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The lived experience of Ghanaian trained Social Workers in Child Protection in England
Get PDFThis is an exploratory study which critically examines the lived experience of Ghanaian trained social workers in child protection in England. The increased rate of child abuse in England has called for pragmatic strategies to achieve a better outcome for children and their families. One of the measures has been to increase the number of frontline child protection social workers to help plug the gaps in child protection services. Consequently, various local authority children’s service departments have recruited social workers from abroad to augment their workforce. Among these international social workers are Ghanaian-trained social workers.
Using the Free Association Narrative Interview method, my research focuses on a sample of 10 Ghana-trained social workers with a view to understanding what it is like to be a Ghanaian social worker in child protection in England. I also wanted to find out what informs their decision-making processes, with specific focus on the extent to which culture plays a part in their decisions relating to child protection.
The findings from this research clearly point out that the experiences of Ghanaian trained social workers in England are multifaceted and put considerable strain on their personal and professional lives. A significant finding arising from this research has been the pain and suffering the participants endured in their bid to work in this country. It emerged that the participants have traversed a long process of struggle with a good deal of injustice and discrimination in their journey. The phases of the journey could be traced to the lack of preparation, leaving their family/loved ones back home, poor knowledge of the child protection process in England, the performance culture in the host nation, racism and difficult work environments among others.
The findings are contextualised in relation to social work education and practice in Ghana, Ghanaian culture and its implications for social work practice in England, difficult transitions from Ghana, and lack of knowledge on the policies/legislations and guidance that underpin social work practice here.
Most importantly, the study is underpinned by a theoretical perspective that relates to the work of the British sociologist, Anthony Giddens
Exploring Educational Psychologists’ views and experiences of the Beads of Life narrative therapy based intervention
Get PDFBeads of Life is a narrative therapy based intervention that supports children and young people’s (CYP) emotional wellbeing by helping them to identify their strengths and view their problems as separate to themselves (Portnoy et al., 2016). Despite a core function of the Educational Psychologist (EP) role being to deliver effective interventions that promote positive emotional wellbeing and mental health, little is known about EPs’ experiences of facilitating narrative therapy based interventions such as Beads of Life (Scottish Executive, 2002). This research aims to inform EP practice in therapeutic work by providing a greater understanding and information around how Beads of Life is best delivered by EPs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven EPs around their views and experiences of Beads of Life. A critical realist methodology was employed and the data was analysed through reflexive thematic analysis (TA) (Braun & Clarke, 2019). The results revealed that participants viewed Beads of Life as a helpful, unique and enjoyable strengths-based intervention that provides a safe and containing experience for CYP. The collaborative therapeutic relationship between EPs and CYP was seen to help CYP to share their stories. It was perceived to support CYP to recognise and build their strengths and confidence. A range of facilitating factors and barriers to EPs’ engagement with Beads of Life were identified. The EP role and skillset were viewed as being strongly aligned with the Beads of Life facilitator role. It was concluded that this research provides valuable insight into the facilitating factors and barriers to EPs delivering Beads of Life and how it can be successfully implemented by EPs to support CYP’s emotional wellbeing
Shapes of identity – three stories with impact
No full textGender identity is a rich and complex area of human development. At this event Domenico Di Ceglie, Founder and Former Director of the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) explored three cases to describe Atypical Gender Development and their implications for decision-making, autonomy and physical interventions.
This talk was chaired by Polly Carmichael, Director of GIDS, and included reflections from Felix Moore, a transgender young person, and Rowan Moore, his father.
0:00:00 Introduction by Polly
0:04:37 Talk by Domenico
0:45:35 Reflections from Felix and Rowan Moore
1:10:27 Reflections and questions from participant
“At Least until the Second Wave Comes…”: A Twitter analysis of the NHS and COVID-19 between March and June 2020
Get PDFIn the UK, tweets around COVID-19 and health care have primarily focused on the NHS. Recent research has identified that the psychological well-being of NHS staff has been adversely impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate narratives relating to the NHS and COVID-19 during the first lockdown (26 March–4 July 2020). A total of 123,880 tweets were collated and downloaded bound to the time period of the first lockdown in order to analyse the real-time discourse around COVID-19 and the NHS. Content analysis was undertaken and tweets were coded to positive and negative sentiments. Five main themes were identified: (1) the dichotomies of ‘clap for carers’; (2) problems with PPE and testing; (3) peaks of anger; (4) issues around hero worship; and (5) hints of a normality. Further research exploring and documenting social media narratives around COVID-19 and the NHS, in this and subsequent lockdowns, should help in tailoring suitable support for staff in the future and acknowledging the profound impact that the pandemic has had
“Sometimes I think my frustration is the real issue”: A qualitative study of parents’ experiences of transformation after a parenting programme
Get PDFParenting programmes help to alleviate conduct problems in children, but ensuring that all parents feel supported to attend, complete and learn from these programmes has proven difficult. Parents can feel overwhelmed and struggle to change their parenting. This article aims to inform the future refinement of parenting programmes by examining parents’ narratives of how programmes motivated them to change and enabled them to put changes into practice
Ndibeer and Ned Ride Again: Excursions in and around the Fifth Province
Get PDFThis article tells a dialogical story and describes a process of mutual learning and embodiment over the course of a long therapeutic relationship. The article maps the development of relationship, between my inner voices, my supervisors and those of my client, where stories of self and other are articulated, elaborated and externalised using the metaphor of a "bundle of treasures". A self-reflexive process of personal and professional mapping, using the hierarchical model of the Coordinated Management of Meaning, is described. In a recursive and isomorphic process, supervisory and therapeutic conversations further elaborate these stories, and through joint action, enable the creation of a liminal, reflexive space, a Fifth Province position, a cauldron of creativity where practice-based theory can develop. This process will be illustrated as it arises in the story of relationship and the process of therapy, so this narrative invites the reader to become an active participant in a never-ending process where theory becomes a live metaphor in the quest for being human
