Family Group Conferences : an analysis of their application in social work safeguarding practice

This thesis presents a collection of four published works in key peer reviewed journals, alongside two book chapters. The papers explore the application of Family Group Conferences (FGCs) in different fields of social work safeguarding practice. The appreciative inquiry method has been employed alongside practice-based research and the practice wisdom of the authors. This has enabled an informed exploration of FGCs as a model of practice. The papers present the case for FGCs as an alternative decision- making approach to address current deficits in safeguarding practice. The book chapters explore the international context of FGCs and the underpinning theoretical framework of the model. Taken together the published works offer a significant contribution to the understanding of how FGCs can be applied in diverse fields of safeguarding practice: domestic abuse, harmful sexual behaviour, safeguarding adults and looked after children.Currently there is no agreed theoretical paradigm for FGCs. This thesis makes a significant contribution to understanding the theoretical basis for FGCs. It aligns the model with core social work and sociological theory and in this sense presents it as a ‘borrowed’ or ‘blended’ science. However, it argues the case for a theoretical framework that recognises the ‘uniqueness’ of FGCs. The thesis concludes with a strong recommendation for system change, with FGCs forming the basis for alternative social work decision making processes in different fields of safeguarding practice.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Parkinson, Kate

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1347147

Author Identifier

0000-0002-6121-1501

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1347147