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Current Debates on Variability in Child Welfare Decision-Making: A Selected Literature Review

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  • Emily Keddell

    (Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, Aotearoa, New Zealand)

Abstract

This article considers selected drivers of decision variability in child welfare decision-making and explores current debates in relation to these drivers. Covering the related influences of national orientation, risk and responsibility, inequality and poverty, evidence-based practice, constructions of abuse and its causes, domestic violence and cognitive processes, it discusses the literature in regards to how each of these influences decision variability. It situates these debates in relation to the ethical issue of variability and the equity issues that variability raises. I propose that despite the ecological complexity that drives decision variability, that improving internal (within-country) decision consistency is still a valid goal. It may be that the use of annotated case examples, kind learning systems, and continued commitments to the social justice issues of inequality and individualisation can contribute to this goal.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily Keddell, 2014. "Current Debates on Variability in Child Welfare Decision-Making: A Selected Literature Review," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-25, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:3:y:2014:i:4:p:916-940:d:42546
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    19. Arad-Davidzon, Bilhah & Benbenishty, Rami, 2008. "The role of workers' attitudes and parent and child wishes in child protection workers' assessments and recommendation regarding removal and reunification," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 107-121, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emily Keddell, 2019. "Algorithmic Justice in Child Protection: Statistical Fairness, Social Justice and the Implications for Practice," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Allan, Heather & Hollinshead, Dana & Rockwell, Kayla & Ender, Kaitlyn & Antwi-Boasiako, Kofi & O’Leary, Donna & Middel, Floor & Fluke, John, 2025. "Illuminating the complexity of decision making in child welfare using the decision making ecology: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Allan, Heather & Harlaar, Nicole & Hollinshead, Dana & Drury, Ida & Merkel-Holguin, Lisa, 2017. "The impact of worker and agency characteristics on FGC referrals in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 229-237.
    4. Navarro-Pérez, José-Javier & Samper, Paula & Sancho, Patricia & Georgieva, Sylvia & Carbonell, Ángela & Mestre, Maria-Vicenta, 2023. "Development and content validation of a comprehensive tool for assessing risk and protective factors in children and adolescents: The ACRAM," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    5. Keddell, Emily & Cleaver, Kerri & Fitzmaurice, Luke, 2021. "The perspectives of community-based practitioners on preventing baby removals : Addressing legitimate and illegitimate factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    6. Keddell, Emily & Davie, Gabrielle & Barson, Dave, 2019. "Child protection inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand: Social gradient and the ‘inverse intervention law’," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Robichaud, Marie-Joëlle & Pullen Sansfaçon, Annie & Poirier, Marie-Andrée, 2020. "Decision making at substantiation in cases involving racialized families: Child protection workers’ perceptions of influential factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    8. Wilkins, David & Keddell, Emily, 2024. "Risk perceptions and experience in child protection decision-making: A comparative study of student social workers in Wales and Aotearoa New Zealand," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Chapman, Christopher, 2025. "Reifying risk and health: Cultural normativity, bureaucracy, and moral quandary in child abuse investigations in Japan," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    10. O'Leary, Donna & Christie, Alistair & Perry, Ivan J. & Khashan, Ali S, 2024. "Determinants of receiving child protection and welfare services following initial assessment: A cross-sectional study from the Republic of Ireland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    11. Alex James & Jeanette McLeod & Shaun Hendy & Kip Marks & Delia Rusu & Syen Nik & Michael J Plank, 2019. "Using family network data in child protection services," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Golamrej Eliasi, Laleh & Farahani, Hadi & Anis, Merja & Kaittila, Anniina, 2024. "Existing and desired child and family services from Afghan women’s point of view in Finland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    13. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Holen, Frank & Verheyden, Camille & Van Puyenbroeck, Bert & Benbenishty, Rami, 2023. "Decision-making on out-of-home care: The case of Flanders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    14. Keddell, Emily & Hyslop, Ian, 2018. "Role type, risk perceptions and judgements in child welfare: A mixed methods vignette study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 130-139.

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