Irish social work at the crossroads: cultural and organisational boundaries between professional practices and the voices of the children

Five years since the creation of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) that embodied the cultural shift towards in Irish Social Work towards the recognition of children’s voices in decisions that affect their lives, this research promotes Social Workers narratives around their interactions with children. The aim of the research was to promote and discuss Irish Social Workers perceptions, experiences and meanings of their professional life working with children at the crossroads between diverging policies underpinned by contrasting meanings and representation of childhood. Based on interviews with eight senior Social Workers, the research suggests the ambiguous position of Social Work with children, as discourses of children’s self-determination and children’s agency are not only limited by organisational barriers, but also challenged by discourses of professional accountability and safeguarding.