Understanding the lived experiences of black and ethnic minority children and families
Published on 1 January, 2020.
This briefing is particularly concerned with the issues that frame the lived experiences of diverse groups of children and families in the child protection system. A central aim of the briefing is to focus on black and ethnic minority children as these groups of children are over-represented in children’s social work, but have unique issues as a result of various marginalised identities. It will provide summaries of research exploring salient factors affecting children and families’ day-to-day realities, thus deepening practice supervisors’ knowledge of how poverty and systemic inequalities affect families’ social conditions. Throughout the briefing, there will be an exploration of the intersectional factors that are influential in framing the lived experiences of black and ethnic minority children and families who come to the attention of child welfare services. The briefing will be interspersed with reflective prompts to help practice supervisors think through issues of difference, discrimination and social inequalities, in order to strengthen their critical capacity for supporting the learning and development of social workers to meet the challenges of working with families who experience poverty, discrimination and marginalisation. This briefing is comprised of four sections:
- an outline of some of the factors that frame the lived experiences of black and ethnic minority children who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system
- understanding how diversity, social inequality and poverty impact the lived experiences of children
- listening to the voice of the child
- exploring how practice supervisors can support social workers to reflect on issues of power and discrimination.