scholarly journals Social work in the Pacific: The humble and unrefined views of a non-social worker

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Steven Ratuva
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Wealth Accumulation ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Power Game

I once worked in a university where sociology and social work were part of the same department, which I headed. I observed how social work, more than most “disciplines,” was readily responsive, quickly adaptive and empowering with the potential to be readapted and aligned to suit different socio-cultural contexts. From the vantage point of a non-social worker, this makes it resilient and relevant in a fast-changing world where conflict, wealth accumulation and the creation of expanding subaltern classes take place simultaneously. As peripheral “participants” in the process of corporate, technological and cultural globalisation, Pacific Island countries (PICs), often see themselves increasingly subaltern in the global economic and political power game as manifested in increasing poverty, social dislocation, debt, crime and other social problems.A growing capacity for responsiveness, adaptation and empowerment requires a critical approach to understanding the complexities of social dynamics and impact on human wellbeing. Social work crosses the arbitrary boundaries between sociology, anthropology, psychology, development studies, conflict/peace studies, education and health and this trans-disciplinary approach makes it well positioned to address issues such as inequality, poverty, alienation and marginalisation which are common amongst subaltern groups, including those in the Pacific (Sherif Sherif, 2017). Social work also has the potential to bridge the gap between theory and practice in what Marxian scholars refer to as “praxis” (Freenberg, 2014). Its strength is also in keeping human wellbeing as the central focus in its analysis.

The Practice Pyramid: A model for integrating social work values, theory and practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Jean Gordon ◽  
Gillian Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Practice Theory ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Field Placements ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
Extensive Evaluation

The Practice Pyramid is a learning tool that supports social work students’ ability to integrate their understanding of personal and professional values, theory and practice during field placements. Although it has been used by practice educators in Scotland for over 20 years, it is not well known elsewhere and has yet to be evaluated. This paper, written by a practice educator and a student social worker, describes the Practice Pyramid and provides a case example to illustrate how it contributed to one student’s learning during a practice placement. Four factors that appear to contribute to its success are proposed: its model of pedagogy, the visual and accessible nature of the tool, flexibility and the support it gives to collaborative learning processes. It is suggested that the Practice Pyramid may usefully support learning in a range of social work and non social work contexts, and would benefit from more extensive evaluation of its role in supporting practice - theory integration.Keywords: Practice Pyamid; social work students; field placements; Scotland; collaborative learning

Faulty ‘tools’? Why social work scholarship needs to take a more critical approach to Michel Foucault

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Michael Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Michel Foucault ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Coercive Power ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Critical Approaches ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
Micro Level

Summary Having outlined Foucault’s articulation of power and governmentality, the article critically explores attempts to translate the philosopher’s theorisation into social work. Findings After briefly referring to Jacques Donzelot’s work and that of other writers, it is argued that Foucault’s conceptual ‘tools’ are problematic for those seeking to promote critical approaches within the field of social work. Those influenced by Foucault’s complex contributions may amplify a defective understanding of power which unduly emphasises ‘soft’ power and neglects the continuing significance of hierarchical and coercive power. This is reflected in Foucault’s analysis of the state and, at a micro level, his remarks on sexualised interactions involving adults and children. Efforts to ‘apply’ Foucauldian reasoning within social work may also risk promoting politically passive forms of theory and practice. Applications Contributing to the discipline’s literature on Foucault, the article maintains the social work scholarship has much to gain by engaging with work, but this engagement might aspire to become more critical.

scholarly journals Forming Students’ Professional Legal Competency in the Context of European Universities’ Experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Sergiy Yashchuk
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Social Risk ◽  
Modern Approach ◽  
Legal Competency

Abstract The article deals with theoretical analysis of the educational process in European higher education institutions in the context of forming future social workers’ professional legal competency. Based on the study of scientific and reference sources the author has defined the peculiarities of the educational process in the most popular higher education institutions of European Union, offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work, namely, social and technical division of labour based on the interdisciplinary relations (theoretical and practical learning, pre-professional research constituent during placements); stipulating for a less ethnocentric understanding of social problems; training of a social worker able to skillfully provide individuals, families, organizations and communities with social support to achieve optimal social functioning in a society; analysis of aims and objectives of modern social work in the local and global context of promoting human rights and social justice; application of social work methods with a focus on client participation in the process of changing; reflection of learning and professional experience and independent learning to develop professional skills of a social worker; obtaining specialization in social programmes and projects management aimed at optimizing social integration of social risk groups, such as the disabled, and supporting individuals, groups and communities (to help realize one’s potential, achieve social and economic justice, prevent one’s dysfunctions); accordance of doctrinal and operative education standards that reflect a modern approach to social work - an applied social science with various principles, values, theory and practice methodology.

