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British Journal of Social Work (2002) 32, 831-846
© 2002 British Association of Social Workers

Yes Minister: Reviewing the ‘Looking After Children’ Experience and Identifying the Messages for Social Work Research

Paul Michael Garrett

Paul Michael Garrett is based at the Centre for Social Work in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham.

Correspondence to Paul Michael Garrett, Centre for Social Work, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. E-mail: paul.garrett{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Summary

The heavily promoted Looking After Children: Good Parenting, Good Outcomes (LAC) project continues to exert a powerful influence on social work in the UK and elsewhere. Despite the repeated assertions that the documentation associated with LAC is embedded in ‘objective’ research, this not sustainable on account of the failure of the researchers to interrogate their own normative assumptions and judgements. Specific criticisms can also be levelled at the ‘community study’ connected to the evolution of the Action and Assessment Records (AARs) which are the key part of the scheme. The system should also be viewed in the context of wider pre-occupations about ‘outcomes’. In addition, the project needs to be politically situated and the researchers' relationship with the Department of Health should be more fully explored. In conclusion, it is suggested that the LAC experience contains important ‘messages’ for the future of social work research.


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