Abstract
AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between professional work and standardization. There has been an increase in the use of standardized programmes in child welfare services (CWS) in Western society. Some researchers have criticized standardized programmes suggesting that they undermine professionals expertise and threaten their position, whereas others argue that such programmes strengthen professional practice. In this paper, we examine how standardized tools, in this case, a standardized parenting programme and a standardized Norwegian assessment tool, influence professional roles as experienced by child welfare workers (CWS professionals) in Norway. Semistructured individual and group interviews were conducted with 31 frontline workers in two CWS agencies. Our findings suggest that standardized tools increase the social workers experienced professional competence but challenge their professional knowledge base, reflective practice, and professional accountability. Professional and practical implications for CWS work are discussed in the light of these findings.
Highlights
There is a trend to standardizing child welfare services (CWS)
The aim of this study is to explore how social workers experience two standardized tools commonly used in Norway and how the tools influence the professional role of CWS workers
We focus on the Kvello Assessment Framework (KF) and the Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P)
Summary
There is a trend to standardizing child welfare services (CWS). A key aim is to improve the quality of practice by strengthening the professionals' knowledge base through scientific methods (Lyneborg & Damgaard, 2019; Noordegraaf, 2015) and to ensure accountability in professional services and decision-making (Timmermans & Berg, 2010; Webb, 2006). Standardized tools characteristically provide forms and guidelines for predecided actions rather than being based on individual judgement (White, Hall, & Peckover, 2008). As such, they are “procedural standards” that “prescribe the behaviour of professionals” This is a form of social regulation related to norms. The tools guide practice, and in this way, standardization forms the new normative standards of social work (Brunsson & Jacobsson, 2002; Møller, 2018). Concerns have been raised about professional autonomy, critical reflection, and objectivity (Timmermans & Berg, 2010)
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