Co-constructing Good Practices: social work with unaccompanied minors in Italy

Introduction. The reception and integration of Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) in migration context across Europe require not only adequate legislative and service frameworks, but also effective and reflective social work practices. Within the framework of the European Project Global-ANSWER Project, this Italian case study examines what constitutes “good practice” in social work with UASC, drawing on a shared theoretical model developed by the project’s transnational network. The study focuses on four core analytical dimensions: continuity; decolonisation; circularity; prevention, exploring how these intersect with practice and policy in the Italian context. Methods. The research adopts a collaborative methodology, combining qualitative narrative interviews (n = 14) with social workers and recently adult former UASC, alongside additional documentary and policy analysis. Interviews were thematically analysed using Atlas.ti, based on the dimensions of good practice co-developed within the network by scholars and practitioners. The approach aimed to co-construct knowledge by integrating professional expertise with lived experience. Results. The findings indicate that “continuity” in social work emerges when practices are embedded in inter-institutional networks and aligned with local service systems, thereby ensuring equal access and continuity of support. “Decolonisation” is reflected in the adoption of rights-based, non-ethnocentric, approaches that foster intercultural communication and recognise the diverse experiences of UASC. “Circularity” is evident in practices that enable professionals to integrate personal, theoretical and policy dimensions through supervision, shared reflection, and responsiveness to individual trajectories. Finally, “prevention” is demonstrated in practices that link reception and care to long-term community integration, promoting autonomy beyond institutional support. Discussion and conclusions. Collectively, these four dimensions provide a conceptual and operational framework for evaluating and strengthening social work practices with UASC. They support a vision of social work as both a relational and systemic endeavour, capable of promoting structural inclusion through co-designed, context-sensitive interventions. By focusing on the intersection of practice, policy and lived experience, this study offers valuable insights into what constitutes good practice in social work with UASC. It highlights the importance of a continuous, decolonised, and prevention-oriented practice, developed in circular dialogue with theory, as essential for inclusive and effective social work with young migrants.