2. 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
Wheal A (2002) The RHP Companion to Leaving Care Dorset: RHP

3. 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 ?

4. 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

5. 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)

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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 ?

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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