A review on multi-disciplinary intervention by child protection professionals in child sexual abuse cases in Hong Kong

This study examined child sexual abuse cases identified between 1 October 1997 and 30 September 1998 in Hong Kong through interviews with professionals, victims and parents. The investigation was also supplemented by observational data through participation in case conferences, and information from case files of child abuse cases collected by using a checklist. Results show that there was far more multi-disciplinary collaboration and coordination in the early stages of child protection work. The multi-disciplinary case conference usually marked the peak of multi-disciplinary cooperation. At the post-conference stage of intervention, the key workers tended to concentrate more on direct service for the clients than to coordinate the work of different service providers in implementing the service plan. In all stages, the intervention of the professionals seemed to have relatively neglected the expressed needs of the parents for greater professional attention and more participation in different stages of child protection work. Based on the findings, this study recommends a partnership approach to child protection. Victims and parents can be empowered at different stages of work to become partners with professionals helping them. Besides, it is suggested that child protection professionals should more carefully address the psychosocial needs of parents and better balance their roles as service provider on one hand and as service coordinator on the other. Lastly, training is suggested for professionals with less experience in child protection and for chairpersons of case conference to cope with the new tasks of handling parental participation.