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BJSW Advance Access published online on June 26, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn098
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Child Welfare Interventions: Patterns of Social Work Practice

David Hayes and Trevor Spratt

Dr David Hayes is a Lecturer in Social Work at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's University, Belfast. Dr Trevor Spratt is Director of the Bachelor of Social Work (Relevant Graduate Route) and a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen's University, Belfast.

Correspondence to Dr David Hayes, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, 6 College Park, Belfast BT7 1LP, Northern Ireland. E-mail: d.hayes{at}qub.ac.uk


  Abstract

Some 10 years ago one of the authors embarked on a research study examining the potential for social workers to shift from a child protection to a child welfare practice orientation (Spratt, 2000; 2001; Spratt and Callan, 2004). The research reported here develops that work; examining how social workers respond to ‘child care problems’ (CCPs). The results indicate that Northern Irish Health and Social Services Trusts (equivalent to Local Authorities in England and Wales) have responded to social policy goals to balance the protection of a lesser number of children whilst meeting the welfare needs of the greater by reducing the number of referrals designated ‘child protection investigations’ (CPIs) and increasing the number of CCPs. Closer analysis reveals, however, that a filtering system has been developed by social workers to address perceived child protection risks within CCP cases. Paradoxically, this leads to early closure of the more concerning cases, with service provision largely confined to the least concerning. The authors argue that the ways in which social workers balance social policing and supportive functions in practice may indicate possible responses to an increase in referred families anticipated within Every Child Matters (Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 2003)

Keywords: Child protection, child welfare, children and families


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