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Bound by University of South Wales Abbey Bookbinding Co. 105 Cathays Terrace. Cardiff CrU 4HU. U.K. Tel: -i-M (0)29 2039 5882 2064740 Email: [email protected] www.bookbindersuk.com From the Poor law to New Labour A Comparative Analysis of Interventions to Support Families Howell. G. Edwards A submission in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Glamorgan / Prifysgol Morgannwg for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. March 2004 Abstract The thesis explores the changing role that family support and social casework have played since the time of the Poor Law, and places these changes within the wider child care policy context. It highlights the importance of the Children Act 1989 to the recent development of support services for families. It argues that placing family support services within a framework ensures that services are developed to meet identified needs, and assists in mapping and evaluating those services. The thesis contends that it is vital for families to receive structured support since poverty has such a destructive impact on children and family life. The community development dimension of family support is seen as being important particularly in respect of open access support, as are the participation and empowerment of users. Listening to and acknowledging the rights of children are identified as key challenges for the future. The thesis reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of family support and social casework . It explores methodologies adopted in evaluating such services. The thesis reviews the process of establishing a community-based children resource centre in an economically and socially deprived community. Adopting a case study approach in order to evaluate the impact this initiative had on the local community. This case study highlights a series of key issues such as funding, political support, and involvement of the community and statutory agencies. The need to provide evidence to show the effectiveness of support services leads one to consider the relevant issues and difficulties, including an argument for considering randomised control trials, and more longitudinal research studies. An evaluation of the Resource Centre is considered. The thesis concludes that community based, open-access services are highly valued by users and provide an important support to families under stress, that social casework must play a key role in assessing need and in maximising access to family support provision, and that in order to be effective, preventive and family support services need to be developed within a local multi-agency strategic framework, Certificate of Research This is to certify that, except where specific reference is made, the work described in this thesis is the result of the candidate. Neither this thesis, nor any part of it, has been presented, or is currently submitted, in candidature for any degree at any other university. H.G.Edwards Prof. D Adamson Date -iP~-3-:J.J=t~ Date ------ Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to Professor David Adamson for his guidance, support and advice. I also thank my employers Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for supporting and sponsoring me throughout the period that it has taken to complete the study. Thanks also go to Richard Morgan MBE for his invaluable '24 hour' computer help-line and to Phil Evans and Professor David Jackson for their assistance. Finally, I would like to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to my wife Eirlys and daughter Kate for their encouragement, support and forbearance during the completion of this thesis. INTRODUCTION 5 BIBLIOGRAPHY- INTRODUCTION...... ................................................................................................ 15 CHAPTER ONE FROM THE POOR LAW TO 1989 16 THE POOR LAW SYSTEM................................................................................................................... 17 POST-WAR PouaEs INCLUDING THE CURTIS REPORT AND THE CHILDREN ACT 1948........................ 26 THE INGLEBY REPORT................................. ...................................................................................... 31 THE 1963 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT............................................................................... 34 THE 1969 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ACT....................... .......................................................... 37 THE SEEBOHM REPORT ..................................................................................................................... 38 THE CHILDREN ACT 1989.................................................................................................................. 47 BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 1...............................................................................................................50 CHAPTER TWO THE CHILDREN ACT 1989 AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 54 THE GOVERNMENT'S MODERNISATION AGENDA............................................................................... 55 BEST VALUE..................................................................................................................................... 55 THE WALES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.......................................................................................... 60 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILDREN'S SERVICES............................................................................ 62 NEW GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES ....................................................................................................... 67 REVIEWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989&MESSAGES FROM RESEARCH 2001 74 KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE.................................................................................................................. 80 GREEN PAPER-EVERY CHILD MATTERS .......................................................................................... 85 A DISTINCT WELSH AGENDA............................................................................................................ 89 NEW LABOUR'S COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN.................................................................................... 91 BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER Two.......................................................................................................... 93 CHAPTER THREE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL CASEWORK 97 CHARITY ORGANISATION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY................................................................. 101 THE CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY........................................................................................... 105 THE SETTLEMENT MOVEMENT........................................................................................................ 108 Page 1 1900 TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR................................................................................................ ill THE POST-WAR ERA....................................................................................................................... 112 SOQAL WORK UNDER THE CONSERVATIVES 1979-1997..................................................................118 BARCLAY REPORT........................................................................................................................... us SOCIAL WORK AND NEW LABOUR................................................................................................... 122 BAD PRESS /BAD IMAGE/BADCAREER......................................................................................... 125 THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE................................................................................................................ 128 BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER THREE..................................................................................................... 130 CHAPTER FOUR MAKING SENSE OF FAMILY SUPPORT 135 A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING/DEVELOPING SERVICES...................................................... 139 DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH........................................................................................................ 147 COMMUNITY RENEWAL................................................................................................................... 149 COMMUNITY REGENERATION WITHIN A WELSH CONTEXT......................................................... ...... 150 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND PARTICIPATION................................................. 154 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION........................................................................................................... 156 ADOPTING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH WITH CHILDREN............................................ 161 THE NATURE OF CHILDHOOD.......................................................................................................... 164 UN CONVENTIONONTHERIGHTS OFTHE CHILD. ............................................................................ 166 CONSULTATION/PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.............................................. 171 BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER FOUR....................................................................................................... 176 CHAPTER FIVE CHILDREN IN POVERTY 181 EFFECT OF POVERTY ....................................................................................................................... 182 HISTORICAL REVIEW....................................................................................................................... 182 THE NEW RIGHT AND THE RISE OF POVERTY (1979-1997)..............................................................