Daily practice narratives of child protection social workers : the power of the frontline.
Date
2008-12-08T19:30:44Z
Authors
Gomez, Yvonne F. R.
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Abstract
The notion of ‘absolute’ power underpins my own interest in power relations in Child
Welfare practice but I shift the focus to the perspective of frontline child protection social
workers. Missing in social work literature are the stories from workers in child protection
practice. How do workers conceptualize power? How is this grey space of practice –
which is not easily discussed – understood by practitioners themselves, the academy, and
the system in which they practice?
My completed master’s research draws on narrative methodology, adopted from Fraser’s
(2002) model. It is a collection of six narratives. By using this open-ended approach,
practice narratives were shared without limitation or parameters. From this rich data I
analysed workers’ experiences, drawing out examples of power relations. My conclusions
include; (a) the ways that frontline workers conceptualize power are strongly impacted by
dominant notions of power, (b) relational practice with clients is occurring – and does so
in isolation of the larger system of child welfare, and finally, (c) there is value in
examining the perspectives of frontline child protection social workers as they are the one
which have the greatest potential to initiate structural change from the bottom-up through
transformative practice, which is happening every day.
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Keywords
Children, Child welfare