Social work and child protection for a post-pandemic world: the re-making of practice during COVID-19 and its renewal beyond it

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic presented social workers and managers in child protection with complex practical and moral dilemmas about how to respond to children and families while social distancing. This paper draws on our research into practice during the pandemic to show some of the ways social workers changed their practice and to provide theories and concepts that can help to account for how such change occurs. Drawing on anthropological uses of the concepts of 'contingency' and 'improvisation' and Hartmut Rosa's sociological work on 'adaptive transformation' and 'resonance' we show how social workers creatively 're-made' key aspects of their practice, by recognising inequalities and providing material help, through digital casework, movement and walking encounters, and by going into homes and taking risks by getting close to children and parents. It is vital that such improvisation and remaking are learned from and sustained post-pandemic as this can renew practice and enable social workers to better enhance the lives of service users.

Multiagency safeguarding arrangements during and beyond the Covid‐19 pandemic: Identifying shared learning

“…A positive finding arising from other studies (e.g. Baginsky & Manthorpe, 2020 ; Ferguson et al, 2020 ), as well as ours, is the extent to which a shift to online communication and virtual meetings facilitated inter‐agency information sharing. While concerns around this practice are beyond the scope of this article, it is notable that interviewees and survey respondents reported better professional attendance and engagement at child protection meetings related to statutory processes such as child protection conferences.…”

“…Our survey revealed considerable strength of feeling regarding redeployment, with more than three‐quarters of respondents agreeing that safeguarding midwives, health visitors and designated safeguarding doctors and nurses should never be redeployed. Survey respondents endorsed interviewees' unease about the impact of the shift to remote working on professionals' ability to identify safeguarding concerns in the following ways: not being able to pick up non‐verbal cues so readily (97 per cent), uncertainty about whether others are in the room with a child (95 per cent), exclusion of families who lack access to the necessary technology (93 per cent), risk of misunderstandings (85 per cent) and challenges in building rapport and conveying warmth and support (80 per cent) (see also Baginsky & Manthorpe, 2020 ; Cook & Zschomler, 2020 ; Ferguson et al, 2021 ). Interviewees raised particular concerns about withdrawal of face‐to‐face contact by health visitors in the context of the vulnerability of newborn babies and new mothers whose social support networks were inaccessible.…”

Relationship-based practice and digital technology in child and family social work: Learning from practice during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…This suggests that the role of in-person visits in social work must be maintained in most circumstances. However, Ferguson et al (2021) found that the improvised and creative work undertaken by social workers during this time of drastic change still allowed for caring relationships to be built. This approach could therefore be utilised beyond the pandemic through hybrid communication (Pink et al, 2021).…”

“…The benefits of digital contact in professional practice include flexibility and convenience. Digital contact can facilitate more frequent contact, creating greater connections between professionals and families (Breyette & Hill, 2015; Ferguson et al, 2021; Pink et al, 2021; Simpson, 2017; Wilke et al, 2020). In relation to birth family contact, face-to-face meetings can feel too infrequent and formal to allow for a sense of family connection.…”

One year into COVID-19: What have we learned about child maltreatment reports and child protective service responses?

“…This highlights the importance of equalizing access to education, services, children's rights and addressing ‘digital divides.’ It also demonstrates how strategies of listening to children's needs, as adopted by Israel and South Africa, are important in comprehending the impact and possible solutions to the accessibility barriers created by the pandemic. However, providing families with the choice of virtual and face-to-face services can open up opportunities for engagement and new ways of working with families who are reluctant or unable to engage in face-to-face work, either because of geographic location or other reasons ( Ferguson et al, 2021 ). In particular, working virtually through social media or online platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams) offers children more opportunities to self-refer and discuss issues of concern with practitioners.…”