Things I want to remember as I leave frontline practice
Richard Devine reflects on his experiences as a social worker, emphasising the emotional complexities of frontline child protection. He wants to remember the struggles, doubts, and humanity inherent in the role, advocating for understanding over easy judgement. Devine highlights the importance of maintaining empathy and recognising the difficult realities of both workers and families involved.
When denial isn’t just denial: Rethinking engagement in Child Protection
Richard Devine’s article explores the concept of “disguised compliance” in child protection, urging a shift from simplistic views of denial to recognising the complex psychological processes involved. He highlights that parents’ behaviours often stem from strategic or protective denial shaped by trauma and fear, advocating for a trauma-informed, empathetic approach in social work.
What are we learning here? Reflections on the Victoria Marten National Review
The national review following baby Victoria Marten’s tragic death highlights critical issues in safeguarding practice, including the impact of trauma on parental engagement. Despite valuable recommendations for more trauma-informed approaches, it struggles to connect these ideals to specific actions that may have altered the tragic outcome, revealing limitations in current safeguarding frameworks.
Integrating doing and being in health and social care: Why we find it so hard to stop and how it could radically help us
By Rhian Taylor, Social Worker and Author of Fosterboy “Personally, I think social work saved my life and it’s totally ruined it at the same time… the problem is you can’t switch it off.” Cook et al (2022) The above quote is from a social worker who brilliantly expresses the dilemma of a job which […]
10 Lessons from over 10 years of Social Work with Children and Families
Richard Devine shares ten vital lessons from his experiences with children and families in BASW’s Professional Social Work Magazine. Key insights include the importance of acknowledging past influences, the challenge of change, empathy for parents, and maintaining humility. These concepts are further explored in his upcoming book, Messy Social Work.
As a professional, when does sharing lived experience help – and when does it harm?
In her guest blog, student social worker Megan Martin reflects on the complexities of self-disclosure in social work. Sharing personal experiences can enhance empathy and connection but poses risks if overdone. Martin emphasizes the importance of balance and intentionality, advocating for thoughtful engagement that fosters trust while maintaining professional boundaries.
15 Years in Social Work – And 4 Reasons I am Still Not a Manager
Rich Devine, a social worker with 15 years of frontline experience, emphasises the importance of relationships, continuous learning, and personal leadership in social work. By choosing to remain in practice rather than pursue management roles, he highlights how this choice fosters wisdom and deep understanding of complex family situations, which is crucial in child protection.
End of Year Review 2024
Richard Devine reflects on his experiences with depression, acknowledging its unpredictability despite having a fulfilling life. He highlights the internal struggles, societal pressures, and the importance of seeking help. Through therapy and medication, he learned to challenge harmful thought patterns while reevaluating his career in social work, seeking balance and inner peace.
Assessing Parents’ Capacity to Change in Social Work Assessments: Key Insights
Assessing capacity to change in child protection requires understanding parents’ behaviors and their willingness to engage with support. The text outlines five key elements for effective assessment: behavior patterns, previous support, effect of support, potential additional support, and analysis of engagement likelihood. Positive changes hinge on tailored interventions that address underlying issues for improved child safety.
4 Lessons on Writing Online for Social Workers: How It Can Sharpen Your Social Work Skills and Open Doors (Including a Possible Book Deal!)
Richard Devine emphasizes the importance of crafting compelling titles and strong beginnings in online writing. He shares his journey from frustration to fulfillment through blogging, highlighting four reasons for writing online: learning, self-promotion, accountability, and the desire to share knowledge. His blogging efforts led to significant opportunities, including a book deal.
A Guide on the Why, What and How of Writing Analysis in Social Work
Richard Devine, a Consultant Social Worker, shares insights from his 14 years of experience in child protection to aid social workers in writing effective analyses. He emphasizes that analysis is a learned skill, highlighting the importance of clarity, compassion, and focus on children’s needs, potential risks, and strengths in parenting.
The Complexity of Outcomes in Child Protection Work
Richard Devine discusses the complexities and challenges faced by social workers, particularly around measuring outcomes in child protection. He emphasizes the need to evaluate not just compliance with statutory processes but also the effectiveness, compassion, and proportionality of interventions, considering the emotional impact on families involved
End of year review 2022
By Richard Devine, Social Worker for Bath and North East Somerset Council NOTE: If you are receiving this via e-mail it may be cut short by your e-mail programme and/or the graphics may be distorted. You may wish to click the link and view it in full. Personal life In previous years, I have not […]
Relationship Based Practice in Child Protection: An insurmountable problem?
By Richard Devine, Social Worker for Bath and North East Somerset This is an article I wrote for, GAPS a UK based charity which promotes relationship-based approaches and psychodynamic and systemic thinking in social work. It is my most succinct and concentrated overview of key ideas and the approach I took in my role as […]
Navigating Hostility and Understanding Parental Resistance in Child Protection Social Work
Richard Devine, a social worker, discusses the challenges of working with resistant parents in child protection. He highlights the inherent conflict in these relationships and explores three approaches to navigate them: concessions, oppression, and negotiated casework. Emphasizing understanding and cooperation, he advocates for a more meaningful engagement that aligns social work with parental goals.
How cognitive biases derail our decision making in social work, and what we can do about it
By Richard Devine, Social Worker and Author of Messy Social Work: Learning from Frontline Practice with Children and Families and co-host of the Messy Social Work Podcast NOTE: If you are receiving this via e-mail it may be cut short by your e-mail programme and/or the graphics may be distorted. You may wish to click the title and […]
What does ‘direct work’ in social work really mean?
By Richard Devine, Social Worker for Bath and North East Somerset Council NOTE: If you are receiving this via e-mail it may be cut short by your e-mail programme and/or the graphics may be distorted. You may wish to click the title and view it in full. Recently, I had the privilege of connecting with […]
‘The mother requires 12-18 months of psychological therapy; unfortunately, this is not consistent with the child’s timescales.’
An exploration of psychological assessments and recommendations: a Local Authority’s perspective By Richard Devine, Social Worker for Bath and North East Somerset Council NOTE: If you are receiving this via e-mail it may be cut short by your e-mail programme and/or the graphics may be distorted. You may wish to click the title and view […]
A Summary of Key Ideas from ‘In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts’ by Gabor Mate
By Richard Devine, Social Worker and Author of Messy Social Work: Learning from Frontline Practice with Children and Families and co-host of the Messy Social Work Podcast Introduction ‘Woke up feeling very scared, was very emotional and anxious for over one hour, then I remembered I had a can of beer, drank that and it receded my fears […]
A Compassionate Enquiry into Addiction
By Richard Devine, Social Worker for Bath and North East Somerset Council and Ian Thomas, Independent Social Worker and Tedx Speaker NOTE: If you are receiving this via e-mail it may be cut short by your e-mail programme and/or the graphics may be distorted. You may wish to click the link and view it in […]