In their day-to-day practice, social work and human services
practitioners frequently find themselves in confusing ethical
quandaries, trying to balance the numerous competing interests of
protecting children from harm and promoting family and community
capacity. This book explores the ethical issues surrounding child
protection interventions and offers a process-oriented approach to
ethical practice and decision making in child protection and family
welfare practice. Its aim is to prepare students and early-career
professionals for roles in the complex and challenging work of child
protection and family support.
Beginning with a critical analysis and appreciation of the diverse
organisational and cultural contexts of contemporary child protection
and ethical decision-making frameworks, the authors outline a practical
'real-world' model for reshaping frontline ethical practice. Moving away
from a focus on the child apart from the family, the authors recognise
that child safeguarding affects the lives, not just of children, but
also of parents, grandparents and communities. Working Ethically in
Child Protection eschews dominant rational-technical models for
relational ones that are value centred and focus on family well-being as
a whole.
Rather than a single focus on assessing risk and diagnosing deficit,
this book recognises that our child protection systems bear down
disproportionately on those from disadvantaged and marginalised
communities and argues that what is needed is real support and practical
assistance for poor and vulnerable parents and children. It uses
real-world case examples to illustrate the relevant ethical and practice
principles, and ways in which students and practitioners can practise
ethically when dealing with complex, multi-faceted issues.
