Overview
Critical examination, using the decision-making ecology framework, of macro, institutional and individual decision-maker influences on decision making in response to child abuse and neglect.
Decision making in child welfare is complex and requires a broad range of knowledge, skills and reflective capacities. Decision-making in this high stakes environment relies not only on individual practitioners, but is shaped by institutional, cultural and macro influences. This paper explores decision-making in the Aotearoa New Zealand context, and aims to develop critically reflective practitioners.
About this paper
| Paper title | Decision-making in Child Welfare |
|---|---|
| Subject | Social Work |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,665.83 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- SOWK 509
- Limited to
- BSW
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Social and Community Work programme website
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
The Distance Learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching.
There are two compulsory workshops for this paper - one at the start and one at the end of semester.
- Textbooks
- Readings will be provided online. There is no set text.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Critical thinking, Ethics, Cultural understanding.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Be able to critically analyse the child welfare decision-making environment, recognising the legal, ethical, social, cultural and political dimensions shaping decision-making. This includes the influence of colonisation, disparities for Māori, and Treaty-based approaches to child protection.
- Be able to understand and apply the decision-making ecology to understand the child welfare decision making environment.
- Be able to critically analyse organisational influences on judgement, including organisational cultures, feedback, groupthink, team decision-making processes, interprofessional decision-making and the influence of the resource environment.
- Be able to critically examine the individual drivers of decision making, including values and beliefs, cultural differences, cognitive processes (including biases), and the interpretive nature of decision making.
- Be able to describe and evaluate differing approaches to decision-making in the child welfare environment.
- Be able to apply participatory practice approaches with children and whānau, and culturally diverse decision-making processes.
- Can identify and weigh up relevant case factors, drawing on relevant theory and research, to inform assessments of risk, safety, ethics and Treaty of Waitangi obligations in child protection decision-making practice.
Overview
Critical examination, using the decision-making ecology framework, of macro, institutional and individual decision-maker influences on decision making in response to child abuse and neglect.
Decision making in child welfare is complex and requires a broad range of knowledge, skills and reflective capacities. Decision-making in this high stakes environment relies not only on individual practitioners, but is shaped by institutional, cultural and macro influences. This paper explores decision-making in the Aotearoa New Zealand context, and aims to develop critically reflective practitioners.
About this paper
| Paper title | Decision-making in Child Welfare |
|---|---|
| Subject | Social Work |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- SOWK 509
- Limited to
- BSW
- Contact
- More information link
- View more information on the Social and Community Work programme website.
- Teaching staff
- Teaching Arrangements
The distance learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching.
There are two compulsory workshops for this paper: one at the start and one at the end of semester.
- Textbooks
Readings will be provided online. There is no set text.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Be able to critically analyse the child welfare decision-making environment, recognising the legal, ethical, social, cultural and political dimensions shaping decision-making. This includes the influence of colonisation, disparities for Māori and Treaty-based approaches to child protection.
- Be able to understand and apply the decision-making ecology to understand the child welfare decision making environment.
- Be able to critically analyse organisational influences on judgement, including organisational cultures, feedback, groupthink, team decision-making processes, interprofessional decision-making and the influence of the resource environment.
- Be able to critically examine the individual drivers of decision-making, including values and beliefs, cultural differences, cognitive processes (including biases) and the interpretive nature of decision making.
- Be able to describe and evaluate differing approaches to decision-making in the child welfare environment.
- Be able to apply participatory practice approaches with children and whānau, and culturally diverse decision-making processes.
- Can identify and weigh up relevant case factors, drawing on relevant theory and research, to inform assessments of risk, safety, ethics and Treaty of Waitangi obligations in child protection decision-making practice.