Irene Stevens

Applying Complexity Theory to Risk in Child Protection Practice

This article looks at the application of complexity theory to risk assessment in child protection practice, and how it may help to give a better understanding of risk in relation to protecting vulnerable children. Within the last 20 years increasing use has been made of the term complexity within the natural sciences. In recent times, some of the key concepts in complexity theory have started to filter through to the social sciences. The article offers an explanation of some of the key concepts in complexity theory and discusses the development of a model of assessing risk in child protection cases.

Balancing Rights and Risk The Impact of Health and Safety Regulations on the Lives of Children in Residential Care

Summary: This study explored the effect of health and safety policies relating to children in residential establishments and their impact on the opportunities of young people to enjoy activities like visits to the beach or hillwalking. Data were gathered by analysing one health and safety policy, interviews and questionnaires with managers and basic grade staff in five authorities across Scotland, and focus group discussions with 24 young people in care. Findings: The policy which was analysed for this study had been adapted from a wider health and safety policy used in schools. Its application to residential units restricted activities for children in care. Unit managers were concerned about the restrictive impact of the policies and procedures. Young people described a limited range of activities and questioned their relevance and scope. Basic grade staff were the only group to report that health and safety guidance was positive. However, reasons for this appeared to be related to staff prioritizing safety over the potential benefits of activities which may carry a small degree of risk. Applications: It is argued that health and safety guidance must be specific to the circumstances of small,‘homely’ residential care settings. Attitudes to risk must be informed by the developmental needs of children, and guidance should be reviewed to reflect this.

Identifying speech, language and communication needs among children and young people in residential care

BACKGROUNDnThere are claims that elevated levels of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) exist among looked-after children and young people, and that their needs remain largely undetected and unmet. Scarce empirical evidence exists to support these assertions.nnnAIMSnTo investigate whether elevated levels of communication impairment exist among children and young people in residential care; to begin to explore the nature of any communication impairment indicated, including social and pragmatic difficulties; to consider the extent to which communication impairment may be undetected and unmet; and to consider the suitability of the Childrens Communication Checklist 2 (CCC-2) as a screening tool in this context.nnnMETHODS & PROCEDURESnIn four local authority areas in Scotland residential care workers completed the CCC-2 on children and young people well known to them, and provided information about previous concerns and/or referrals regarding communication.nnnOUTCOMES & RESULTSnResults are presented for 30 children and young people ranging in age from 11;01 to 17;01 years (133-205 months, mean = 172.57, SD = 19.97 months). CCC-2 scores indicated impairment in 19 out of 30 cases. In eight of those 19 cases profiles were suggestive of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), while for the remaining eleven cases impairment was indicated in other aspects of speech, language or communication. The general trend was towards greater severity of impairment in both ASD and non-ASD profiles. Information regarding previous concerns and/or referrals was available for ten of the 19 cases whose profiles indicated impairment: in nine out of these ten cases there had been no concerns, and in the final case no referrals had been made despite concerns.nnnCONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONSnThis study indicates the presence of high levels of SLCN among individuals in residential care, much of it severe and pervasive in nature, and in large part unsuspected. The CCC-2 has the potential for use as a screening tool for this population. There is a compelling case for speech and language therapy services to address issues of awareness and access with regard to this population. This preliminary research supports the need for further investigation on a larger and wider scale.

The impact of the national care standards in Scotland : putting Article 20 into practice?

Article 20 of the UNCRC entitles young people in residential care to special protection. This presents a challenge to states parties about how such protection can be guaranteed. It is suggested that one way to do this is through the establishment and monitoring of standards. The National Care Standards are the baseline for measuring the quality of care in residential establishments in Scotland. This study was funded by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, the body charged with the responsibility of inspecting childrens homes in Scotland. It set out to elicit the views of young people about their experience of care and to develop a framework for their participation in the inspection process. This paper presents some of the findings from the study. In particular, it will outline the views of young people about their care in light of Article 20. 24 young people aged between 15 and 19 years, took part in the study. The findings indicated that young people have a mixed experience of their care setting. They reported experiencing good support, improving living environments and a range of developmental opportunities. Staff attitudes, as demonstrated by listening, expressing care, and spending time with them, were central to positive experiences. However, on a negative note, young people often reported not feeling safe and raised questions in relation to staff training. Young people also questioned the effectiveness of complaints procedures. Analysis of the findings and implications for practice are explored.

Introducing Vocational Qualifications in Care to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

While social work is now a recognised profession in 84 countries, it is an area which is still in its infancy in the developing world. In Vietnam, the process of developing the understanding and practice of social work is unfolding. One recent initiative has been the introduction of vocational qualifications in care to the Vietnamese system of social services, an initiative with which the authors of this paper were centrally involved. This paper describes the authors experience of introducing a vocational qualification into two of the countrys key sites for care provision, namely Social Protection Centres and Communes (village communities). A new range of social need has been growing in Vietnam, alongside rapid economic development. Care services such as Social Protection Centres and Communes have found themselves under increasing pressure to respond to these needs. Like many developing countries, social services are delivered by a largely unqualified workforce. The paper describes the approach taken to determine the content and most appropriate system for delivering a new qualification for this group of staff in Vietnam. The paper justifies the selection of a vocational qualification system and provides a reflective commentary on this initiative in the light of current developments in social work in the United Kingdom.

Non-linear perspectives of risk in social care: using complexity theory and social geography to move the focus from individual pathology to the complex human environment

Risk and risk assessment have come to dominate the discourse of social work. Increasingly, social work and social care practitioners operate under an umbrella of fearfulness and a reliance on procedures, structured risk assessment or actuarial risk tools that leave little room for professional judgement. This article argues that such notions are antithetical to good risk practice. The authors put forward an alternative paradigm based on complexity theory and social geography. This paradigm argues for a more dynamic approach to risk assessment and sets out to demonstrate the fallacy of existing risk assessment processes. The authors argue that children and adults at risk belong to complex adaptive systems that must be considered when looking to assess risk in such cases. Concepts from complexity theory such as emergence, fractals and self-organisation will be explored, along with concepts from social geography such as space, place and time. By seeing risk through the lenses of other disciplines, it is argued that a more realistic approach may be taken to risk assessment and combating the blame culture in social work.

Social work and policy transfer: Reflections on introducing vocational qualifications in Vietnam

This paper compares contemporary developments in social work in Vietnam with the United Kingdom (UK). Three areas of comparison form the focus of the paper: the role of the paraprofessional, the potential of vocational education and the different expectations of social work in the 21st century.

Special Protection: Article 20, Special Protection and Children's Rights Training in the Developing World?

Article 20 of the UNCRC entitles young people in residential care to special protection. This presents a challenge to States Parties concerned with how such protection can be achieved. It is suggested that one way to do this is through the establishment and delivery of meaningful training in childrens rights. This paper describes the authors experience of delivering a training programme on childrens rights for staff working in Social Protection Centres in Vietnam. It provides a critical reflection on the broad emphasis of current childrens rights training in the developing world and argues for more targeted research in this area.