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CASE STUDY

All names mentioned in this article have been changed 

SITUATION: Molly Lane is 15 years old and lives with her mother, Rona. She also spends respite periods with short-term foster carers as her mother's poor health means that she either needs hospital treatment or simply a rest. Her mother was the only survivor of a car crash that killed Molly's father and her two brothers four years ago. They were making a diversion to their route to pick up Molly, who was late returning from a friend's house. Molly feels that the accident was her fault.

PROBLEM: Molly was having difficulties at school for about two years after the crash. She was very withdrawn, under-achieving and unable to make peer friendships. Before the accident, she had been a lively, likeable and above-average student. Her neighbour, Simon Coombes, a boy two years older at the same school, would walk her home each day. Since the start of the latest school year she has become aggressive and begun truanting. She ran off with a 33-year-old man but was returned home by police, who arrested the man. During interviews she disclosed that for two years after the crash she was sexually abused by Coombes most days on their way home from school. It only stopped when Coombes left the school last term. Rona, who is close friends with Coombes's parents, dismisses Molly's allegations as preposterous, attention-seeking and malicious. Molly has been placed with foster carers.

Panel Responses

Joyce Msiska

When Molly disclosed the information about Coombes to the police, they would have contacted social services. Such a referral initiates a section 47 enquiry and the social worker will discuss the information with their manager to agree a plan of action, including a strategy discussion or meeting with police.

Following this a decision may be made for a video interview which will include both the social worker and police. It is extremely important that all professionals involved take the allegation seriously, particularly in the light of Rona's dismissive response to her daughter's allegation.

Molly will probably be feeling guilt and shame, exacerbated by her mother's denial and lack of support at this difficult time. It is likely that Molly's feelings stem from the belief that she was to blame for allowing it to happen, and guilt because of the likely impact of her disclosure on her mother's close relationship with the Coombes family.

A decision about the suitability of a medical examination of Molly is needed and whether she is willing for this to take place. Account would be given to the passage of time since the last alleged incident and taking account of Molly's feelings at the prospect of a medical examination.

Good child care practice requires an acknowledgement of the anxieties which child protection investigations raise. Bearing this in mind, Molly's social worker should meet Rona and explain the action required to protect and safeguard Molly's welfare.

Coombes is now 17 and may well have access to other children, so agencies need to be made aware of the allegation but this would be without prejudice if no case is found against him.

As Molly has already been removed from her mother's care, the plan will focus on addressing the psychological impact of the multiple trauma suffered as a result of the crash two years ago, subsequent alleged sexual abuse and the present breakdown of the relationship with her mother. It would be important to include counselling services involving family therapy for Rona to help her come to terms with the events of two years ago and so form a basis for possible rehabilitation of Molly to her family.

Jill Thorburn

It's hardly surprising that Molly has experienced problems with school and peer relationships over the last two years. She has suffered multiple life experiences which would severely affect her mental well-being and self-esteem.

It is likely that the crash two years ago has left her with guilt and feelings of abandonment. It is essential for Molly's social worker to allow her space and time to discuss how she feels about the loss of her brothers and father. It may well be that she wouldn't talk to her mother about these matters in order to protect her mother's feelings and also she may well not trust her.

It would be important to assist Molly to receive psychotherapy for post-trauma work addressing her feelings of guilt and enabling her to come to terms with what has happened. Substantial research shows that survivor guilt is common.

It would be necessary to include Molly's mother in family therapy to address her feelings about the crash. One stage in the process of grief is the need to apportion blame for what has happened. It may well be that her mother feels this way and is reinforcing Molly's own guilt.

As well as therapeutic intervention, there should also be great effort to sustain some consistency. It is essential that Molly is supported in school. Connexions or the Youth Service may be able to assist in finding social activities that will help with her developing peer relationships and provide an environment where she can have fun.

Molly's social worker will need to have a good understanding of psychological theories around attachment.
Trust is also a major problem since her mother refuses to believe her about the abuse. Molly may well see her mother's rejection as confirmation that she is "bad" or to blame for the death of her family.

Molly's social worker will need to ensure that she is in a foster placement which is providing her with a sense of stability and security. Molly's childhood has taught her that everyone she cares for will go away and that the world is a very unsafe place. Undoing these beliefs will take time and a package of support from health, social services, Connexions and Molly's school.

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The council's priority must be to safeguard and protect Molly. To do this effectively, it is essential that Molly lives away from home temporarily. That means social services' decision to place her in foster care was completely correct, writes Mark Houston. 

Molly's continuing to live with Rona could make the situation worse. The allegations must be resolved before Molly can live at home again. That said, I would strongly advise efforts be made to maintain Molly's relationship with Rona and I suggest regular contact. I would hope that in the not too distant future she will be able to move back home and rebuild her relationship with Rona.

Although it is not known for certain that Molly was abused by Coombes, there is currently no reason to disbelieve Molly. Since Rona is close to the Coombes family, she is probably not in a good position to judge whether or not Molly's allegations are true.

Molly is very vulnerable and has a high level of emotional difficulties. Her behaviour has been of concern for the last four years, but it is particularly worrying that it has started to deteriorate rapidly - quite likely as a result of many problems that have been building up for some time.

Molly needs much more intensive and specialist help than she's been getting. Bearing in mind the circumstances, it is very understandable she feels the way she does, but it is important that she is supported to overcome the guilt, depression and anxieties that she has been going through. 

Her foster carers will be the most influential people in her life for the immediate future and will be best placed to offer her much of the necessary help.

It is of utmost importance to boost Molly's self-esteem. Above all, she needs to be encouraged and supported to build up her social life, in particular with people her own age. She should be encouraged to engage in recreational and leisure activities as well as being fully supported to attend school and succeed educationally and socially. 

Through building up a good rapport with Molly, the foster carers should be able to find out more about how Coombes really treated her, which would hopefully help resolve the situation. I would also recommend that she receives counselling (or possibly even specialist support). As well as helping Molly in terms of boosting her ego and allowing her to get worries off her chest, it would enable professionals to have a better understanding of her emotions and feelings and offer her the best possible help. 

Mark Houston is a care leaver.