scholarly journals History of Sociometry, Psychodrama, Group Psychotherapy, and Jacob L. Moreno

2021 ◽  
pp. 31-52
Author(s):  
Scott Giacomucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Group Therapy ◽  
Group Psychotherapy ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Work Group ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Historical Trends ◽  
The Usa ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Social Work

AbstractThis chapter presents the histories of sociometry, psychodrama, and group psychotherapy while also outlining the history of Jacob L. Moreno, their founder. Major events from Moreno’s life are covered as they relate to the development of his philosophy and the practice of his triadic system, sociometry, psychodrama, and group psychotherapy. The popularity and decline of Moreno’s methods throughout their history are highlighted while offering insights into these historical trends in the USA and globally. Connections are drawn between Moreno’s history and the history of social work while also framing him as a social worker due to the nature of his philosophy, theory, and practice. A comprehensive timeline is offered which depicts the parallel timelines of psychodrama, social work, group therapy, psychology, and society.

THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MODEL OF PROFESSIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE FUTURE SOCIAL WORKER

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
І. Bodrova
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
The Future ◽  
Professional Self ◽  
The Individual

he article discusses the provisions of research on the problems of models of professional self-determination. The approaches of scientists to understanding the essence of the concepts of "self-determination", "professional self-determination" are analyzed. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that the system of professional training of future specialists is not sufficiently aimed at the formation of a specialist as a person and professional with a certain set of personal qualities, values, knowledge, abilities and skills. There is growing interest not only in the development of the theory and practice of social work, but also in the personality of a professional, his features and qualitative characteristics. This work is an attempt to generalize the existing models of professional self-determination and to reveal the specificity of the circumstances of such self-determination for the sphere of social work, as a separate case of self-determination, acquires specific features due to the conflict of individual features and ideas of the future social worker about himself, his role and status in the communities surrounding the individual , about society (formed by cultural norms) and individual factors that are characteristic of this field of activity. The article used such research methods as the method of theoretical analysis, modeling, abstraction. As an approach for analyzing the structure of the act of self-determination, we used the model proposed by P.G. Shchedrovitsky in works on positioning / self-determination / self-identification. The analysis of the phenomenon of professional self-determination through the prism of this model of the act of self-determination made it possible to single out the specifics of the main groups of factors relevant to the process of professional self-determination of a future social worker.

scholarly journals THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO THE CONCEPT «EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL WORK» IN HERITAGE OF MARY ELEN RICHMOND

2018 ◽  
pp. 108-113
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Petrukhan-Shcherbakova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Reforms ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Social

This article analyzes the existing approaches to understanding the concept of «effectiveness of social work»; examines the relationship between the concepts of «effect», «effectiveness», «efficiency»; showing some generalizations existing classification criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of social work and social policy implementation, which in turn allowed the study of the theory and practice of social work in the work of Mary Ellen Richmond and accordingly determine the list of performance indicators. In the study two groups of indicators of effectiveness have been allocated. The first group of indicators is personal characteristics of the client and social worker: motivation and interest during work; personal qualities; the presence or absence of certain competencies. The second group is external indicators: level of legislative security; a network of subjects for the implementation of social work; the level of cooperation between state and non-governmental organizations; taking into account requirements in assessing the effectiveness of working with different groups of clients; form of assistance provided to clients; control over the implementation of the action plan of the social worker together with the client; climatic features of the region; the industrial conditions of the region; political changes; social reforms. Every social worker or volunteer in the social sphere will be able to work more qualitatively when understanding the performance of their work. Therefore, this article may be recommended to them before reading.

scholarly journals An ethic of care? Academic administration and pandemic policy

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 632-638
Author(s):  
Stephanie A Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Ethic Of Care ◽  
The Political ◽  
Academic Administration ◽  
The Public ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Impact

This reflexive essay examines the adoption of an intentional ‘ethic of care’ by social work administrators in a large social work school located in the Pacific Northwest. An ethic of care foregrounds networks of human interdependence that collapse the public/private divide. Moreover, rooted in the political theory of recognition, a care ethic responds to crisis by attending to individuals’ uniqueness and ‘whole particularity.’ Foremost, it rejects indifference. Through the personal recollections of one academic administrator, the impact of rejecting indifference in spring term 2020 is described. The essay concludes by linking the rejection of indifference to the national political landscape.

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