertaken with the young person.
Utilize Professional Curiosity more effectively.
Explore unconscious bias.
Demonstrate the use of tools to engage young black male children.
Complete a Risk Assessment with the young person.
Complete a Safety Plan with the young person.
The workshops we offer aim to help practitioners enhance their existing skills and knowledge in risk assessment and working with black male children. We understand the need for professionals to be equipped in assessing the impact of additional risks faced by these children, particularly in the context of contextual safeguarding and extra familial harm.
The tragic case of Child A, who was fatally stabbed in 2019, highlights the need for practitioners to be competent in identifying, assessing, and creating robust plans for children from black and ethnic minority communities, especially those facing learning disabilities that increase their susceptibility to criminal exploitation. It is crucial to ensure that guidance, best practices, and training in multi-agency safeguarding discussions and meetings involve housing services to effectively address contextual safeguarding.
Disproportionality is a term that describes a group's representation in a particular category exceeding expectations or differing substantially from the representation of others in that category. When considering disproportionality in relation to black boys, it is essential to go beyond simplistic explanations and examine factors such as individual characteristics, parenting, community influences, and institutional biases.
Professional curiosity is a key factor in effective safeguarding and working with black boys and their families. It involves looking, listening, asking direct questions, checking information, and reflecting on the received information. Professionals need to explore and understand what is happening within a family, avoiding assumptions and taking proactive questioning and challenge approaches.
There is a lack of professional curiosity in current practice, as highlighted in Serious Case Reviews and Safeguarding Adult Reviews. Factors such as tactical lack of curiosity, assumptions, uncertainty, lack of time, and anxiety inhibit professionals from hearing and responding to the whole story. Overcoming these barriers and enabling professional curiosity can lead to identifying less obvious indicators of vulnerability or significant harm, clarifying assumptions, and pinpointing presenting issues.
To support black boys and their families effectively, professionals need to remain flexible, open-minded, and see the child's needs and "lived experience" as the focus. It is essential to see beyond the obvious, think carefully about adult engagement, focus on change and progress, be empathetic, and use professional judgment, common sense, intuition, and gut feelings. Building close partnerships and cross-checking information are vital in promoting openness, transparency, and good decision-making.
Addressing unconscious bias is crucial in our work with black children and families. Unconscious bias refers to the automatic and unintentional associations and attitudes influenced by societal stereotypes and prejudices. By acknowledging and addressing unconscious bias, professionals can ensure fair and equitable treatment for black children and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
In conclusion, our training programs aim to equip practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively assess the extra familial risk faced by black male children and their families. By fostering professional curiosity, addressing unconscious bias, and promoting engagement.