Blame, Culture and Child Protection

In recent years child protection issues have dominated media and public discourse in the UK. This book offers a unique perspective by giving voice to those social workers working within a profession which has become increasingly embedded in a culture of blame. Exploring how statutory child protection agencies function, Leigh also reveals how ‘organisational culture’ can significantly affect the way in which social work is practised.

Providing a comparative analysis between the UK and Belgium, Leigh uses ethnography to illuminate the differences between the settings by examining how interactions and affected atmospheres impact on their identities. This book reveals how practitioners perceive themselves differently in such environments and explores the impact this has on their identity as well as the work they carry out with children and families. Leigh’s enquiry and compelling critique into social work, identity and organisations calls for mutual understanding and respect,rather than a culture of blame.

Jadwiga Leigh is a Lecturer in the Sociological Studies Department at the University of Sheffield, UK. She qualified as a social worker in 2005 and has worked in both statutory and voluntary child protection settings. Teaching on the social work and sociology programmes, Leigh is interested in professional identity and affect/emotion in organisational culture.