The Challenge to Social Work

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Hollows
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
New Era ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
Professional Judgement

The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families signifies a major achievement in the development of a coherent approach to promoting the welfare of children while safeguarding them from harm. In this article, the aspirations of the Framework are considered, with particular focus on the challenges posed by the Framework, not only to the practice of social workers but also to the status of the social work profession. The area of professional judgement making is discussed, along with the threats to the effective implementation of the Framework. The author concludes that the Framework could bring about not only a better deal for children and families service users, but a new era of professional respect for social workers.

Conclusion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Allen Bartley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Service Users ◽  
The Social ◽  
Country Specific

This chapter summarises the recurring themes and lessons from the preceding substantive chapters and reflects upon their implications. It draws together the different issues, laws and culture in social work across the five countries examined, and compares the country-specific challenges raised in the chapters. The editors make recommendations for how the social work profession can take a more active role in the transition of Transnational Social Workers, and highlight good practice in preceding chapters. Finally, they comment on the need for more research in the area, including with service users.

scholarly journals Networks of power and counterpower in social work with children and families in England

2021 ◽  
pp. 026101832110347
Author(s):  
Joe Hanley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Network Society ◽  
Turn Of The Millennium ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Type ◽  
Manuel Castells

This article applies the work of Spanish sociologist Manuel Castells to contemporary children and families’ social work in England. Castells’ work suggests that the intractability of many of the issues facing the profession is the result of the new type of society that emerged around the turn of the millennium: the network society. Within this society, the interests and values of dominant networks are imposed upon those who are selectively excluded. Several challenges for the social work profession stemming from this analysis are posed, including in relation to challenging networks and promoting transparency. However, it is suggested that the most significant contribution Castells’ work has for social work lies in shifting the discussion from an analysis of dominant networks, as has been undertaken elsewhere, towards an understanding of how social workers can, and do, build networks of counterpower capable of effectively challenging dominant networks in the space they occupy.

scholarly journals Perceptions of the social worker role in adult community mental health teams in England

2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502092408
Author(s):  
Michele Abendstern ◽  
Jane Hughes ◽  
Mark Wilberforce ◽  
Karen Davies ◽  
Rosa Pitts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Community Mental Health Team ◽  
Mental Health Team ◽  
Health Team ◽  
The Social

There is a growing recognition of the importance of the social work contribution within community mental health services. However, although many texts describe what the mental health social work contribution should be, little empirical evidence exists about their role in practice and the difference it might make to service users. This qualitative study sought to articulate this contribution through the voices of social workers and their multidisciplinary colleagues via focus group discussions across four English Mental Health Trusts. These considered the impact of the social worker on the service user. Thematic analysis resulted in the identification of three over-arching themes: social workers own perceptions of their contribution situated within the social model; the high value their colleagues placed on social work support and leadership in a range of situations and the concerns for service users if social workers were withdrawn from teams. Key findings were that social workers are the only professional group to lead on the social model; that this model enhances the whole teams’ practice and is required if service users are to be offered support that promotes long-term recovery and that without social workers, the community mental health team offer would be more transactional, less timely, with the potential for the loss of the service users’ voice. If social work is to make a full contribution to community mental health team practice, it must be clearly understood and provided with the support to enable social workers to operate to their full potential.

Neoliberalism, austerity and social work with children and families: challenges and critical/radical possibilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Rogowski
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Welfare Provision ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk

In the UK, neoliberalism and associated austerity have dominated social work and welfare provision over the last decade. Consequences include severe financial cuts to social work with children and families, as well as public services generally, and large increases in poverty and inequality. Despite increasing numbers of people in difficulty, the social work and welfare system has become more punitive and presents ongoing threats to social work’s commitment to human rights and social justice. This article examines such developments and includes the views of practitioners. Despite the strength and depth of challenges, it argues that critical/radical possibilities remain for practitioners to work both individually with service users and collectively. Such opportunities need to be taken with a view to working towards a more just and equal society, this being a much-needed antidote to the unequal neoliberal world we currently inhabit.

scholarly journals A note on ‘image’ methodology for social work qualitative research: Socially inclusive research methods for service users

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Sarah Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Power Imbalance ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
The Social

Abstract: This note offers an analysis of the issues of the social contextual impact of research methodology. Here the author discusses the potential of using ‘image based’ data collection and analysis methods in social work research and in particular focuses on one possible method, ‘rich pictures’. Interest in the use of using image based methods is growing. The author considers the literature which underpins this approach, focussing on the challenges this might bring at all stages of the research process and offers a critique of the ethical and practical dilemmas involved. It will be suggested that such methods have the potential to shift the often criticised power imbalance in all research, including social work research. The author will discuss if this supplementary methodology might increase the ability of service users to participate in research. In this respect, it empathizes with service users who might prefer a non-verbal approach to research inquiry, with more of a range of responsiveness to researchers’ question. This note will argue for moving beyond only words in open-ended interviews by social workers to further explore the experiences of service users. As such its use may also be more in accord with the social work values of social justice.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS? AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS, ACTUAL PRACTICE AND DETERMINANTS OF ADVOCACY IN SOCIAL WORK

