Working in complex contexts; mother social workers and the mothers they meet

ABSTRACT

Drawing on findings from a psycho-social qualitative doctoral study, this paper considers the intimate and extraordinary emotional intensity, ambivalence and pain associated with the experience of mother social workers engaging with mothers and their infants in the context of child protection work. In this yearlong study undertaken with a group of female Irish child protection social workers, their role as mothers was an unanticipated emergent theme and was found to be inextricably linked to their work and their capacity for realistic decision-making. We consider the wider contexts of societal ambivalence about motherhood, mothering and social work itself, as a way of locating these experiences as fully psycho-social. The work discussion seminars offered as part of the research study afforded a rare opportunity for workers to talk about predicaments, failures and worries, in conditions of containment for anxiety, support for their learning, and a confidential reflective setting.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work practice
• child protection
• emotion
• mothers
• reflective practice

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to those social workers who took part in this study and for the constructive and helpful feedback of the two anonymous reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicola O’Sullivan

Dr Nicola O’Sullivan is Associate Lecturer at the Tavistock, London, where she teaches on the professional doctorate in social work and social care. Nicola lives in Ireland and is an independent consultant to organisations in health and social care and a clinical supervisor. Nicola’s research interests include the subject of anxiety and complexity in social work and social care contexts.

Andrew Cooper

Andrew Cooper is Professor of Social Work at the Tavistock Centre, London, where he leads the professional doctorates in social work and social care. He is a co-convener of the Reflective Practice Research Network and is currently researching aspects of how reflective practice works in the experience of participants.