The first version that was uploaded to Macsphere was the incorrect version. I was advised to re-upload the correct version. / This research project interviewed child protection workers to understand how they used strengths-based theory and the Signs of Safety model in practice to facilitate engagement and build rapport with families. In addition, child protection workers were asked for their definitions of engagement and rapport building, since these concepts have multiple definitions in child welfare. In semi-structured individual interviews, child protection workers provided their perspectives regarding what fostered or hindered their efforts to engage with families. A structural and critical lens was applied to the analysis of the data, to reveal what organizational and relational factors positively or negatively influenced engagement.
This study found that all workers identified strengths-based theory and the Signs of Safety model as producing positive outcomes. The workers‟ descriptions of strengths-based practice included positive aspects such as being forthright about their role and their mandate, and working from the family‟s strengths instead of focusing solely on risk. Workers‟ responses regarding the Signs of Safety model varied. Two workers were from an agency (CAS-A) that promoted and used Signs of Safety with families, and two workers were from an agency (CAS-B) that had just began to use the model in settings with colleagues. Workers‟ descriptions of the model were positive and highlighted the collaborative aspects of the model, its inclusion of the family in planning, and affording the workers with a balanced assessment that contained elements of safety and risk.
In contrast, this study found that despite the strengths-based focus of these approaches, they had limitations. Workers described factors within and external to the worker/client relationship that influenced whether or not workers would use either approach. All workers discussed instances when engagement with a family was not successful, and consistently
MSW Thesis – L.A. Mabo McMaster School of Social Work
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described client resistance as a barrier to the process. However, this study found that client resistance was connected to power dynamics present in the worker/client relationship, and the dual role workers had to assume to do their job and satisfy their agency mandate.
The workers interviewed for this study described reverting to their role of investigator, when the family was resistant. This study found that a worker‟s authority was implied, and related to a family‟s feelings of powerlessness and fear. All workers provided examples of both types of resistance. As a result, this study concluded that strengths-based approaches could not address the issue of power, and were effective only with the family‟s cooperation.
Workers described wanting to apply strengths-based approaches but felt overwhelmed by organizational factors such as time constraints due to caseloads, and excessive administrative burden. This study found that these factors were influenced by Provincial policy, which emphasizes productivity and cost efficiency over family engagement. Workers identified lack of agency support to apply strengths-based approaches as a barrier, with the exception being CAS-A, that promoted the Signs of Safety model and permitted its workers to be interviewed for this study.
The findings of this study have direct implications for practice and future research. To address the issues identified by this research, practice and policy may need to be modified to promote strengths-based practices to offer services that will meet the needs and safety of the child and family. Further research is recommended, with a larger sample from an agency that uses strengths-based practice and the Signs of Safety model, to determine whether positive outcomes can be linked with these approaches. It is also recommended that research include the perspectives of child protection workers and families. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/22853 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Mabo, Lesley A |
| Contributors | Freeman, Bonnie, Social Work |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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