Abstract In this paper, we explore social workers’ perspectives of a child-centred approach in high-conflict parental separations. The aim is to define a child-centred approach in social work with children, adolescents and families in these situations. The data consists of vignette interviews with Finnish child protection and child and family social workers ( N = 46). The research question is: How do social workers construct a child-centred approach in high-conflict separations when presented with case vignettes? We found that social workers construct a child-centred approach through three different conceptualisations: (1) Child-centredness as a child’s active involvement advocated by the social worker, (2) Child-centredness mediated through interaction with parents to support the child, and (3) Child-centredness achieved by professional collaboration. These conceptualisations reflect that child-centredness in social work is a dimensional, cumulative and evolving process, and it should be understood as a multilayered and context-related entirety. It is also important to recognise the social worker’s role as a designer and a leader of child-centred practices in high-conflict parental separations. To uphold a child-centred approach in these complex situations, social workers need awareness, education, support, and confidence in their own expertise and in collaborating with other professionals.
Kallinen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.