Stephanie Kewley’s research while affiliated with Liverpool John Moores University and other places

Whilst previous studies have begun to provide information regarding the benefits of gratitude and hope in relation to sexual violence survivors (SVS), the current understanding of how this facilitates coping is still limited and subject to narrow methods of inquiry. The purpose of this study was to explore how gratitude and hope impacted the well-being of three SVS and three support staff at Chester Sexual Abuse Support Services (CSASS) and is an important area for exploration due to the additional adversity of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis revealing two superordinate themes directly related to gratitude and hope. Understanding strengths-based strategies adopted by SVS and those who support them is critical when considering times of adversity. We, therefore, highlight how our findings might be used in future research and practice contexts.

Prisons are frequently excluded from hazard risk management, disaster mitigation planning particularly in the aftermath of climate disasters. People deprived of their liberty are wholly reliant on the State, and unable to protect themselves from climate related threats. This is especially the case in Africa where over one million people are incarcerated. We report from Malawi, a least developed country in sub-Saharan Africa, where the system is operating over 234 per cent capacity. With no climate change responsive prison policy, nor research on this topic despite evidence for disrupted agriculture and seasonal cyclone activity; we conducted a rapid situation assessment to evaluate the impact of climate change on the Malawi prison system operations. Interviews and small focus groups were conducted with professional stakeholders (n = 12), prison officers (n = 15), juvenile prisoners (n = 10), and former prisoners (n = 50). Reflexive thematic analysis revealed six themes: climate impacts and infrastructural challenges; extreme life-threatening events and (in)ability to evacuate; fluctuating temperatures, prison system congestion and ventilation; water crisis and environmental health; navigating crop failures, interrupted grain supply and food (in)security; and circulation of disease and amplified health vulnerability. Findings illustrate how climate change poses substantial challenges to congested prison operations in Malawi; infrastructure protection, sanitation and maintenance; (in)ability to safely evacuate; power, water and food shortages; and circulation of disease. Vulnerable prisoners include women, children and people with disabilities. The assessment evidence will inform the development of a climate responsive prison action plan for the Malawi Prison system and represent an exemplar for the Southern African region.

The Psychologically Informed Consultation Service (PICS), based in Merseyside and Cheshire, aims to help Probation Practitioners develop a psychological understanding of people on probation who are assessed as high risk and have been reported to have personality disorder traits. A role of high importance and benefit, but one that also sometimes involves exposure to highly emotive content. It is vital to consider PICS Practitioners’ emotional wellbeing. This research aims to explore the emotional impact PICS Practitioners experience during the consultation and formulation processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven PICS Practitioners and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the data. Five Experiential Themes were identified: Changes within PICS impacted Practitioners’ experiences of the role; advantages and disadvantages to being a removed service; high workload having negative impact on consultation and formulation process; emotional impact of the role; and an overall sense of gratitude for the role and appreciating its purpose.

Background: Sibling sexual abuse is a common form of intra-familial sexual abuse, yet it remains under-studied and under-recognised, leaving many children unprotected and unsupported. Practitioners need rigorously conducted evidence syntheses to inform decision making in this complex practice area. Objective: A scoping review was conducted with the broad research question: What is known about sibling sexual abuse? in order to map the research and to establish areas of knowledge and gaps requiring attention. Method: The review followed the guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley (2005), and through searches of 11 academic databases, 3 grey literature databases, journal hand-search and Google, identified 91 empirical papers for review. Results: While poorly and inconsistently defined, sibling sexual abuse is a common form of child sexual abuse with significant consequences for the whole family. It may involve children of any age and sex, entail the full range of sexual behaviours, and can take place in families from across the socioeconomic spectrum. Disclosure is uncommon during childhood, with multiple barriers including the nature of the caregiving environment in which sibling sexual abuse often takes place. Official records are likely to under-report the frequency and duration of the abuse. Conclusions: There is considerable scope for further research across all aspects of sibling sexual abuse. This paper represents the most comprehensive (albeit not complete) overview of the current body of knowledge in this field to date, and presents key findings as well as a summary of practice and research recommendations. 3

Whether the role of police agents known as MOSOVO need to improve their practice following the recommendations in the Creedon Report