ABOUT HALO CHILD ON PARENT ABUSE PROGRAMME

Child on parent abuse is any behaviour used by a young person to control, dominate, or coerce parents. It is intended to threaten, intimidate and puts family safety at risk, whilst it is normal for adolescents to demonstrate healthy anger, conflict and frustration, this should not be confused with violence . 

violence is about a range  of behaviours, including non physical and physical.

Most  parents have difficulty even shame admitting to themselves that their child is abusive. The may feel fear, disappointment and humiliation and blame themselves.  There is also an element of  denial where  some parents may convince themselves  this is part of normal adolescent behaviours.

Definitions of CPA

The Home office Guidance 2015 states there are several variations  of CPA it may also known by APVA  (Adolescent  to parent abuse,)(  or CPV  child to parent  violence.)

However cross government definitions  of domestic violence is  'any incident or pattern of behaviour controlling, coercive violence abuse between those aged  16 or over, while the definition applies to those 16 above, CPA  can equally involve children under 16 and  advise in the home office reflects this.'

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There has been a recent study completed by Northumbria police  in 2019  alongside  -Dr Wendy Thorley, Al coates and Jeannine Hughes. This was following a  Domestic Homicide review in to the death of  a mother by her son.

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Parents described the abuse as often involving a pattern of aggressive, abusive, and violent acts  across a  prolonged period  of time. The   abuse can also  include  violence to the siblings. The environment creates a  place where parents live in fear of their own child and will often curtail their own behaviours in order to avoid  conflict. Recommendations where:

*To appoint designated named officers  PCSOs (this may be part of the MASH team)

*Provide basic training for all officers who attend  CPA call outs,training in ACES ADHD SEND  etc, (full report  policing childhood challenging violent or aggressive Behaviour is available on Northumbria University website (CCVAB) 

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Currently there are very limited support programmes to address CPA/or APVA, we offer a bespoke  service and work across Mersey side and  North west  of England.