Understanding communication in child protection networks

Reviews of fatal child abuse cases regularly identify communication problems between the professionals. Understanding their origins requires an analysis of the psychology of communication as well as its technology, since it is a complex process in which interpersonal factors impact on the meaning that each person attributes to the messages given and received. The contexts within which the communications occur also colour how the messages are comprehended. Examples in practice from the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report (Lord Laming, 2003) will be cited. Effective communication between professionals requires a mindset that can be developed through training. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.