Ethical social work practice in direct work with carers and children

Author:
WILKINS David
Journal article citation:
Ethics and Social Welfare, 6(4), 2012, pp.404-410.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Abingdon

This article considers some of the ethical implications of social workers undertaking more direct work with carers and children in the field of child protection. As the UK government implements the recommendations of the Munro report, child protection social workers will be given more professional freedom, will be expected to undertake more direct work, and will be expected to make well-informed, professional judgements about whether children are at risk of significant harm. Whilst direct work offers scope for improved practice it is also fraught with ethical difficulties and challenges. This article explores in general terms 3 of the main potential areas of difficulty: the use of video-recording; informed consent; and interpreting the meaning of direct work. These issues are considered in the context of the ADAM Project, a project devised by Professor David Shemmings (University of Kent) which aims to translate research into disorganised attachment into useful child protection practice. The use of video recording is essential in ADAM Project methods in order to capture complexity and micro-analyse sessions.

Subject terms:
informed consent, social work methods, videos, child protection, ethics;
Content type:
practice example
Location(s):
England, Wales
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1749-6543
ISSN print:
1749-6535

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