Navigating the voice of Care-Experienced Children and Young People (CECYP) through their Social Worker

Background and Purpose: Democratic principles such as equity, participation, and shared decision-making are essential in ensuring that the voices of care-experienced children and young people (CECYP) are amplified in social work practice. Social workers play a crucial role in advocating for these children’s voices, but they face significant challenges in translating democratic values into daily practice. This study explores how social workers engage with democratic values, focusing on the co-creation of knowledge as they work to integrate CECYP’s perspectives into decision-making processes. The research embraces democracy in social work practice by emphasising the collaborative nature of social work between practitioners and those they serve.

Methods: This research employs a qualitative design using Thematic Analysis, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 8-12 social workers who directly work with CECYP. Participants were recruited through professional networks such as the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). While CECYP are not directly involved in this study, the focus is on how social workers engage in participatory decision-making on their behalf. The research examines how democratic principles like shared power and equitable participation are operationalised by social workers, with an emphasis on the co-creation of knowledge, whereby social workers actively incorporate children’s perspectives into their practice.

Findings: Preliminary findings indicate that social workers are committed to upholding democratic values in their work, but face substantial barriers, including organisational limitations and the ethical complexities of balancing children's needs with institutional demands. Social workers emphasised the importance of building long-term, trusting relationships with CECYP to facilitate more effective participation, reflecting the principle of co-creation of knowledge. The research found that engaging children in decision-making is not just about hearing their voices but integrating their perspectives into practice, thus co-constructing solutions in collaboration with them. The use of digital tools like WhatsApp has helped democratise communication, allowing for more direct, two-way engagement between social workers and children. This shift highlights the transition from top-down decision-making to more inclusive practices.

Conclusions and Implications: This study demonstrates that embracing democracy in social work practice requires a deep commitment to co-creating knowledge with those being served, even when they are not directly involved in research. Social workers act as intermediaries, ensuring that CECYP’s voices shape care decisions, thus reinforcing the democratic principle of shared power. The findings suggest the need for systemic changes that further support social workers in fostering collaborative relationships that allow for equitable participation in decision-making. This research contributes to the co-creation of knowledge by highlighting how social workers’ experiences can inform the development of practices that better align with democratic values. Further research should focus on expanding participatory frameworks that reduce power imbalances, ensuring that democratic practices are fully integrated across social, cultural, and professional boundaries, and enhancing methodological innovation in social work.