Social Work and Real Reform of Statutory Services: A Queensland Case Study

This paper uses the 2003 Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Foster Care, as a framework to examine critical emerging issues in child protection and the Out of Home Care of children in Australia. The paper begins with the assertion that the current crisis should be understood in the context of longstanding major problems in the organizational structures, cultures and climate of statutory child protection services. Current approaches to public sector management, it is argued, have had significant detrimental impacts on the ability for managers to lead and practitioners to embrace effective change and developmental processes. The paper argues that analysis of the major findings of the CMC Inquiry provides a significant opportunity to contribute to the development of improved practice and policy in relation to children and families. The paper makes a claim for a 'practitioner-led change process’ that is centrally informed by social work’s knowledge, skills, value and ethical base and fully embraces a helping alongside a social control function. The authors challenge the counter-productive discourses of managerialist approaches and the increasing bureaucratization and politicization of child protection practice. They call for alliances and fundamentally re-aligned relationships among government, not-for-profit organisations, universities, managers, child protection practitioners, children and young people, parents and carers. Promotion of the best interests of children and young people is examined in light of the use and abuse of power. The paper concludes with the assertion that the only authentic outcomes in child protection are improvements in the life chances and futures of children, young people and their families. Broad systemic change is urgently needed to bring this about