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 69-97
Author(s):  
MARGARET F.Y. WONG ◽  
BEN C.P. LIU ◽  
RAYMOND C.F. CHUI ◽  
CINDY TSUI
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Actual Practice ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
The Social ◽  
Life Options ◽  
Research And Education

This article presented empirical information to explore and examine the advocacy activities conducted by social workers in Hong Kong. The effectiveness of the advocacy activities as perceived by the social workers are measured and matched with the actual practice. Reasons for undertaking advocacy are collected. The determinants of advocacy include: recognition of the importance of empowerment and relationship building between social workers and service users, helping service users exercise their rights and broaden their life options are instrumental in driving advocacy efforts. The sense of guilt is also a contributing factor behind certain advocacy activities. The importance of research and education in advocacy are emphasized.

scholarly journals The Current Situation of Social Work Activities in Hospitals in Vietnam

2022 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Nguyen Trung Hai ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Organizational Form ◽  
Project Development ◽  
Medical Field ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status

Since the Prime Minister signed the decision approving the project 32/2010 on March, 25, 2010 “Development of Social Work Profession in Vietnam in the period of 2010 – 2020”, social work has strongly developed in many different areas including the medical field. Specifically, the Ministry of Health approved the project “Development of the Social Work profession in the health sector from 2011 through 2020” and the Circular 43/2015 on “The social work activities in the hospitals and the organizational form to perform the social work activities in hospitals”. These documents are fundamental to carry out social work activities in hospitals. However, this is a new field so the implementation of these activities is still difficult and lacks detailed supporting guidelines. This study was conducted to assess the status of the five main activities of social workers in hospitals regulated under Circular 43/2015, thereby providing solutions to improve the effectiveness of social work activities.

‘Social work is not just a job’: The qualities of social workers from the perspective of service users

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 775-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Kwong Kam
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Qualities ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practice Skills

Summary The social work profession emphasises the development of the personal qualities of social workers in addition to requiring them to possess the necessary professional values, knowledge, theories and practice skills. Until now, we have tended to rely on the perspective of social work professional bodies, educators and employers to assess the personal qualities of social workers. We have seldom inquired about the views of service users on the qualities of social workers, thus disregarding their perspective. This article focuses on identifying the important qualities of social workers from the perspective of service users. Findings This paper reports on qualitative research on the personal qualities of social workers that service users value in Hong Kong. It draws on a diverse range of service users with direct experiences of the services provided by social workers. A total of 47 service users from 7 core social welfare service settings and 32 service units participated in an in-depth qualitative interview. Six significant personal qualities of social workers from the service users’ perspective are identified and discussed. Applications The findings have several implications for examining directions for development of the social work profession, the relationship between service users and social workers, effective ways to develop the personal qualities of students in social work education and ways to resolve the dilemma between service users’ expectations and the existing mode of social work service delivery. Issues of particular relevance to Hong Kong are highlighted in discussing these implications.

scholarly journals The new social work radicalism

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-132
Author(s):  
Iain Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Annual Meeting ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Resistance Network ◽  
British Psychological Society ◽  
The Social ◽  
Action Network ◽  
The Uk

On a cold January morning in 2017, a group of social workers, service users, claimants, psychologists, counselors and others gathered outside the annual meeting of the British Psychological Society (BPS) taking place that year in Liverpool. Those present represented a wide variety of grassroots organisations including the Social Work Action Network, Psychologists against Austerity and the Mental Health Resistance Network (SWAN). They were there to protest the BPS’s involvement in the UK government’s use of “psycho-compulsion” as a tool for getting people off benefits.

Shame and social work: an introduction

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Liz Frost ◽  
Veronika Magyar-Haas ◽  
Holger Schoneville ◽  
Alessandro Sicora
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Work System ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual

Shame is a powerful emotion in the context of social work. It affects individuals and attacks their subjectivity from within, and yet is also experienced in the here and now as a thoroughly social emotion that enmeshes the individual in society. It is therefore highly potent within the field of social work, for its service users, and in social work practice itself. People who become service users often live in social situations in which they are confronted with shame. This emotion can occur to service users by virtue of being in the social work system, and it can also be experienced by those recruited to alleviate social problems the social workers. This introduction will try to give some preliminary definitions, introduce the main concepts highlighted in the book, present the general structure of the latter, and briefly describe the content of each of its chapters.

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