Feeling safe enough to explore as a newly qualified social worker

Abstract

ABSTRACT This essay shares the barriers and opportunities encountered whilst trying to adopt a more exploratory and curious position with parents, as a Newly Qualified Social Worker in an Inner London Child Protection service. This was influenced by systemic theory and an aspiration to relationship-based practice, with an assumption that this would open up conversations with parents. My findings point to a discomfort and uncertainty within the position of the Newly Qualified Social Worker, but that use of techniques drawn from narrative therapy and Motivational Interviewing enabled more exploratory practice. The parent’s perception of the wider Child Protection system appeared to be as influential as their relationship with the individual social worker, and the implications for this on social worker practice are discussed.