Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T11:07:53.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Child protection investigations as first interviews

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Sharon McCallum*
Affiliation:
Social Work, Northern Territory University

Abstract

Child protection investigations are difficult tasks that many social workers undertake as part of their everyday work. Roles that seem contradictory, use of power and authority, and angry clients all serve to create tension for parents, workers and organisations alike. This paper seeks to address these issues and argues for the conceptualisation of the child protection investigation as the first interview of a potentially ongoing relationship.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Billingsley, A. (1965) The social worker in a child protective agency. New York: National Association of Social Workers.Google Scholar
Borowski, A. (1989) The (re)discovery of the involuntary client. Australian Social Work, 42 (2), 23.Google Scholar
Carroll, C. A. (1978a) The social worker's evaluation. In Schmitt, B. D. (ed.) The child protection team handbook: A multidisciplinary approach to managing child abuse and neglect, (pp. 83108) New York: Garland STPM.Google Scholar
Carroll, C. A. (1978b) The protective service social worker's role in treatment. In Schmitt, B. D. (ed.) The child protection team handbook: A multidisciplinary approach to managing child abuse and neglect, (pp. 221236) New York: Garland STPM.Google Scholar
Cingolani, J. (1984) Social conflict perspective on work with involuntary client. Social Work, 29 (4), 442446.Google Scholar
Corby, B. (1987) Working with child abuse. Milton Keynes, Philadelphia: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Cooper, D. M. & Ball, D. (1987) Social work and child abuse. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Costin, L. B., Bell, C. J. & Downs, S. W. (1991) Child welfare: Policies and practice. New York: Longman.Google Scholar
Dean, G. & Locke, M. (1983) The creation of therapeutic realities in initial child protection interventions. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 4 (2), 9198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiLeonardi, J. W. (1980) Decision making in protective services. Child Welfare, 59 (6), 356364.Google Scholar
Filip, J., Schene, P. & McDaniel, N. (1991) Helping in child protective services: A casework handbook. (Rev. ed.) Englewood: American Association of Protecting Children Google Scholar
Fisher, M., Marsh, P., Phillips, D. with Sainsbury, E. (1986) In and out of care: The experiences of children, parents and social workers. London: Batsford.Google Scholar
Furlong, M. (1990) On being able to say what we mean. British Journal of Social Work, 20 (6), 575590.Google Scholar
Fusco, L. (1983) Control, conflict and contracting. Public Welfare, 41 (1), 3539.Google Scholar
Germain, C. B. & Gitterman, A. (1980) The life model of social work practice. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Haas, W. (1959) Reaching out - A dynamic concept in casework. Social Work, 4 (3), 4145.Google Scholar
Hegar, R. L. (1982) The case for integration of the investigator and helper roles in child protection. Child Abuse and Neglect, 6 (1), 165170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hollis, F. & Wood, M. (1981) Casework: A psychosocial therapy (3 rd ed) New York: Random Press.Google Scholar
Jones, M. A., Neuman, R. & Shyne, A. W. (1976) A second chance for families: Evaluation of a program to reduce foster care. New York: Child Welfare League of America.Google Scholar
Levinger, G. (1960) Continuance in casework and other helping relationships: A review of current research. Social Work, 5 (3), 4045.Google Scholar
Kinney, J., Haapala, D. & Booth, C. (1991) Keeping families together: The homebuilders model. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Maluccio, A. N. (1979) Learning from clients - Interpersonal helping as viewed by clients and social workers. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Palmer, S. (1983) Authority: An essential part of practice. Social Work, 28 (2), 120125.Google Scholar
Parton, N. (1991) Governing the family: Child care, child protection and the state. New York: St Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Ripple, L. (1957) Factors associated with continuance in casework services. Social Work, 2 (1), 8794.Google Scholar
Schmitt, B. D., Grosz, C. A. & Carroll, C. A. (1976) The child protection team: A problem oriented approach. In Helfer, R. E. & Kempe, C. H. (eds.) Child abuse and neglect: The family and the community, (pp. 91114) Cambridge, Mass: Ballinger.Google Scholar
Seabury, B. A. (1979) Negotiating sound contracts with clients. Public Welfare, 37,(2), 339.Google Scholar
Seabury, B. A. (1985) The beginning phase: Engagement, initial assessment, and contracting. In Laird, J. & Hartman, A. (eds) A handbook or child welfare: Context, knowledge and practice (pp.335359. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Sheath, M. (1990) Confrontative work with sex offenders: Legitimised Nonce Bashing. Probation Journal, 37 (4), 159163.Google Scholar
Stone, M. (1990) Child protection work: A professional guide. Birmingham: Venture.Google Scholar