BA MCApSc PGDipSocSc PhD (Otago)
Associate Professor in Social Work
Contact details
Room 6C18, Richardson Building
Tel +64 3 479 5867
Email emily.keddell@otago.ac.nz
My research focusses on child welfare inequalities, child protection decision-making, the politics of child protection and the use of algorithmic decision tools in child protection. I pursue a critical perspective on child protection; one that examines the intersections between structural conditions, policy contexts, systems, power and micro practice.
My practice background is in child protection social work, residential work with children, and family support social work. I have taught at the University of Otago since 2005, covering child and family social work, micro theories and skills, child protection decision-making and generalist courses.
I am a Registered Social Worker, an associate member of Child Poverty Action Group, and a founding member of the Re-Imagining Social Work blog collective. I am a member of the editorial collective of the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal, an associate editor of Qualitative Social Work, and on the editorial board of the BJSW sister journal: Practice.
Google Scholar: Emily Keddell
Teaching
I co-ordinate and teach:
SOWK 201 Fields of Practice
SOWK 302 Social Work for Children and Families – Analysis and Theory
SOWK 402 / SOWK 562 Micro Intervention: Theories and Skills
SOWK 490 Dissertation
SOWK 552 Child and Family Social Work
Postgraduate supervision
I welcome approaches for supervision in the following areas:
- Many areas of child and family social work including: policy and systems design in the child welfare context, inequalities and the child welfare system, poverty reduction policies in the tax/benefit system, the use of predictive data analytics, decision-making and judgement, critical approaches to risk and safety, reunification and family maintenance, multiple child removal, and ethics.
- How people construct ethnic identities from multiple options and negotiate these in their family and social contexts.
Current and recent students
Gina Tompkins MA Human Services
Legislative changes to the Children Young persons and their Families Act
Nathan Jaquiery PhD
Stabilising factors in permanent placements for children or young people in the caresystem
Sue Whyte MSW
Self-Efficacy in Parents of Adolescents: Does attendance and completion of ‘Tweens & Teens’ alter parental self-efficacy?
Adele Parkinson PhD
Adult and Child Clients’ Views of a COPMI* Family Support Service: A Mixed Methods Study
Monique Harvey MSW
“Baby Mama” The daily life of being a teenage parent
Monica Hannan MSW
The Impact of Notification to CYF on the NGO Client-Worker Relationship
Karlene Lee MSW
New Zealand Non Government Organisation Social Service Manager’s job satisfaction, job dissatisfaction and the implications for retention
Karen Service MSW
Women’s views of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Jan Young MSW
The Role of Mothers in Shared Care arrangements for children following relationship separation
Jude Buckingham MSP
Pre practicum service learning to enhance counsellor education
Publications
Keddell, E. (2020). The case for an inequalities perspective in child protection. Policy Quarterly, 16(1), 36-38.
Keddell, E. (2020). [Review of the book Taming childhood: A critical perspective on policy, practice and parenting]. Critical Social Policy, 40(1), 166-169. doi: 10.1177/0261018319885906b
Keddell, E., & Stanley, T. (2019). Critical debates in child protection: The production of risk in changing times. In S. A. Webb (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of critical social work. (pp. 412-423). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351264402-36
Keddell, E. (2019). Comparing risk-averse and risk-friendly practitioners in child welfare decision-making: A mixed methods study [Reprint from Journal of Social Work Practice, 31(4), 411-429. doi: 10.1080/02650533.2017.1394822]. In A. Whittaker & B. Taylor (Eds.), Risk in social work practice: Current issues. (pp. 37-58). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Keddell, E., & Hyslop, I. (2019). Networked decisions: Decision-making thresholds in child protection. British Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcz131
Chapter in Book - Research
Keddell, E., & Stanley, T. (2019). Critical debates in child protection: The production of risk in changing times. In S. A. Webb (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of critical social work. (pp. 412-423). New York, NY: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781351264402-36
Keddell, E. (2018). Lives at the intersections: Multiple ethnicities and child protection. In Z. L. Rocha & M. Webber (Eds.), Mana Tangatarua: Mixed heritages, ethnic identity and biculturalism in Aotearoa/New Zealand. (pp. 76-94). Abington, UK: Routledge.
