Peer-reviewed article

Conceptions of participation in child protection care assessments—A discourse analysis of independent experts accounts

Tone Jørgensen, Rakel Aasheim Greve, Polly Evans McGinn, Øivin Christiansen · 19 Feb 2025

Abstract

Abstract Although there is a growing knowledge base on children’s participation in child welfare, little research has examined the child’s position as a participant in child protection assessments undertaken by independent experts. Independent experts are commonly used in child protection care proceedings to assess families and contribute to a sound basis for care order decisions. Their reports are highly influential in the child welfare decision-making process. Based on twelve qualitative interviews with independent experts, we explore accounts of their practices of involving children in their investigation. Using a discursive approach, we analyse how the experts use various interpretative repertoires about children’s participation to reason about the position of themselves and the child as participants in the care assessment. Our analysis demonstrates four distinct positions in their discursive constructions of children’s participation. These are the protector position, the investigator position, the facilitator position, and the non-therapist position, each with a distinct interpretation repertoire. The article discusses these in relation to the specific practice context that independent expert care assessments are a part of. Further, we argue for an increased awareness of how conceptualizations of participation simultaneously contribute to what positions become available for children as participants in an independent expert care assessment.