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[Bridging Divides: The Role of Social Work within Law Enforcement]-[Police Social Work: Speaking Life into Young People - Ep. 78]

The Social Work Stories Podcast · B2 · 2023-03-28

Culture
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📋 Summary

Introduction to the Pacifica Perspective

In this episode of Social Work Stories, hosts Mim Fox and Liz Murphy celebrate World Social Work Day by featuring the work of Jack Scanlon, a Pacifica academic and practitioner. Scanlon’s narrative centers on his professional journey in South Auckland, where he navigated the complex, often contentious intersection of social work and the New Zealand Police. He emphasizes the importance of "acknowledging the space" and the "privileged space" he occupies as a practitioner, grounding his approach in his cultural identity.

The Challenge of the "Police Social Worker" Role

Scanlon discusses the irony of his career path, noting his "natural dislike of police" before he joined the force. He viewed his role as a "change agent," aiming to influence the system from the "inside out" rather than merely advocating against it from the outside. Operating as a "non-sworn officer," Scanlon occupied a unique position that required him to balance the institutional mandates of the police with his commitment to the community. He humorously recalls the need for "steel cap boots" not for physical combat, but as a metaphor for the resistance he faced when knocking on doors in communities that perceived the police as an entity responsible for "locking my people away."

Navigating Trauma and Building Rapport

Central to his practice was a case involving a young "gang leader" referred to as the "judge's last chance." Scanlon highlights the young man's deep-seated "mistrust of authority" and his history of "rejection" within his own family unit. Scanlon’s intervention was not a linear success story; he describes a "cat and mouse" dynamic where the client frequently avoided appointments. However, Scanlon persisted, prioritizing "time and space" over rigid bureaucratic timelines, often engaging the young person through shared meals and informal conversation, which he notes is a vital "Pacific or indigenous nature" of interaction.

Advocacy and Systemic Change

Scanlon frames his role as a translator of cultures. He utilized his "private space of education" to decode "professional language" and legislation for his clients while simultaneously challenging the systemic biases in court. By "painting a different picture" to the police and the judiciary, he sought to shift the narrative from viewing young people as mere "statistics" to recognizing them as individuals with potential. He emphasizes that the goal was to "break down some of the professional language" used by lawyers and officials to provide his clients with a fair chance.

Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Social Work

Reflecting on his experiences 15 years later, Scanlon underscores the core value of the profession: the opportunity to "speak life into young people." He concludes by encouraging fellow practitioners not to view their work as a "wasted story" even when progress seems slow or non-existent. His story serves as a testament to the power of persistence, cultural humility, and the efficacy of working across institutional divides to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable youth.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I change it.
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Oh, March is a terrible month.
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That being said, Liz, every world social work day, what I love the most is standing in a room full of social workers.
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I mean, only social workers can cram that many words into a theme.
5
It's very efficient.
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📝Key Phrases

1
toying with the idea
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take ourselves away from the everyday
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cram that many words into
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set the scene
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meandering story
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📖 Transcript

Welcome to Social Work Stories, a podcast exploring social work practice through stories and critical reflection.
This podcast is recorded on Aboriginal country, which was never seated.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands and pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past, present and emerging.
We offer a warm welcome to any Indigenous listeners who are part of our podcast community around the world.
If you have thoughts or feedback for our team or just want to find our whole back catalog of episodes, check out our website, socialworkstories.com.
But for now, on with the episode.

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