Promoting resilience in child and family social work: issues for social work practice, education and policy

Abstract

This paper considers the concept of resilience and how the natural qualities supportive of resilience in children and families can best be nurtured. It argues that there is an emerging crisis in bureaucratised child protection systems that alienates and undermines both social workers and clients, and that runs counter to the spirit of resilience‐led practice. Responding to this crisis requires a new emphasis on relationships, strengths and the clients' social context in child and family social work. It also requires practitioners and students to reflect carefully on the nature of helping. The paper explores some of the implications of these ideas for social work practice, education and policy.

Keywords:

• Resilience
• Relationships
• Networks
• Strengths
• Context
• Helping

Notes

Correspondence to: Robbie Gilligan, Department of Social Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robbie Gilligan

Correspondence to: Robbie Gilligan, Department of Social Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.