Adolescent-to-parent violence : an audit of the prevalence in one sample and the response of agencies and professionals involved

Adolescent-to-parent violence (APV) is a growing concern. APV is challenging to define and there is a lack of clarity regarding who should respond to it and how. One child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in England carried out an audit in a sample of 20 young people in whom violence and aggression had been identified as an issue. Among the findings, the audit showed that APV was present in all 20 cases. In almost one third of cases, there was no clear process or framework for multi-agency working and there was evidence of conflict between the agencies involved in the young people’s care. The audit highlights the challenges experienced by CAMHS professionals when encountering young people and families experiencing APV. Improved multi-agency working, a unified response from agencies and a clearer pathway of intervention for children, young people and families affected by APV are needed.