Social work, law, money and trust: paying for lawyers in child protection work

Dickens, Jonathan (2007) Social work, law, money and trust: paying for lawyers in child protection work. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 28 (3-4). pp. 283-295. ISSN 0964-9069

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Abstract

This article describes the impact of funding arrangements and resource constraints on the relationships between social workers and lawyers in child protection work in England. It draws on empirical data in order to show how social services staff and lawyers talk about the financial aspects of their inter‐professional relationship, particularly the language they use to justify their own perspective and to deflect the criticisms of the others. The article shows the shortcomings of ‘purchaser–provider’ arrangements in situations where the two sides have complex and overlapping responsibilities and where resources are limited. Rather than clarifying relationships, tight contracts and service‐level agreements can exacerbate tensions and compound mistrust. There are lessons for inter‐professional working more generally and, in particular, for the UK government's current reform programme, Every Child Matters.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	social workers,lawyers,child protection,inter‐professional working,purchaser–provider split,every child matters
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection (former - to 2017) Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Placement (former - to 2017) Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families
Depositing User:	Vishal Gautam
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2006
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2023 00:06
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/16413
DOI:	10.1080/09649060601119490

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