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Paper

Assessments in Child Welfare Service: Experiences from a model in-spired by empowerment and network thinking

abstract

Background. In Norway there has been a steady increase in reports of concern to Child Welfare Service (CWS) during the last decades. In 2005, CWS received reports of concern for 2 out of every 100 children aged 0 to 17 years. When CWS receives a report that a child is in a difficult situation, an assessment is carried out within three months. The aim of the assessment is to obtain valid information about the child's situation and decide if concern is warranted. The assessment method may influence the quality and amount of information obtained. The way the assessment is carried out may also have implication for further collaboration with the parents and family.

In collaboration with a local CWS service, we have implemented and evaluated an assessment model inspired by empowerment and network thinking. The project started out in 2005. The first months were used for planning and training of social workers. The model was then implemented and evaluation of the participants' experiences was collected for a period of one year.

The model consists of four stages: In the first stage CWS arrange a meeting with the person who reported concern (the messenger) and the parents. If there is reason for further assessment CWS, will in collaboration with parents put together a list of relevant people from the private and public network who can be interviewed regarding the situation of the child (second stage). In the third stage individual interviews with private and public persons are carried out with parents present. In the forth stage CWS evaluate the interviews and relevant background information and make a decision on further intervention or closing the case.

 

Purpose. Formulating the evaluation questions and design was done in collaboration with CWS. Four research questions were addressed: a) How do parents experience to be active participants in the assessment? b) Do participant experience that parents presence in meetings hinder them in giving information c) How does CWS consider the quality of the information that is given? d) How do participants assess the possibility for further collaboration?

 

Method. The evaluation was carried out by questionnaires and interviews. Participants were informed that participation was voluntary and that information would not be used by CWS. Informed consent was obtained from parents. The participants were asked to fill out the questionnaire after each meeting. The questionnaire was put in a sealed envelope, added a code and sent to the researchers. This way the participants were secured anonymity.

The material consist of 33 cases with questionnaires from messenger, parents and CWS after the clarification meeting (stage one) and from the person being interviewed, parents and CWS after the interviews (stage three). The questionnaire consisted of questions with set answers where the participants were requested to tick off the best alternative answer. In addition a group interview with CWS was carried out in the final phase. In this interview the child care workers was given opportunity to give elaborating comments on the questionnaire results. Both child care workers and leader participated in this interview.

 

Key findings and recommendations. The results from this study show that parent experience of the initial meeting (stage one) was related to messenger characteristics. While parent in general was positive to meet messengers from the public sector, several were more negative to meetings with messengers from the close family. The opportunity to be present and participate in the interviews (stage three) was rated as positive by nearly all parents (94%).

Both the messenger (90%) and persons from the network (91 %) reported that they had been able to give information as planned and that parents being presence did not hinder. The results are also in the main positive regarding the participant views on chances for further collaboration.

Child care workers reported that the clarification meeting (stage one) gave good information about the child's situation in 60% of the meetings, and 78 % in the interviews. In the group interview social workers said that the model gave more supplementary information about the child than traditional models. Even though the model is more time consuming and require more resources than traditional assessment models, the child care workers perceived positive effect of increased interaction and dialogue. Altogether child care workers in the group interview evaluated the process as positive both regarding quality of information and possibility for future collaboration.

As part of evidence based practise it is important that new methods in child welfare are documented and evaluated. The results from this study is important information for child care workers who consider such assessment models in their work. This study may also be regarded as a useful basis for further evaluation and research on this type of assessment models.

 

Key references

Platt, D. (2005). Social workers decision-making following initial assessments of children in need in the UK. International Journal of Child & Familiy Welfare, 4.

Sanders, M. & Mace, S. (2006). Agency Policy and the Participation of Children and Young People in the Child Protection Process. Child Abuse Review, 15, 89-109.

Schofield, G. & Thoburn, J. (1996). Child Protection: The Child in Decision-Making. London: Institute for Public Policy Research.

 

Contacts: Dag Skilbred, University of Bergen, Barnevernets utviklingssenter på Vestlandet, Christiesgt. 13, 5020 Bergen, E-mail: dag.skilbred@bus.uib.no, Phone +47 55583214.

 

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