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ABSTRACT
This study explores the use of Feedback Informed Treatment to improve the involvement of children, young people and caregivers in statutory casework in Children’s Services in a Danish municipality. Feedback Informed Treatment involves monitoring a client’s wellbeing at the beginning of sessions and monitoring the working alliance at the end of sessions. Two years of fieldwork were undertaken in connection with researching and writing a manual for the approach. Data regarding how the approach affected the caseworkers’ involvement of children and caregivers in the field notes were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Five categories were generated. Key findings were that involvement required an individual commitment from caseworkers in each meeting and each case. Involvement was structured and viewed as a process that transpired over time, requiring a reliable and valid tool. Involvement had a dual ongoing focus on both the working alliance and change in wellbeing. The involvement was feasible and made sense to children and caregivers. The involvement was viewed as an organisational endeavour. The findings are discussed in relation to key models of participation. There is a need for more research on approaches to how professionals can involve children, young people and caregivers in statutory processes.
RESUMÉ
Dette studie undersøger, hvordan en dansk kommunes anvendelse af Feedback Informed Treatment kan forbedre inddragelsen af børn, unge og deres forældre i socialfagligt myndighedsarbejde. Feedback Informed Treatment indebærer, at sagsbehandleren måler klientens trivsel ved begyndelsen af en samtale og måler arbejdsalliancen ved slutningen af en samtale. To års feltstudier blev gennemført i kombination med forskning til udarbejdelse af en manual for tilgangen. Data der omhandlede, hvordan tilgangen påvirkede sagsbehandlernes inddragelse af børn, unge og deres forældre blev analyseret ved hjælp af en konstruktivistisk ‘grounded theory’ tilgang. På den baggrund blev fem kategorier genereret. Nøgletemaerne var, at en forudsætning for inddragelse er, at den enkelte sagsbehandler forpligter sig herpå i hvert eneste møde og i hver eneste sag. Inddragelse blev struktureret og opfattet som en proces, der udviklede sig over tid og krævede et pålideligt og gyldigt værktøj. Inddragelsen havde et dobbelt fokus på såvel arbejdsalliancen som udviklingen i klientens trivsel. Inddragelsen var gennemførbar og gav mening for såvel børn, unge og forældre. Fundene diskuteres i relation til de mest centrale figurer vedrørende deltagelse. Der er behov for mere forskning i tilgange til inddragelse af børn, unge og forældre i socialfagligt myndighedsarbejde.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Thomas Mackrill
Thomas Mackrill is a reader in Social Work at University College Copenhagen. Thomas is a clinical, research and consultant psychologist. He has worked with a wide range of client groups and social problems in the public and private sector in Denmark. Thomas’ research focuses on improving statutory social work for vulnerable children, young people and families. He is at present particularly interested in statutory work and counselling, and their intersection, and in developing technology for social work that benefits families and informs professional practice.
Signe Steensbæk
Signe Steensbæk is a social worker and a senior lecturer at The University College of Copenhagen. She teaches social work with vulnerable young people and participates in research projects about statutory social work with children, young people and their families. She is an author and co-author of several articles about these subjects and is currently writing a book about statutory communication with vulnerable young clients.