scholarly journals Social workers’ power of entry in adult safeguarding concerns: debates over autonomy, privacy and protection

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 312-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Stevens ◽  
Stephen Martineau ◽  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Caroline Norrie
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore debates about the powers social workers may need to undertake safeguarding enquiries where access to the adult is denied. Design/methodology/approach The paper takes as a starting point a scoping review of the literature undertaken as part of a study exploring social work responses to situations where they are prevented from speaking to an adult at risk by a third party. Findings A power of entry might be one solution to situations where social workers are prevented from accessing an adult at risk. The paper focuses on the Scottish approach to legal powers in adult safeguarding, established by the Adult Support and Protection Act (Scotland) 2007 and draws out messages for adult safeguarding in England and elsewhere. The literature review identified that debates over the Scottish approach are underpinned by differing conceptualisations of vulnerability, autonomy and privacy, and the paper relates these conceptualisations to different theoretical stances. Social implications The paper concludes that the literature suggests that a more socially mediated rather than an essentialist understanding of the concepts of vulnerability, autonomy and privacy allows for more nuanced approaches to social work practice in respect of using powers of entry and intervention with adults at risk who have capacity to make decisions. Originality/value This paper provides a novel perspective on debates over how to overcome challenges to accessing adults at risk in adult safeguarding through an exploration of understandings of vulnerability, privacy and autonomy.

scholarly journals Fineman and vulnerability

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-88
Author(s):  
Ian Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Philosopher

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue that the work of the American feminist political and legal philosopher, Martha Fineman can be the basis for a shift away from the proceduralism and managerialism that has come to dominate social work practice. Design/methodology/approach This paper’s work is based on the application of Fineman’s work to social welfare settings. Findings Fineman’s work calls for a radical rethinking of our notions of autonomy and vulnerability. Originality/value This paper applies Fineman’s work to this field.

scholarly journals Does reflective supervision have a future in English local authority child and family social work?

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 164-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Underlying Assumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reflective Supervision

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the underlying assumption that social workers need reflective supervision specifically, as opposed to managerial or any other form of supervision or support, and to consider whether our focus on the provision of reflective supervision may be preventing us from thinking more broadly and creatively about what support local authority child and family social workers need and how best to provide it. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides an argument based on the author’s own research and a selective review of the literature. Findings Reflective supervision has no future in local authority child and family social work because: first, there is no clear understanding of what reflective supervision is; second, there is no clear evidence for its effectiveness; and third, sizeable proportion of local authority child and family social workers in England do not receive reflective supervision and many never have. Originality/value The paper challenges the received wisdom about the value of reflective supervision and advocates exploring alternative models for supporting best practice in child and family social work.

It takes three to dialogue: considering a triadic intergroup encounter

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galia Weinberg-Kurnik ◽  
Yochay Nadan ◽  
Adital Ben Ari
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Peace Building ◽  
Interpersonal Processes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intergroup Encounter

Purpose – This paper aims to present findings from a research project that examined the contribution of a third partner in an encounter among three groups: Palestinian/Arab–Israelis, Jewish–Israelis and Germans. In recent decades, planned intergroup encounters have played an important role in conflict management, reconciliation and peace-building. Nearly all models use a dyadic structure, based on an encounter between two rival groups mediated by a third party. Design/methodology/approach – The study was based on a year-long academic collaboration and two encounters between social work students from Israel and Germany (15 each). The central issues addressed were personal and collective identity; personal, familial and collective memory; and multicultural social work practice that were present in the encounter with the “other”. Participants were heterogeneous in terms of gender, ethnic background and religion, inviting exploration of personal and professional meanings. Using 15 in-depth interviews with Israeli participants, we identified and analyzed the personal and interpersonal processes occurring during these encounters. Findings – Jewish and Arab participants positioned themselves vis-à-vis the German group in two main configurations (singular identities and multiple multifaceted identities), which alternated according to the contexts to which the larger group was exposed, and in congruence with the developmental stage of group work. Originality/value – The findings suggest that a “third” partner can significantly contribute to an intergroup encounter by reflecting on the relationship created between rival parties to a dyad, thereby helping them deconstruct their binary “us-versus-them” relationship.

scholarly journals The potential uses and abuses of a power of entry for social workers in England: a re-analysis of responses to a government consultation

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 256-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Norrie ◽  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Stephen Martineau ◽  
Martin Stevens
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Decision Making Capacity

Purpose Whether social workers should have a power of entry in cases where individuals seem to be hindering safeguarding enquiries for community-dwelling adults at risk is a topical question in England. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a re-examination of relevant sections of the 2012 Government Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation. Design/methodology/approach Re-analysis of responses to question three of the 2012 Government’s Safeguarding Power of Entry Consultation was undertaken in late 2015-early 2016. The consultation submissions were located and searched for information on views of the prevalence of the situations where access to an adult at risk (with decision-making capacity) is being hindered by a third party and the nature of examples where a new power of entry might be considered appropriate by consultation respondents. Findings The majority of respondents to the consultation generally reported that situations when a new power of entry would be required were not encountered regularly; however a minority of respondents stated these situations occurred more frequently. Examples of situations where third parties appeared to be hindering access were given across the different categories of adults at risk and types of abuse and current practices were described. Respondents observed that the risks of excessive or inappropriate use of any new powers needed to be considered carefully. Originality/value This re-analysis sheds light on the prevalence and circumstances of the problems encountered about access to adults at risk. The legal framework of adult safeguarding continues to be of interest to policy makers, researchers and practitioners.

