Beyond instrumentalism: An exploration of the meaning of collective participation for children and young people in care
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Date
2021-05-06Author
Jackson, Rebecca
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Abstract
This dissertation reflects on the collective participation of young people in care
in a rights-based initiative intended to facilitate influence on service and policy
development. Collective participation is increasingly used as a tool to make
policy and service responses more appropriate for the needs of service users.
A strong rationale for the collective participation of young people in care is
evident given the discussion within literature regarding the prevalence of poor
longitudinal outcomes for care leavers, challenging experiences, and the
findings of statutory reports that highlight failings within childcare systems.
However international research demonstrates that meaningful influence on
policy and practice is rarely achieved raising questions regarding the validity of
practice in this area. It has been suggested that the under theorisation of
participation, a lack of meaningful criticism of rights in practice and the under
representation of young voices in terms of what makes participation
meaningful hinders a consideration of the appropriate objectives and
parameters of practice. This dissertation aims to deepen the understanding of
participation in practice through reflection and analysis of rights-based practice
in terms of Article 12 (UNCRC 1989), and subsequently through the theoretical
lens of recognition. The perspectives of twenty-eight young participants were
sought through five focus groups. In addition, twenty practitioners took part in
semi-structured interviews. The key learnings of this study are that this model
supported young people to contribute to service improvements, however
these improvements could not meaningfully address the systemic generation
of challenges in the childcare system. However, the participative space is
meaningful for the young people in that it allows them access the emotional,
social and practical support that may help some young people as they navigate
their way through the care system. For this reason, it is argued that despite the
limitation to influence encountered within the resource constrained
environment of the childcare system, the implementation of the participative
space for young people is an act of solidarity by the organisation.