Time to change? Exploring the impact of time-limited service provision in a family support service

Roberts, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6154-3549 2017. Time to change? Exploring the impact of time-limited service provision in a family support service. Child and Family Social Work 22 (S3) , pp. 21-30. 10.1111/cfs.12229

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Abstract

This paper presents data from a qualitative case study of a family support service, support care. As a time-limited service that aims to enable positive change within families and involves children and parents spending time apart, aspects of time feature prominently in understandings and experiences of the service. This paper uses the concept of time as a lens to explore some of the organizing principles and underlying assumptions of this service. Eighty-two qualitative interviews and 22 participant observation sessions were undertaken with stakeholders engaged in support care. This paper examines the variety of ways in which time was understood and experienced over the course of the research. This includes a conceptualization of time as a resource, together with the hopes, expectations and concerns attached to the time provision. It is argued that the service-specific questions regarding how much time to afford families, and the purpose of support have wider relevance within social work policy and practice. This includes debates about how best to respond to families with support needs, including those with enduring needs, how to manage tensions in respect of balancing need while seeking to avoid dependency and the sometimes competing nature of support and protection objectives.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Uncontrolled Keywords:	children and family social work; children in need (services for); family support; prevention
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1356-7500
Funders:	Economic and Social Research Council
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Date of Acceptance:	25 February 2015
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2024 08:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/73296

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