After Cleveland: a crisis of confidence

SUMMARY. The article argues that social work is experiencing a crisis of confidence about child abuse. This lack of confidence is examined from various points of view; the social work skills needed to work with abused children and their families; the theoretical framework underpinning assessment and intervention; public confidence in social work; the legal processes; and departmental policy and practice. It suggests ways of overcoming the problems associated with the crisis of confidence including increased and better quality training, a more open approach to the community and an acceptance of professional independence     

Client Careers and the Structure of a Probation and After-care Agency

Summary This paper describes the results of a research project in whichthe first year's work of a newly-established Probation CourtIntake and Assessment Team was monitored. The subsequent changesin the practices of the probation officers are analyzed in relationto client careers and organizational boundaries; some implicationsfor social work practice are discussed.     

Long Term Social Work in a Primary Health Care Setting

Summary This study was designed to explore which factors characteriselong term clients and to investigate the relationship betweenthe burden on medical and welfare resources in a general practicesetting. Two groups of clients were studied; 135 long term clientsreferred over a five year period, where contact was maintainfor a minimum of one year and 157 cases referred during a sixmonth period, in all of which the duration of social work interventionwas less than 12 months. Few differences were found betweenthe characteristics of the two groups, nor did any individualsocial worker emerge as being particularly predisposed to maintainlong term contact However, a significant change in the proportionof referrals which became long term was found over the fiveyear period under consideration, and policy regarding the handlingof cases was therefore felt to constitute a major influenceon the length of contact with any particular client Relationshipswith other members of the primary health care team were generallyfound to be good, especially in relation to the long term clients.Moreover, the OPs' workload with regard to these clients wasfound to be reduced following social work intervention. Theseclients' consultation rates dropped significantly after receivingsocial work help, and continued to drop when the case had beenclosed.