Child welfare workers' experiences of obstacles in care order case preparation

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U N I V E R S I T Y O F B E R G E N

Child welfare workers’ experiences of obstacles in care order case preparation

Researchers:Professor Marit Skivenes

Research assistant Ida B. Juhasz

Congress presenter: Research assistant Ida B. Juhasz

Legitimacy and Fallibility in Child Welfare Services

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The research project

“Legitimacy and Fallibility in

Child Welfare Services –

A cross country study of

decision-making”

• England, Finland, Norway and CA (USA)• Different child welfare systems comparison

– Policy level – Social workers– Courts

• Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (2012-2016), with prof. Marit Skivenes as PI


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Point of departure – system differences


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The survey, sample & coding


• Online survey distributed to child welfare workers in

England, Finland, Norway & California (10 counties)• Recruiting through labor associations, organization

members, colleges ++• Survey themes: involvement of parents, children,

accountability, quality of processes, etc.

• This study: one open ended, vignette-based

question• 1 respondent, average of 2 statements• Common themes, patterns + testing• Report on statements that are ≥ 15%, per

country/total.

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The Alex case (vignette from survey)• You are working with a boy – Alex - who is 5 years old

and whose family has received in-home services over a period of time. The case includes parental substance abuse, previous domestic violence, and general neglect. The circumstances of the case have deteriorated recently to such an extent that you are concerned that the boy’s risk of harm is high. You are starting preparations for care order proceedings with a view to removing Alex from his parents, and you have an interview with the parents to inform them about this. The parents are opposing a removal of Alex.


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Survey question

“A final question about the Alex case: At your current workplace, would there be significant obstacles to prepare this case to your satisfaction? If yes, please describe the two most significant obstacles:”


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MAIN FINDINGS: 3 significant obstacles in care order case preparation


ENGN= 49S= 85

FINN= 164S= 252

NORN= 210S= 385

USAN= 40S= 72

TOTALN= 463S= 794

1. Time and capacity 68 % 69 %

78 % 21 % 69 %

2. Structural conditions at the workplace

15 % 15 % 15 % 22 % 15,7 %

3. Threshold and evidence

5 % 0 % 0 % 19, 4 % 2,2 %

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Finding 1: Dimensions of timeTime to work directly with child and parents

“Enough time, as I would like to work with the family and thoroughly investigate to my satisfaction” (USA).

“Time. To be able to talk to and meet with the child several times, without too much time passing between each time” (NOR).

Time to complete written case material for court

“Having to prepare detailed chronologies and assessments and write the statement in such a short time with no workload relief. I.e. having to continue with other casework” (ENG).

Time to make thorough assessments

“We seldom have enough time to conduct investigations and complete procedures in a good way. Something always has to give, due to too many cases per employee” (NOR).


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Finding 1 cont.: capacity/caseload, emergency cases• Capacity/caseload:

- “Alex would not be the only case I was working on and so issues may happen on the other cases which would take me away from Alex's case” (ENG).

- “The Alex case would probably be prioritized, but what about the other cases on the list which need just as much attention?” (NOR)

- “High caseloads which will delay completion of relevant documentation required for the application” (USA).• Prioritizing emergency cases:

- “Meetings with management in order to go through care order decision can often be postponed due to emergency cases ” (NOR).


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Finding 2: Structural conditions at the workplace

• Leadership/supervision

- “Busy management who have little time for discussion of case specifics, thus alone with important decisions on how to proceed with case” (NOR)

- “Possible disagreement between supervisor and manager. Trying to find a manager to respond promptly. Manager's priority of what is politically correct over child safety concerns” (USA).• Routines- “Formats for more succinct statement and care plan not

yet formulated, so this can tie up a lot of time” (ENG).• Physcial environment• “At my workplace there is no private rooms available to

do the interviews”. (USA)


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Finding 3: Threshold and evidence

• “Being unsure of the facts presented and whether or not abuse occurred” (USA).

• “It is often an obstacle to ensure that you have collected accurate and truthful information about current and past circumstances to ensure that you are making the best decision for the child” (USA).

• “Ensuring that all the facts in the statement are accurate” (ENG).

• “Proving thresholds, particularly with neglect” (ENG).


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IMPLICATIONS TO DISCUSS• DO THESE FINDINGS IMPLY A QUALITY PROBLEM IN

CARE ORDER DECISIONS?– Yes, by lack of involvement of service users, of proper

assessment, and of quality of report, which becomes court case material

– Also: 53 % say they cannot prepare the case to their satisfaction

• CAN MORE BE DONE BY POLICY MAKERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT?– Yes, organizational factors, processes, providing

resources• DO THESE FINDINGS INDICATE THE

DISTINCTIVENESS OF THE U.S. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM?


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Time is perceived most pressing in Norway, which spends the most time on the care order process

Country A. Time spent, from informing the parents of the possibility of a removal until decision is made

Finland 10 (4-6 weeks)

Norway 11 (7-9 weeks)

England 5 (5 days)

US 3 (72 hours)


Source: Berrick et al, in preparations

MEDIAN. Highest n=653

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“What is your caseload today measured by number of children?”

Finland Norway England USA

Mean Children

15,9945-47

7,0919-21

7,4819-23

8,3922-26

Median 16 7 7 7

Std. Deviat

N

7,72

201

4,11

347

4,21

98

5,80

89


Source: Berrick et al, in preparations

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Sufficient Time for Decision Making“Would you have sufficient time to prepare a care order case to your satisfaction?” Finland Norway England California All

% (N) % (N) % (N) % (N) % (N)

Yes 24 (49) 37 (135) 52 (50) 43 (38) 36 (272)

No 68 (142) 46 (168) 45 (44) 49 (43) 53 (397)

I don’t know 8 (17) 17 (60) 3 (3) 8 (7) 12 (87)

Total 100 (208) 100 (363) 100 (97) 100 (88) 100 (756)

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Limitations

1. Not a representative sample

2. Lack in information about the specific agencies

3. Perceptions of obstacles can be relative, f. ex. time

What can be learned from this?

4. Social workers experience obstacles that compromise the quality of decisions

5. There are system differences that affect types of obstacles (time/resources vs. determining risk level)

6. Concrete workplace obstacles exist that can be improved


Child welfare workers' experiences of obstacles in care order case preparation

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