Client Engagement

Child Protection Practice and Client Engagement: A Critical Analysis Engaging client is a critical element in the landscape of social work practice particularly in child welfare. The mode of interaction in the engagement and its association with the aspect of change is significant where the result for child well-being is so important (Gladstone, Dumbrill, Leslie, Koster, Young, & Ismaila, 2012). Studies of Shrik & Karver (2003, as cited in Gladstone et al., 2012) found that there is a close association with the development of helping relationship and positive treatment results. I argue that the way families perceive the relationship with a social worker in the child protection system is influencing and shaping the views of the family

A clear conceptualization about the outcome of the process could demonstrate how client engagement is related to a sustainable change (as cited in Gladstone et al., 2012). Client engagement can be defined as “involvement” or “compliance” and/or “participation” or in more comprehensively it can be explained as the “attitude” of the client (Altman, 2008, Littell, 2001, Darlington et al., 2010, as cited in Dumbrill, 2006a). According to Littell & Tajima (2000) there are different aspects like characteristics of the case, worker’s education and attitude, and various structural factors are influencing client engagement in child protection practice (as cited in Dumbrill, 2006). According to Dumbrill (2006a) parents perceive child protection service in a positive manner in most of the cases. I belief that, a “mild” but significant association between the worker and client and the capacity of the client to provide appropriate protection and emotional support to the child (Lee & Ayon, 2004 as cited in Gladstone et al., 2012, p. 113) are the two important factors in child protection. Child protection worker needs to understand how family members are experiencing the services provided to them and aware about the need for negotiate the intervention plan with

In my view current child protection services are not sufficiently concentrating children in terms of their childhood development (Collings & Davies, 2008). A study conducted by Collings and Davies (2008) found that children in a vulnerable or disadvantaged position and children are the right-bearing individuals are the only two factors focusing by child protection workers in the process. There is little importance to children’s emotional attachment with family and various socio-economic factors affecting childhood development. A more complex and skilful practice approach is required to consider the multiple discourses around a child and develop more meaningful engagement with children and family in child protection practice (Collings & Davies,