Child welfare workers' views of fathers in risk assessment and planned interventions, a comparison between English and Norwegian workers

Abstract

A B S T R AC TIn a comparison of 53 child welfare workers' risk assessment based on a vignette case about a 9-year-old girl, less than one-third of the child welfare workers in England and Norway, intended to work with fathers. Only 28% and 14%, respectively, suggested involving the stepfather, in spite that, the vignette said he lived with the girl and her mother. The invisible fathers in child welfare have been well documented, but fathers and stepfathers in particular, were surprisingly invisible in the Norwegian context, known for its strong focus on gender equality and institutionalized support for the father role. The child welfare workers seemed to prefer working with the mother and other professional agencies, rather than involving the father(s) and other family members. Although this may reflect the reality of families within child welfare, they are in contrast with the prevailing family ideology and practices in the society at large, both in England and in Norway.

What about the fathers? The presence and absence of the father in social work practice in England, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden—A comparative study

“…Overall, analysis shows similarities in how social workers from Ireland, England, Norway, and Sweden consider the father in the vignette in their decision making. As in previous research, he is overlooked as a carer for the family's children (Bangura Arvidsson, ; Baum, ; Ewart‐Boyle, Manktelow, & McClogan, ; Ferguson & Hogan, ; Scourfield et al, ; Skramstad & Skivenes, ; Storhaug, ), and, here, this continues to be the case even when the mother's substance misuse accelerates. Rather than shift focus to the father, the mother continues to be the focus of service provision, and she is expected to change her problematic behaviour.…”

“…As in previous research, he is overlooked as a carer for the family's children (Bangura Arvidsson, 2003;Baum, 2017;Ewart-Boyle, Manktelow, & McClogan, 2015;Ferguson & Hogan, 2004;Scourfield et al, 2012;Skramstad & Skivenes, 2017;Storhaug, 2013), and, here, this continues to be the case even when the mother's substance misuse accelerates. As in previous research, he is overlooked as a carer for the family's children (Bangura Arvidsson, 2003;Baum, 2017;Ewart-Boyle, Manktelow, & McClogan, 2015;Ferguson & Hogan, 2004;Scourfield et al, 2012;Skramstad & Skivenes, 2017;Storhaug, 2013), and, here, this continues to be the case even when the mother's substance misuse accelerates.…”

Fathers and child welfare services in Norway: self-concept and fathering practice

“…There appears to be a broad agreement in several studies that the focus of CWS is primarily on mothers, and that fathers are largely excluded from the child welfare work; both in Norwegian (Skramstad & Skivenes 2015;Vagli 2009) and international studies (Brown et al 2009;Dominelli et al 2011;Featherstone 2009). A number of authors argue that the child welfare workers see women as responsible for the welfare of the family and children, and routinely disregard fathers when considering the risk and family functioning (Cavanagh, Dobash & Dobash 2007;Coohey & Zang 2006;Munro 1998).…”

Parents' involvement in care order decisions: a cross‐country study of front‐line practice

“…The involvement of fathers is a particular challenge for child welfare practice as, often, either they are absent from practice or practitioners do not involve them in the same way as mothers (e.g. Maxwell 2013;Skramstad and Skivenes 2015). Research suggests, however, that birth parents who are engaged in the decision-making process are more likely to participate in services (Littell 2001;Dawson and Berry 2002;Kemp et al 2009, McLendon et al, 2012.…”