Exploring Aspects of Care Systems in Different Contexts and Reflecting on Practice in Child Protection Social Work, and in Social Work Education

Abstract

This second issue of Practice in 2023 contains six papers. The first three explore different aspects of the care system in Zimbabwe, in Wales and England, and in England alone. In our first paper, Getrude Dadirai Gwenzi reports on a study of 15 care leavers ’ experiences of transitional housing in Zimbabwe using the framework of social sustainability. As Gwenzi notes, there is emergent evidence of poor experiences and outcomes for care leavers in the global south, analo-gous to those for care leavers in the global north. The provision of transitional housing is one response to that in Zimbabwe. In the current study, care leavers noted greater continuity of care, relationships and a more gradual transition as positives of the transitional housing support provided to them. However, they also had concerns that the housing support was temporary and reported that their basic needs were not always met within it. Recommendations for policy and practice are made in conclusion.