INTERDISCURSIVITY AND CHILD-WELFARE - THE ASCENT AND DURABILITY OF PSYCHO-LEGALISM

This paper examines the knowledges affecting contemporary child welfar e policy and practice. Using a number of conceptual frameworks, it see ks to challenge the view of some commentators that a new 'legalism' an d a putative concern with 'surface form' has accorded formal psycholog ical knowledge, and hence the 'psy' complex, a diminished and waning s ignificance. The paper argues that, although there have been significa nt changes in child welfare practice, rumours of the waning of the 'ps y' complex have been exaggerated. A detailed analysis of the way the l aw thinks, and of policy documents and practice guidance reveals both the complex interdiscursivity of the new 'legalism' and the durability of psychological and developmentalist forms of thought.