Discovering health social work in New Zealand in its published work: Implications for the profession

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-55
Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Catherine Deeney

Social work in health care has been a significant field of practice within social work in New Zealand since the 1940s. This paper reports on a project inspired by a fruitless search for a current discussion on the development of health social work in New Zealand. Analysis of a bibliographic search reveals an interesting history of health social work, as it emerged as an extension of the nursing role. Five distinct periods of development are identified through analysis of the literature. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of challenges and opportunities for health social work. 

Author(s):  
Shirley Otis-Green

Health social work is a subspecialization of social work concerned with a person's adjustment to changes in one's health and the impact this has on that person's social network. Social workers in every setting must be ready to assist individuals and families adjusting to illness and coping with medical crises. This entry provides a brief overview and history of health social work and describes the settings and roles where this work is practiced. Significant challenges and opportunities in clinical care, research, education, and policy are discussed. Standards and guidelines for quality practice are then noted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Staniforth

INTRODUCTION: The University of Auckland MA in Sociology (Option II–Social Welfare and Development) (“the Programme”) was a qualifying social work programme that admitted students from 1975 to 1979. This article describes this programme and some of the issues that led to its short-lived tenure.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 staff and students who had been involved with this programme. One person, involved in the accreditation of the Programme was also interviewed, and one person provided feedback in an email. Information was also obtained through archived University of Auckland documents, reports, and various forms of personal correspondence provided by June Kendrick. FINDINGS: The Programme was championed by the Head of the Department of Sociology (David Pitt). There were resource limitations and philosophical tensions within the Department about the qualification. There was little support for its continuation at the end of a three-year grant and after the departure of David Pitt. The New Zealand Social Work Training Council accredited it after its discontinuation.CONCLUSION: The Programme made a valuable contribution to the profession of social work and social work education and forms an important part of the history of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Hunt

INTRODUCTION: The meaning and purpose of social work has always been debated within the social work profession. The profession dreams of contributing towards a better, fairer, civil society locally and internationally. This article explores the professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. This exploration has been undertaken as background for an ongoing research project.METHOD: A critical consideration of the different theoretical and historical dimensions and interests at work that impacted on the journey of professionalisation of social work in this country has been undertaken based on a review of literature. Part one of the article outlines a definition of social work, and different concepts and approaches to professionalisation. Part two of the article contextualises the different approaches to professionalisation within Aotearoa New Zealand, from early forms of welfare pre-colonisation up until the early 1990s.CONCLUSION: The literature and trends discussed serve to both document the history of professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand and as background to an ongoing critical research project which aims to uncover interests at work and interrogate the legitimacy of those interests, while enabling the voices of key actors from the time to surface, be explored, and be recorded.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Hunt

INTRODUCTION: In this second of two articles on the history of professionalisation of social work in Aotearoa New Zealand, consideration is given to the more recent coalescing of forces from the 1990s to the initial implementation of the Social Workers Registration Act (2003), which led to our country’s example of a social work regulation project.APPROACH: This critical consideration of social work regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand situates it within the international social work professionalisation context alongside the national context. Consideration is given to the place of leadership and buy-in from the profession, political sponsorship, cultural considerations, and another ministerial review. Overlaying this, an examination of concepts of public trust, respect, and confidence in professions such as social work, are linked to crises of trust in professions in general, and placed within the current neoliberal, market-driven environment in which this project is anchored.CONCLUSION: The literature serves to document the history of social work regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand and as background for an ongoing research project which aims to uncover interests at work and interrogate the legitimacy of those interests, while enabling the voices of key actors from the time to surface, be explored, and be recorded.


