The Risk Factor: Making the Child Protection System Work for Children - Softcover

Cooper, Andrew; Hetherington, Rachael; Katz, Ilan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841801100 ISBN 13: 9781841801100

Publisher: Demos, 2003

Synopsis

A series of high-profile deaths of children known to social services has created pressure for reform of the child protection system. The public inquiries which follow these tragedies inevitably lead to calls for tightening up of procedures.

However these managerial response overlook the importance of cultural change if systems are to be truly transformed. Only by recognising the child protection system as just that – a system – will the limits of centralised structural change be recognised.

Child protection is one the most frequently criticised parts of the welfare system. Attacks by the media, politicians and families force social workers onto the defensive.

The result is a system which encourages social workers to play it safe, rather than intervene early to manage the risk to children.

This report uses open systems theory to show how public and professional values have an effect on any approach to the reform of child protection. Systems thinking indicates how endless structural change has eroded trust and morale within social work and other professions working with children at risk.

The authors set out two practical ways of reforming the child protection system, which would ‘lower the ante’ for intervention. The report recommends the creation of ‘confidential spaces’, in which children and families could receive time-limited counselling on a voluntary basis. Complementary ‘negotiation forums’ would offer another opportunity to resolve problems before court proceedings.

Edition details

• Publisher: Demos
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1841801100
• ISBN 13: 9781841801100
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 110