THE ATTITUDES OF SOCIAL-WORKERS, HEALTH VISITORS AND SCHOOL NURSES TOPARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILD PROTECTION CASE CONFERENCES

This report presents an analysis of a questionnaire investigating atti tudes towards parental involvement in child protection case conference s administered to held and area management social workers, health visi tors, and school nurses in the area of one Child Protection Committee, during the early stages of a transition to parental involvement in co nferences. Analysis was undertaken to investigate if experience of par ental presence in conferences, length of professional experience, and occupational differences affected views towards parental involvement. Differences in attitude were found between the two professional groups of social workers and nurses, and these are discussed with respect to three areas: resistance to parental involvement; the effects of paren ts upon conference dynamics; and the management of parental involvemen t.