Amid a scarce body of literature examining the ability of practitioners to distinguish between truthful and deceptive behaviours by parents, this qualitative study evaluated how social workers, healthcare professionals and police officers identified parental deception in child safeguarding contexts. Using constructivist grounded theory, primary data were obtained through interviews and observations with multiagency child safeguarding professionals from three local authorities in England. Results indicate that multiagency practitioners identify and respond differently to features of parental deception. Social workers and healthcare practitioners distinguish between malicious and benign parental deception, and do not acknowledge benign untruths told by parents as lies. All practitioners in the police, social work and healthcare are familiar with various parental deception tactics in their practices, and they rely on their intuition and practice wisdom in detecting deception.

The article examines the results of original scientific and practical researches on the directions of the strategy for the reintegration of internally displaced persons in the context of armed conflict, based on the analysis of interview results with strategic leaders – heads of municipalities responsible for strategy and social security planning (Odesa City Council, territorial communities in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions). The survey results of strategic leaders are considered on a regional basis regarding awareness and involvement in addressing the issues of internally displaced persons in the conditions of armed conflict. An assessment is provided for the effectiveness and efficiency of state, local, and charitable support programs for internally displaced persons. The essential characteristics of vulnerability and its signs and features in the conditions of war are discussed. Based on the field researches and conducted SWOT analysis of support for internally displaced persons, prospects for improving support for them are identified.

Aim: 1. To identify how the conflict with Russia has affected and continues to affect women and children of Ukraine and the effect increased levels of traumatic experiences and exposure to violence continues to have on their physical and mental wellbeing; 2. Evaluate the existing levels of support and services being provided to these vulnerable groups by dedicated governmental and non-governmental organisations and suggest any post-conflict reconstruction solutions with an aim to promote the use of gender perspectives in the development of policy of the state and cities hosting these vulnerable population groups.

The research reported in this thesis aims to evaluate the current child safeguarding practices adhered to by practitioners to identify and respond to deception in parents and carers. The thesis also aims to establish whether any developments in professional practice could contribute to the reduction of child homicide and serious abuse. This study employs a qualitative approach drawing on secondary data from Serious Case Review (SCR) overview reports, and on primary data through interviews with key participants and frontline child safeguarding professionals in England and the United States, as well as ethnographical observational fieldwork. Although this thesis primarily focuses on the work of practitioners in police, social and health care services in England within the scope of their roles in child safeguarding, the experiences of child safeguarding professionals in the United States are drawn upon to provide an insight into any alternative strategies to deal with potentially deceptive parents. This current research reveals that amidst the widespread occurrence of deceit, child safeguarding professionals are well attuned to it on the whole and are largely aware when they are being lied to by parents. Although no specific deception detection training is offered to professionals to assist them to detect parental deceit, a combination of approaches, including intuition, verbal and nonverbal signs of deception, as well as practice wisdom, are employed by these professionals to help them recognise the signs. It is the professionals’ subsequent response to the deceit that determines the effectiveness of their decision-making, and the extent of interventions in relation to the child. The research has revealed serious and concerning deficiencies in the response to parental deceit. The differentiated response by professionals to suspected or confirmed parental deception is underpinned by organisational values and ethos, but is largely actioned through the paradigm of relationship-based practice and the ‘working with families’ culture.