Abstract:
Background: The social work profession is immersed in the task of working with parents. This focus on parenting as the nexus for societal change is most visible in child protection social work, however social work assessments of parenting practices are frequent across all fields of social work. Consequently, social workers who are not yet parents, but have many years of valuable social work practice experience inevitably form views and concepts surrounding ‘best’, ‘safe’, and ‘adequate’ parenting practices. The transition to parenthood then for these social workers can present with contradictions and feelings of ambivalence.
Aims: This research project sought to explore how experienced social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand navigated their transition to parenthood, and how this evolution impacted upon their professional use of self. Accounts of people, workplaces, and practices that facilitated as well as hindered this transition were actively sought.
Methods: This project included semi-structured qualitative interviews with 10 individual social workers who had a minimum of three years practice experience before becoming a parent. Data was analysed using a thematic analysis framework, and NVivo 12, a qualitative data analysis software.
Findings: This thesis found that social workers were very articulate and adept at reflecting upon the changes to their professional practice upon becoming a parent, though they found almost no professional milieu in which to safely communicate those changes. Participants were concerned with presenting a professional façade that did not acknowledge the internal or familial difficulties in their transition to parenthood or current parenting practices though they felt that their struggles had increased their empathetic capacities as practitioners.
Conclusion: Paradoxically, despite enhanced awareness and personal experience of parenthood, many social workers communicated an increased hesitancy regarding social work practice with children and families. Social workers who have a wealth of practice experience before navigating their transition to parenthood bring unique, reflective perspectives to the social work profession. However, without any formalised supports, this thesis has demonstrated that some practitioners may feel unable to continue to practice as social workers and parents.