Keddell, E., & Stanley, T. (2017). Risk work in the formation of the 'professional' in child protection social work. In S. A. Webb (Ed.), Professional identity and social work. (pp. 94-107). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Keddell, E., & Katz, I. (2017). Working in child and family welfare. In M. Connolly, L. Harms & J. Maidment (Eds.), Social work: Contexts and practice. (4th ed.) (pp. 221-234). Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Keddell, E. (2016). Child protection reform and welfare reform in Aotearoa New Zealand: Two sides of the same coin? In J. Maidment & L. Beddoe (Eds.), Social policy for social work and human services in Aotearoa New Zealand: Diverse perspectives. (pp. 237-251). Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury University Press.
Keddell, E., & Stanley, T. (2015). Moving from risk to safety: Work with children and families in child welfare contexts. In K. van Heugten & A. Gibbs (Eds.), Social work for sociologists: Theory and practice. (pp. 67-84). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Keddell, E., & Pukepuke, T. (2014). Children witnessing parental violence: A social worker from Aotearoa/New Zealand responds [Case studies and analyses for the web: Invited response]. In J. E. Bettmann, G. Jacques & C. J. Frost (Eds.), International social work practice: Case studies from a global context. (pp. 5-7). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Other
Keddell, E. (2019). Comparing risk-averse and risk-friendly practitioners in child welfare decision-making: A mixed methods study [Reprint from Journal of Social Work Practice, 31(4), 411-429. doi: 10.1080/02650533.2017.1394822]. In A. Whittaker & B. Taylor (Eds.), Risk in social work practice: Current issues. (pp. 37-58). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Keddell, E. (2015). Current debates on variability in child welfare decision-making: A selected literature review. [Reprint of Keddell, E. (2014). Current debates on variability in child welfare decision-making: A selected literature review. Social Sciences, 3(4), 916-940. doi: 10.3390/socsci3040916]. In N. Parton (Ed.), Contemporary developments in child protection: Volume 2: Issues in child welfare. (pp. 141-166). MDPI.
Journal - Research Article
Keddell, E. (2020). The case for an inequalities perspective in child protection. Policy Quarterly, 16(1), 36-38.
Keddell, E., & Hyslop, I. (2019). Networked decisions: Decision-making thresholds in child protection. British Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcz131
Keddell, E., Davie, G., & Barson, D. (2019). Child protection inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand: Social gradient and the ‘inverse intervention law’. Children & Youth Services Review, 104, 104383. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.06.018
Keddell, E. (2019). Algorithmic justice in child protection: Statistical fairness, social justice and the implications for practice. Social Sciences, 8(10), 281. doi: 10.3390/socsci8100281
Keddell, E., & Hyslop, I. (2019). Ethnic inequalities in child welfare: The role of practitioner risk perceptions. Child & Family Social Work, 24, 409-420. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12620
Keddell, E., & Hyslop, I. (2018). Role type, risk perceptions and judgements in child welfare: A mixed methods vignette study. Children & Youth Services Review, 87, 130-139. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.017
Hyslop, I., & Keddell, E. (2018). Outing the elephants: Exploring a new paradigm for child protection social work. Social Sciences, 7(7), 105. doi: 10.3390/socsci7070105
Keddell, E. (2018). The vulnerable child in neoliberal contexts: The construction of children in the Aotearoa New Zealand child protection reforms. Childhood, 25(1), 93-108. doi: 10.1177/0907568217727591
Keddell, E., & Davie, G. (2018). Inequalities and child protection system contact in Aotearoa New Zealand: Developing a conceptual framework and research agenda. Social Sciences, 7, 89. doi: 10.3390/socsci7060089
Keddell, E. (2017). Comparing risk-averse and risk-friendly practitioners in child welfare decision making. Journal of Social Work Practice, 31(4), 411-429. doi: 10.1080/02650533.2017.1394822
Keddell, E. (2017). Interpreting children’s best interests: Needs, attachment and decision-making. Journal of Social Work, 17(3), 324-342. doi: 10.1177/1468017316644694
Beddoe, L., & Keddell, E. (2016). Informed outrage: Tackling shame and stigma in poverty education in social work. Ethics & Social Welfare, 10(2), 149-162. doi: 10.1080/17496535.2016.1159775
Keddell, E. (2016). Constructing parental problems: The function of mental illness discourses in a child welfare context. British Journal of Social Work, 46(7), 2088-2103. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcv096
Keddell, E. (2016). Substantiation decision-making and risk prediction in child protection systems. Policy Quarterly, 12(2), 46-56.
