scholarly journals Racial bias and ASWB exams: A failure of data equity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Peter DeCarlo
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Racial Bias ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Community

This commentary contributes to the ongoing conversation about racial bias in social work licensing exams. It reviews recent public statements by the organization that describe the process for assessing racial bias in examinations developed and implemented by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). It demonstrates that, contradicting the purported policies forbidding the collection of demographic and exam outcomes data, such data is collected on all test-takers. ASWB performs analyses on them and reports one-line conclusions; however, they refuse to release the data to the social work community, and indeed, claim to have no relevant data to share. The commentary concludes that the social work community must take action rather than demand the ASWB reform itself.

scholarly journals The procedural fairness limitations of fitness to practise hearings: a case study into social work

Legal Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kirkham ◽  
Jadwiga Leigh ◽  
Kenneth McLaughlin ◽  
Aidan Worsley
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Procedural Fairness ◽  
Relative Lack ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Community ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Hybrid Forms

AbstractThe norm in fitness to practise proceedings (FTPP) is that where sanctions might be imposed procedural fairness requires a court-like hearing. This paper questions that paradigm, using empirical research to focus on the FTPP to which social workers must account. Procedural fairness is a multi-faceted legitimising concept used to justify the design of decision-making processes. With FTPPs, the major justification is an ‘instrumentally’ focused model of procedural fairness which prioritises making decisions that look right, a goal which is delivered in the context of social work. But other justifications for procedural fairness are inadequately fulfilled, with in particular a ‘dignitarian’ respect not achieved due to the high levels of non-attendance by registrant social workers. Further, procedural fairness as ‘public accountability’ is undermined due to the relative lack of engagement of FTPPs with the perspective of the social work community. These findings hint that in the context of a poorly organised and resource-poor profession other hybrid forms of FTPP might have a stronger claim to procedural fairness than the court-like model.

Infusing Aging Skills into the Social Work Practice Community: A New Look at Strategies for Continuing Professional Education

2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Miyake Geron ◽  
Christina Andrews ◽  
Kathy Kuhn
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Community ◽  
Practice Skills

As social work advances into the 21st century, dramatic increases in the aging of the U.S. population, shifting policy imperatives, and the emergence of new technologies have transformed the professional landscape in which social workers operate. To survive in today's world, social workers must be able to learn new skills and adapt to change. This article reviews the challenges facing the profession in transferring practice skills to social workers and describes the strategies of the Institute for Geriatric Social Work (IGSW) that address them. Well-designed training should provide a learning experience that is affordable, accessible and grounded in skill-based competencies. The challenge facing IGSW—and the broader social work community—is how to promote continuing education that maximizes these ends.

scholarly journals The social work voice: How could unions strengthen practice?

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Ross
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Social Injustice ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Community ◽  
Action Network ◽  
Do So

Social workers have many different demands placed upon them daily. From a necessity to consistently engage in professional development and reflection through to the requirement to challenge social injustice and strive for social change, much is made of our ethical respon- sibilities and practice standards. This is as it should be due to the complex and demanding nature of our work. Yet far less is said about how social workers can effectively meet these strong commitments and who can support us to do so. The question of who ‘advocates for the advocates’ remains side-lined in the continuing development of our profession. This article examines unionism and how it may provide the support and advocacy needed to progress some of the long-standing issues faced by the social work community, as well as some of the key obstacles to this. In addition, an overview of the Social Workers Action Network (SWAN) within the Public Service Association (PSA) is provided to examine how these conceptual dilemmas are being dealt with in practice. 

Listening to the Voices of Individuals with Disabilities

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen French Gilson ◽  
John C. Bricout ◽  
Frank R. Baskind
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Individuals With Disabilities ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
The Social

Social work literature, research, and practice on disabilities has lagged behind other topical areas dealing with oppressed groups. The social work literature remains “expert focused” and generally fragmented into discussions of specific disabilities or subpopulations. A viable general model that deals with the personal experience of disability is not available. This exploratory study presents a social work literature search and analysis as well as interviews with six individuals with disabilities about their experiences with social workers. Individuals with disabilities assert that they were treated as though they had categorically fewer aspirations, abilities, and perhaps even fundamental rights than did nondisabled people. This study provides a base for follow-up research on models of consumer-focused social work practice in the area of disability.

A Process Model of Social Development Supervision in Social Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mpumelelo Ncube
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Supervision Practice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
Dialectical Relationship ◽  
Development Approach

Supervision practice in social work is understood as the mainstay of the profession. However, various studies have pointed to the inadequacies of supervision to facilitate quality service provision. Previous studies have reflected a general misalignment between the approach to supervision practice and the approach to social work practice as one inadequacy leading to the failure of supervision practice. Although there are numerous supervision models in the profession, some of which are aligned with certain practice approaches, none is directly identifiable with the social development approach, which should be at the core of social work orientation in South Africa. Thus, this article provides a process model of supervision in social work that aims to establish a dialectical relationship between supervision and the social development practice approach. The study was underpinned by Thomas’ research and design process, which was used to design and develop a social work supervision model mirroring a social development approach. The paper concludes with recommendations related to the use of the developed model.

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