scholarly journals Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Fox
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Structural Inequality ◽  
Reconstruction Methods ◽  
Human Ability ◽  
Cultural Status ◽  
Pluralistic Approach ◽  
Hegemonic Construction

INTRODUCTION: Normative beliefs and practices reaffirm a hegemonic construction of human ability that legitimises the socio-cultural status quo. This disenfranchises people with diverse abilities who are excluded from this construction whilst simultaneously normalising the structural inequality and oppression that they experience. Helping professions such as social work often provide support to people who are disadvantaged by these social structures. However, practitioners within these fields are not immune to the influence of socio-cultural norms, therefore it is essential for them to reflect on the ways in which they might reproduce them within their practice.APPROACH: This article outlines my experience of using critical reflection as a research methodology to examine an incident from my practice. Deconstruction and reconstruction methods were used to analyse the normative assumptions within my construction of this incident.REFLECTIONS: The deconstruction analysis revealed how assumptions about impairment within my account of the incident were underpinned by ableist discourses. Reconstructing this through a neurodiversity lens enabled me to generate new insights around the anti-oppressive potential for using a pluralistic approach that undermines hegemonic constructions of ability.CONCLUSIONS: By critically reflecting on this incident, I realised the importance of challenging normative assumptions when practising within neoliberal contexts where socio-cultural hegemony is amplified.

scholarly journals Emotional intelligence as a part of critical reflection in social work practice and research

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110247
Author(s):  
Mari D Herland
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Social workers often experience higher levels of burnout compared with other healthcare professionals. The capacity to manage one’s own emotional reactions efficiently, frequently in complex care settings, is central to the role of social workers. This article highlights the complexity of emotions in social work research and practice by exploring the perspective of emotional intelligence. The article is both theoretical and empirical, based on reflections from a qualitative longitudinal study interviewing fathers with behavioural and criminal backgrounds, all in their 40 s. The analysis contains an exploration of the researcher position that illuminates the reflective, emotional aspects that took place within this interview process. Three overall themes emerged – first: Recognising emotional complexity; second: Reflecting on emotional themes; and third: Exploring my own prejudices and preconceptions. The findings apply to both theoretical and practical social work, addressing the need to understand emotions as a central part of critical reflection and reflexivity. The argument is that emotions have the potential to expand awareness of one’s own preconceptions, related to normative societal views. This form of analytical awareness entails identifying and paying attention to one’s own, sometimes embodied, emotional triggers.

scholarly journals Digitalization of Critical Reflection with ATLAS.ti Software in Social Work Supervision

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Komalsingh Rambaree ◽  
Nessica Nässén
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Fundamental Part ◽  
Technological Tool ◽  
Supporting Tool ◽  
Social Work Supervision

In this technology-driven era, the digitalization of social work practice is becoming almost mandatory in many countries, especially in Europe. Within this context, it is important to look at the possibilities and challenges for the digitalization of critical reflection, which is a fundamental part of social work practice. Using a conceptual and theoretical framework based on reflective practice, critical reflection, and experiential learning, this article aims to outline and discuss the use of ATLAS.ti software as a supporting tool in digitalizing critical reflection in social work supervision (SWS). For illustrative purposes, a case example of child welfare from Sweden is used. This article considers both the benefits and challenges of using ATLAS.ti as a technological tool for the digitalization of critical reflection in SWS. It concludes that social workers’ autonomy and wellbeing need to be at the center in deciding about the use of digital tools such as ATLAS.ti in SWS.

Developing and Sustaining Critical Reflection on Social Work Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Laura Béres ◽  
Stephanie L. Baird ◽  
Joanna Bedggood ◽  
Katherine Bodkin ◽  
Hiedi Britton-deJeu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice

Reflecting on a second-migration experience: Issues and implications for social work practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 002087282096218
Author(s):  
Wook-Mo Kang ◽  
Jeongmi Lim ◽  
Hong-Jae Park
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Fluid Migration ◽  
Soft Landing ◽  
Migration Experience ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Depth Interviews

The purpose of this article is to present the research findings from a qualitative study on a type of second migration experienced by Korean-New Zealand immigrants in Australia. Data were collected from 16 in-depth interviews with those people who initially moved from South Korea to New Zealand, and then migrated to Australia. The study findings show that the participants were likely to experience ‘soft-landing’ relocation, ethnically internal belonging and identity flexibility. A critical reflection on this second-migration phenomenon is presented in order to help social work professionals broaden their perspectives on today’s fluid migration and its implications for practice.

scholarly journals Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Christine Morley ◽  
Charlie O’Bree
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Neoliberal Governmentality ◽  
A Value ◽  
Research Findings

Social work practice and education have been significantly impacted by neoliberal governmentality, which can greatly undermine the espoused social justice mission of social work. This study explores the research questions: How might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? This study uses critical reflection on a critical incident (from Author 2’s practice) as a methodology to respond to the first research question. It further analyses the findings of the critically reflective inquiry by drawing on relevant concepts from critical theorists to respond to the second question and expand the possibilities for practitioners to develop emancipatory practices in neoliberal organisations. The findings suggest critical reflection on the critical incident examined was effective in improving social work practice, and that additional critical analysis of the wider issues raised by the research findings may enhance social work as a value-driven, client-centred and social change-oriented profession. The article highlights the benefits and outcomes of working in a critically reflective way, and makes an original contribution to the growing literature that suggests critical reflection is a vital skill for social work practice in neoliberal organisations.

