Patterns of placement, management and outcome for sexually abused and/or abusing children in substitute care

This paper draws on the author's research on the management, care and treatment of sexually abused and/or abusing children in substitute care. The research, funded by the Department of Health, examined the management and treatment provided in residential and foster care for these young people, the mix of children in each setting and the steps taken to keep these and other children safe. Analysis of the findings revealed four distinct groups of young people in this population, each of which required somewhat different management approaches and placement type, whilst very varying outcomes were found for each group of children. The paper's description of the four distinct groupings, their management and placement requirements, and outcomes should be of use to practitioners and managers planning placements for these children. The paper concludes that denial, minimization, normalization and helplessness all influence the management of sexually abused and/or abusing children and that these mirror the experiences of children who are sexually abused and their efforts to deal with the accompanying trauma.