Maggie Mellon report

Author: Maggie Mellon, Independent Social Worker
Date of Publication: September 2017
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License
Acknowledgments: Reviewed by Christine Jones (University of Strathclyde), Katie Ellis (University of Sheffield), colleagues at Scottish Government, and Neil Macleod (Scottish Social Services Council). Comments represent reviewers' views, not necessarily those of their organizations.

Parents’ experiences in child protection investigations are often characterized by unpleasantness and disrespect.
It is critical to incorporate learning from parents’ experiences into everyday practice to improve child protection services.
Family Group Conferencing (FGC), advocacy, and strengths-based initiatives provide opportunities for less adversarial and more constructive approaches to child protection.
Engagement with new forms of parent self-organization, including online platforms and peer advocacy, offers potential for positive change at all levels.

Parents seek better relationships with social workers, asserting the need for respect and professionalism from those involved with their families (Buckley, Carr and Whelen, 2011).
The participation of service users is recognized in existing guidance for improving practice and services, though it is less acknowledged in interactions related to child protection.
This insight explores ways to learn from parents of children referred for child protection, aiming to avoid harm and support families effectively.

The scope of social work has become increasingly focused on child protection, leading to more families experiencing involuntary engagement (i.e., families not actively seeking services).
Risk assessment, monitoring, and surveillance have marginalized support for families facing adversity.
There is an expectation for families to accept and cooperate with protection investigations (Devine and Parker, 2015; Bilson and Martin, 2016).
Statistics:
- Child protection referrals in the UK have risen significantly; in Scotland, referrals increased from 6,000 in 2000/01 to 13,000 in 2009/10.
- If trends continued, over 18,000 children would be referred in 2016, representing one in every 50 (2%) children under age 16.

Research indicates that parents’ experiences during social work interventions are often negative (Smithson, 2015).
Parents report:
- Insufficient information during investigations and inadequate time to reflect on reports.
- A perception that the process focuses on family weaknesses rather than strengths (Ghaffar, Manby, and Race, 2012).
- Disparate views on what needs to change within their family, and a lack of regard for child protection as a collaborative process.

Critics like Professor Brid Featherstone argue that a ‘muscular authoritarianism’ prevails in child protection, undermining relational engagement in favor of direct instruction (Featherstone, White, and Morris, 2014).
There's a clear call for more humane practices that respect and recognize the role of children and parents in the process (Munro, 2011).
Recommendations from recent Scottish Government reports (Scottish Government, 2017a; 2017b) emphasize family participation but lack actionable changes in actual social work practice, only proposing participation during hearings and case conferences.

Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are presented as effective engagement mechanisms for families in decision-making processes.
Originating from New Zealand, FGCs have been adopted internationally, prompting legal mandates to incorporate families in decision-making (Doolan, 1999).
The Family Rights Group advocates for FGCs as essential for family inclusivity in planning (FRG, 2012).
Standards for FGCs in Scotland were published by Children 1st and updated in accordance with new legislation (Scottish Executive, 2007; Scottish Family Group Conference Steering Group, 2015).

Structured Parent Discussions: Organize structured individual and group meetings for parents to gather feedback on service experiences and improve practitioner practices.
Advocacy Support: Ensure parents have access to advocacy to express their views effectively and ensure those views are respected (Linley and Richards, 2002).
Engagement with Parent Initiatives: Support and involve parent-led groups and initiatives to facilitate constructive feedback and service improvement.
Utilizing Online Platforms: Engage with online parent-led organizations for advocacy, support, and information sharing about child protection processes.

Families in Care: Advocacy and representation in Newcastle (website: www.familiesincare.com).
Families Need Fathers: Support for fathers navigating contact issues (website: www.fnfscotland.org.uk).
Legal Action for Women: Collective self-help for women involved in child protection processes (website: www.legalactionforwomen.net).
Mothers Apart from their Children: Support for mothers separated from their children due to various reasons (website: www.matchmothers.org).
Parents Advocacy and Rights (PAR): Edinburgh-based group supporting parents in child protection contexts (website: https://parparentsadvocacyrights.com).
Safeguarding Survivor: A blog offering first-hand accounts of navigating child protection systems (website: http://survivingsafeguarding.co.uk).

Feedback Mechanisms: Professionals are encouraged to seek parent feedback actively to understand the impacts of social work practices on their lives.
Team Engagement: Practice teams should routinely solicit input from parents to inform service delivery improvements and policy developments.
Leadership and Governance: Local authority leaders should promote citizen feedback mechanisms and consider establishing charters outlining service standards to ensure transparency and accountability in service provisions.

A comprehensive list of cited works and additional reading is provided, ensuring credibility and a pathway for further study in child protection and parent engagement strategies.

The insights call for a transformative approach in child protection practices, emphasizing collaboration with parents, thoughtful reflection on existing methodologies, and the critical importance of informed advocacy for families involved in child protection services.