Are We Listening to Children? An Examination of the Child's Voice in Social Work Reports to the Court following Parental Separation Disputes

Abstract

This paper examines the findings from a recent study investigating how children's interests and their rights are safeguarded through the representation of social workers in reports prepared for Court following parental separation disputes. A small-scale research study describes the views of family and childcare social workers on how children's wishes and feelings are reflected in Court-directed assessments in a large Health and Social Services Trust in Northern Ireland. The research employs a multidata collection methodology involving the use of a focus group, postal questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The data were thematically analysed in relation to representing the voice of the child, and examined both the social work task and the role of training as a form of support for social workers in this demanding area of work. The findings demonstrate that social workers do seek and represent the views of the child within Article 4 reports, but identify factors that impinge on the accuracy of representing children's views and promoting their rights. These factors relate to Trust and Court priorities, lack of therapeutic intervention for children, variation in social work practice, lack of training for social work staff in this area and, consequently, the need to increase confidence and support for social work staff undertaking this work. As a result of these findings, suggestions are proposed for informing practice and improving service delivery in this key area of family and childcare social work practice.Kerrylee Weatherall is a

Ascertaining the wishes and feelings of young children: social workers' perspectives on skills and training

“…The deficits in training to engage children are not confined to England. In a study of social workers in Northern Ireland, Weatherall & Duffy () engaged 37 family and childcare practitioners in questionnaires, semi‐structured interviews and a focus group. They found that the majority were dissatisfied with both their initial qualifying and any post‐qualifying training in relation to preparing them for child and family court work.…”

Children’s Participation in Child Welfare Decision Making: Recognising Dichotomies, Conceptualising Critically Informed Solutions.

“…This has resulted in high levels of organisational, professional and personal anxiety, unrealistic expectations, and political concerns about the quality of child protection practice (Howarth, 2010). With the focus on risk management and protection (Author's own) [2], the opportunity for participation diminishes with adults anxious not to make mistakes, taking unilateral and sometimes unrepresentative decisions (Weatherall & Duffy, 2008). There is also a general lack of awareness about the rights of children, preventing organisations and 11 individuals working in a participatory manner (Kilkelly et al, 2005;Kilkelly and Donnelly, 2011).…”

Children’s residence in divorce disputes – examination of social work reports to the court

“…International research into reviews of the practise of social work reports to the court in cases of divorce is scant (exception: Cafcass 2012; Field, Jeffries, Rathus & Lynch 2016;James 1990;James et al 1992;Weatherall & Duffy 2008). The assessment of and reporting on a child's social circumstances in the context of divorce are implemented by many different organizations and rely on varying professional practices, which makes it difficult to utilize international research data.…”