There are significant gaps in current knowledge with regard to negotiating child contact in circumstances of domestic violence. This report examines this issue and compares the situation in England with that in Denmark, a country that has recently experienced similar policy changes.

Annotation Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence focuses on first-hand accounts from children and young people regarding their experiences of both domestic violence and support services. It is the first book to examine the user's experience of service provision for the victims of domestic violence and it seeks to encourage a more effective and professional approach in the services that serve to support and protect children. The book is based on a unique, three-year research project into child support and protection services that began in 1996. The book examines such topics as; the types of violence experienced by mothers and witnessed by children; the types of abuse children are subjected to; children's understanding of domestic violence; children's and mother's views of how best to protect children and their perception of the support services; and the barriers for children and mothers seeking help. The book assesses the role and response of the social services, police, voluntary organizations and the agencies, of health, education, and housing. It describes approaches to existing problems, emphasizing a child-focused response and concludes by recommending improvements for policy and practice.

This book presents papers from an International Symposium on Contact Disputes and Allegations of Domestic Violence: Identifying Best Practices, held in London in May 2017. The editors invited a group of international experts to explain the approaches taken in their jurisdictions to allegations of domestic violence in child contact cases, with a view to identifying international best practices in such cases. The book includes contributions from England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Sweden and Spain, as well as information presented at the symposium from New Zealand and Australia. The chapters include attention to particular issues such as specialist domestic violence courts, judicial training and hearing children’s voices. Collectively, the chapters identify a set of common problems experienced across all of the jurisdictions, including an overwhelming emphasis on the value of children’s ongoing contact with non-resident parents and the consequent minimisation of domestic violence and the muting of the voices of children who do not wish to have contact with abusive parents. Best practices in taking domestic violence seriously and providing adequate protection from further abuse for children and non-abusive parents were less in evidence. However, the concluding chapter draws together details of several initiatives and approaches which offer promising ways forward. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law.

'Domestic Violence and Child Protection' explores the challenges of working effectively in this complex field and offers positive models for practice. Leading practitioners and researchers outline the essential safety considerations for children, adult victims and child protection workers.

Based on findings from six primary research studies carried out by the authors themselves, as well as other published research, this book reveals how undermining mothering plays a key role in locking women into abusive relationships and exacerbating the damage done by domestic violence.

Nordic countries are generally regarded as global welfare role models in terms of their image of being gender equal, child-friendly and culturally tolerant. Consequently, the influence of Nordic welfare systems in transnational academic and policy debates has been immense. By focusing on the vital welfare issue of violence by men to female partners and/or their children, this book seeks to reconsider this over-simplistic image. Drawing on new research from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the book critically examines how men's violence in families is perceived and responded to in the Nordic context. It pays particular attention to the links between violence to women and violence to children, children's perspectives, professional discourses and responses, and legal and policy approaches. With clear links between research, policy and practice, the book is highly relevant to a wide audience, including academics, researchers and students in the fields of social work, health, criminology, sociology, social policy, gender studies, European studies and law. It is also recommended reading for welfare managers, practitioners, and policy makers.

This accessible text takes a multi-disciplinary approach to exploring issues surrounding domestic violence. It draws on contemporary research findings, policy developments, innovative practice and case studies to explore new directions in professional and voluntary sector responses to domestic violence. Centred on the United Kingdom, but located in a context of global change, the book discusses and critically evaluates new criminal justice and multi-agency initiatives such as domestic violence courts and risk assessment conferences, as well as assessing how far these initiatives improve the safety of women and children. Harne and Radford aim to disseminate ideas about best practice in relation to dealing with this sensitive and still controversial issue. They use real-life case studies from professionals, including the police, health services and Women’s Aid, and are inclusive of the experiences of a wide range of survivors, in order to enable an understanding of the need for appropriate responses, depending on different survivor needs. Tackling Domestic Violence provides an informed background for professionals in the police, probation, health and social care services, the legal system and voluntary sector with a remit to respond to domestic violence. It is also highly relevant to those undertaking courses on domestic violence at undergraduate and postgraduate level.