Using a child development model to assess the outcomes of social work interventions with families

Social Work Home Visits to Children and Families in the UK: A Foucauldian Perspective

“…The forms were multi-purpose and designed to: define and prescribe the purpose of social work home visits; assist social workers to gather relevant information; make practice more transparent and accountable through working in partnership with parents and children and through the production of a paper trail that could hold professionals to account in their delivery of services to children. Lastly, it was argued that the standardised nature of the completed forms would form an evidence database, which could then be interrogated through research and reflection ( Ward, 1998 ). Subsequent to this were various iterations of assessment frameworks and guidance were introduced that spanned children in need, at risk as well as those in care ( Department of Health et al , 2000 ; DHSSPS, 2008 ; Scottish Government, 2012 ).…”

Widening our knowledge concerning young looked after children: the case for research using sociological models of childhood

“…In this case the framework and its associated materials are based upon a particular model of child development that emphasizes universal and invariant age‐related developmental stages (Ward 1998). These form the baseline from which an input can be identified and its impact on an outcome can be measured (Parker et al .…”

“…These form the baseline from which an input can be identified and its impact on an outcome can be measured (Parker et al . 1991; Jackson 1995; Ward 1995a, 1998). Also emphasized is the desirability, and necessity, of each child's progress along the developmental trajectory ‘if they are to achieve satisfactory outcomes, defined as ‘long‐term well‐being in adulthood’’ (Jackson 1995, p. 11).…”

“…Also emphasized is the desirability, and necessity, of each child's progress along the developmental trajectory ‘if they are to achieve satisfactory outcomes, defined as ‘long‐term well‐being in adulthood’’ (Jackson 1995, p. 11). The consequences of a lack of a particular input or a child's failure to progress become equated with the increased likelihood of developing into a ‘dysfunctional adult’ (Ward 1998).…”

“…The looked after children framework has provided the parameters for many research studies on looked after children as was part of its intention (Parker et al . 1991; Ward 1995a, 1996, 1998, 2004; Bailey et al . 2002).…”