Child protection teaching learning the challenge of indigenisation

Child protection teaching & learning: the challenge of indigenisation Name sation Ian Milligan International Advisor ian. milligan@strath. ac. uk

Greetings from Scotland

Scotland is famous for: Loch Ness monster - mythical! Whisky – real!

Themes 1. ‘Universal’ social work v national context = critical thinking required 2. SW curricula = values + ethical stance (Haltung); knowledge (theories); skills 3. Creating a culturally relevant foundation for learning & practice in child protection 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

Indigenisation of child & family social work? Q. What is indigenisation in social work education? A. Culturally appropriate social work (Gray & Coates, 2010) Beware of very individualistic western dominant models. Take account of national history, culture and religion and socio-economic development 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

Many types of social work Azerbaijan will need to take its own route to professional social work. TWO major traditions of sw in Europe: SOCIAL PEDAGOGY SOCIAL WORK Focus of social work = choices • Individual casework • group work • community work and community development 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

Questions about social work • If it cannot respond to serious social problems what is the point? (In Africa some question its relevance) • What kind of social work is needed where the local culture values kinship, the extended family and community networks? • ‘Secular social work which ignores religion and spirituality will not effectively address social problems’ (Ibrahima & Mattaini, 2017) • Can it respect local culture AND advocate for those who may be marginalised in traditional culture? 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 77

Values: child protection • Respect for each child, family & community; sensitivity to minorities, migrants and those with disabilities • Listening carefully to children (includes observation and activities with them) • Participation of clients in the teaching (including the voices of ‘care-experienced young people’) • Self-reflection and desire for supervision 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

Knowledge: child protection • • • 26/04/2018 Family structure and child development Changes in family life (weakening of extended family supports? ) Recognising neglect and abuse in families, and other forms of abuse Culture, religion and place of children, especially girls Danger of excessive reliance on ‘alternative care’ (Chaitkin et al. , 2017) Awareness of the harm of large-scale, ‘institutional’ care 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

Skills: child protection • ‘engaging’ children and parents (honest communication skills), • Assessment – using assessment checklists, and frameworks • Advocacy skills on behalf of the client • Fieldwork practice is essential for skill building, feedback and values testing 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education

integrating knowledge and skills Protecting children and supporting families – its not easy! • What mandate does the sw have? • What family support services are available? • Self-awareness of own prejudices • Importance of supervision • The University is where these issues and practices are all explored • Curriculum needs to include workshops, role plays, simulations and self-examination

References/resources Chaitkin, S. , Cantwell, N. , Gale, C. , Milligan, I. , Flagothier, C. , O’Kane, C. & Connelly, G. (2017). Towards the Right Care for Children: Orientations towards reforming alternative care systems, Africa, Asia, Latin America. (Luxembourg: EU). Doi: 10. 2841/069502 Gray, M. & Coates, J. (2010). “Indigenisation” and knowledge development: extending the debate, International Social Work, 53, pp. 613 -27. Ibrahima, A. & Mattaini, M. (2017). Social work in Africa: Decolonizing methodologies and approaches, International Social Work, 2017, online. Massive Open Online Course - Getting Care Right for All (MOOC) Children https: //www. futurelearn. com/courses/alternative-care 26/04/2018 4 th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post. Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education