Separation, Divorce and Families

Abstract

Social work is at an important stage in its development. All professions must be responsive to changing social and economic conditions if they are to meet the needs of those they serve. This series focuses on sound practice and the specific contribution which social workers can make to the well-being of our society in the 1980s. The British Association of Social Workers has always been conscious of its role in setting guidelines for practice and in seeking to raise professional standards. The conception of the Practical Social Work series arose from a survey of BASW members to discover where they, the practitioners in social work, felt there was the most need for new literature. The response was overwhelming and enthusiastic, and the result is a carefully planned, coherent series of books. The emphasis is firmly on practice, set in a theoretical framework. The books will inform, stimulate and promote discussion, thus adding to the further development of skills and high professional standards. All the authors are practitioners and teachers of social work representing a wide variety of experience.

Systems or selves? Some ethical issues in family mediation

“…The techniques of family therapy referred to above are being used in the practice of mediation (see, for example, Howard and Shepherd, 1987;Parkinson, 1987). Also, the use of techniques derived from the Milan school of systemic family therapy is not uncommon in mediation practice in Britain.…”

“…In Britain several services (in and out of court) use the technology of family therapy (for example, video cameras and one-way mirrors) and its methods and techniques as part of their mediation practice. Several works have been published arguing for a "family systems approach" to mediation (for example, Gadlin and Ouellette, 1986;Howard and Shepherd, 1987;Parkinson, 1987;Robinson and Parkinson, 1985). The Family Mediators Association adopts the theoretical framework of a family systems approach in its practice (see Family Mediators Association, 1989).…”

A New Charter for Children in England and Wales

“…The fourth category of divorcing parents can be described as semi-detachedparents (Parkinson, 1987). They need mediation or other professional help in working out arrangements for their children.…”