A Practitioner’s Tool for the Assessment of Adults Who Sexually Abuse Children

A Practitioner’s Tool for the Assessment of Adults Who Sexually Abuse Children

★★★★

Jeff Fowler

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

ISBN 9781843106395

Jeff Fowler’s work lives up to its title in being strictly a practitioner’s tool rather than a textbook.

By its own admission, it is light on theory, and some of the theories that are presented are perhaps a little dated, and certainly nothing new for those familiar with the field of sexual offending.

There is little or no mention of varied pathways to abusing the balancing of risks against strengths, or holistic approaches beyond assessment that involve identifying and building upon an offender’s skills and com­petences to meet needs.

Fowler presents a detailed case study that runs throughout, but is not clear whether this is a completely fictional study or one based on real life. If it is the latter, there is no mention of seeking permission from the subject.

Despite these reservations, the book does amount to a useful practice guide and draws together key assessment factors and information that will benefit practitioners in the field of working with adults who sexually abuse children.

Andrew Durham is consultant practitioner at Warwickshire SIBS/independent child care consultant