Conceptualizing critical practice in social work: an integration of recognition and redistribution

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Shachar Timor-Shlevin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Practice

The Controlled Arena of Contested Practices: Critical Practice in Israel’s State Social Services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shachar Timor-Shlevin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Welfare ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
Critical Practices ◽  
Structural Levels ◽  
Critical Social

Abstract Scholars claim that the integration of critical social work into public social services is impossible considering its weak position in the managerialist context of these services. Consequently, critical practice is mainly described as covert and reflective of the hierarchical power dynamics between managerialism and critical professionalism. Thus, the option of integrating critical social work into the institutionalised operation of the profession, which involves engaging in critical practice to the extent possible in the context of public services beyond micro and covert practices, has not been sufficiently described. This study addresses this gap, exploring the process of implementing the critical professional ‘Poverty-Aware Social Work Paradigm’ (PAP) into the Israeli public welfare services. Based on twenty-five interviews with field-level social workers in the PAP programmes, the findings describe critical practices as operating simultaneously at the interpersonal and structural levels, mainly through covert actions. The discussion illustrates the significance of merging the interpersonal and structural levels of critical practice and describes the limited arena in which critical professionalism operates in public services.

scholarly journals Banging the same old colonial drum? Moving from individualising practices and cultural appropriation to the ethical application of alternative practices in social work

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
Canice Curtis ◽  
Christine Morley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Cultural Safety ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Cultural Humility ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Alternative Practices

INTRODUCTION: Western conceptualisations of social work are increasingly interestedin practices considered to be alternative or non-traditional to respond to oppression. While incorporating alternative methods into social work is frequently viewed as unproblematic, we suggest critical reflection is necessary to safeguard against inadvertent, culturally unsafe practice and the uncritical re-inscription of individualised solutions.APPROACH: In this article, we explore the application of group drumming practices within social work through examination of a critical incident. While the benefits of group drumming are well documented, we use critical reflection to explore ethical challenges of incorporating group drumming practices into social work.CONCLUSIONS: We highlight strategies for social workers using alternative or non- traditional practices that support cultural humility and critical practice goals. This research holds implications for social workers interested in the potential of alternative practices while remaining committed to critical practice and cultural safety.

scholarly journals The tension between managerial and critical professional discourses in social work

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801732094935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shachar Timor-Shlevin ◽  
Orly Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Professional Programs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Street Level ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Discursive Power ◽  
Depth Interviews

Summary While managerialism is widely criticized for its deskilling effect on professional discourses, the evaluation of the power relations between managerialism and the critical professionalism that opposes it has not yet been sufficiently developed. To enable the assessment of fluctuations in these power relations, this study used in-depth interviews with 14 street-level social workers to examine the encounter between these discursive standpoints in the context of a specific case of an administrative request for critical professional programs to be implemented in the field. Findings The findings highlight the operation of recognition as a salient parameter of discursive power positions. We address three aspects of recognition—discursive, interpersonal, and institutional—and demonstrate the existence of a struggle over the acceptable professional standpoint in the institutionalized public field of social work. Applications Attention should be given to the different dimensions of recognition in order to enable the implementation of critical practice in the public field of social work. These dimensions can be addressed through broad training of various players in the field and the institutional backing of critical practice requirements.

scholarly journals Beginning at the Beginning

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Campbell ◽  
Gail Baikie
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Education Practice ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fundamental Values ◽  
Work Knowledge ◽  
Critical Social

Recognizing the complexities of critical social work the authors use a metaphor of a traffic circle to survey the fundamental values, assumptions, theories, concepts, principles, and practices of critical social work.  They then consider the relationship among ‘mainstream’, critical, and other marginalized social work perspectives. A subsequent exploration of the challenges and possibilities of critical practice is followed by a reflection on the processes of teaching and learning critical social work. The article does not presume a level of pre-existing social work knowledge or experience on the part of the reader and is therefore accessible and useful for scholars, teachers, students, and practitioners who are new to critical social work. KEYWORDS: Critical social work; social work education; practice fundamentals

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