Thinking Systemically, Thinking Globally Leaving Care: Thinking Systemically, Thinking Globally Prof John Pinkerton School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work Queens University Belfast Northern Ireland j.pinkerton@qub.ac.uk Wheal A (2002) The RHP Companion to Leaving Care Dorset: RHP

Why I’m here. Four Questions Question One: Is international exchange worth bothering with ? Question Two: How should we go about it ? Question Three: What do we have to exchange? Question Four: Where should this process of exchange take us ?

Why bother with an international perspective ?   Why bother with an international perspective ? Especially given the difficulty and dangers … information overload, language, comparable date, culture and system specifics, scale, ethnocentricism Answer: To engage with globalisation

Question Two: How should we go about it ? Holistic strategies: pursuit of an all encompassing framework (global phenomena) Partialising and comparative strategies: detailing limited but grounded frameworks (cross national phenomena) Discursive formation strategies: exploration of competing, interacting perspectives (enriched discourses) Payne M (1996) What is professional Social Work Birmingham: Venture Press (p161/2)

Care Career/ Continuum: An aid to thinking about system and process Pre care In Care After Care Leaving Care Position ? Needs ? Supports ?

securing the spokes is a multi agency challenge Leaving Care Coping Wheel: An aid to thinking holistically and systemically identity Social and Emotional ‘Spokes’ Material ‘Spokes’ Social competence health Self confidence employment Adult support education Peer support Income support Neighbourhood belonging training ‘Rim’ of shared expectations, choices, rights and responsibilities accommodation securing the spokes is a multi agency challenge

Conceptual framework for cross country comparison Macro domain: large scale international social processes and institutions directly affecting nation states indirectly effecting local practices Mezzo domain: space where relationships between the nation-state, welfare regimes and social professions are played out Micro domain: site of of everyday practice Houston and Campbell (2001) “Using critical social theory to develop a conceptual framework for comparative social work” International Social Welfare 10, p68

NATIONAL MEZZO GLOBAL MACRO CULTURE ? AUSTRALIA NORTHERN IRELAND   NATIONAL MEZZO GLOBAL MACRO CULTURE ? AUSTRALIA NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICS ? LOCAL MICRO ECONOMICS ?

Question 3 : What do we have to exchange? Characterisitics of the UK micro level: Entry in teenage years Residential last placement Preparation for leaving but limited aftercare Initial return to family Housing insecurity Low educational attainment Poverty Social exclusion True for you in Australia ?

More negative UK micro level characterisitcs – true for you ? Instability within care Negative impact on identity Lack of engagement by social workers Bureaucratic decision making Too little or ineffective preparation for coping with practicalities and relationships Insufficient attention to education training and employment Lack of recognition to family and friends

Some positive UK micro level characterisitcs – true for you ? Strong management and policy frameworks Policy influenced from below Thinking process (care career) Thinking holistic (coping wheel) Commitment Engagement Clear objectives Targeting core needs Open communication Interagency working

Possible to map on an Australian comparison ? ? Leaving care in Northern Ireland: A Strategic overview at the messo level Leaving and Aftercare as Policy Priority legislation guidance and regulations policy documents Monitoring and Evaluation Routine statistical returns Project evaluations Longitudinal research Planning Mapping Need Identifying required delivery and training systems Allocating resources Possible to map on an Australian comparison ? ? Service Delivery Appropriate organisational context Clear process of delivery Different levels of support Range of types of delivery Adequate resources for delivery

Macro Level ? My judgement Stirrings of interest Emerging literature Mendes P and Moslehuddin B (2004) Graduating from the child welfare system: a comparison of the UK and Australian leaving care debates International Journal of Social Work 13 Belfast Seminar November 2005 pre meeting with senior civil servants establised an international research network 2006 researchers seminar Budapest, Hungary 2007 book and conference Oxford, England

Question Four: Where should the process of exchange be taking us? Extending, consolidating and building networks Sharing information and agreeing joint action Finding shared questions to help describe, explain and act Macro: globalisation Mezzo: citizenship, youth transitions, welfare regimes Micro: care careers, outcomes, best practice

defining characteristics ?   Globalisation ? defining characteristics ? process of change ? One more ball worth juggling !