Donald Forrester

Bio: Donald Forrester is an academic researcher from Cardiff University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Social work & Child protection. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 69 publications receiving 1593 citations. Previous affiliations of Donald Forrester include University of Bedfordshire & Goldsmiths, University of London.

Communication skills in child protection: how do social workers talk to parents?

Abstract: Communication skills are fundamental to social work practice, yet there is little research on the skills that workers have or how they use them. This study analyses 24 taped interviews between social workers and an actor playing a parent (a ‘simulated client’). Two child protection scenarios with different levels of seriousness were used. On average, social workers asked many closed questions and often raised concerns. They used few reflections and rarely identified positives. In all but one interview, social workers were rated as achieving clarity over issues of concern; however, they tended to demonstrate low levels of empathy. The responses of the simulated client were rated for resistance and information disclosure. The factor that most strongly influenced simulated client responses was empathy. Empathic social workers created less resistance and increased the amount of information disclosed by clients. This was not associated with failure to identify and discuss concerns. Empathy, therefore, appears to be central to good social work communication in child protection situations. Given the comparatively low level of empathy expressed by most participants, development of skills in maintaining empathic communication while raising child protection concerns appears a priority. Practical, theoretical and training implications are discussed.

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

Abstract: 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.

Parental substance misuse and child care social work: findings from the first stage of a study of 100 families

Abstract: Parental misuse of drugs or alcohol is known to be a common issue for child care social workers, yet there has been surprisingly little British research on the topic. The study reported here attempts to address this gap. All files going for long-term allocation in four London boroughs over on average 1 year were examined (290 files). Parental substance misuse (PSM) emerged as a major feature of social work caseloads. Of the 290 cases, 100 (34%) involved concerns about parental substance misuse. The families involving substance misuse were more vulnerable on a variety of measures: the children were younger, the parents had more individual problems and the families lived in more difficult social situations. PSM cases tended to be ‘heavy end’ at the point of allocation: they accounted for 62% of all children subject to care proceedings and 40% of those placed on the child protection register. There was a fairly even spread between alcohol and drug misuse, and a number of cases involved both. Substance misuse specialists were rarely involved in working with families, primarily because parents said that they did not think that they had a problem. Suggestions for ways in which policy and practice with PSM might be improved are made in light of these findings.

How do child and family social workers talk to parents about child welfare concerns

Abstract: Working with parents in relation to child welfare concerns is challenging. Social workers are expected to combine working in partnership with ensuring that the focus remains on the child’s needs and protection. To date, most research in this area has relied on retrospective accounts from parents or workers. The current study explored the responses of 40 social workers to nine vignettes, six of which were textual prompts based on the Helpful Responses Questionnaire (Miller et al., 1991), and three further verbal prompts designed to reflect typical resistance comments found in working with parental alcohol misuse. Responses were taped and rated. Overall, social workers tended to use a very confrontational and at times aggressive communication style. This was so consistently observed that it is likely to be a systemic issue. In conclusion, it is argued that at the levels of research, theory and official guidance, insufficient attention has been give to the micro-skills involved in safeguarding children and that this is an urgent priority for further work.

What is ‘Substance Misuse’?

Abstract: This literature review concerned the end of life care needs of patients with drug and alcohol addiction, particularly in the UK, and to identify existing good practice guidance. Three themes emerged: » The need to improve recognition of substance misuse in patients receiving palliative care, and to meet the challenges palliative care teams face when caring for patients who have current or past opiate, benzodiazepine or alcohol addictions. » A lack of UK literature addressing the end of life care needs of patients with drug and alcohol addiction. There are articles in the US literature concerning a family-systems approach to the care of dying patients who have misused substances, and the role of social workers and counsellors in the care of dying patients receiving opiate-substitution treatment. » Inequitable access to end of life and palliative care services for homeless people, many of whom are addicted to substances or alcohol.

Using Multivariate Statistics

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Research Methods in Health. Investigating health and health services

Abstract: This new edition of Ann Bowling's well-known and highly respected text has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect key methodological developments in health research. It is a comprehensive, easy to read, guide to the range of methods used to study and evaluate health and health services. It describes the concepts and methods used by the main disciplines involved in health research, including: demography, epidemiology, health economics, psychology and sociology.The research methods described cover the assessment of health needs, morbidity and mortality trends and rates, costing health services, sampling for survey research, cross-sectional and longitudinal survey design, experimental methods and techniques of group assignment, questionnaire design, interviewing techniques, coding and analysis of quantitative data, methods and analysis of qualitative observational studies, and types of unstructured interviewing. With new material on topics such as cluster randomization, utility analyses, patients' preferences, and perception of risk, the text is aimed at students and researchers of health and health services. It has also been designed for health professionals and policy makers who have responsibility for applying research findings in practice, and who need to know how to judge the value of that research.

Learning and Memory

Abstract: Experimental Psychology Its Scope and Method. IV. Learning and Memory. By Jean-Francois Le Ny, G. De Montpellier, G. Oleron and Cesar Flores. Translated by Louise Elkington. Edited by P. Fraisse and Jean Piaget. Pp. viii + 376. (Routledge and Kegan Paul: London, April 1970.) 80s.