A Minority Report for Social Work? The Predictive Risk Model (PRM) and the Tuituia Assessment Framework in addressing the needs of New Zealand's Vulnerable Children

Abstract

This article examines the viability of the Risk Predictor Model (RPM) and its counterpart the actuarial risk assessment (ARA) tool in the form of the Tuituia Assessment Framework to address child vulnerability in New Zealand. In doing so, it suggests that these types of risk-assessment tools fail to address issues of contingency and complexity at the heart of the relationship-based nature of social work practice. Such developments have considerable implications for the capacity to enhance critical reflexive practice skills, whilst the introduction of these risk tools is occurring at a time when the reflexive space is being eroded as a result of the increased regulation of practice and supervision. It is further asserted that the primary aim of such instruments is not so much to detect risk, but rather to foster professional conformity with these managerialist risk-management systems so prevalent in contemporary Western societies.

Radical practice in a risk-averse environment: Learning from ATD Fourth World UK

“…Despite evidence linking material deprivation, social work interventions, and causative factors of abuse and neglect (Featherstone, 2016;Gupta, 2015;Pelton, 2015;Tobis, 2013), social work policy frequently downplays structural factors like poverty, inequality and social exclusion (ATD, 2005;Gupta, 2015). The Aotearoa New Zealand reforms are no exception (Oak, 2016;O'Brien, 2016). Since neoliberalisation in the 1980s, both income inequality and numbers of households in poverty have greatly increased, causing significant social disruption (Rashbrooke, 2013), and prompting research into the links between childhood poverty and lifelong vulnerabilities (Boston & Chapple 2014).…”

“…Being told to do x, y and z by somebody that was younger than me, had no kids and the only experience they had got was by reading out of a textbook. (Activist(a)) Given their bureaucratising bent, the Aotearoa New Zealand reforms may well promote imposition, regulation and coercion (Hyslop, 2009;Keddell, 2014;Oak, 2016). The proliferation of Predictive Risk Modelling tools and Assessment Frameworks (Keddell, 2014;Oak, 2016), follows overseas patterns of "system-driven" managerialism, which coopts standardised, computerised processes for itemising, predicting and managing risk in monitored families (Cottam, 2011, p.138;Oak, 2016).…”

“…(Activist(a)) Given their bureaucratising bent, the Aotearoa New Zealand reforms may well promote imposition, regulation and coercion (Hyslop, 2009;Keddell, 2014;Oak, 2016). The proliferation of Predictive Risk Modelling tools and Assessment Frameworks (Keddell, 2014;Oak, 2016), follows overseas patterns of "system-driven" managerialism, which coopts standardised, computerised processes for itemising, predicting and managing risk in monitored families (Cottam, 2011, p.138;Oak, 2016). Contemporaneously, support narrows to uniform interventions addressing pre-defined risk-indicators, rather than families' real issues (Keddell, 2014).…”

“…Contemporaneously, support narrows to uniform interventions addressing pre-defined risk-indicators, rather than families' real issues (Keddell, 2014). Such systems promote "a dispassionate and disengaged form of practice" (Hyslop, 2009, p. 64), eroding possibilities for creativity, collaboration, and relationship-building between social workers and families (Oak, 2016). Mantras of efficiency, targets and outcomes, and predetermined governmental priorities and timescales, further restrict remaining opportunities to action families' priorities (Cottam, 2011;O'Brien, 2016).…”

“…ATD fosters trusting relationships between core workers and activists that many commentators would identify as integral to effective social work (Cottam, 2011;Featherstone et al, 2014;Keddell, 2014;Oak, 2016):…”