Containment: Exploring the concept of agency in children's statutory encounters with social workers. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morrison, Fiona; Cree, Viviene; Ruch, Gillian; Winter, Karen Michelle; Hadfield, Mark; Hallett, Sophie
• Is Part Of: Childhood. Volume 26:Number 1(2019:Feb.)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Agency -- containment -- ethnography -- social work -- sociology of childhood; Children -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Children -- Research -- Periodicals; 305.23
• DOI: 10.1177/0907568218810101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0907-5682

Abstract

This article examines children's agency in their interactions with social workers during statutory encounters in a child protection context. It draws from a UK-wide ethnographic study. It finds that much of social workers' responses to children's agency in this context are best understood as a form of 'containment'. In doing so, it offers an original and significant contribution to the theoretical understanding of children's agency, as well as its application in social work practice.