The decision-making ecology of child welfare emergency placements

Abstract

Child welfare decisions are often made amid uncertainty, in which child welfare workers must consider a range of complex factors. Especially in emergency cases, the decision process is often challenging due to limited time and information. Based on individual interviews with child welfare workers from Norwegian child welfare services (n = 19) and emergency services (n = 7), this article examines what affects decisions being made in emergency cases. Interviews were thematically analysed. As a framework, the decision-making ecology is used as an inspiration. Results show that case factors influencing decisions were specifically the topic of concern; parents’ attitudes; family network, and the child’s wishes. One decision-maker factor was CW workers’ experience, and for organizational factors, the participants emphasized clear routines for what to do in emergency cases, working as a team, and considering family networks. For external factors, other agencies’ assessments of the case; guidelines, and available alternative measures were found to influence the decisions. These various factors seem to have a dynamic and, at times, competing influence in several cases.To facilitate better decision-making in emergency cases, child welfare leaders should foster an organizational culture that emphasizes reflection on and awareness of how different factors and their dynamics influence decisions. This could also serve as the foundation for policy changes related to external factors affecting these decisions.