Parental resistance is a ubiquitous feature of child and family social work, yet there has been limited research or theoretical work directed at the issue. This paper identifies social and individual reasons why parents may be resistant. Five principle causes of parental resistance are discussed, namely social structure and disadvantage, the context of child protection work, parental resistance to change, denial or minimization of abuse or neglect and the behaviour of the social worker. It is argued that motivational interviewing (MI) provides particularly useful skills and concepts for firstly reducing the social worker contribution to resistance and secondly minimizing the resistance related to other reasons for resistance. Key adaptations required in the strategic aims of MI if it is to be used in child protection work are identified and discussed, the most important of which is maintaining a focus on the child's welfare and safety. It is concluded that MI offers an opportunity to improve practice by increasing parental engagement and to make a contribution to social work theory by combining an attention to both broader social structure and the micro-skills required in social work interviews.

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Parental resistance and social worker skills: towards a theory of motivational social work

The United Kingdom (UK) Focal Point on Drugs is based at the Department of Health and the North West Public Health Observatory at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University. It is the national partner of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and provides comprehensive information to the Centre on the drug situation in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

United Kingdom drug situation: annual report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) 2012.

Drawing on qualitative data, this article attempts to clarify the language of spirituality as used in relation to addiction and recovery. It explores what is meant by ‘spirituality’ in the context of 12-step programmes followed in the numerous anonymous mutual help groups which address the problem of addiction to a variety of substances and behaviours, and raises some of the most frequently cited problems with a ‘spiritual’ approach. It argues that wariness on the part of social workers (and other professionals) of 12-step programmes on grounds of their religious/spiritual dimension may benefit from reconsideration. It also suggests that social workers might be informed and empowered to support those individuals and families who chose to seek recovery through the 12 steps.

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Addiction, spirituality and 12-step programmes:

A randomized controlled trial of training in Motivational Interviewing for child protection

This new journal has an inspiring stated purpose: The provision of scientific information concerning the welfare of children and youth from an "international multidisciplinary" perspective. It boasts an outstanding board of associate editors. However, most of them are associated with American organizations and most represent the fields of social work or sociology. Thus, the editorial board, though distinguished, appears to fall somewhat short of the journal's stated goals. The first three issues of this publication contain articles that are chiefly concerned with child abuse and neglect and children in foster care. Each issue also has a large section devoted to book reviews, mostly by well-known scholars. The selection of books for review is

Children and Youth Services Review: An International Multidisciplinary Quarterly Review of the Welfare of Young People

This research reviewed the available evidence on social work's contribution to supporting recovery for those with problem drug and/or alcohol use. The review also collated the available evidence on workforce development in this area as well as reviewing what is known about social work roles and training.

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Christine Hemsley

Papers

Social work services and recovery from substance misuse: a review of the evidence.