Child protection teaching & learning: the challenge of indigenisation Name sation Ian Milligan International Advisor ian.milligan@strath.ac.uk Introduction – Greetings from Scotland and CELCIS. My organisation works with Governments and NGO in many countries now: often doing evaluations and consultancy around systems reform.

Greetings from Scotland A realistic view of Scotland but it doesn’t show the rain!

Scotland is famous for: 28/05/2014 Scotland is famous for: Loch Ness monster - mythical! Whisky – real!

Themes ‘Universal’ social work v national context = critical thinking required SW curricula = values + ethical stance (Haltung); knowledge (theories); skills Creating a culturally relevant foundation for learning & practice in child protection 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

Indigenisation of child & family social work? Q. What is indigenisation in social work education? Culturally appropriate social work (Gray & Coates, 2010) Beware of very individualistic western dominant models. Take account of national history, culture and religion and socio-economic development (Much of) Western social work is highly individualistic BUT ‘’it is not a monolithic entity’ either 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

Many types of social work Azerbaijan will need to take its own route to professional social work. TWO major traditions of sw in Europe: SOCIAL PEDAGOGY SOCIAL WORK Focus of social work = choices Individual casework group work community work and community development In the UK we are beginning to adopt social pedagogy: initial awareness, thinking and beginnings of UK social pedagogy. 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

Questions about social work If it cannot respond to serious social problems what is the point? (In Africa some question its relevance) What kind of social work is needed where the local culture values kinship, the extended family and community networks? ‘Secular social work which ignores religion and spirituality will not effectively address social problems’ (Ibrahima & Mattaini, 2017) Can it respect local culture AND advocate for those who may be marginalised in traditional culture? 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education77 26/04/2018

Values: child protection Respect for each child, family & community; sensitivity to minorities, migrants and those with disabilities Listening carefully to children (includes observation and activities with them) Participation of clients in the teaching (including the voices of ‘care-experienced young people’) Self-reflection and desire for supervision You should be checking – is this a western European approach 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

Knowledge: child protection Family structure and child development Changes in family life (weakening of extended family supports?) Recognising neglect and abuse in families, and other forms of abuse Culture, religion and place of children, especially girls Danger of excessive reliance on ‘alternative care’ (Chaitkin et al., 2017) Awareness of the harm of large-scale, ‘institutional’ care Sws need to be brave = they cannot be completely separated from their culture and their society but in regards to issues of discrimination and abuse in families they must be expected to be willing to consider realities that others avoid – they may be said to hold perhaps ‘advanced’ views = which will in time become accepted by all. and impact of globalisation 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

Skills: child protection ‘engaging’ children and parents (honest communication skills), Assessment – using assessment checklists, and frameworks Advocacy skills on behalf of the client Fieldwork practice is essential for skill building, feedback and values testing 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018

integrating knowledge and skills Protecting children and supporting families – its not easy! What mandate does the sw have? What family support services are available? Self-awareness of own prejudices Importance of supervision The University is where these issues and practices are all explored Curriculum needs to include workshops, role plays, simulations and self-examination Who are those most discriminated against Supervision – space for emotional support and reflection

References/resources Chaitkin, S., Cantwell, N., Gale, C., Milligan, I., Flagothier, C., O’Kane, C. & Connelly, G. (2017). Towards the Right Care for Children: Orientations towards reforming alternative care systems, Africa, Asia, Latin America. (Luxembourg: EU). Doi: 10.2841/069502 Gray, M. & Coates, J. (2010). “Indigenisation” and knowledge development: extending the debate, International Social Work, 53, pp.613-27. Ibrahima, A. & Mattaini, M. (2017). Social work in Africa: Decolonizing methodologies and approaches, International Social Work, 2017, online. Massive Open Online Course - Getting Care Right for All (MOOC) Children https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/alternative-care 4th Conference on Advancement of Social Work in Post-Soviet Countries: Achievements and challenges in Social Work Education 26/04/2018