TY - JOUR

T1 - Preventive and creative approaches to social work practice: Understanding and responding to the needs of families with children with disabilities and additional needs

AU - Davies, Ceryl Teleri

AU - Job, Deborah

N1 - Special Edition: Art and Creativity in Social Work – A Catalyst for Change

PY - 2024/6/1

Y1 - 2024/6/1

N2 - To address the gap in preventative support, the aim of the FDW role is to offer support for parents and cares of children with disabilities and additional needs, who do not meet the criteria to access services through the children with disabilities social work team. This Welsh evaluation included a survey for professionals (n=23) and parents/carers (n=5) to explore their attitudes on the new Family Disability Worker (FDW) role. Following this, a series of semi-structured interviews were completed to gather the experiences of professionals (n=23) and parents/carers (n=3) of working with the FDW. The findings suggest the development of preventative social work practice to reduce isolation and support these families to feel connected to their community. The participants shared attitudes and experiences supporting the development of the FDW role, to enhance and develop creative and strength-based approaches to social work practice operationalised through a new FDW practice toolkit.

AB - To address the gap in preventative support, the aim of the FDW role is to offer support for parents and cares of children with disabilities and additional needs, who do not meet the criteria to access services through the children with disabilities social work team. This Welsh evaluation included a survey for professionals (n=23) and parents/carers (n=5) to explore their attitudes on the new Family Disability Worker (FDW) role. Following this, a series of semi-structured interviews were completed to gather the experiences of professionals (n=23) and parents/carers (n=3) of working with the FDW. The findings suggest the development of preventative social work practice to reduce isolation and support these families to feel connected to their community. The participants shared attitudes and experiences supporting the development of the FDW role, to enhance and develop creative and strength-based approaches to social work practice operationalised through a new FDW practice toolkit.

KW - Family Disability workers, toolkit, strength-based practice

M3 - Article

JO - Practice: Social Work in Action

JF - Practice: Social Work in Action

ER -