Organisational Change: Good Practice and Black Minority Ethnic Families

Dr Beverley Prevatt Goldstein Social Work Consultant and Academic

This article describes the measures likely to facilitate good practice and to overcome the hurdles to good practice which have been highlighted in B Prevatt Goldstein 'Barriers to good practice with black minority ethnic families' [2009] Fam Law 708. Through research based on 34 interviews with service users 26 interviews with practitioners five focus group discussions and analysis of 92 reports good practice with the 'race' and culture of black minority ethnic (black) families has been identified as respectfully engaging with service users; entering into a dialogue with each service user on his individual culture and that of the profession; and addressing racism and other oppressions appropriately while recognising diverse experiences and strengths. Respectfully engaging was recommended by almost all service users and strongly co-related with satisfaction with the service; a dialogue on culture with service users is needed to reduce the stereotypes of practitioners and service users as found in this research and to enable practitioners to attend to the aspects of culture individual service users prioritise; and anti-racism is required as while racism...

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