1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 514-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Beder

Reactive to changes in health care and the economy, the delivery of social work services has been expanded to include the home visit as an alternative to meeting with clients in the agency or hospital. The home visit has been a vital tool in the articulation of social work services throughout the history of the profession. This article will briefly trace the history of the beginning of home visitation and will discuss some of the techniques, difficulties, and benefits of this time-honored professional task. In short, this article will “revisit” the home visit.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Sarah Fraser ◽  
Sophie Simpson

Social work in Aotearoa New Zealand and in the international community has weathered many storms over the years. The forecast is for further challenges ahead as the world continues to grapple with economic uncertainties, changing political forces and environments. While in the South Pacific, indigenous and local models of practice are being recognised, developed and refined, social work is also shaped by the global context of our profession. This article reviews the history of the 2000 International Definition of Social Work (International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), 2000) and explores the increasing diversity of voices behind the proposed new definition to be presented forratification at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in July 2014. The influence that social workers from our small South Pacific nation are having on the future of global social work is then explored from the perspectives of an emerging social work student and one who has been active in the profession for over three decades.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Dobl ◽  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Peter Huggard

INTRODUCTION: The social work profession has a long-standing history of contributing to health care in Aotearoa New Zealand. Traditionally, hospitals have been the stronghold for the profession. However, both international and national evidence demonstrates that social workers have also been integrated in primary health care practices (PHCPs). Primary health care (PHC) provides care in the community and is recognised for its potential to achieve health equity across all population groups. This article reports on a small, qualitative research project which explored the perceptions of key stakeholders about social work integration into PHC and the experiences gained by social workers working within PHCPs regarding their contributions to the achievement of national aspirations for PHC.METHODS: Semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with 18 participants representing three groups (social workers, other PHC professionals and key informants) were undertaken in 2012. The interviews took place in various locations in Aotearoa New Zealand. A general inductive approach was used to identify key themes. FINDINGS: Three key themes were identified from the data: these are issues of context, namely social work professional factors, organisational factors in PHC and lastly, wider factors in the health care system. The integrated social workers enhanced the access of populations to coordinated care, increased engagement with communities, and strengthened the workforce, among other things. These unique contributions towards the PHC vision were well recognised by all groups, with participants calling for the establishment of integrated social work positions on a larger scale. CONCLUSION: The study evidences the successful integration of social workers into PHC practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. This viable model should be of special interest for key stakeholders regarding the design of local, holistic, PHC services which serve populations most affected by health and social inequalities. Importantly, “health for all”, as anticipated by the PHC vision needs long-term and real commitment especially by financial decision-makers.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 785-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Jan Duke

English Internationally the greater regulation of social work is intended to raise standards and enhance the standing of the profession. Regulatory systems must also be aligned to the demands of an increasingly global workforce. The achievement of limited registration in New Zealand creates challenges and opportunities for the profession. French Une plus grande réglementation du travail social sur la scène internationale vise à hausser les normes et à améliorer la profession. Les systèmes de régulation devraient tenir compte des particularités d’une main-d’oeuvre de plus en plus globalisée. La réalisation d’une inscription limitée en Nouvelle-Zélande crée des défis et des possibilités pour la profession. Spanish Internacionalmente la regularización del trabajo social tiene como objetivo elevar los estándares y mejorar el estatus de la profesión. Los sistemas regulatorios deben tener en cuenta las demandas de un mercado laboral cada vez más globalizado. El registro limitado de Nueva Zelanda crea retos y también oportunidades para la profesión.


Author(s):  
Vikki L. Vandiver

Since the mid-1980s, managed care has been one approach used to address the economic crisis in the American health-care system. This entry overviews managed care from the perspective of policy, procedure, practice, and system. Specifically, emphasis is given to understanding the emergence and history of managed care, multiple definitions, how it works, and examples of managed care plans, key legislation, existing research, its future, and implications for social-work practitioners.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe

Social work in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) is a contested profession on a journey of professionalisation in an era where contradictory forces impact on its position and strength. Social work education reflects these tensions, being influenced by economic and political forces. The delineation of a benchmark qualification for entry is a core feature of professional status and so the inception of professionalregistration has impacted on social work education in ANZ as it has elsewhere. The aim of this paper is to explore dimensions of the history of social work education in ANZ, the impact of the Social Workers Registration Act (2003) (SWRA) and to examine some current constraints and consider the challenges professional education faces in the next 50 years. It is argued that social work education has been, is and will remain a site of struggle.


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