Solidary authority – conceptualising relations of care in statutory social work with vulnerable children and families

This article investigates how statutory social workers use their authority in relation to children and families in Danish child welfare and protection services. It seeks to create knowledge about how it is possible to care in a statutory and governmental context that involves authority to intervene in the lives of children and families, and where recent trends towards individualisation of social problems and cost-effectiveness challenge social work ideals and practices of care and solidarity. By drawing on theories of care and analysing qualitative data from an ethnographic field study of professional practices in two municipal child and family departments, the article introduces the concept of solidary authority as a starting point for understanding relations of authority and care in social work. This concept inserts care practices in the context of the authority and power of the welfare state, and it captures how state authority depends on professional solidarity and care for the needs of citizens in disadvantaged positions in order to create welfare, well-being and social justice. Finally, the article concludes on the possibilities of care and solidary authority in a changing governmental context.