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Academic rigour vital to protection of children

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Protection

It’s something that has baffled me for some time and I’m not convinced that anyone has come with a definitive answer. What is question that baffles me so? It is ‘To quote or not to quote?’

I remember those long gone, safe days of university where every piece of work I had was festooned with quotes, all set out in Harvard Referencing Style as required by my alma mater. Of course, the reason my work was full of quotes was two-fold. First, for the sake of academic rigour and second, even more importantly, for the sake of demonstrating my understanding through intelligent use of academic quotation.

So, having had three years of this ingrained into me, imagine my bewilderment at then being asked not to include quotes in my practical work as a local authority social worker, i.e. section 7 reports, child protection case conference reports or indeed any of my written work. In my view, effective protection of children demanded that we show academic rigour.

So, what was the reasoning for having my written world turned upside down? Well, I remember what management said even after five or so years: ‘The problem is with quotes, if you include one the “other side” will include two just to disprove you. So best not put any!’

It was an interesting reason back then, and it still baffles me now. Are we not a graduate profession? Are we not proud of the academic rigour it now takes to make it to the illustrious ranks of social work? When we’re standing up in a court setting, do we not want to be viewed as experts in what we are saying?

I’m an optimist and I truly hope that what I experienced was very much in the minority. Maybe the social work environment within local authorities (for I am no longer of that ilk) has changed to an attitude of ‘bring all your arms to bear’, and create pieces of work that don’t just say we know our stuff, but demonstrate it too. After all, do we not have our work peer-reviewed before submission? Is there any reason we should not stand shoulder-to-shoulder with lawyers, doctors, psychologists and the like?

But my hope is that if the attitudes I experienced still persist, The College of Social Work can assist changing them and creating the image of social workers that we should surely be portraying. Has anyone else encountered attitudes which diminish their professionalism and expertise in this way?

collip99

Posted by Guest Blogger at 02/06/2012 12:44:53 PM |

yes because you are not as intelligent as lawyers, doctors, psychologists and the like
Posted by: kathryn rig ( Email ) at 06/02/2012 22:26

Hi

You will have time to find sorces and put in references as well as write your assessments in day to day Social Work life? Methinks not!
Posted by: Simon Banks ( Email ) at 07/02/2012 21:06

Hi kathryn rig

I'm assuming that's an 'ironic statement'
Posted by: collip99 ( Email ) at 08/02/2012 11:26

But we do, I believe, have a responsibility to provide an evidence base for our analysis and decision making so we DO need to 'find the time' to keep up to date with the academic aspect of our profession. This is a quality assurance issue which is often masked by resources issues. Resources issues are real, but we still should be aiming for good, and indeed imporving, practice.
Posted by: Diane B ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 11:28

Simon Banks is right. 'to quote or not to quote'? Are you kidding me? most practitioners - God bless 'em - do not have time to read the paf you've just written let alone consider it.
sorry but get real!
Posted by: PETER ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 17:00

I am surprised and find it unfortunate that Ms Rig found it necessary to make a negative comparison of the intelligence social workers vis-à-vis a range of other professions. If my interpretation of her comment is erroneous, then I apologise however, I would be particularly interested to hear about the basis upon which she makes her statement that social workers ‘are not as intelligent as lawyers, doctors, psychologists and the like’. Does she have any sources to substantiate, what, in academic terms, presently amounts to an assertion!
Posted by: Paula Doherty ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 17:03

Child protection demands we do some serious thinking about basics, both in practice and in academia. See http://micoxpplog.blogspot.com "Damned if they Do..."
Posted by: Mike Llywelyn Cox ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 17:11

I agree with collip99 that academic rigour is required and I have consistently used references and quotations in social work documentation as far back as the early 1980. This has been encouraged by various managers. If you are keeping up with research and evidence-based practice (as you should be as part of your CPD) it is not onerous include references as you will have them at hand. This is something the College can help with through accessible online data and journals.

We have fought for years for parity with other professions and now have a graduate and registered profession. Lets use it to our advantage.
VLB
Posted by: VLB ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 17:28

I am stunned by the comment 'you are not as intelligent' How and in what way were we measuring intelligence? By including quotes we are surely demonstrating our knowledge and understanding and appropriate application of up to date research and as professionals it is important we keep up to date with new research (something I haten to add doctors are notoriously bad at. Surely it is good evidenced based practice to show where your evidence is from.
Posted by: B Cowen ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 18:00

Please keep learning and quoting. Rigour in thinking and demonstrating the evidence base, from academic research combined with reflective learning from our own experience, is what differentiates professional ethical social work intervention in the lives of troubled people, from the procedurally driven processing of troublesome people.
Posted by: Shirley Williams ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 18:02

I think the whole essence of academic assignment is the understanding of the subject matter and of course to pass the subject. In reality,the knowledge acquired may not necessarily be relevant or applied in situ to your specific area of work. Academic writing is far from practical reality in some cases. The fact is that we do not have luxury of time to include an in-depth research e.t.c. in our day to day work. I had similar argument with my supervisor during my placement regarding using age appropriate language whilst trying to link theory to practice in explaining situation. According to my supervisor, how would a 10 year old service user understands the use of words like healthy attachment or Psychosocial well-being or cultural competencies when included in a report. On reflection, I come to realisation that a simple report which is understood is better than a professional complex theoretical reports that the intended reader can not understand. In reality, we need to be moderate in the way we present our reports especially to a diverse reader and in my opinion,this does not make us ineffective in our role or less intelligent. We don't have to write or speak like a lawyer to prove that we know our stuff, even if we want to, time is always a factor. However, let us think less about that polished professional reports rather on how to safeguard the next another child.
Posted by: Ola ( Email ) at 09/02/2012 18:39

