Conceptualising Care in Children's Social Services

This article explores the concept of care and the responsibility assumed by 'states' when taking children into care. It examines the limitations of the state in exercising its parental duty and it proposes a model for re-conceptualising children's social care by drawing on the literature on autonomy, recognition theory and specific provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The model places the child's dignity at the core of the care framework, and it argues that a children's rights approach which is grounded in moral theories contributes to their self-esteem and autonomy, both of which are key for a person's development and well-being. The model addresses the tension between children's rights and child welfare and it can be applied to child protection services that aim to take a children's rights approach.