Diagrama social worker shares thoughts for book about violence in society

Margaret offers insights into understanding the triggers behind violent behaviour

Diagrama's foster care social worker Margaret Gardiner has contributed to an upcoming book "How we can become a less violent society", produced by the Monument Trust.

Margaret's submission offers a unique insight into the thoughts of a foster child, exploring the emotional turmoil which can culminate in violent behaviour.

Including contributions from 44 journalists, MPs and professionals across the public sector, the book also features contributions from award-winning Guardian journalist Gary Younge, ex Chief Constable Mike Barton, Jonathon Poynton from Red Thread, Will Linden of Glasgow’s Violence Reduction Unit, and a foreword from Vicky Foxcroft MP, a co-chair of the Youth Violence Commission, amongst many others. 

Margaret began her child care experience in 1991 managing a residential family centre teaching parenting skills and completing parenting assessments for courts. She qualified as a Social Worker and obtained her degree in Health and Social Care (2002) Open University. Since then she has worked in a variety of roles within IFAs from Learning and Development Manager, Quality Manager and Head of Service/Registered Manager.

She became a foster carer in 2003 for an IFA and has a wealth of experience in the field.

Speaking about her contribution to the book Margaret said: "In my experience as a foster carer and a social worker working in fostering, it is important for adults to understand the cause of violence in children and young people, what the triggers are and what is happening for them. In doing this we can then know how to manage the situation in a non punitive manner which often only serves to inflame the situation.

"This in turn enables the young person to start managing their own emotions which leads to better outcomes and less violence as they get older."

Other contributions offer perspectives on curing violence from across public services and civic society, including insights into tackling paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland, public health approaches pioneered in Cardiff, service users voices, violence reduction in children and family services and community led approaches from New York City and many others.

The book will be published on 29th October in London.

You can purchase the hardcopy here.

You can purchase the eBook here.