Perception of risk among child protection workers

Differences in ratings of the severity of risk for children involved in the child welfare system among less experienced and more experienced social workers are examined. Sixty-three social workers from a south western Ontario CAS participated: twenty-seven with less than three years of experience and thirty-six with more than three years of experience. Social workers read two scenarios and were asked to determine the extent of risk present to the child and indicate if that child should be taken into care. The findings indicate that social workers with different levels of experience do not differ in their perceptions of risk and in their decisions with regards to managing risk in the community. Increases in the number of children taken into care is not attributable to differential decision making based on experience.