TY  - SER
AU  - McKendrick, David
AU  - Finch, Jo
TI  - Pressure drop: securitising and de-securitising safeguarding
PY  - 2020///
PB  - Aotearoa New Zealand Association  of Social Workers, 
KW  - CHILD PROTECTION
KW  - CHILD WELFARE
KW  - RISK MANAGEMENT
KW  - SOCIAL POLICY
KW  - SOCIAL SERVICES
KW  - SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
KW  - INTERNATIONAL
KW  - UNITED KINGDOM
KW  - NEW ZEALAND
N1  - Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2020, 32(1): 61-72
N2  - INTRODUCTION: This article explores how securitisation theory is mobilised in contemporary social work discourse, policy and practice. We draw on recent child protection research to support our claim that a new practice issue, described previously as securitised safeguarding, has emerged.

APPROACH: We demonstrate its emergence using securitisation theory as a conceptual mode of analysis to describe how a securitised safeguarding response depicts particular families as an existential threat which, in turn, prompts a response characterised by forms of muscular liberalism.

CONCLUSIONS: We argue that this emerging practice issue requires critical consideration and suggest it will have a significant impact on social work – one that is unlikely to be beneficial for the profession and, more importantly, families being worked with. By describing a process of de-securitisation, we offer an alternative and more nuanced approach that perceives families holistically, and mobilises a welfare safeguarding model. This more closely resembles traditional social work values of emancipation, liberation and empowerment within social work practice. (Authors' abstract). Record #6600
UR  - https://anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/article/view/706
ER  -