Killing in the family

Cases involving the killing of one parent at the hands of another (uroxide) are unsurprisingly fraught. Surprisingly they are also more common than you might imagine [7 women being killed per month in England and Wales [ONS (2015) Crime Survey England and Wales 2013-14. London: Office for National Statistics]. In effect children 'lose' both parents one to death one to incarceration or cessation of contact due to assessment of risk. Dr Tony Kaplan a leading child and adolescent psychiatrist describes such children as being 'doubly orphaned suddenly and catastrophically' which often leads to violent disturbance of the psyche which may be veiled by apparent resilience shock displacement of feelings or stoicism.

Children in such cases will suffer from bereavement trauma disruption of attachment[s] and anxiety. Delay in determining placement will only add to those issues as this will add to delay in providing a space for children to deal with loss and trauma and engage with...