ABSTRACT
This study explores structured investigative child interviews developed to be used in the context of child welfare risk assessments: the ‘iRiSk’ structured risk and safety interviews for children subjected to violence in the family. The aims were to study how children manage leading elements of structured interview questions and if this interview guide can aid children in talking about experiences of violence and/or fear. Data consisted of 20 audio recorded interviews drawing on the iRiSk child interview guide, carried out in Sweden 2017–2021, involving 21 children and 11 case workers from five different child welfare offices. The interviews were analysed in two steps, first with thematic analysis and then with conversation analysis. The results indicate that it is possible to use the iRiSk interview guide as intended in child welfare services in the sense that these interviews can provide children with several opportunities to talk about violence and fear. The analysis shows how recognition questions and interviewers’ descriptions of what they already know can facilitate children describing their experiences of violence and feelings of fear. As an addition to open prompts and evaluative questions, further questions that give examples of potential experiences of the child, and about what it is important for the investigator to hear from the child—such as feelings of fear—seem to give children a ‘second chance’ to tell. Thereby, the interviews can provide information that is vital for the assessment of risk in both a short-term and long-term perspective.