Department of Social Work and Social Care seminar: Relationship-based practice in an unequal society

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Time: 5.30pm - 7.00pm
Venue: Kingston University Business School, Room 0026
Price: free
Speaker(s): Dr Anna Gupta, Royal Holloway, University of London

Families in poverty have taken the brunt of austerity measures with stringent cuts in welfare and public services having led to significant hardship for vulnerable children and families. At the same time the numbers of children in care in England are at their highest level for twenty years, with child protection investigations and care proceedings continuing to rise. Drawing upon recent quantitative and qualitative evidence the links between poverty, other social inequalities and child protection are highlighted, and questions raised about the role of a child protection system that focuses on parental blame whilst ignoring fundamental structural problems and the complex ways these impact on the lives of families. Drawing upon a framework that has not been applied in this area of work before, it is argued that a social model for supporting families and protecting children has the potential to help challenge dominant perspectives.

The presentation will conclude with recommendations for policies, but also, importantly, for the development of social work practice within a human rights and social justice framework.

Biography of Anna Gupta

Dr Anna Gupta is a senior lecturer in Social Work at Royal Holloway, University of London where she teaches on the MSc in Social Work, Step Up to Social Work and professional doctorate/PhD programmes. Anna's research interests include decision-making in the family courts, child protection and families in poverty, work with black and other minority ethnic communities, and developing critical social work practice. She is currently undertaking a BASW-funded enquiry into the role of social work in adoption with a focus on ethics and human rights with Professor Brid Featherstone.

For further information about this event:

Contact: Anastasiya, FHSCE, Events and Engagement
Tel: 0208 725 4735
Email: HSCE-EVENTS@sgul.kingston.ac.uk