'More than Words': touch practices in child and family social work

ABSTRACT This paper explored the subject of physical touch occurring between social workers and children in the Republic of Ireland. Here, it was maintained that touch practices occupy an ambiguous area for social work practitioners. The empirical component was based on interviews that were conducte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child & family social work Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 389 - 398
Main Authors: Lynch, Rachel, Garrett, Paul Michael
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2010
Subjects:
Ambiguity
Attitudes
Body
Child welfare
Children
Children & youth
codes of practice
Communications
Empathy
Ethics
Family
Family social work
Ireland
Occupational roles
Personal experiences
Reassurance
Risk
Social welfare
Social Work
Social Workers
the body
Touch
Work
Ireland
Eire
ISSN:1356-7500, 1365-2206
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:ABSTRACT This paper explored the subject of physical touch occurring between social workers and children in the Republic of Ireland. Here, it was maintained that touch practices occupy an ambiguous area for social work practitioners. The empirical component was based on interviews that were conducted with a small group of practitioners in one particular Irish county. The study provided insight into the social workers' personal experiences of, and opinions on, touch with children in the context of their practice. Despite a lack of prescriptive ‘do's and don'ts’ regarding physical touch and social work, the findings suggested that social workers do not consciously engage in physical touch with children. Rather, touch occurs as a result of practicality and safety concerns for a child. Recognized as beneficial in terms of communication, reassurance and conveying empathy, touch practices are also guided by a fear of misinterpretation, allegations and concern for causing harm to the child. The place of physical touch with children is regarded as being outside the remit of the social work role. Despite this, a majority of those interviewed spoke of a desire to have more discussion and guidance on the subject of physical touch with children within their work locations.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-CLSLRVPX-C
istex:FD3E5770A01CF63544AE8855A51A7C7F172D543F
ArticleID:CFS686
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1356-7500
1365-2206
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00686.x