How do families evade scrutiny by social workers when there are signs of child neglect or harm? Some of them manage it - so the social worker has to be savvy about the methods.
Ray Braithwaite, trainer in ways of managing aggression and stress at work, outlines the messages from serious case reviews: social workers can be tricked because of the desire by parents to keep them at a distance and the willingness of social workers to take the stories of parents or carers at face value. Agencies are poor at addressing chronic neglect, he says.
He moves on to intimidation. Although Braithwaite emphasises the fear of violent responses, an audience member cites the threat made by a client to make a complaint as an example.
Could this be the effect of the negative stories and witch-hunts we have seen in the press recently? I soon get my answer when another audience member highlights the goading that goes on, the implication of incompetence: "What do you know? You let Baby P die," is one reaction that has been encountered.
A show of hands shows 80-90% of the audience have been intimidated - sometimes from their own managers, which draws gallows laughter in recognition and sporadic applause.
He moves on to intimidation. Although Braithwaite emphasises the fear of violent responses, an audience member cites the threat made by a client to make a complaint as an example.
Could this be the effect of the negative stories and witch-hunts we have seen in the press recently? I soon get my answer when another audience member highlights the goading that goes on, the implication of incompetence: "What do you know? You let Baby P die," is one reaction that has been encountered.
A show of hands shows 80-90% of the audience have been intimidated - sometimes from their own managers, which draws gallows laughter in recognition and sporadic applause.
Sue Woolmore, of the NSPCC and a local safeguarding children board adviser, talks about disguised compliance where the family appears to co-operate: they do just enough to close a case.
Some examples are sudden increases in a child's school attendance, engaging with some services, such as the health visitor, but not others.
Woolmore offers some tell-tale signs. These include conflicting accounts from different family members; varying accounts of other professionals, such as health visitors; ditto the accounts of neighbours.
A detailed multi-agency chronology could tell the full story, Woolmore points out.
What should be expected from a social worker's agency? Social workers must have a reasonable caseload and there must be supervision. Crucially, there needs to be a chance to reflect on practice and review and revise judgements. Sharing information at meetings, co-working and access to training can also be added to the musts.
Members of the audience contribute with stories of relationship breakdown with families after being told to make unannounced visits and lack of support from line managers. It is becoming clear that the best support comes from immediate colleagues.
I wonder whether social work is becoming a profession steeped in elitism, a them and us between the frontline and what in other lines of work are called disparagingly "the suits".
Woolmore is back up and cites lack of resources, excessive caseloads, targets and timescales - particularly in child assessments - as colluding factors in disguised compliance as social workers are put under pressure.
The worst nightmare is the prospect of a death of a child. And that could result if a case is closed prematurely because of disguised compliance or intimidation.
Ray Braithwaite wraps up Community Care Live 09 with some role play showing how social workers can address intimidation while on call. It is a serious point but Braithwaite knows how to inject humour and where to do it while getting the message across.
It is a brilliant half hour that provides as informative a training session as many can hope for.
Some examples are sudden increases in a child's school attendance, engaging with some services, such as the health visitor, but not others.
Woolmore offers some tell-tale signs. These include conflicting accounts from different family members; varying accounts of other professionals, such as health visitors; ditto the accounts of neighbours.
A detailed multi-agency chronology could tell the full story, Woolmore points out.
What should be expected from a social worker's agency? Social workers must have a reasonable caseload and there must be supervision. Crucially, there needs to be a chance to reflect on practice and review and revise judgements. Sharing information at meetings, co-working and access to training can also be added to the musts.
Members of the audience contribute with stories of relationship breakdown with families after being told to make unannounced visits and lack of support from line managers. It is becoming clear that the best support comes from immediate colleagues.
I wonder whether social work is becoming a profession steeped in elitism, a them and us between the frontline and what in other lines of work are called disparagingly "the suits".
Woolmore is back up and cites lack of resources, excessive caseloads, targets and timescales - particularly in child assessments - as colluding factors in disguised compliance as social workers are put under pressure.
The worst nightmare is the prospect of a death of a child. And that could result if a case is closed prematurely because of disguised compliance or intimidation.
Ray Braithwaite wraps up Community Care Live 09 with some role play showing how social workers can address intimidation while on call. It is a serious point but Braithwaite knows how to inject humour and where to do it while getting the message across.
It is a brilliant half hour that provides as informative a training session as many can hope for.
Leave a comment