ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on common cultural beliefs and ideological conflicts that create the environment of crosspurposes in public welfare. It presents a brief description of the “problematics” of public welfare, and a vignette is used to illustrate a set of tensions that people often face when working in this field. The chapter considers the social position of “the family” and “the child”, the ideological conflicts inherent in the field, and the common patterns of blame and volatility and confusion that ensue. In public welfare practice, it is rare that relationships between clients and practitioners are straightforward, regardless of whether the practitioner is a statutory child-protection worker or a “therapist”. To understand child abuse and its meanings, it is necessary to consider the ambiguous social position occupied by families. In considering the leeway that exists for constructive therapeutic relationships, the person of the practitioner stands as one of the crucial mediators.
