Understanding the social worker-family relationship through self-determination theory: A realist synthesis of Signs of Safety

Social workers' perceptions of assessing the parental capacity of parents with intellectual disabilities in child protection investigations

Parental capacity is one of the main aspects assessed by social workers as part of child protection investigations. The aim of this study is to explore the social workers' perceptions of assessing the parental capacity of parents with intellectual disabilities in child protection investigations. Four focus group interviews were conducted with twelve social workers in May-October 2021. Data were analysed using an inductive, conventional qualitative content analysis. One overarching theme, "Parental capacity in relation to the child's needs was assessed, not disability of parents" was created. Three main categories and ten sub-categories were identified exploring the social workers' perceptions of assessing parental capacity. The study shows that social workers perceive the assessment of parental capacity in parents with intellectual disabilities as demanding and complex, in which the assessment of what is good enough is perceived as the most difficult task.

Health and social care practitioners' experiences of exercising professional curiosity in child protection practice: An integrative review

This integrative review aims to evaluate the experiences of health and social care practitioners with regard to how they exercise professional curiosity in child protection practice. Professional curiosity gained significant currency following the Munro Review of Child Protection (2010) in England, as a means of seeking clarity on what is happening within a family. However, a recurrent finding from child safeguarding practice reviews is that practitioners continue to struggle to exercise curiosity. This is evident within both the United Kingdom and international literature, although descriptors for the concept may differ. This study attempted to identify facilitators and barriers to applying professional curiosity to provide a greater understanding of this theoretical concept. Title and abstract review of 1428 articles identified from databases and 11 from other sources resulted in 52 papers for full-text review. The quality of each article was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for qualitative studies, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for quantitative/mixed method studies and the Joanna Briggs framework for theoretical/opinion papers. Key findings were recorded in the Summary Table of Literature Reviewed. Data extracts were thematically analysed. Twenty-four papers predominantly from the UK, but also from Australia, Italy, Sweden and USA formed the data set. Overarching themes that emerged from the thematic analysis included: noticing dissonance, emitting curiosity, constructing meaning, facilitators, individual professional challenges, organisational and macro-level influences and conceptual development. This review demonstrated that professional curiosity is multifaceted and involves a whole system approach, from empowered, knowledgeable and competent frontline practitioners to creative, innovative and empathic organisations, that value staff contributions and place the child's best interests at the forefront of service development. Recommendations are made for practice and further research.

A designated trauma social worker improves coordination of patient care by coordinating ancillary consults

Trauma patients face unique challenges that require coordination by social workers knowledgeable in the intricacies of trauma patient psychosocial support which is often achieved by obtaining ancillary consultations. The impact of employing a designated trauma social worker (DTSW) in the utilization of these consults has not been described. A retrospective review was conducted of trauma patients admitted to an academic, urban Level 1 trauma center. The pre-intervention cohort (n = 272) corresponded to patients admitted before the presence of a DTSW (01/2013 to 06/2013), while the post-intervention cohort (n = 282) corresponded to patients admitted afterward (09/2015 to 01/2016). Data collection included demographics, injury profile, and types of interdisciplinary or therapy consultations. Post-intervention patients were found to be older and admitted with more injuries. Supportive care, physical therapy and occupational therapy consultations were more likely to be obtained in the post-intervention cohort. Hospital length of stay remained unchanged. This study suggests that the implementation of a DTSW significantly facilitates the utilization of interdisciplinary consultations. Length of stay remains unchanged, suggesting that a DTSW helps to coordinate care in a timely manner without increasing the hospital stay. DTSW implementation may be considered in trauma centers where one does not currently exist.