During our interviews, we ask the children about delicate things such as how many partners they had sex with during the last year, how much abuse is happening in their homes, post traumatic stress and depression etc.
A lot of the children disclose severe and multiple abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) to our interviewers who then report this to me.
Today, I arranged to meet with the social worker of the local municipality to hand over referrals. All of the children I had written referrals for were the ones so severely abused that they had suicidal tendencies and scored highly on the depression and anxiety scales. Now, I know there is only one social worker for the whole area and she is hopelessly overwhelmed but I did not expect the following conversation.
She: So what do you want me to do with these referrals?
Me: Eh, intervene!
She: Ah, right....
Me: It is your job, isn't it? And can I also please have a written follow up, just very briefly so I know what's happening with the children?
She: We don't do that, we don't have computers!
Me: Ah, can I take your telephone number then?
She: I only have a private mobile phone
Me: So how do I contact you?
She: I will contact you...
Right - as if that is going to happen.
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