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Decision Making in Child and Family Welfare: The Role of Tools and Practice Frameworks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2017

Philip Gillingham ,
Paul Harnett ,
Karen Healy ,
Debby Lynch  and
Marion Tower
Philip Gillingham*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Paul Harnett
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Karen Healy
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Debby Lynch
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Marion Tower
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
addresses for correspondence: Dr Philip Gillingham, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. E-mail: p.gillingham@uq.edu.au
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Abstract

In this article, the findings of research that had, as one aim, the exploration of the role of decision-making tools and practice frameworks in supporting the decision making of practitioners working with children and families in non-government agencies in Queensland are presented. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 frontline practitioners in three agencies in five different locations. A general finding was that practitioners used a range of different tools and frameworks and found them supportive. The pertinence of these findings is discussed in relation to recent developments in the provision of services for children and families in Queensland, namely the new funding of non-government agencies to provide early intervention supportive services to children and families and the implementation of a single practice framework to guide practice across the sector. Areas for future research in Queensland are identified to further investigate the role of tools in frontline practice with children and families and which may also contribute to debates more broadly about the development and implementation of practice frameworks to support practitioners.

Keywords

child welfaredecision makingpractice frameworksdecision-making tools
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 42 , Issue 1 , March 2017 , pp. 49 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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