Social Work Law
Social Work Law
This assignment involves a case study where Ralph, a fourteen year old boy, is currently in foster care because his mother; Kerry, felt she was unable to control him due to his behaviour. However, Kerry has now expressed that she is unhappy with this foster placement and has requested that her son be returned to live with her and his two younger brothers. The scenario becomes more complex owing to the fact that Ralph has disclosed that his mother had regularly hit him with a walking stick. In this essay I will seek to consider the main practice issues raised by the scenario of the case study. Using the materials provided within the course along with my own professional experience, I will outline relevant legislation whilst demonstrating the significance it has on the assessment and any subsequent intervention that may be required in the given situation
Section 1 of the Children Act 1989 clearly states;
‘When a court determines any question with respect to – (a) the upbringing or a child; or (b) the administration of a child’s property or the application of any income arising from it, the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration. [s.1(1)]
This reflects the social work professional’s prime concern. Bearing this in mind, as the social worker involved in this case study, I would initially want to identify whether any of the children involved were at imminent risk of significant harm.
The support and protection of children cannot be achieved by a single agency. ...Every service has to play its part. All staff must have placed upon them the clear expectation that there primary responsibility is to the child and his or her family.
(DH and Home Office, 2003, paras 17.92-17.93)
The Children Act 2004 obliges all agencies that come into contact working with children must share information and work together to safeguard the welfare of children. My primary task would be to arrange a safeguarding strategy meeting. This
This assignment involves a case study where Ralph, a fourteen year old boy, is currently in foster care because his mother; Kerry, felt she was unable to control him due to his behaviour. However, Kerry has now expressed that she is unhappy with this foster placement and has requested that her son be returned to live with her and his two younger brothers. The scenario becomes more complex owing to the fact that Ralph has disclosed that his mother had regularly hit him with a walking stick. In this essay I will seek to consider the main practice issues raised by the scenario of the case study. Using the materials provided within the course along with my own professional experience, I will outline relevant legislation whilst demonstrating the significance it has on the assessment and any subsequent intervention that may be required in the given situation
Section 1 of the Children Act 1989 clearly states;
‘When a court determines any question with respect to – (a) the upbringing or a child; or (b) the administration of a child’s property or the application of any income arising from it, the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration. [s.1(1)]
This reflects the social work professional’s prime concern. Bearing this in mind, as the social worker involved in this case study, I would initially want to identify whether any of the children involved were at imminent risk of significant harm.
The support and protection of children cannot be achieved by a single agency. ...Every service has to play its part. All staff must have placed upon them the clear expectation that there primary responsibility is to the child and his or her family.
(DH and Home Office, 2003, paras 17.92-17.93)
The Children Act 2004 obliges all agencies that come into contact working with children must share information and work together to safeguard the welfare of children. My primary task would be to arrange a safeguarding strategy meeting. This
Bibliography: Department of Health (DH) and Home Office (2003) The Victoria Climbié Inquiry: Report of an Inquiry by Lord Laming, Cm 5730, London, The Stationery Office. The Children Act 1989 The Children Act 2004 The Adoption and Children Act 2002 Open University (2010) K270 The law and social work in England and Wales, Block 3, 'Children and families: public law provisions ', Milton Keynes, The Open University. Department for Education and Skills (2004a) Every Child Matters: The next steps. DfES. The European Convention on Human Rights General Social Care Council (GSCC) (2002) Code of Practice for Social Care Workers and Code of Practice for Employers of Social Care Workers, www.gscc.org.uk/codes (accessed 8th March 2010)