The social worker as family mediator

Balancing power in cases involving family violence

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11957760
AutoresDavid Flynn (0000-0002-7494-2098, autor correspondente)
Ano2005
Volume58
Fascículo4
Páginas407-418
Data de publicação2005-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAustralian Social Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0312-407X • E-ISSN: 1447-0748
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1447-0748.2005.00236.x
OpenAlexW2131122416
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas3

This paper explores power differentials in family mediation, with particular regard to cases involving family violence. The issue of power balancing is examined in relation to the neutrality of the mediator, which is discussed in the context of the social work profession. The paper argues that social workers have a clear ethical responsibility to support and empower the weaker party during family mediation. The paper examines the issue of family violence, where power differentials are at their most extreme, and the debate as to whether cases involving family violence are appropriate for family mediation. The paper argues that, given the high incidence of family violence in contemporary society, and the inadequacies of the traditional adversarial court process, these families should not be prevented from accessing the benefits of mediation. Techniques for mediating in cases involving family violence are presented

Adversarial system · Alternative dispute resolution · Context (archaeology · Criminology · Domestic violence · Family mediation · Mediation · Medical emergency · Neutrality · Poison control · Political science · Power (physics · Social science · Sociology · Child Abuse and Trauma · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work