USING OBSERVATION AS METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION TO ENHANCE EMPATHY AND CRITICAL REFLECTION AMONGST STUDENTS OF SOCIAL WORK

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
SEEMA SHARMA
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Role Taking ◽  
Postgraduate Students

Social work research is an important part of social work practice. It adds to the knowledge base of the profession, facilitates understanding of the challenges facing society and encourages researchers to find solutions to these challenges. The focus of qualitative research in social work in India has likewise been generating and adding to the knowledge base of the profession. More specifically, qualitative methods of data collection have not been interrogated from the perspective of their potential to enhance competencies such as empathy and critical reflection amongst the students of social work. This paper examines the possibility of using observation, a method of data collection in qualitative research, to enhance empathy and critical reflection amongst students of social work. The paper is based on the outcomes of an assignment on observation given to second semester postgraduate students of social work in the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India. The assignment required the students to take on the role of marginalized members of society and use observation as a method in the field to record the responses of the generalized others towards them. The assignment also encouraged the students to reflect on their reactions and responses to the behavior of people towards them when they performed the specific roles. The outcome of the assignment points towards the possibility of using practical training in observation as a method of data collection in facilitating empathetic understanding and critical reflection amongst students, when used in conjunction with role-taking.

Cultural competence and cultural humility: A critical reflection on key cultural diversity concepts

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ransford Danso
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Deep Level ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Humility ◽  
Cultural Workers ◽  
Structural Problems

Summary Cultural competence has commanded respectable attention since its introduction in cross-cultural discourse. Cultural competence has been presented as a framework capable of promoting culturally sensitive practice and for training cross-cultural workers. However, a smorgasbord of definitions and conceptualizations has generated intense controversy around the construct, with many questioning its relevance or ability to address structural problems. Disenchantment has led to calls to jettison and replace cultural competence with cultural humility. This paper presents a critical reflection on cultural competence and cultural humility, including critiquing the critiques of cultural competence. Findings A critically reflective analysis suggests that semantic appeal does not necessarily give cultural humility a utilitarian edge over the construct it seeks to supplant. Cultural humility appears not to add more value to social work practice than cultural competence. From a social work perspective, cultural humility is essentially a repackaging of anti-oppressive practice; the fundamental ideas underpinning cultural humility have previously been developed and are foundational principles of anti-oppressive social work practice and education. Critical analysis also reveals that many of the critiques of cultural competence lack analytical rigour. Applications Deep-level theoretical analyses can lead to innovative perspectives that allow for critical re-examination of extant methodological approaches and promote culturally empowering social work practices in our super-diverse, postmodern world. Rather than dismissing long-standing, potentially effective theoretical and practice tools with happy abandon, adapting them in light of current developments would help move social work to a new, enlightened level of relevance in working with diversity and difference.

scholarly journals From critical reflection to critical professional practice: Addressing the tensions between critical and hegemonic perspectives

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110067
Author(s):  
Shachar Timor-Shlevin ◽  
Tamar Aharon ◽  
Sharon Segev ◽  
Shani Mazor ◽  
Emily Ishai
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Collaborative Inquiry ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Action Science ◽  
Professional Perspective

Critical reflection processes are fundamental to critical social work practice. Nevertheless, these processes have been criticized for lacking a coherent translation to direct professional practice. Existing models of critical reflection culminate in the formulation of critical professional perspectives, leaving the translation of critical perspectives into direct practice underdeveloped. This gap requires attention, specifically in the contemporary context of social services that operate under the hegemony of conservative and neoliberal discourses, which impede critical rationality and practice. Therefore, a nuanced conceptualization of the process that links critical reflection and critical practice is required. This article provides such a conceptualization by describing an undergraduate social work course that used a collaborative inquiry group to explore critical participatory practices. Building on our collaborative inquiry experiences and findings, we portray a process that included critical reflection, direct critical practice, and the development of a critical professional perspective. Based on the conceptual framework of action science, our conceptualization demonstrates how the process of addressing the tension between critical and hegemonic perspectives enables professionals to create critical practice within the hegemonic field. In this way, we provide a theoretical contribution to the construction of critical reflection models and a practical contribution to professional developmental processes that promote critical professionalism.

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