Taking notice of children in child protection practice when assessing risk: An Australian example

Objectives Although substantial progress has been made to enable children and young people to exercise the right to participate in decision making processes that affect them barriers still remain in the context of child... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives
Although substantial progress has been made to enable children and young people to exercise the right to participate in decision making processes that affect them barriers still remain in the context of child protection that restrict children’s participation. This presentation reports on the findings of the first stage of a research project aimed at building a more child centred child protection system. It answers the question of how and to what extent children’s views are taken into account in decision making in child protection processes.
Methods
The study design was adapted from an international study by Skivenes and colleagues (2012). An online survey was completed anonymously by 216 child protection practitioners in multiple states and territories across Australia. Using a series of case studies practitioners were asked to identify the level of risk to the child in particular circumstances, what they would do to respond to the circumstances, whether and how the child’s views would be ascertained and how much weight the child’s views would be taken into account in the decision making. In-depth interviews with a sample of 15 social workers (face to face and telephone) were also carried out to provide a more nuanced view about children’s participation, the methods and tools that are used to support children’s participation and what current practice barriers exist for meaningfully engaging children.
Findings:
In implementing the Skivenes et al study design particular modifications were required to better reflect the context of child protection practice in Australia. The need for changes to the case studies reveals amongst other factors (e.g. language) the different construction of risk in Australian child protection systems. Taking these changes into account preliminary findings indicate that practitioners are committed to hearing from children and that they say they take the child’s needs and wishes into account when making decisions about what to do. The level of risk, age of the child and experience and confidence of the practitioner are key factors in whether children's views are taken into account. The qualitative component provides a picture of practitioners’ attitudes to children with regards to children’s competence.
Implications
This project aims to inform the further development of child centred practice that will assist children to participate in appropriate and meaningful ways. The study provides direction for the types of support practitioners may require to fully engage children in decision making processes. These Australian findings also provide a comparison of child welfare policies and practices in societies with differing child welfare systems (Norway, England and California; Skivenes et al 2012).