Social Work and Multi-Professional Cooperation

Since 2005, serious cases of neglect, abuse and ultimately even the killing of children have caused a stir throughout Germany. The individual stories that have become public have sparked a debate about how to treat children and young people responsibly under current social conditions. The scandalisation and dramatisation of cases of child endangerment show that the protection of children and young people is becoming a social goal. The focus on children's need for protection is guided by the idea of eliminating immediate dangers to children. However, the social relevance of children also reinforces the demand for cooperative problem-solving strategies. This development poses a challenge for social work in that cooperation between professions and disciplines calls into question its own status as a profession. Cooperation between professions always provides insight into professional standards and their implementation, i.e. into professionalism and its practical application.