Generic or specialist profession? Identifying social work in community learning disability teams

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfred Boahen
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Learning Disability ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Community Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Professional Activities

Purpose – Social work is integral to community learning disability teams (CLDTs), however there is little research on how social workers discharge their statutory duties within them. The purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to describe what social workers do within a CLDT (anonymised as Maples). The question addressed is: what is the social work role in CLDTs and how is this accomplished? Design/methodology/approach – Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in a CLDT in London during 2011/2012. This involved interviews of professionals and observations of “everyday” social work practice. Data were analysed using constructivist grounded theory. Findings – Social work practice in Maples could be categorised along five domains of practice, namely: case management, safeguarding, assessments, mental health practice, and duty. The accompanying professional activities within these domains are described in Table I, with a subsequent focus on the less researched domains of case management, assessment, and duty. Originality/value – This research is one of the few to delineate the professional activities of social workers within CLDT. By showing what professionals do, it has important implications for policy – example personalisation – and role effectiveness.

Supporting practice: reflections on a career in children’s social work

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 122-126
Author(s):  
Clare Chamberlain ◽  
Michael Little
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Work Model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reflect on development in children’s social work over 35 years from the perspective of someone who has worked in the field as a practitioner and director. Design/methodology/approach Interview. Findings The paper provides insights into implementing the Reclaiming Social Work model and how systems can better support social work practice with children and families. Originality/value The paper offers a unique perspective on developments in the field and implications for the future of children’s social work.

Religion, spirituality and social work: an international perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth R. Crisp
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
International Perspectives ◽  
The Impact

Purpose While there has been the emergence of a substantial body of scholarship on the place of religion and spirituality in social work, the predominant voices in this discourse have primarily been authors from the English-speaking North Atlantic countries. The purpose of this paper is to redress this issue by exploring the impact of other national perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Using a post-colonial perspective, the author reflects on the issues which emerged in seeking to develop a truly international perspective on religion and spirituality in social work. Findings There are important historical and contextual differences between countries which influence how social work is practiced, as well as different understandings as to what social work is. These differences are reflected in social workers’ understandings as to how religion and spirituality can be utilised in social work practice. It is also noted that the growing enthusiasm of social workers to embrace religion and spirituality in their practice needs to be tempered by the realisation that religion and spirituality can be harmful in some circumstances. Originality/value This paper demonstrates how drawing on a wider range of international perspectives has the potential to enrich social work scholarship and practice.

The Dynamics of Secondary Victimization: When Social Workers Blame Mothers

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-523
Author(s):  
Andrea Fleckinger
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Secondary Victimization ◽  
Starting Point

The article describes the main results from a qualitative research project, which analyzes the relations between mothers exposed to gender-based violence and child protection social workers, looking at the risk of secondary victimization. The issue emerged from 10 years’ experience as a social worker at a women’s shelter where I was required several times to mediate the difficult relationship between child protection social worker and mother. The starting point was a preliminary field research with peers (staff members of women’s shelters) and women who had been blamed for the violence by their child protection social worker. These results formed the basis for the interviews held with child protection social workers. The analysis shows how victim–offender dynamics might also influence social work practices and illustrate the connections between dynamics of secondary victimization and the expectations regarding mothers and victims. Furthermore, some positive examples of support emerged which could be used as a basis for developing targeted methods for social work practice.

Congregational Social Work

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaynor Yancey ◽  
Diana R. Garland
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Academic Preparation ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practice Review

The social work profession has deep roots in religious practices and organizations. Congregations have served as viable contexts for social work practice from the very beginnings of the profession. In this entry, we examine congregational social work as a field of practice through discussion of definitions, historical development, characteristics of congregations, academic preparation of social workers for this field of practice, review of the literature and research, and ways of strengthening the future of social work in this field of practice.

Turning the ship around: reflections on changing a nation’s social work practice system in the interests of children and families

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Trowler
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Political Environment ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work System ◽  
The Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reflect on progress and lessons in improving the social work system in England in the interests of children and families. Design/methodology/approach Based on an interview with the author by Michael Little (one of the Guest Editors of this edition). Findings Social work is best placed to lead the child protection system given its ability to manage risks in a challenging social and political environment. However, there is a need to address common concerns about the system, for instance to give social workers more autonomy, and to improve the quality in the workforce, especially at the senior level. The best authorities are practice focused, led by practitioners who are part of a stable team, and do well at a systems level. Originality/value Offers the perspective of the Chief Social Worker for Children in England on the process of reforming the social work system for children and families.

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