000			03195nab a22003257a 4500
999			_c5151 _d5151
005			20250625151417.0
008			160829t2016 -nz||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
022			_a2463-4131
040			_aAFVC
100			_aHoultain, Linda _96106
245			_aWalking the tight rope : _cLinda Houltain, Christa Fouche, Hannah Frost and Shireen Moodley _bwomen’s health social workers’ role with vulnerable families in the maternity context
260			_c2016 _bAotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers,
490		0	_aAotearoa New Zealand Social Work
500			_aAotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2016, 28(2): 64-74
520			_a"INTRODUCTION: Keeping children in the centre of practice is an established mantra for the children’s workforce internationally and is also enshrined in the Aotearoa New Zealand Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989. The principle that the welfare and interests of the child are awarded paramount consideration (s6) when these are in conflict with others’ needs is incontestable. However, we suggest that how this translates into day-to-day social work practice is open to multiple interpretations. This interpretation emerged from a women’s health social work team, providing services to pregnant women experiencing complex social factors. METHOD: An audit collected and analysed data from cases that were identified as having achieved successful outcomes in this context. A metaphor emerged from the reflective analysis of these findings. This metaphor, ‘walking the tight rope, maintaining the balance’ was put to the practitioners via a reflective process. FINDINGS: Research findings indicate that by taking up a child welfare orientation to practice positive outcomes are possible. This practice was found to rely on a number of personal, professional and organisational factors, most dominant were those associated with relationship based practice. Findings suggest that women’s health social workers need to maintain a fine balance with several critical elements, such as the provision of reflective supervision acting as a practice safety net. CONCLUSION: It is argued that the binary either/or positions of adopting a child centred or a woman’s centred approach to practice should be avoided and an and / both orientation to practice be adopted. This reflects a child welfare orientation to practice – one in which prevention is a primary focus." (Authors' abstract). This article is published in a Special Issue on: Child protection, the family and the state: critical responses in neoliberal times. Record #5151
650			_aCHILD PROTECTION _9118
650			_aCHILD WELFARE _9124
650			_aFAMILIES _9238
650			_aREPRODUCTIVE HEALTH _93274
650			_aSOCIAL POLICY _9551
650			_aSOCIAL WORK PRACTICE _9562
651		4	_aNEW ZEALAND _92588
700			_91173 _aFouché, Christa
700			_aFrost, Hannah _96107
700			_aMoodley, Shireen _96108
773	0		_tAotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 2016, 28(2): 64-74
856			_uhttps://anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/article/view/225
856			_uhttps://anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/issue/view/30 _ySpecial issue
942			_2ddc _cARTICLE