School of Social and Political Science

Description

As part of the Social Work Department Seminar Series, join us for an exciting event where we delve into the future of children's care and explore critical perspectives on children's services reform.

Over the last decade there has been a series of Government policy initiatives in respect of children’s services and social work education in England, many of which aim to de-regulate or privatise aspects of these services. Critically considering the impact of the MacAlister Review of children's services in England, this book explores the past, present and future of children’s services in the UK from a range of perspectives – lived, professional and academic. The book provides an accessible guide provides a timely and incisive overview of the current children’s services reform agenda in the UK. It identifies current challenges, analyses both strengths and weaknesses in the current policy agenda and sets out alternative policy and practice directions for a system that can meet families’ needs.

Dr Robin Sen

Robin Sen previously worked as a child and family social worker in Glasgow and is currently a lecturer in social work at the University of Edinburgh. He has also previously worked as a lecturer for ten years in Sheffield, in the north of England, during which time his concerns about the direction of both government policy on children's services and social work education in England significantly increased. It was via shared concerns about the neo-liberalisation of social work and social work education that he first connected with Christian, via Twitter.

Dr Christian Kerr

Christian Kerr is a social worker and Lecturer in Social Work and Social and Community Studies at Leeds Beckett University. He has been a mental health support worker and community worker, and has practised as a social worker with adults with physical disabilities, mental health issues, learning disabilities, neurological conditions and brain injuries. His interest in ideological policy reform and the depoliticization of social work for political ends has led him to writing and publishing mainly about children's services.

The Future of Children’s Care - Critical Perspectives on Children’s Services Reform can be purchased from the Policy Press link here.