scholarly journals Theory discussion in social work journals: a preliminary study

10.18060/116 ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Daley ◽  
Jon Peters ◽  
Ron Taylor ◽  
Victoria Hanson ◽  
Delthea Hill
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Link Theory ◽  
Conceptual Explanation ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Practice Knowledge

Social workers are taught to strive to link theory with practice. A primary source for social workers to update theory and practice knowledge is the myriad of social work journals. However, how much discussion of theory occurs in social work journals? The authors developed criteria to evaluate the degree and quality of theory discussion and progression in social work journals. They used the criteria to evaluate 885 articles from 30 journals published in the year 2002. Great variability in theory discussion was found. The majority (71.7%) of articles contained no theory discussion (discussion that mentions a theory superficially but does not provide refinement of the theory). Few (9.5%) of the articles had theory progression (an article which is an empirical study or conceptual explanation that advances a theory in clarity, evidence base, or precision). Those articles that include theory provide a low quality of theory discussion or progression. Implications for practice and education are discussed.

Growing: experiencing social work education and socialisation

2020 ◽  
pp. 61-76
Author(s):  
Linda Bell
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Anthropological Perspective ◽  
Social Work Theory ◽  
Link Theory ◽  
Background Material ◽  
Work Education

This chapter explores the views of some social workers and social work students about socialisation into their profession. It also provides some background about this concept from an anthropological perspective. The chapter begins with what social workers think they should learn and sets this against epistemological background material describing some key frameworks for social work theory and practice. Reflecting on examples and interviews with social workers and others, the chapter reveals that the often-stated attempt to ‘link theory and practice’ in social work education is much more complicated than it first appears. To set the stage for the next chapter, an experience relating to personal interaction and the use of self is described.

Seselelame: Reflective team approach to practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-87
Author(s):  
Julia Jude
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Practical Wisdom ◽  
The Body ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Work Context ◽  
Relational Dynamics ◽  
Ways Of Being

Abstract: This paper focuses on an awareness of self through the integration of Seselelame Reflective Team Approach to Practice (SRTAP), a model I develop that was adapted from Anderson’s systemic reflective team approach. An understanding of how SRTAP enhances the quality of practice of social workers is explored. Approaching this task from a practice-based standpoint I draw from my experience and practice. I explore how the concept of SRTAP was embedded in a local social work context; I explain and illustrate the value of bringing forth an awareness of self through the use of feeling in the body to practice, inviting an appreciation of the value of practical wisdom through SRTAP.The narratives of practitioners offer examples of the effectiveness of the SRTAP on casework (that is, tasks involving plans or ideas, solving problems or making decisions). I discuss conditions, rationale and guidance needed to achieve and sustain the benefits of SRTAP.Taking feedback from practitioners, my experience and observation I suggest that SRTAP creates a blend between intuitive and analytical ways of being in practice, contributing practice competence through an exploration of self as a resource when dealing with complex relational dynamics. When I use the word ‘self’ in this paper, I refer to felt responses in terms of feelings in the body.

Theoretical pathways to the future: Globalization, ICT and social work theory and practice

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah West ◽  
David Heath
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
New Managerialism ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Social Work Theory ◽  
Patterns Of Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Core Issues

• Summary: Society has changed substantially and rapidly with the advent of globalization where technology is both a catalyst for and a response to globalization. Concurrently and connected to these trends has been the advent of neo-liberalism, new managerialism and postmodernism. Globalization, technological change and neo-liberalism underpin and are driven by each other in a continual cycle. This rapidly changing, globally connected and technologically based society is the context for clients and social workers alike. This article explores the connections between globalization, ICT and neo-liberalism. This forms the basis for critical reflection on theories, models and modes of practice in light of the changing context allowing a proactive response to the challenges that face the profession and our clients. • Findings: Irrespective of the agency of employment, social workers are faced with challenges that arise out of an ideology of outsourcing, reductionism, speed of response, accountability and cost effectiveness with a decreased value on practice wisdom and holistic approaches. However, many of our theories and models were developed at a time when social structure, political ideology and economic underpinnings were different. As such workers are left being reactive to situations with limited opportunities to influence the core issues. This has contributed to the decreasing role and value of social workers. • Application: To remain relevant social work needs to continue to influence systems for the benefit of society while reviewing and updating theories and models to reflect current lifestyles, modes and patterns of communication and the impact of globalization.

