Changing User-Perspectives in a Changing Organisation of Casework for Families at Risk

Casework with families at risk is central to modern welfare organisations,especially in view of the professional challenge involved in knowingly changingthe life circumstances and development of families at risk. The aim of thisarticle is to present and discuss how two different types of organisation (ModelOne and Model Two) can create two qualitatively different outlooks for familiesat risk. Qualitative interviews with 29 families at risk form the empiricalbasis for this article. These data have been subjected to a thematic analysis.The study is placed within a Developmental Evaluation methodology. Throughthe voices of families at risk, the article presents that, due to specialisationand task division, the different departments become blind to the complexityof the social problems and situations that surround families at risk. The organisationof our systems of support influences whether the families experiencethe opportunity of having authority over and influence on their lives as well asa sense of dignity. There is great learning potential within the field of practiceas well as within research in giving voice to families at risk — before, duringand after attempts at helping them are made.