UK social work practice in safeguarding disabled children and young people. A qualitative systematic review

Despite the known increased risk of experiencing abuse (Jones et al, 2012), disabled children’s access to safeguarding and support at all stages of the child protection system is at best inconsistent (Ofsted, 2012; Taylor et al, 2016). Research has highlighted that recognising and responding to abuse involving disabled children is often more complex, time consuming and frequently involves more finely balanced decisions between protection and family support and greater long-term commitment of resources than that concerning non-disabled children (Kelly and Dowling, 2015; Taylor et al, 2016). This complexity points to an urgent need to review and synthesise existing evidence relating to maltreatment concerns and practice responses to disabled children during and following child protection enquiries (Taylor et al, 2014). Despite the clear need to improve practice, a review of this kind using systematic methods has yet to be carried out (PROSPERO, 2020). In summary, this review aimed to support: ● Evidence-informed planning and development of more appropriate, targeted, and cost-effective interventions for disabled children and their families. ● Better understanding of the complexity and nuances of safeguarding concerns and responses with this high-risk group of children and young people supporting the development of improved early help and reducing the need for crisis-driven, and costly, residential placements. ● Improved understanding of how and why many key issues facing the sector disproportionately affect disabled children (poor mental health, poorer outcomes, disabled children and their families lack of involvement in care-planning and the need for whole-family support) and identify possible solutions. Evidence that will support current agendas for chang