Child protection system – just think differently?
Child protection system – just think differently?
Critical analysis of selected models
Author(s): Magdalena Szafranek, Petr Fabián, Albín Škoviera, Joanna Gorczowska
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Civil Law, Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: foster care; family; child; child welfare; social work
Summary/Abstract: This publication provides a useful insight into the structure and historical development of four family support and child protection frameworks: Czech, Slovakian, Polish and British (England and Wales). It looks at how each of the models understands child welfare, especially in the context of child protection and discusses the parents’ position therein. The book could inspire practitioners, researchers and policy makers to redefine child-focused practice and build systems where child welfare is considered paramount and is safeguarded throughout – first and foremost, well- -coordinated and targeted support of their families and, if that is not possible, thoroughly assessed and supported permanent out-of-family placements.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-5494-3
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-5486-8
- Page Count: 152
- Publication Year: 2022
- Language: English
Poland: Between Family and Foster Care
Poland: Between Family and Foster Care
(Poland: Between Family and Foster Care)
- Author(s):Magdalena Szafranek
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Sociology
- Page Range:11-47
- No. of Pages:37
- Keywords:child's welfare; foster care; family; family's law; parenting authority
- Summary/Abstract:The formalization of children's rights has become possible due to legislative progress concerning children, better understanding of the process of child development, strengthening of the humanistic approach to the individual and progress in the field of implementation of human rights. When analysing the process of building a child’s legal protection and securing its welfare, it should be noted that the accelerator of changes for the creation of the legal framework was the protection of children against harm and excessive exploitation. In other words, the protection of the child's basic interest, which is its overall safety, allowed for the development of legal protection on a wide spectrum of areas, such as, for example, the right to retain identity, the right to express one's views, the right to freedom, thoughts, conscience, and religion. The aim of the text is to discuss the codification process and changes to which Polish family law was subjected after 1945, through modern regulations on the issue of parental authority and the right to contact a loved one, up to solutions for placing a child outside the family in accordance with the provisions of the Family Support and Foster Care Act 2010.
Childcare in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic
Childcare in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic
(Childcare in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic)
- Author(s):Petr Fabián
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Sociology
- Page Range:49-74
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:protection of children; childhood; assistance paradigm; foster parents; foster care
- Summary/Abstract:This part presents a brief historical overview of the protection of children and childhood from the creation of Czechoslovakia (1918) to 2013, when fundamental changes in the system occurred. The influence of the communist ideology on social work with children is mentioned here. The author also discusses the legal definition of social work and its implementation in practice. The key parts of this chapter describe the current Czech model, its tools, paradigm, and methods of both family and institutional assistance. The reader will be acquainted with the principles of foster care and ways of supporting both children and foster parents. New challenges, emerging due to the change in the assistance paradigm, are discussed at the end of the chapter.
Context of Changes in the Slovak System of Substitute Educational Care in the Years 1989–2019
Context of Changes in the Slovak System of Substitute Educational Care in the Years 1989–2019
(Context of Changes in the Slovak System of Substitute Educational Care in the Years 1989–2019)
- Author(s):Albín Škoviera
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Sociology
- Page Range:75-96
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:change; education; child; critical reflection
- Summary/Abstract:The author looks at changes to the whole system in a broader context. He points out that so far the process of implementing the changes and their outcome have been interpreted differently by government officials and politicians, differently by NGOs, and differently by practitioners and experts in the field of education. The author interprets these changes within the basic framework of the transition of society to postmodernity, which has become more a negation of modernity than its development, reflecting it as a change in power relations in the whole system of substitute educational care in Slovakia. Significant roles were played by: political-economic and social changes after 1989, the euphoria about political change and lack of critical reflection on the past, Convention on the Rights of a Child, the division of Czechoslovakia, inter-ministerial tensions.
The Child Protection System in England and Wales
The Child Protection System in England and Wales
(The Child Protection System in England and Wales)
- Author(s):Joanna Gorczowska
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Sociology
- Page Range:97-122
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:history of British child protection system; child safeguarding; serious case reviews; child maltreatment; early help
- Summary/Abstract:The chapter discusses how the British child protection system evolved over the years towards a child centered system and how it has become one of the most comprehensive child protection systems in Europe. It allows the reader to understand that its greatest strength lies in the fact that its foundations are rooted in the most relevant research on the impact of abusive and neglectful experiences on children's development, their capacity to attach and their brain development. British system has gone through many changes, and that is discussed clearly in the chapter. The reader will have a chance to learn that what helped in steering these changes towards the child focused system were many reviews processes such as serious case review or safeguarding practice review being its most recent name. The chapter discusses each of the most significant serious case reviews process and its recommendations, and how each of recommendation led to major changes in law, policies and practice to ensure that the risks of harm to children are minimized by system’s timely response.
Assessment of the Presented Models
Assessment of the Presented Models
(Assessment of the Presented Models)
- Author(s):Petr Fabián
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Sociology
- Page Range:123-150
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:childhood protection; development of children; paradigm according to Gilbert; child focus; education of social workers; traumatization of the children; assistance to children
- Summary/Abstract:This chapter is devoted to the comparison of all the presented models and the possible use of their strengths for the development of children and childhood protection. This is discussed with relation to the paradigm change according to Gilbert (2012) – child focus. The author debates that any help to children at risk can also be traumatizing and describes the different views: 1. New challenges for the education of social workers. 2. New dilemmas that can reduce of deepen the traumatization of the children. From the point of view of these dilemmas, the use of the strengths of the individual models to change the approaches in the assistance to children is presented. This is tied to the practical use of the inspiring tools of the presented systems without a fundamental change in legislation. These changes are described from the point of view of the child focus paradigm.
