Mapping social work practice: an interactional perspective on engaging fathers

There is now widespread recognition that fathers should be engaged by child welfare services. When they are actively engaged, they can be a valuable resource in making a positive difference to children’s lives and when they... [ view full abstract ]

There is now widespread recognition that fathers should be engaged by child welfare services. When they are actively engaged, they can be a valuable resource in making a positive difference to children’s lives and when they present a risk to the child, their engagement can inform risk planning to increase a child’s safety. As well as giving men a fair chance to be involved in services, engaging with them also offers a ‘call to responsibility’ that holds them to account for their absence or abusive behaviour. However, practitioners are often speaking only to the mother and also have to balance the need to build an empowering relationship with her. What ways do practitioners employ, therefore, to manage the requirements to support mothers and to engage fathers in a single conversation?

This paper reports the findings of an ESRC funded doctoral study that investigated how parents and practitioners talk about fathers joining a parenting course. It draws on the recordings of initial telephone calls made to parents referred to three parenting services and uses a close analysis of the interactions between six practitioners and 31 parents.

By taking a Conversation Analytic approach, this paper will identify how the participants negotiate the involvement of fathers as the interaction unfolds. In doing so, it evidences the opportunities created by practitioners and the pitfalls that beset them in their attempts to achieve this. Although there is considerable variation in the calls, it is possible to trace an order that speakers follow in the progress of the call and in the priorities that they attend to. This order can then be mapped out which makes it available for practitioners to use and future researchers to develop. Audio recordings of practice will be included in this presentation.