001 Practice Reflections: Research Spotlight on the Internet of Things and Domestic Abuse (2024)
Impact on Practice and Future Plans
Hi there,
Welcome to the Practice Reflections Newsletter for the Safeguarding CPD Community.
This is the first edition of the Newsletter. Each week, I share with you a research article which I have come across and offer reflections for practice. I will also be providing updates on the development of the Safeguarding CPD Community.
This newsletter aims to provide you with some thoughts which you can reflect on yourself for your own CPD.
Research Spotlight
This week, I came across research from Brown, Harkin and Tanczer (2024) in the journal Violence Against Women, which focuses on how to safeguard the Internet of Things (IoT) for victim-survivors of domestic and family abuse. The title of the research is: Safeguarding the “Internet of Things” for Victim-Survivors of Domestic and Family Violence: Anticipating Exploitative Use and Encouraging Safety-by-Design. It was published in January 2024.
I had heard of IoT briefly when listening to a radio programme a few years ago, and I never considered it about safeguarding. However, after reading the article, it is clear that we need to do more to protect victims and domestic or family violence survivors (and also possible victims). If you haven’t heard of the IoT, it is effectively the name given to electronic devices which are (or can be) connected to the internet.
Such devices can be used by potential abusers to monitor, intimidate, harass and potentially gaslight vulnerable people. The research also highlights that such abuse can lead to victim-survivors experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. With the growing rate of technology, safeguarding practitioners need to consider the implications of devices such as video doorbells, lights and security cameras. These are devices which can be controlled remotely.
Such devices can be used by potential abusers to monitor, intimidate, harass and potentially gaslight vulnerable people.
Within the article, the authors explore the need to empower victims to take back control of their devices. Quite often, safeguarding practitioners will be the people offering practical support to try and make the home environment safe. One reflection on this is that it could add a new dynamic of professional boundaries. How does empowering people to take back control of their devices fit with our own knowledge of how to set up and use these very devices? Can we really support someone to protect themselves or make their home environment safe if we ourselves are not sure about what it is we are protecting people from?
I found the research really thought-provoking and relevant for practitioners across the safeguarding sector. Whether you are an adult or children’s social worker or work in the charity or housing sectors, there are implications for how we assess and ensure safety for victim-survivors of this type of abuse.
I would love to know what you think about the research.
You can access it for free here
Safeguarding CPD Community Update
I am in the process of getting the framework and initial catalogue of research ready to enable people to join the community.
To start with, there is going to be 100 research articles which members will be able to access. This will become a catalogue of research relevant to safeguarding across many different professions and subject areas. It will be a continually growing catalogue, and members will be encouraged to add to the database of articles. Over time, this will include open access and also articles, which would usually be behind a paywall.
Opportunities for Peer Reflection
As practitioners, there is something special about peer reflection. Each of the professional bodies requires professionals to complete different quantities of peer reflection. I know that whenever I have been part of peer reflection, I have got so much more from those reflections than when I sit and reflect on my own.
Members of the Safeguarding CPD Community will have priority access to a new Journal Club. Each month, members will have an opportunity to come together online to reflect on a research paper. The session will be facilitated by myself and we will explore how our practice will either change or be influenced by the research for that month.
I will be announcing the first Practice Reflections: Journal Club Session next week. The session will be shared with subscribers to this newsletter first and will include details of the research paper and also the date of the first session. If there is demand, I may hold 2 sessions a month to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to participate.
Register your Interest
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Safeguarding CPD Community, please click the button below. It will take you to a short questionnaire. As soon as the community is ready for members, you will be notified by me personally.
That’s all for this week. I hope you have enjoyed the newsletter. Please do share this with your colleagues or on Social Media. You can either send them to this by copying the link in the address bar or click the link below and send it to them directly. Everyone is welcome to subscribe.
Until next week,
Take Care.
Anthony.
p.s Please do reply if you have any specific questions.