Manualisation in child and family social work: A comparative study of Norway and Wales

Djupvik, Alf Roger, Pithouse, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7971-0595, Myklebust, Vidar Kjetil, Rees, Alyson ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2363-4965, Ekeland, Tor-Johan and Brookfield, Charlotte ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7798-9756 2024. Manualisation in child and family social work: A comparative study of Norway and Wales. European Social Work Research 2 (3) , pp. 277-293. 10.1332/27551768Y2024D000000023

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Abstract

The article examines the use of manuals in Child and Family Social Work in Wales and Norway and considers their application in the structuring context of new public management and evidence- based practice. It is based upon findings of a comparative survey-based instrument distributed to social workers. The problem statement is: What are social workers’ attitudes to and experiences of manuals in professional practice? The key research foci are: How often do you use manuals? Why do you use manuals? To what degree do you think manuals are useful to ensure the quality of the work you perform? Both workforces use manuals, more so in Norway than in Wales. This is related to the fact that there is direct and stronger pressure from governmental agencies in Norway than in Wales for provider organisations and workers to deploy manuals. The uptake of manuals in Wales appears to be prompted more by worker self-selection and/or imitation of their usage in cognate practice settings. Norwegian workers to a larger extent than those in Wales think using manuals enhances the quality of work. We discuss possible conceptual, institutional, and practitioner-based reasons for the varied relationship between manuals and their application and highlight under-researched areas.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
ISSN:	2755-1768
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	7 August 2024
Date of Acceptance:	30 July 2024
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2024 10:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/171006

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