TY - JOUR

T1 - Atmospheres of mistrust and suspicion

T2 - Theorising on conflict and affective practice in a child protection social work agency

AU - Leigh, Jadwiga

N1 - The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Qualitative Social Work, 18 (2), 2017, © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2017 by SAGE Publications Ltd at the Qualitative Social Work page: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/QSW on SAGE Journals Online: http://journals.sagepub.com/

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - Organisational conflict is normally recognised as a disruptive activity which interrupts relational dynamics and productivity. However, this paper will argue that in addition, if conflict is not resolved carefully, it can trigger negative affect which will in turn unsettle and destabilise a whole workforce. Based on the findings from an organisational ethnography, the author examines how conflict emerged in a child protection social work agency by theorizing on the concept of affective practice. In doing so, the author makes the argument that although affect emerges in interaction it can be exacerbated by the unintentional pursuit of problematic strategies. Examining affective practice in such a way enables studies to bring into play the atmospheric factors which impacted on those who were present at that moment so that readers can understand how people were moved, attracted to or pained by certain social interactions. This is important when trying to comprehend how coercive power approaches in social work prevent care objectives from being met. The paper will conclude by suggesting that when practitioners are preoccupied with trying to survive in the workplace they will find it difficult to meet the needs of the children and families they are working with.

AB - Organisational conflict is normally recognised as a disruptive activity which interrupts relational dynamics and productivity. However, this paper will argue that in addition, if conflict is not resolved carefully, it can trigger negative affect which will in turn unsettle and destabilise a whole workforce. Based on the findings from an organisational ethnography, the author examines how conflict emerged in a child protection social work agency by theorizing on the concept of affective practice. In doing so, the author makes the argument that although affect emerges in interaction it can be exacerbated by the unintentional pursuit of problematic strategies. Examining affective practice in such a way enables studies to bring into play the atmospheric factors which impacted on those who were present at that moment so that readers can understand how people were moved, attracted to or pained by certain social interactions. This is important when trying to comprehend how coercive power approaches in social work prevent care objectives from being met. The paper will conclude by suggesting that when practitioners are preoccupied with trying to survive in the workplace they will find it difficult to meet the needs of the children and families they are working with.

U2 - 10.1177/1473325017707028

DO - 10.1177/1473325017707028

M3 - Journal article

VL - 18

SP - 212

EP - 228

JO - Qualitative Social Work

JF - Qualitative Social Work

SN - 1473-3250

IS - 2

ER -