Safe recruitment, social justice, and ethical practice: should people who have criminal convictions be allowed to train as social workers?
Cowburn, I. Malcolm Nelson, P.
Cowburn, I. Malcolm
Nelson, P.
Publication Date
2008
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Collections
Additional title
Abstract
Decision making in relation to admitting people to train as social workers is, either explicitly or implicitly, an ethical activity. This paper considers ethical and practical issues related to the processing of applicants to social work training in England who have criminal convictions. These issues are explored by focusing on policies that strengthen regulations that exclude ex-offenders from working with children and vulnerable adults. The admissions processes for social work education are analysed in terms of how they contribute to, or counteract, processes of social exclusion. The advice and guidance from the General Social Care Council of England (GSCC) is summarised and analysed. A case study of a social work education partnership grounds the ethical discussion by illustrating the complexities of engaging with combating social exclusion whilst seeking to ensure that the public is protected.
Version
not applicable paper
Citation
Coburn, I.M. and Nelson, P. (2008). Safe recruitment, social justice, and ethical practice: should people who have
criminal convictions be allowed to train
as social workers?. Social Work Education. Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 293-306.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article