The author describes challenges of social workers dealing with asylum seeking children in the Republic of Ireland, and argues that “the relationship between social workers and the development of the Irish nation-state is currently being destabilized,” forcing the profession to find new ways of working with the population. He considers the social work profession’s response to those children seeking asylum who have been separated from their parents; children seeking asylum with their family; and young Irish citizens whose asylum seeking parents are in danger of being deported. He suggests that the different roles of social workers will become more complex as mobility of users becomes more of a factor. He states that social workers must be proactive in devleoping practices and policies that are antiracist, and can work with other public bodies and NGOs to do so. He also argues that social workers need to look beyond current practices to “reimagine” the profession, and that needed social services for asylum seeking children requires the developing of “post-national forms of social work practice.”
