Learning from personal experience: Reflexions on social work practice with mothers in child and family care

This paper seeks to show how, using a reflexive approach, it is possible to develop a better understanding of the experiences of mothers subject to child and family social work intervention. Drawing upon the author's own experience of motherhood she draws attention to the ideological assumptions behind the professionals' responses to the problems and challenges of parenting. This is explored through a critical analysis of dominant assumptions underlying some psychological literature and child care policies, focusing particularly on their failure to focus on the issue of social disadvantage as a factor in parenting. An illustrative example from social work practice is presented in the light of this analysis. The paper concludes with an examination of how the reflexive consideration of personal experience, dominant ideas and practice can help to provide a deeper understanding of the dilemmas of parenthood for families subject to child and family care intervention.