Social work practice in relation to child protection has gone through changes in both England and Germany due to global and local processes. International social work policy and professional standards driven by the juxtaposition of neo-liberalism and social justice has become a cornerstone of national and local professional practice contexts. Practice relating to safeguarding children has developed globally through the process of political globalisation, "connecting large scale societies together in a whole variety of ways, from international political agreements electronic communication technologies and more fluid migration patterns.” (Giddens, 2009:110) Policy development and implementation by Supra-National organisations such as the United Nations are often created as universal ‘blanket policies’, with the aim of promoting equality and social justice for all. For example child protection policy in both countries has been influenced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989). However” local policy and practice will nevertheless be influenced by national contexts and ‘mediated by country specific institutional arrangements’ – a process describe(d) as ‘glocalization’.” (Lyons et al 2006:34) Further to this national policy development is often not constrained to its boarders and can influence policy development internationally. “Increasingly, national policies are ‘rarely purely domestic in impact’ but have international implications, either because they impact directly or because of ‘social policy emulation’.” (Healy, 2001 cited in Lyons et al,2006:28) Global communication and the availability of data and research has become instantaneous. International and professional leaders and academics are able to compare and contrast theoretical perspectives, policies and practices and adapt them to fit local contexts.
Table of Contents
1. Comparative Social Work: Children Protection in England and Germany
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines and compares child protection policies and practices in England and Germany, analyzing how global processes like political and economic globalization interact with national institutional contexts. It explores the tension between centralized, evidence-based systems in England and the decentralized, pedagogical approach found in the German welfare model, questioning how these divergent systems navigate the universal requirements of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
- Analysis of the impact of political and economic globalization on national social work policy.
- Comparison of centralized governance in England versus cooperative federalism in Germany.
- Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in England compared to the German tradition of social pedagogy.
- Examination of the challenges in implementing international treaties like the UNCRC within specific national political frameworks.
Excerpt from the Book
Comparative Social Work: Children Protection in England and Germany
Social work practice in relation to child protection has gone through changes in both England and Germany due to global and local processes. International social work policy and professional standards driven by the juxtaposition of neo-liberalism and social justice has become a cornerstone of national and local professional practice contexts. Practice relating to safeguarding children has developed globally through the process of political globalisation, “…connecting large scale societies together in a whole variety of ways, from …international political agreements… electronic communication technologies and more fluid migration patterns.” (Giddens, 2009:110) Policy development and implementation by Supra-National organisations such as the United Nations are often created as universal ‘blanket policies’, with the aim of promoting equality and social justice for all. For example child protection policy in both countries has been influenced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989).
However “…local policy and practice will nevertheless be influenced by national contexts and ‘mediated by country specific institutional arrangements’ – a process…describe(d) as ‘glocalization’.” (Lyons et al 2006:34) Further to this national policy development is often not constrained to its boarders and can influence policy development internationally. “Increasingly, national policies are ‘rarely purely domestic in impact’ but have international implications, either because they impact directly or because of ‘social policy emulation’.” (Healy, 2001 cited in Lyons et al,2006:28) Global communication and the availability of data and research has become instantaneous. International and professional leaders and academics are able to compare and contrast theoretical perspectives, policies and practices and adapt them to fit local contexts. Further to this economic globalisation has a profound effect on the development of domestic policy. This is often dominated by “…the neo-liberal drive for efficiency …forcing…social work into a ‘business performance mould’” (Harris cited in Ferguson et al 2005:91) with an emphasis on free markets, performance indicators and the economic rights of the individual.There is evidence of contemporary ‘social policy emulation’ between both countries, the most recent being the steady development of pedagogical approaches in social work practice and education in England and the new Federal Child Protection law (2012) in Germany.
Summary of Chapters
1. Comparative Social Work: Children Protection in England and Germany: This chapter provides an overview of the global and local pressures influencing child protection, highlighting how international policies are mediated by national institutional structures, specifically comparing the political and legislative environments of England and Germany.
Keywords
Child Protection, Social Work, England, Germany, Globalization, UNCRC, Social Pedagogy, Evidence-Based Practice, Managerialism, Federalism, Safeguarding, Policy Emulation, Welfare State, Social Justice, Institutional Arrangements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper fundamentally addresses the comparative analysis of child protection systems in England and Germany, focusing on how global social policies are adapted to national contexts.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the influence of globalization on domestic policy, the tension between centralized and federalized government structures, and the debate between evidence-based practice and pedagogical social work approaches.
What is the primary goal of the research?
The primary goal is to examine how different political systems respond to the challenge of implementing international child protection standards, specifically the UNCRC, while maintaining their unique national practices.
Which scientific method is employed?
The work utilizes a comparative, qualitative policy analysis, drawing upon existing academic research, legislation, and international reports to contrast systemic outcomes in two distinct national contexts.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body investigates the political structures, the impact of centralization versus federal devolution, the specific legislative reforms in both countries, and the ideological divide between managerialism in England and social pedagogy in Germany.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Child Protection, Globalization, Social Pedagogy, Evidence-Based Practice, and institutional comparison between the UK and Germany.
How does the German federal system hinder child protection reforms?
The German system's cooperative federalism and the division of administrative duties between the federal government and the Länder often result in slow, fragmented policy implementation and inter-departmental conflicts of interest.
Why is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) considered contentious in Germany?
EBP is often resisted in Germany due to a deep-rooted philosophical tradition of social pedagogy, which prioritizes personalized, relationship-based work over the standardized indicators and outcome measurements associated with neo-liberal managerialism.
How does the English political system facilitate quick policy changes?
The centralized, unitary political system in England allows the dominant party to exercise significant executive power, enabling the government to pass legislation and enforce new safeguarding procedures across all local authorities with minimal institutional resistance.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Gavin Hutchison (Autor:in), 2014, Comparative Child Protection Practice in England and Germany, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288682
