‘Cultivating our humanity’ in child and family social work in England

Journal article


Higgins, MM (2016). ‘Cultivating our humanity’ in child and family social work in England. Social Work Education. 35 (5), pp. 518 - 529. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2016.1181161
AuthorsHiggins, MM
Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.The goal of the social work reform process was to provide a generic framework and single professional body within a broad conception of generic social work. However, debates about the role and nature of social work continue to exist. This paper explores whether contemporary child and family social work is inclined at times to make use of a less humane social work practice with families and children. The policy context and the culture of child and family social work are considered. Implications for social work education are identified. The key message of this paper is twofold. There is a tendency in contemporary child and family social work to become synonymous with a particular version of child protection. The type of child protection adopted tends to be authoritarian with at times a limited consideration of the humanity of parents and adult carers in particular.

Year2016
JournalSocial Work Education
Journal citation35 (5), pp. 518 - 529
PublisherRoutledge (Taylor & Francis Group)
ISSN0261-5479
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2016.1181161
Publication dates
Print03 Jul 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited21 Sep 2016
Accepted17 Apr 2016
Accepted author manuscript
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File Access Level
Open
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