Assessing Disorganized Attachment Behaviour in Children: An Evidence-Based Model For Understanding And Supporting Families

Assessing Disorganized Attachment Behaviour in Children lays out an evidence-based model for working with and assessing children with disorganised attachment and their adult carers: families whose extreme, erratic and disturbing behaviour can make them perplexing and frustrating to work with. The model is designed to identify key indicators and explanatory mechanisms of child maltreatment: disorganised attachment in the child, a parent's unresolved loss or trauma, disconnected and extremely insensitive parenting, and low parental mentalisation. The book also outlines ways of assessing children for disorganised attachment and carer capacity, and proposes interventions. Accessible and practical, this book is essential reading for child protection professionals.

Table of Contents

Introduction. David and Yvonne Shemmings.

1. The Maltreatment Pathway Model and its components. David Shemmings, Professor of Child Protection Research, University of Kent and co-Director of the university's new Centre for Child Protection.
2. The Notion of 'Interventive Skills'. David Shemmings.
3. Using Interventive Skills in Practice. Yvalia Febrer, Project Director, Frontline, London.

THE EXPLANATORY MECHANISMS OFABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL CAREGIVING.

4. Identifying Unresolved Loss and Trauma using the Adult Attachment Interview. David Shemmings and Tania Young, Children's Social Care, Lewisham.
5. Exploring 'Mechanisms of Maltreatment' in a Family. Alice Cook, Family Assessment Practitioner, St Michael's Fellowship, London.
6. Identifying Low Mentalising Capacity using the Adult Attachment Interview. David Wilkins, Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Enfield, London.
7. Using a Guided Parenting Task. Lissil Averil, Social Worker, Great Ormond Street Hospital,London.
8. Working with Disconnected or Insensitive Carers by increasing Mentalising Capacity. Yvonne Shemmings, Continuous Professional Development Specialist, and Alice Cook.

UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN'S DISORGANISED ATTACHMENT.

9. Using a modified Strange Situation Procedure. Yvonne Shemmings, and Michelle Thompson, Senior Manager, Young Mums and Dads Project, St Michael's Fellowship, London.
10. Using Modified Story Stems. David Wilkins, Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Enfield, London.
11. Using Modified Story Stems in a case of ChildSexual Abuse, Francisca Serrette, Social Worker, Camden, London.
12. Exploring Children's Inner Worlds. Fran Feeley, Social Worker, St. Michael's Fellowship, London, and Claire Denham, Social Worker, Lewisham, London.
13. Using the Child Attachment Interview. David Phillips, manager of the Moorfield Family Assessment Centre, Enfield, London.
14. Working with Children with Disorganised Attachment. Claire Denham, and Jo George, Social Worker, Lewisham, London.

RELATED TOPICS.

15. Attachment to People and Place with Traveler Families. Mel Hamilton-Perry, Social Worker,Norfolk, specializing in work with Gypsy and Traveler Families.
16. Introducing the ADAM Project across the whole Children and Families Department in Enfield, London. David Wilkins.
17. Introducing the ADAM Project in Lewisham, London. Tania Young.
18. Fake It till you Make It. Sonja Falck,Psychotherapist and Executive Coach, Harley Street, London, and David Shemmings. Conclusion. David and Yvonne Shemmings.