Blame, Culture and Child Protection

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Introduction

   • Jadwiga Leigh

   Pages 1-12

3. The Process of Professionalisation

   • Jadwiga Leigh

   Pages 13-32

4. England

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 33-33

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   2. Life in the Dimes Ashe Department

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 35-49

   3. How Others Affect Child Protection Social Work

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 51-73

   4. Interactions and Affected Atmospheres

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 75-122

5. Flanders

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 123-123

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   2. Life in the VK Agencies

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 125-141

   3. The Effect Others Have on Flemish Practice

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 143-165

   4. Building Relationships: A Different Perspective

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 167-201

   5. Blame, Culture and Child Protection

      • Jadwiga Leigh

      Pages 203-217

6. Back Matter

   Pages 219-255

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In recent years child protection issues have dominated media and public discourse in the UK. This book offers a unique perspective by giving voice to those social workers working within a profession which has become increasingly embedded in a culture of blame. Exploring how statutory child protection agencies function, Leigh also reveals how ‘organisational culture’ can significantly affect the way in which social work is practised.

Providing a comparative analysis between the UK and Belgium, Leigh uses ethnography to illuminate the differences between the settings by examining how interactions and affected atmospheres impact on their identities. This book reveals how practitioners perceive themselves differently in such environments and explores the impact this has on their identity as well as the work they carry out with children and families. Leigh’s enquiry and compelling critique into social work, identity and organisations calls for mutual understanding and respect, rather than a culture of blame.

• Social work
• organisation
• affect
• social interactionism
• ethnography
• atmosphere
• identity
• Goffman
• Children
• Families
• Professionalization
• Safeguarding
• Erving Goffman

“This book offers a refreshingly candid account of both social work practice and research. Drawing upon the work of Irving Goffman, the author sets out to understand how UK child protection practice has been impacted and shaped cultures of blame, which have enveloped the profession in recent years. … the fact this book is written in such an accessible way makes it appropriate for those who wish to better understand child protection or to think about their own practice.” (Helen Woods, Journal of Social Work Practice, July, 2018)​ “Social workers in the English child protection system are blamed and in turn can sometimes blame families. It doesn't have to be this way. Using an evocative and sophisticated comparative perspective, Jadwiga Leigh as shown us how things can be different and better. Drawing attention to organisational and occupational culture and with a refreshing attention to the configuration of space and place this book is a timely and much needed boost to humane, compassionate and wise practice.” (Sue White, University of Birmingham, UK)

“From the description of the physical environment to the accounts of everyday discourse in practice management and more broadly in news media, our understanding of social work is enriched.” (Liz Beddoe, University of Auckland, New Zealand)

• Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  Jadwiga Leigh

Jadwiga Leigh is a Lecturer in the Sociological Studies Department at the University of Sheffield, UK. She qualified as a social worker in 2005 and has worked in both statutory and voluntary child protection settings. Teaching on the social work and sociology programmes, Leigh is interested in professional identity and affect/emotion in organisational culture.