The Role of Social Workers in Supporting and Developing the Work of Foster Carers

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Sellick
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Wide Range

The quality of relations between social workers and foster carers can virtually make or break a placement. Clive Sellick uses a wide range of social work literature to examine some of the conditions needed for these relations to succeed, both in the realm of practical organisation and in terms of individual qualities such as reliability, honesty, empathy and warmth.

scholarly journals SOCIAL WORK WITH A DEPRESSED CLIENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Michaela Šuľová
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Stressful Situation ◽  
Triggering Mechanism ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression

Mental health is a fragile area. One of the frequent psychical illnesses is depression which means decline, uneasiness, anxiety. Many people develop a psychical illness during their life, whereby the triggering mechanism can be different stressful situation. Thus, many people with psychical illness become clients of social services facilities. This way the client comes into contact with social workers, which should be ready for their work (or rather mission) professionally and personally. They should be familiar with a range of approaches, methods and techniques, which they can implement based on the client’s individual needs within social intervention, in order to improve the client’s quality of life. The aim of our research is to determine what approaches and methods are used in social work with depressed clients. As a research method we use the analysis of professional materials and case studies, which focused on the application of methods of social work with clients with depression. The article has theoretical and research parts. In the theoretical part we introduce the diagnostics and symptoms of depression. In the research part we analyze the approaches and methods, used in social work with a depressed client. Then we present case studies, which are focused on the application of methods of social work with clients with depression.

scholarly journals THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF TRAINING FUTURE SOCIAL WORKERS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
pp. 272-279
Author(s):  
Serhii Mykhniuk
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Effective Interaction ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Training Time ◽  
Wide Range

The article considers the experience of training future social workers in European countries. The role and significance of positive foreign experience of professional training in European countries – Germany, France, Poland, Britain are substantiated; Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Netherlands, Finland. The aim of the article is to analyze the theory and practice of training social workers in European countries. Research methods used: analysis − to study scientific sources on the research topic, comparison − to explain the scientific positions of various authors, interpretation − to make a scientific commentary on scientific sources. It is established that despite the commonality of individual European trends in the training of social workers, each European country has its own, unique experience of this training, and its own specifics of professional activities of social workers, given the priority social problems in society. The main priorities of professional training of social workers in European countries, which contribute to the formation of students' readiness for effective interaction in the professional sphere: variability of curricula, a wide range of specializations, a wide range of forms and methods of practical training, a large amount of training time for internships and etc. It is noted that the practice of pre-professional social work at the level of volunteering, participation in certain social projects, etc. is important for the training of social workers, which is a prerequisite for admission to the specialty «Social Work» in many European countries. It is concluded that in the practice of training future social workers in different countries, students receive the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to implement interaction in its various organizational and substantive aspects (primarily with different subjects of social protection), instead of the pedagogical content of such interaction not specifically distinguished.

scholarly journals Role of Professional Social Workers in Promotion of Quality of Life of Children Orphaned by AIDS: A Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-119
Author(s):  
Dr. Abraham Mutluri ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Social Activist ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Community Organizer ◽  
Case Worker

This article discusses the role of professional social workers in promotion of quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS. Children orphaned by AIDS are the children, who have the age of below 18 years, and lost one or both biological parents due to AIDS. It is estimated that there are 13.8 million children worldwide had lost mother or father or both parents to AIDS as of 2020. Children orphaned by AIDS face economic, social, psychological, and health problems. It is very difficult for them to access the basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing as well as education. This study conducted in two states of India i.e. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with 316 children orphaned by AIDS. The study found that women-headed, granny-headed and child-headed families are more in HIV affected families. Stigma and discrimination were faced by 64.2 per cent respondents. About 35 per cent of the children are not attending the schools regularly, 72.2 per cent respondents required psycho-social support. Social work is a practice-based profession and it believes that every child is unique. There is a lot of scope for the practice of social work profession with these children. Social workers work as a social case-worker, social group worker, community organizer, social activist, social welfare administrator, social researcher, counsellor, communicator, and educator etc. to promote the quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS. This study suggested a strategy to work with children orphaned by AIDS.

Finding the evidence for practice in social work

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Cargill
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Efficient Search ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
Answerable Question

© 2013, IGI Global. The revolution in information technologies, in particular the growth of the Internet and greater access to computers, has given social workers unprecedented access to information resources. Researching such resources is crucial and it needs to be done efficiently. Planning an efficient search requires knowing which databases and other resources to use, knowing how to formulate an answerable question, identifying terms that inform the question, selecting the appropriate methodological filters, and being able to critically appraise evidence for its quality and relevance. This chapter, therefore, outlines some of the research sources available to social workers, it looks at some principles for finding information for practice in social work, and it outlines some criteria for evaluating the quality of that information.

More than Pills and Beds

2014 ◽  
pp. 113-129
Author(s):  
Sebastian Rosenberg ◽  
Fiona McDermott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Social Work Theory ◽  
Integral Element ◽  
The Way

Contemporary models of mental healthcare emphasise the importance of multi-disciplinary approaches in supporting recovery for consumers. There is growing evidence of the key role to be played by social workers derived from both the principles of recovery and those underpinning social work theory and practice, particularly a focus on person-in-environment. However, pressures on the way mental healthcare is provided in Australia are threatening this confluence. These pressures are much more concerned with the needs of funders than professionals, consumers, and their families. The aim of this chapter is to explore the evidence to support social work as an integral element in mental health recovery and to better understand these emerging challenges. The role of social work in good mental healthcare is too important to become marginalized; yet this prospect is real. Better understanding of the contemporary landscape of social work can help ensure this does not occur.

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