What can the use of Feedback Informed Treatment teach us about involving children, young people and caregivers in statutory casework?

This study explores the use of Feedback Informed Treatment to improve the involvement of children, young people and caregivers in statutory casework in Children’s Services in a Danish municipality. Feedback Informed Treatment involves monitoring a client’s wellbeing at the beginning of sessions and monitoring the working alliance at the end of sessions. Two years of fieldwork were undertaken in connection with researching and writing a manual for the approach. Data regarding how the approach affected the caseworkers’ involvement of children and caregivers in the field notes were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Five categories were generated. Key findings were that involvement required an individual commitment from caseworkers in each meeting and each case. Involvement was structured and viewed as a process that transpired over time, requiring a reliable and valid tool. Involvement had a dual ongoing focus on both the working alliance and change in wellbeing. The involvement was feasible and made sense to children and caregivers. The involvement was viewed as an organisational endeavour. The findings are discussed in relation to key models of participation. There is a need for more research on approaches to how professionals can involve children, young people and caregivers in statutory processes.