Sense and Sensibility in Social Work with Families and Children: European Perspectives on Developments in Child Protection and Welfare

by Sara Serbati (Editor), Edgar Marthinsen (Editor), Brid Featherstone (Editor)

Overview

Practitioners and managers in child protection often struggle to focus on the needs of children and families in the face of ever-expanding bureaucracy.

This book brings together authors from across Europe to explore the strategies and solutions that promote doing things right by those in need rather than to the letter of procedure. It argues that more flexible, community/relationship/partnership-based approaches are required to meet the needs of parents and children experiencing difficulties and risk of harm.

Essential reading for academics, practitioners, managers and policy makers in social work and child welfare, it contributes to the development of reflective thinking and spotlights the potential of co-production and co-creation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447374497
Publisher:	Policy Press
Publication date:	05/07/2025
Series:	Research in Social Work
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Sara Serbati is Professor in Associate Professor of Social Pedagogy in the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Science at the University of Padua.

Edgar Marthinsen is Emeritus Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Brid Featherstone is is Emeritus Professor of Social Work in the Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

Brid Featherstone is Professor of Social Work at the University of Huddersfield.

Table of Contents

Introductory chapter - Edgar Marthinsen

Part 1: Sense and sensibility as epistemology for social work

1. Reflections on the possibilities and challenges offered by a social model of protecting children - Brid Featherstone, Anna Gupta and Kate Morris

2. The virtuous cycle of using supportive measures to reduce red tape and meet families’ needs - Edgar Marthinsen

3. The potential of practice research to advance a Framework for Protective Support and Supportive Protection (PS-SP) with Children, Young People, and Families - Carmel Devaney and Caroline McGregor

4. Rethinking the meaning of institutionalization in child protection - Francesca Maci and Paola Milani

Part 2: Sense and sensibility as practice

5. Towards collaborative and innovative practice improvement paradigm in child protection? - Päivi Petrelius, Laura Yliruka, Kaarina Mönkkönen

6. Participative and Transformative Evaluation: children, families, and practitioners as co-researchers through ‘reflective thinking’ processes - Sara Serbati

7. Community Mapping as a participative tool to enhance informal social support: possible pathways for practitioners - Andrea Petrella

8. The training of trainers as a way to share sense and sensibility in the programme P.I.P.P.I. - Marco Ius

9. Care leavers in the Italian child protection system: from action research to advocacy of more inclusive policies and relationships through participatory processes - Federico Zullo, Martina Sabetta, Samanta Ferri, Diletta Mauri

10. A mind for learning and innovation - Lena A. Ulfseth, Willy Lichtwarck, Anne Moe and Edgar Marthinsen

11. Group work with children and vulnerable families - Nuria Fuentes-Peláez, Sara Pérez, Judit Rabassa, Belén Parra, Gemma Crous, Paulo Padilla

Epilogue