Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
1 file | 201.05 KB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. In search of reflexive approaches to ...

In search of reflexive approaches to risk in residential youth care : the critical potential of a ‘rhetoric of risk’

Laura Van Beveren (UGent) , Matthias Remmery (UGent) , Rudi Roose (UGent) and Griet Roets (UGent)
(2026) CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK. 31(1). p.533-541
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
There is a growing body of critical social work research that calls for alternative and more reflexive approaches to dealing with 'risk' in the domain of child protection and welfare. This paper responds to this call by proposing rhetorical studies as a fruitful theoretical and methodological perspective to examine the constructed, contested and discursive nature of risk and risk-based professional practice in youth care. Our contribution is based on a qualitative study of how risk rhetorically operates in a residential youth care facility in Flanders (Belgium). Building on the method of rhetorical fieldwork and additional focus groups with practitioners, we examine the constitutive and persuasive functions of risk discourse as well as potential instances of 'speaking back' against dominant risk discourses. Our analysis reveals three main findings: (1) the constitution of ambiguous youth as/at risk identities, (2) risk as a procedural, spatial and institutional construct and (3) reflexive re-constructions of risk. Given that even more reflexive professional approaches in our data remain largely structured around the notion of 'risk (calculation)', we discuss what rhetoric can offer in the challenge of developing reflexive practices that move beyond risk and/or invite rather than avoid risk and uncertainty in youth care.
Keywords
discourse, reflexivity, rhetorical fieldwork, risk identities, youth as/at risk, youth care

Downloads

  • Download
    (...).pdf
    • full text (Published version)
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 201.05 KB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Van Beveren, Laura, et al. “In Search of Reflexive Approaches to Risk in Residential Youth Care : The Critical Potential of a ‘Rhetoric of Risk.’” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, vol. 31, no. 1, 2026, pp. 533–41, doi:10.1111/cfs.13307.
APA
Van Beveren, L., Remmery, M., Roose, R., & Roets, G. (2026). In search of reflexive approaches to risk in residential youth care : the critical potential of a “rhetoric of risk.” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, 31(1), 533–541. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13307
Chicago author-date
Van Beveren, Laura, Matthias Remmery, Rudi Roose, and Griet Roets. 2026. “In Search of Reflexive Approaches to Risk in Residential Youth Care : The Critical Potential of a ‘Rhetoric of Risk.’” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK 31 (1): 533–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13307.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Van Beveren, Laura, Matthias Remmery, Rudi Roose, and Griet Roets. 2026. “In Search of Reflexive Approaches to Risk in Residential Youth Care : The Critical Potential of a ‘Rhetoric of Risk.’” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK 31 (1): 533–541. doi:10.1111/cfs.13307.
Vancouver
1.
Van Beveren L, Remmery M, Roose R, Roets G. In search of reflexive approaches to risk in residential youth care : the critical potential of a “rhetoric of risk.” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK. 2026;31(1):533–41.
IEEE
[1]
L. Van Beveren, M. Remmery, R. Roose, and G. Roets, “In search of reflexive approaches to risk in residential youth care : the critical potential of a ‘rhetoric of risk,’” CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 533–541, 2026.
@article{01JYZVHCA99Z2ADHY1TK614EH4,
  abstract     = {{There is a growing body of critical social work research that calls for alternative and more reflexive approaches to dealing with 'risk' in the domain of child protection and welfare. This paper responds to this call by proposing rhetorical studies as a fruitful theoretical and methodological perspective to examine the constructed, contested and discursive nature of risk and risk-based professional practice in youth care. Our contribution is based on a qualitative study of how risk rhetorically operates in a residential youth care facility in Flanders (Belgium). Building on the method of rhetorical fieldwork and additional focus groups with practitioners, we examine the constitutive and persuasive functions of risk discourse as well as potential instances of 'speaking back' against dominant risk discourses. Our analysis reveals three main findings: (1) the constitution of ambiguous youth as/at risk identities, (2) risk as a procedural, spatial and institutional construct and (3) reflexive re-constructions of risk. Given that even more reflexive professional approaches in our data remain largely structured around the notion of 'risk (calculation)', we discuss what rhetoric can offer in the challenge of developing reflexive practices that move beyond risk and/or invite rather than avoid risk and uncertainty in youth care.}},
  author       = {{Van Beveren, Laura and Remmery, Matthias and Roose, Rudi and Roets, Griet}},
  issn         = {{1356-7500}},
  journal      = {{CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK}},
  keywords     = {{discourse,reflexivity,rhetorical fieldwork,risk identities,youth as/at risk,youth care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{533--541}},
  title        = {{In search of reflexive approaches to risk in residential youth care : the critical potential of a ‘rhetoric of risk’}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13307}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}
Altmetric
View in Altmetric
Web of Science
Times cited: