The Visibility of a Socio-Economic Dimension in Day-to-Day Child and Family Social Work Practice in Wales

Abstract This study explored how day-to-day social work practice with children and families in Wales responds to poverty, building on case studies already published in the other three UK nations. A case study design was used. The sites were locality teams in two local authorities, differing in their children looked after rates and trajectories of these over time. Qualitative research methods included practice observations; interviews with staff; focus groups; mapping of decision-making processes; and a sample of family case narratives. In one local authority, the range of data was similar to the other UK nation case studies. However, in the second, data collection was adapted to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) lockdown context. Some evidence was found of narratives that emphasised the cultural, rather than material, aspect of poverty, and blamed parents for making inappropriate spending choices. Poverty alleviation was generally seen as outside of social workers’ control and requiring earlier help before social services involvement. In one of the local authorities, there was some awareness shown of the impact of poverty on parenting. In the other, that took part in the study during 2020, the exacerbating effects of families in lockdown were described, including the lack of family support due to pandemic restrictions. The research was conducted in two local authorities in Wales, which had different numbers of children in care. The researchers looked at how social workers in their day-to-day work, worked with families in poverty, and if family circumstances were reflected in the assessments they did, and the help they offered. The researchers observed social workers as they did their work, interviewed them, and in small groups, got them to discuss how they would help families in a fictional case. The methods used were the same as those used in similar studies in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Social workers often thought that lessening the impact of poverty on families was out of their control. The researchers not only found some examples of social workers providing practical support to families but also found some that blamed families for the circumstances that they found themselves in. They also thought that local authorities should provide help earlier. One local authority took part in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic and social workers described how lockdown restrictions had impacted the support available to families.