This dissertation examines the extent to which Scottish and Finnish child protection practitioners perceive austerity measures to affect their ability to engage effectively service users. The data was gathered from practitioners in Scotland (n=4) and in Finland (n=4) through semi-structured interviews. A cross-national comparative thematic analysis was used to identify barriers to effective engagement and to explore the relationship between these barriers and austerity. Both Scottish and Finnish practitioners viewed limited resources and service users’ negative preconceptions as being the most significant factors that undermine effective engagement. Other factors regarded as challenges related to proceduralism, time restrictions, the power imbalance between practitioners and service users, and practitioners’ ineffective use of their core skills.
Overall, participants viewed the relationship between barriers to engagement and spending cuts as intertwined with other socio-political developments and public perceptions. Scarce resources, high workloads, and increased financial scrutiny in particular were attributed to austerity, although more often by Scottish than Finnish practitioners. However, most asserted that their abilities to engage with families remain unaffected by austerity, which highlights their professional resilience. However, Scottish and Finnish practitioners shared a concern that their ability to engage effectively with families may be undermined in the future should austerity persist.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction and overview
1.1 Aims and objectives
Special considerations in a cross-national study
1.2 Scottish and Finnish child welfare – comparable contexts?
Chapter 2 Child protection in an age of austerity
2.1 Austerity in Scotland and Finland
2.2 Child protection: Scottish and Finnish perspectives
Shared emphasis of effective engagement
2.3 Summary and conclusion
Chapter 3 Methodology and research design
3.1 Explorative and comparative methodology
3.2 Research design
Data collection: an adaptive qualitative approach
Thematic cross-national data analysis
Working around bias: reflection and reflexivity
3.3 Summary and conclusion
Chapter 4 Challenges to effective engagement
4.1 Challenges from practitioners’ perspectives
Limited resources
Power imbalance
Proceduralism and bureaucracy
Time restrictions
Service user-related factors
Practitioner-related factors
4.2 Summary and conclusion
Chapter 5 A temporal perspective to engagement opportunities
5.1 Remembering the past: more opportunities and choice
5.2 Here and now: resilient practitioners
5.3 Going forward: concerns about the future
5.4 Summary and conclusion
Chapter 6 Summary and Conclusion
6.1 Evaluation of the findings
6.2 Implications for practice
6.3 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
This dissertation investigates how austerity measures are perceived by child protection practitioners in Scotland and Finland and examines the impact of these measures on their ability to maintain effective engagement with service users. The research seeks to identify significant barriers to engagement and to determine whether these challenges are viewed as consequences of public spending cuts, ultimately comparing practitioner perspectives across the two different welfare states.
- The impact of austerity measures on frontline child protection services.
- Comparative analysis of Scottish and Finnish child protection practices.
- Identification of barriers to effective engagement with children and families.
- The influence of socio-political contexts and public perceptions on professional practice.
- Professional resilience and potential future challenges in an era of continued austerity.
Extract from the Book
Power imbalance
Overall, Scottish participants spoke more explicitly about the inevitable power imbalance between them and service users (Harris and White 2013; Kuronen 2004), than the Finns did. The Finnish practitioners stated that effective engagement required finding a ‘shared language’ (yhteinen kieli) and having a dialogue with service users. In contrast, Scottish participants spoke about the importance of having ‘full conversations’ with service users, but also emphasised the significance of demonstrating a non-judgmental attitude. The differences in discourses may reflect their socio-political context. The participants from an equitable Nordic welfare state (Kananen 2016; Dorling 2014) appeared less concerned about the power imbalance and described engagement in somewhat more equal terms than the practitioners from a liberal welfare state did, where class-political dualism persists (Dorling 2014; Esping-Andersen 1990) and involvement of public powers represent an intrusion into family life (Clarke et al. 2007).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1 Introduction and overview: This chapter introduces the research topic, context, and objectives, highlighting the comparative focus on child protection in Scotland and Finland during an age of austerity.
Chapter 2 Child protection in an age of austerity: This chapter provides a literature review on austerity, child protection systems in both countries, and the significance of effective engagement as a core social work skill.
Chapter 3 Methodology and research design: This chapter outlines the explorative and qualitative research design, detailing the interview process, thematic analysis, and the use of reflexivity.
Chapter 4 Challenges to effective engagement: This chapter presents empirical findings regarding various barriers identified by practitioners, such as resource limitations, bureaucracy, and power imbalances, and links them to the broader political and economic climate.
Chapter 5 A temporal perspective to engagement opportunities: This chapter explores practitioners' views on the changing nature of their role over time, reflecting on past resources, current resilience, and future concerns.
Chapter 6 Summary and Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, evaluates the overall study, and discusses the implications for future social work practice and research.
Keywords
Austerity, child protection, effective engagement, social work, Scotland, Finland, cross-national comparison, public spending, resource limitations, practitioner perspectives, welfare state, professional resilience, early intervention, initial assessment, social policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
This dissertation examines how austerity-related spending cuts affect the ability of child protection practitioners in Scotland and Finland to engage effectively with the children and families they serve.
What are the primary themes addressed in the research?
Key themes include the impact of limited resources on caseloads, the role of public perception in social work, the challenges posed by proceduralism, and the professional resilience shown by practitioners when faced with economic pressures.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to generate insights into how austerity measures are perceived by frontline practitioners and how these measures influence their ability to provide high-quality, effective engagement at the initial stage of child protection assessments.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The research used an explorative, cross-national qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with four practitioners in Scotland and four in Finland, followed by a descriptive thematic analysis.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical context of austerity, a comparative analysis of the Scottish and Finnish child protection systems, empirical findings on barriers to engagement, and a temporal perspective on how practitioners view their evolving role over time.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as austerity, child protection, effective engagement, cross-national comparison, and professional resilience.
How do practitioners in the study define "effective engagement"?
Practitioners define it as the meaningful contact and cooperative working relationship established between a social worker and a service user, based on trust, respect, empathy, and effective interaction.
Does the study find that austerity has completely prevented effective social work?
No, most practitioners expressed confidence in their professional resilience. While they acknowledged that austerity creates significant challenges, they reported that their abilities to engage with families remain largely intact due to their capacity to adapt to difficult circumstances.
What specific concern do practitioners have regarding the future of their profession?
Practitioners are concerned that if austerity persists, continued cuts to resources will eventually undermine their ability to provide early interventions, potentially turning social work into a reactive, crisis-only service.
- Citation du texte
- Jenni Lohvansuu (Auteur), 2017, Effective engagement in an age of austerity. Scottish and Finnish perspectives, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/369939
