Utilisation of a cultural perspective in child welfare expert assessments in Norway

Abstract

In Norway, legislation requires consideration of a child’s culture in all phases of child welfare work. Through a quantitative content analysis of 285 child welfare expert assessment reports, we explored experts’ utilisation of a cultural perspective, comparing reports concerning immigrant and non-immigrant background children. We found that experts were rarely instructed to employ a cultural perspective but do so more frequently in reports concerning immigrant than non-immigrant background children. We found little evidence of critical reflection and interpreters were used rarely. The article discusses the possible explanations for and implications of a limited cultural perspective in child welfare expert assessments.