What matters in practice? Understanding 'quality' in the routine supervision of offenders in Scotland

Grant, S. and McNeill, F. (2015) What matters in practice? Understanding 'quality' in the routine supervision of offenders in Scotland. British Journal of Social Work, 45(7), pp. 1985-2002. (doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcu056)

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Abstract

Little is known about the nature, character and construction of quality in the routine supervision of offenders in Scotland. Quality is an important yet contested concept with multiple facets and features, but its meanings for practitioners are under-researched. This article will present findings from a study using Appreciative Inquiry to reveal how Scottish criminal justice social workers attempt to conceptualise and construct meanings of quality in their daily practice with people who have offended. Our findings conclude that, despite significant fluctuation in criminal justice policy and practice, practitioners' ideas of quality seem to suggest resilience to both managerialism and punitiveness. Practitioners ultimately located quality within relational processes underpinned by social work values, but also saw it as being underscored by (or undermined by the lack of) adequate resourcing, professional supervision, flexibility and training.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in the British Journal of Social Work following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Grant, Scott, and McNeill, Fergus (2014) What matters in practice? Understanding 'quality' in the routine supervision of offenders in Scotland, British Journal of Social Work is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcu056
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McNeill, Professor Fergus
Authors: Grant, S., and McNeill, F.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
Journal Name:British Journal of Social Work
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0045-3102
ISSN (Online):1468-263X
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 Oxford University Press
First Published:First published in British Journal of Social Work 45(7):1985-2002
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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