What is required within academic study and what is required within day-to-day practice do not always coincide. This does not give Social Workers an excuse not to engage in training. The fact that one cannot remember off the top of one's head who's theories and what style of practice has informed what one does, does not mean that we work entirely in a vacuum, totally devoid of any reasons for doing what we do. Also, having debate about theories and practices is not unhealthy-quite the contrary. Also, I take exception to the comment about how intelligent we are. Entry to my Post-Graduate C.Q.S.W. was rigourous and standards to qualify were high. Let's have some faith please!
Posted by: M Nolan ( Email ) at 10/02/2012 09:39

I think you may have missed the point of "academic rigour". Using quotes never demonstrates understanding, just that you can copy out text. The purpose of referencing previously published opinion, policy or research is so you can demonstrate wider reading in any academic piece of work, this in turn shows you can analyse an issue, consider all sides of an argument / discussion and then present a well informed judgement or decision. These are the skills that should then be applied to real world practice not the ability to write out quotes.
Being seen as a "profession" isn't an issue that people should spend time considering or worrying about, if practice decisions are well informed and credible this will look after itself.
Posted by: Mike ( Email ) at 10/02/2012 11:59

I recall being in a meeting a year or two ago, with a manager who was proposing some dubious course of action. I suggested that research seemed to contradict what she was proposing. "Research"? she retorted "Your research says one thing and mine says another"! so are we to base the whole profession on comon sense and guesswork?
Posted by: John ( Email ) at 13/02/2012 15:50

I agree with Mike that quoting other people is different from including references that demonstrate your research and back up your argument - and in fact our lecturers told us not to put quotes in as it was just padding, you should be able to say in your own words what the point is.
Posted by: Kath ( Email ) at 13/02/2012 19:59

Reports written whether for court, case conference, decision making and sharing are best written succintly and simply without being an academic assignment and a presentation of intellectual prowess.

If the content within is written well, evidenced,explaining clearly and engaging the reader they are more effective and powerful than by how many references are included.

They are not used as a defensive tool, nor to exclude children, parents and vulnerable adults. As social workers we pride ourselves professionally on being good communicators. If a document is well written expressing professional reasoning and clear objective judgement thats the measure of success. Not how well do we alienate our service users, magistrates and argumentative lawyers.

In the witness box quote all the reading, statistics, research to back up your findings that you like, this gives the underpinning knowledge and strengthen weight to your argument where you may feel its needed.

This is a strategy best served when the solicitors/ barristers are trying to carve you up for tea, but it is an unnecessary strategy in report writing about a family for example.

The liklihood is, if you submit a court document in advance with research, quotes and the like, focus is lost on the child and the courtroom becomes a battle between 'experts' and proving who knows what theory is best.I have been in cases where the 'experts' then give evidence on theory and bring in a pile of books to quote from- relevance is lost when the sight of the child for example is lost. I recalled what followed the Cleveland Enquiry where social workers were really tested on their knowledge in court cases rather than what risk the child was being exposed to. Why create this climate again?

I have been giving evidence in court for over 20 years and I know my theory, research and practice very well which informs my judgement, that I can give very good verbal and written reasoning. However I would not put quotes, research in etc to prevent the distractions and distortions described.

At no point have I felt professionally inferior to other professions, as I respond with stong argument and evidence where I feel their judgement is not right for a particular child and have remained with my own professional opinion, expressed it well and this was enabling for the court to be informed and decide.At the end of the day, we are only there to share our information and the court decides, so if they chose to ignore our opinion and the risks we identify its at their peril. We have done our duty.

I think one of the strongest threats to any other profession or expert is the CV/ introduction about yourself at the beginning of the report. Make a positive and firm statement about your knowledge skills experience and qualifications there. Credibility is earned not just on the work of others, but taking full professional responsibility for your own work, interventions and informed judgement.

Be robust in your challenge of other professionals, not deferential, and really work in close partnership with your legal team. If you inform your legal what needs challenging and why- and give the research etc to them, they can pick the other professionals up and challenge them during evidence as they will be well prepared by youself.

Achieving the right outcomes for children is therefore about your professional communication skills, presence and preparation. The process of how you have conducted yourself, and the work undertaken will carry greater respect and recognition and provide evidence to your practice than any reliance on research quoted.

These are just my thoughts, but its a matter of individual choice for you. There is no right or wrong, but hope my sharing will explain why some of us chose not to do this in reports and give you some insight into our thinking.
Posted by: GM ( Email ) at 15/02/2012 17:18

I?d come to cclinh the deal with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Posted by: Amarilys ( Email ) at 18/02/2012 06:23

I have been cross-examined in court about research that I have used within my statements. I find that as long as I use terms such as 'in my opinion' and 'allegedly', for instance, then despite how much I am cross-examined and despite what other research is thrown at me, I am able to hold my ground. I also make sure I relate the research to the child's real life and remind the court who this child is and bring their personality into the room. I think Judges on the whole appreciate that.
Posted by: Amy ( Email ) at 03/04/2012 07:13

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