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Beliefs in child care: social work consensus and lack of consensus on issues of parenting and decision‐making
Author(s) -
Daniel Brigid
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/j.1099-0860.1999.tb00123.x
Subject(s) - social work , work (physics) , psychology , child care , rank (graph theory) , child protection , social psychology , nursing , medicine , political science , law , mechanical engineering , mathematics , combinatorics , engineering
This paper describes the results of a study that explored social worker's beliefs and opinions about ‘good enough’ parenting and about decision‐making in child care and protection. Subjects were qualified social workers from throughout Scotland who were students on post‐qualifying courses. Q sorts were used to gather data about significant clusters of opinion. Subjects were asked to rank statements that covered issues of parenting environments, children's needs, damaging environments and decision‐making. The findings indicate confidence in the child care system and a consensus about damaging environments. Issues about which there is disagreement suggest where further practice guidance could be helpful. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.