Moving stories: How movement and mobilities shape social work - the role of the car Harry Ferguson Professor of Social Work University of the West of England

Mobilising social work We need to think of SW in terms of movement We need to think of SW in terms of movement Dominant conception of SW in theory, policy is stationary, sedentarist – glued to computer! Dominant conception of SW in theory, policy is stationary, sedentarist – glued to computer! Emphasises inter-professional communication, accountability, rational rule-following (eg, Laming, 2003) Emphasises inter-professional communication, accountability, rational rule-following (eg, Laming, 2003) Ethnographies of SW have illuminated its life- world, but rarely left the office (Pithouse, 1998; Scourfield, 2003; Dingwall et al, 1983) Ethnographies of SW have illuminated its life- world, but rarely left the office (Pithouse, 1998; Scourfield, 2003; Dingwall et al, 1983)

Time use studies: Care Managers spend 24% in direct contact with SUs & carers; 11% travelling (Weinberg et al, 2003) Time use studies: Care Managers spend 24% in direct contact with SUs & carers; 11% travelling (Weinberg et al, 2003) Little systematic knowledge about experiences of doing the work: home visiting, driving, travel, journeys Little systematic knowledge about experiences of doing the work: home visiting, driving, travel, journeys Child & adult protection etc are mobile practices – need to be understood in terms of capacities to protect and promote welfare while on the move. Child & adult protection etc are mobile practices – need to be understood in terms of capacities to protect and promote welfare while on the move.

‘New mobilities paradigm’ (Sheller & Urry, 2006; Urry, 2007) ‘mobilities’: movement of people, objects, information, practices – locally, globally - flows, fluid images, networks, liquid metaphors ‘mobilities’: movement of people, objects, information, practices – locally, globally - flows, fluid images, networks, liquid metaphors New way of seeing existing SW practices – how movement shapes where, how practice, relationships go on New way of seeing existing SW practices – how movement shapes where, how practice, relationships go on Very nature of SW is unthinkable without increased mobilities Very nature of SW is unthinkable without increased mobilities

Liverpool SPCC, 1920 (credit: Liverpool City Record Office)Liverpool SPCC, 1920 (credit: Liverpool City Record Office)

NSPCC ambulance service, London

NSPCC Inspector on motor cycle, 1930s NSPCC Inspector on motor cycle, 1930s

The car and child protection practice, 1950s The car and child protection practice, 1950s

The car and child protection, 1979

NSPCC Warrington Young People's Centre, 2007: The Station 12 Youth Bus promotes children’s rights and ascertains their wishes and feelings. NSPCC Warrington Young People's Centre, 2007: The Station 12 Youth Bus promotes children’s rights and ascertains their wishes and feelings.

The car as a site of SW practices As a ‘third thing’, ‘a focal point to relieve tension’ when communicating with children (C. Winnicott, 1963, p.50) As a ‘third thing’, ‘a focal point to relieve tension’ when communicating with children (C. Winnicott, 1963, p.50) ‘Apart from the non-verbal communication of literally holding a distressed child, there are many ways of symbolising encircling warmth – one possibility is to keep a rug in the car. Children certainly understand such symbols…’, (Juliet Berry, Social Work with Children, 1972, p. 55)

The car as a space for ‘keeping the feelings open and flowing’ (Stevenson, 1963) The car as a space for ‘keeping the feelings open and flowing’ (Stevenson, 1963) For ‘containment’ (Bion, 1962) For ‘containment’ (Bion, 1962) The SW as a ‘transitional participant’ (Kanter, 2004), taking people on significant life journeys, which connect inner and outer experiences, worlds (Cooper & Lousada, 2005; Froggett, 2002). The SW as a ‘transitional participant’ (Kanter, 2004), taking people on significant life journeys, which connect inner and outer experiences, worlds (Cooper & Lousada, 2005; Froggett, 2002).

Social workers and their cars A place of safety in itself or means to reaching a secure base (Smith, 2003) A place of safety in itself or means to reaching a secure base (Smith, 2003) A space for spiritual and emotional restoration, containment of anxiety A space for spiritual and emotional restoration, containment of anxiety A place for supervision, mobile office A place for supervision, mobile office A space for ‘emotionally informed thinking’ (Ruch, 2007) A space for ‘emotionally informed thinking’ (Ruch, 2007)

Driving the mobilities agenda forward Need new theories & language to capture the mobile, liquid nature of SW practice Need new theories & language to capture the mobile, liquid nature of SW practice Car is crucial in a complex system, to the flows of embodied practices between office – home Car is crucial in a complex system, to the flows of embodied practices between office – home Develop SWs skills up to practice well on the move Develop SWs skills up to practice well on the move (Re)introduce ‘moving stories’ & emotional life into case recording, research (Re)introduce ‘moving stories’ & emotional life into case recording, research Living with uncertainty, risk, adventure Living with uncertainty, risk, adventure

“So it seems that when you set out for a car ride you never know where you will get to, or what will turn up on the way.” (Clare Winnicott, 1963, p.51) “So it seems that when you set out for a car ride you never know where you will get to, or what will turn up on the way.” (Clare Winnicott, 1963, p.51)

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