Keddell, E. (2016). Weighing it up: Family maintenance discourses in NGO child protection decision-making in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Child & Family Social Work, 21(6), 512-520. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12168
Keddell, E. (2015). The ethics of predictive risk modelling in the Aotearoa/New Zealand child welfare context: Child abuse prevention or neo-liberal tool? Critical Social Policy, 35(1), 69-88. doi: 10.1177/0261018314543224
Keddell, E. (2014). Theorising the signs of safety approach to child protection social work: Positioning, codes and power. Children & Youth Services Review, 47(1), 70-77. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.03.011
Keddell, E. (2014). Current debates on variability in child welfare decision-making: A selected literature review. Social Sciences, 3(4), 916-940. doi: 10.3390/socsci3040916
Keddell, E. (2012). Going home: Managing ‘risk’ through relationship in returning children from foster care to their families of origin. Qualitative Social Work, 11(6), 604-620. doi: 10.1177/1473325011411010
Keddell, E. (2011). A constructionist approach to the use of arts-based materials in social work education: Making connections between art and life. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31(4), 400-414. doi: 10.1080/08841233.2011.597678
Keddell, E. (2011). Reasoning processes in child protection decision making: Negotiating moral minefields and risky relationships. British Journal of Social Work, 41(7), 1251-1270. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcr012
Keddell, E. (2009). Narrative as identity: Postmodernism, multiple ethnicities, and narrative practice approaches in social work. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 18, 221-241.
Keddell, E. (2007). Cultural identity and the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: Ideology, policy and practice. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 32, 49-71.
Keddell, E. (2006). Pavlova and pineapple pie: Selected identity influences on Samoan-Pakeha people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Kōtuitui, 1(1), 45-63. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2006.9522410
Journal - Research Other
Keddell, E. (2020). [Review of the book Taming childhood: A critical perspective on policy, practice and parenting]. Critical Social Policy, 40(1), 166-169. doi: 10.1177/0261018319885906b
Keddell, E. (2018). [Review of the book Narrative in social work practice: The power and possibility of story]. Affilia, 33(3), 421-422. doi: 10.1177/0886109918762480
Keddell, E. (2017). [Review of the book Doing critical social work: Transformative practices for social justice]. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education, 19(2), 182-183. [Book Review].
Keddell, E. (2017). [Review of the book "Mixed race" identities in Asia and the Pacific: Experiences from Singapore and New Zealand]. Asian Journal of Social Science, 45(3), 372-373. doi: 10.1163/15685314-04503009
Keddell, E. (2017). [Review of the book Children in society: Politics, policies and interventions]. Critical Social Policy, 37(1), 157-159. doi: 10.1177/0261018316668067e
Keddell, E., Stanfield, D., & Hyslop, I. (2016). The social work voice: Doxa and dissent in neoliberal times. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 28(2), 1-6. [Editorial].
Keddell, E. (2014). [Review of the book How to be a social worker: A critical guide for students]. Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education, 16(1), 103-105. [Book Review].
Keddell, E. (2013). Why do Pacific people with multiple ethnic affiliations have poorer subjective wellbeing? Negative ingroup affect mediates the identity tension effect, Manuela & Sibley, 2012. Social Indicators Research, (December). doi: 10.1007/s11205-013-0548-8
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Keddell, E. (2015). Without families we have no future. Otago Daily Times, 22 January.
Keddell, E. (2014). Miranda's got the right word for it: Obfuscatory. New Zealand Herald, (28 March).
Keddell, E. (2013). When carrots are actually sticks. New Zealand Herald, (8 November).
Keddell, E. (2012). Parents need help, not surveillance. Otago Daily Times, (14 September).
Keddell, E. (2012). Child poverty: Inevitable evil or avoidable ill? Otago Daily Times, (6 June).
Keddell, E. (2012). Shovelling snow while it’s still snowing? Thoughts on child abuse prevention. Otago Daily Times, (6 August).
Keddell, E. (2012). Vital to ease child poverty; Tax credit seems best way. Otago Daily Times, (26 October).
Keddell, E. (2012). Benefits should not alter rights. Otago Daily Times, (4 October).
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Keddell, E. (2012). Infusing child protection social work with social work values: Constructing 'risk' in empowering ways. Proceedings of the Joint World Conference on Social Work Development Conference: Action and Impact. Retrieved from http://www.swsddata.org/abstracts.php?id=155
