We all express horror when we hear about child abuse, but could you work in child protection?

Have you worked in child protection?

I guess becoming a foster carer I am going to see some of this horror effect on kids.

However I think if my day to day job was reading case files, going to courts and moving these kids around, I couldn't last long.

I still remember when James was a newborn in hospital sick and the baby he shared a room with had been beaten so bad every bone except his spine had been broken - his father was not allowed to visit and his mother only 1 hour 3 days a week as it was ongoing and she did nothing to stop it. I remember hearing him cry everyday as he had noone to visit him and love him, he hated the stitches in his head, and could hardly move with all the casts - every afternoon I sat by his bed and just spoke to him (as your not allowed to touch other children) and let him watch my eyes - guess he stuck in my head and is my reason for wanting to help.

My mum is the President of the Foster Care Association and everyday deals with cases of horrid abuse. She does tell me about some of them and it's even very hard just to listen to. So, so sad, I have been in tears many a time just listening. A lot of people are not aware of just how many children are abused day in, day out.

On the flip side, the work can also be very rewarding and I guess it's this that keeps her going.

To answer your question, I don't think I could do it but am very grateful to the people that do as where would we be without them?

My brother's GF works in child protective services but has only just started. The stories would break your heart.
A few weeks ago she had to go and take a 2 week old baby away from it's mother.
She was pretty worked up by it, but said if the parents cannot/won't look after a child, she would have no problems taking it away from that situation.
She is only young and new to the job so hopefully it won't get her down. I know I would find it very hard to do that work myself.

Could i work in that field?
Absolutely not.You're not allowed to let your personal opinions and emotions get involved and thats just what id do.
The things you would see and hear and deal with on a daily basis would reduce me to a quivering wreck.And in that state i would be no help to anyone,even my self.
I will continue to give money and support the ppl who DO do the work,and continue to keep an eye and ear out for suspicious things but no-i couldnt do it.

ME-21
DP-22
DD1-3
DS-2
DD2-born 4th Oct 2006

Shellby - that story is so sad.

I couldn't work in that field. Too heartbreaking. I do however want to become a foster/respite carer when my children are older.

I think people who work in the child protection field are amazing, they have my utmost admiration.

I don't work directly as a child protection worker though work with the families involved with CPU every day.

All I can say is that it is horrific work. My hat goes off to the foster parents who look after the kids.

Have had some experience of directly working in CPU and it is very hard work (just recently through my placement). The cases I have come across are heartbreaking.
I must admit I have a different view of the world now that's for sure.

I worked at CPS as a CSO in Queensland for 5 years before moving to disability work. It was very stressful, that I ended up going on stress leave and leaving for good. It was very heartbreaking, and I got sick of the abuse from all sides. The parent/s would abuse you because you have to take action, people in society would abuse you because you aren't taking enough action. I have 52 open cases at anyone time, I am just one person, and unfortunatly, some would have fallen through the cracks. And the thought that I had been responsible for a child being in an abusive or unhealthy environment for longer than the should have just got to me after a while.

A good friend of mine worked in CPS for 24years, and I take my hat off to her, she was able to turn it off, and I just unfortunatly couldn't learn to do that.

Not that disability is tons better, but it is not quite as bad.

i suffered app 12+ years of child abuse, and i think that if my children were all growen up then yes i would do this job on a day to day basis, i have learnt from a very young age how to shut off emotionally from a situation, but i could not do this job while my children are with me as i would become paranoid about the same things happening to them, i am very over protective now, and suffer nightmares of what could happen to them and its hard when you have suffered on a daily basis all of your child hood to not become overprotective, I take my hat off to those who do there best in child protection they are true saints and there are sooooo many cases its not there fault that some fall through the cracks, they should be comended for all that they have done and try to do.
What would help most is that if you have a gut feeling and proof that something is not right with ANYONES child then seek help and advice and follow up on it keep on top of whats happening to rectify the situation, ifeel that children are the responsibility of the whole community. I only wish someone was there to listen to me, its not always a spoken word that you hear from a child that alerts you to a problem.

It's a field that I have always considered going into. Maybe not specifically child protection - but more along the counselling side of things. My only concern with doing this is that I'm "damaged goods" myself. I just don't know how the long term would affect me. It's something that I'm very passionate about - kind of like paying it forward.

Kylee