‘Transforming’ Children's Services? Social work, neoliberalism and the ‘modern’ world

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-62
Author(s):  
Roger Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Children's Services ◽  
Children’S Services

The Color of the Wrapping Paper: Teaching Cultural Diversity in a Children's Services Course

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Porter Hurd
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Student Evaluations ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Children's Services ◽  
Children’S Services

Children are one of society's populations most at risk for harm. It is essential that social workers be educated to work effectively with all children; this demands that they be taught to be culturally sensitive. An approach to incorporating content on cultural diversity intensively throughout a baccalaureate social work course on children's services is described. Course goals, organization, teaching methods and assignments are discussed. One assignment, based on the instructor's own research, requiring students to interview parents of races different than their own is outlined in detail. Student evaluations of the course reveal an increase in the ability to recognize strengths in children and families from various cultural backgrounds.

Fields of Social Work Practice: Social Work Students' Attitudes and Interests

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Csikai ◽  
Kathleen Belanger
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Children's Services ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Msw Students ◽  
Children’S Services ◽  
Students Attitudes

This article reports the results of a study designed to examine factors that influence social work students' interest in eight fields of practice, through the use of a multidimensional measure of attitudes. BSW students indicated greatest interest in school social work, children's services, and child welfare services, whereas MSW students preferred medical social work, children's services, and mental health. A common predictor of students' interest in six settings was the belief that working in a particular field would be depressing. Social work educators must determine trend areas of highest demand for professional services and adapt curricula to enhance interest and prepare graduates to meet the changing needs of society.

scholarly journals The activity does not archive well: comparing audio and written records of supervision case discussions in Children’s Services

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wilkins ◽  
Rebecca Jones ◽  
David Westlake
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Children's Services ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Complex Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Written Form ◽  
Children’S Services ◽  
Case Discussions ◽  
Case Supervision

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast what is spoken about in supervision case discussions in Children’s Services with what subsequently appears in the written record on the child’s file. As an exploratory study, the authors set two research questions – how do supervision conversations and corresponding records compare? And how do social work supervisors make use of these records? Design/methodology/approach The authors sampled ten pairs of supervision audio recordings and written records from the child’s file. Using a content analysis approach, the authors compared what was spoken about (on the audio recordings) with what was subsequently written down (on the child’s file). Findings The complex activity of social work case supervision is not easily captured in written form. Written records did not reflect objectively the content of the audio recordings and on occasion, even contained information absent from the discussion. Supervisors seemed to engage in an interpretative process when creating the records, translating what was spoken about into a record thought (more) suitable for the file. Research limitations/implications The sample was limited to one authority and did not compare between different models or approaches to supervision. Practical implications Supervisors understandably orient their recording behaviour towards anticipated audiences (chiefly, senior managers and Ofsted inspectors). To change recording practices, it would help to promote the role of children and families as the more important audience for written recordings of supervision case discussions. Originality/value The major strength of this study is the inclusion of audio recordings of actual supervision case discussions and real case records. This is an advantage over the more common methods of vignettes, role plays and self-reports because it allowed the authors to examine directly what happens in practice. The findings from the study are strengthened via the use of a focus group with social work managers, helping the authors to validate and test the themes the authors’ identified.

scholarly journals “You try to keep a brave face on but inside you are in bits”: Grandparent experiences of engaging with professionals in Children’s Services

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Tarrant ◽  
Brid Featherstone ◽  
Lindsay O’Dell ◽  
Clare Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
Policy Preference ◽  
Work Practices ◽  
Children's Services ◽  
Legal Recognition ◽  
Formal Support ◽  
Children’S Services

This article presents findings from an evaluation conducted in 2012, of the advice and advocacy service provided by the charity Family Rights Group for families involved with children’s services. It specifically focuses on the experiences of grandparents and explores accounts from grandparents who were either in the process of seeking care of their grandchildren or were already caring for grandchildren but without formal support or recognition. The findings suggest that there is a need to pay greater attention to the fears of such grandparents about children’s services in a context where there appears to be a policy preference for adoption. Also evident is a paradox at the heart of contemporary social work practices towards grandparents. While some felt dismissed and marginalized very quickly by social workers and imaginative approaches to care possibilities did not appear to be pursued, others were carrying enormous burdens of care often for very long periods of time without either financial support or legal recognition. To strengthen the care options for children and respect the ethic of care that is clearly to be observed operating in grandparenting practices, it is suggested that a more thorough interrogation of the multiple and often highly contradictory meanings attached to family is required on the part of social workers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document