scholarly journals Professionalization of Social Work in Malaysia Through Legislation: A Literature Discussion on Concepts, Issues and Challenges

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
TEOH AI HUA ◽  
FUZIAH SHAFIE
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
The Government ◽  
Draft Bill ◽  
Education And Development ◽  
Work Education

Social work as a profession may have been well established in many countries; nevertheless internationally its professional status and professionalization process differs from country to country. Social work in Malaysia has come to a new chapter when the government endorsed a proposal to enact a Social Workers Bill as part of its commitment to enhance the quality of social workers and social work practice in the country. One significant aspect of the draft bill is the registration and licensing of social workers. Drawing examples from a few countries that have registration requirement, this paper attempts to highlight some issues and challenges that may arise when the registration and licensing begin after the bill has been enacted. The legislation can provide a legal framework to put in place proper structures for social work education and development. It however requires all stakeholders to work closely to ensure that eventually the vulnerable populations that the profession is serving can also benefit from the professionalization process.  

Discrimination and injustice against older people in Uganda: Implications for social work practice

2019 ◽  
pp. 002087281985874
Author(s):  
Charles Kiiza Wamara ◽  
Maria Irene Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Professional Regulation ◽  
Work Education

This article highlights how older people in Uganda experience discrimination and injustice. It discusses the legal framework for their protection, while acknowledging that not all professionals are aware of or have access to the legal mechanisms meant to safeguard older people’s interests. It also discusses the role social work can play in protecting older people’s rights. It further recommends that social workers work to increase solidarity between generations and bring about social justice and respect for diversity. It concludes by highlighting the need to bring anti-discriminatory social work into mainstream social work education and the professional regulation of social work.

scholarly journals Incorporating community development into social work practice within the neoliberal environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Aimers ◽  
Peter Walker
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Community Work ◽  
Core Subject ◽  
Work Education

Community development is a core subject in social work education, yet social work discourse often places community development at its margins (Mendes, 2009). This article considers the location of community development and community work within the current neoliberal environment in New Zealand and how such practice can be sustained by social workers in the community and voluntary sector. Community development is a way of working with communities that has a ‘bottom up’ approach as an alternative to State (top down) development. Over recent years, however, successive New Zealand governments have embraced neoliberal social policies that have marginalised community development. In addition the term ‘community work’ has been used to describe activities that have little to do with a bottom up approach thereby making it difficult to define both community development and community work. By applying a ‘knowledge intersections’ schema to two New Zealand community and voluntary organi- sations we identify where community development and social work intersect. From this basis we challenge social workers to consider ways in which community development can be embedded within their practice. 

Time and change: UK social work and comparative European welfare policies since 1990

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-42
Author(s):  
Linda Bell
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Welfare Regimes ◽  
Welfare Policies ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Background History ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Work Education

This chapter gives a brief contextual background history to ‘social work’. It emphasises the years after 1990. This period encompasses many policy and political changes and theoretical developments in the UK and internationally, which affect social work practice and education. This is the time period encapsulating the author's involvement with social workers and social work education. The chapter presents some comparative geographical locations partly to reflect aspects of this involvement with social work and contacts with social work and social workers in those places, as well as to reflect different kinds of welfare regimes and to indicate some different kinds of welfare professionals.

scholarly journals Importance of play therapy in social work practice with children

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1137-1148
Author(s):  
Esra Kılıç Ceyhan
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Play Therapy ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
English Summary ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Verbal Abilities ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Work Education

If we can find ways to hear and understand children, they have a lot to say, tell and teach us, adults. Children who do not have extensive verbal abilities like adults can express themselves through playing. It has been proven by research that the best method by which they can convey their feelings, thoughts and problems is play therapy. At this point, it is important that professionals working with children are equipped with the knowledge of play therapy. Social workers who frequently come into contact with children in their professional lives should be involved in the field as play therapy practitioners. However, when the literature is examined, it is seen that there are very few practices and studies on the subject in Turkey. This study presents the place and importance of play therapy in social work practice with children in the light of the researches and applications in the literature, and highlights the importance of the use of play therapy as a method by social workers working with children. It has been observed that play therapy needs a wider coverage in social work practice and research. Suggestions have been made for popularizing play therapy in the relevant social work education, research and practices. ​Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.   Özet   Çocukları duymaya, anlamaya ilişkin yollar bulanabilirse, onların yetişkinlere söyleyecekleri, anlatacakları, öğretecekleri çok şey vardır. Yetişkinler gibi geniş sözel yeteneklere sahip olmayan çocuklar kendilerini oyun yoluyla ifade edebilmektedirler. Onların duygularını, düşüncelerini, sorunlarını aktarabilecekleri en iyi yöntemin oyun terapisi olduğu araştırmalarla kanıtlanmıştır. Bu noktada çocuklarla çalışan profesyonellerin oyun terapisiyle ilgili bir donanıma sahip olması önem arz etmektedir. Mesleki yaşamlarında sıkça çocuklara temas eden sosyal hizmet uzmanları, oyun terapisi uygulayıcısı olarak alanda yer almalıdır. Ancak alan yazın incelendiğinde konuyla ilgili ülkemizdeki uygulama ve çalışmaların çok az sayıda olduğu görülmüştür. Çocuklarla sosyal hizmet uygulamasında oyun terapisinin yeri ve öneminin literatürdeki araştırmalar ve uygulamalar ışığında sunulduğu bu çalışmada, çocuklarla çalışan sosyal hizmet uzmanlarının oyun terapisini bir yöntem olarak kullanmalarının önemine dikkat çekilmiştir. Oyun terapisinin sosyal hizmet uygulama ve araştırmalarında daha geniş yer almaya ihtiyacı olduğu görülmüştür. Konuyla ilgili sosyal hizmet eğitim, araştırma ve uygulamalarında oyun terapisinin yaygınlaştırılması için önerilerde bulunulmuştur.   

scholarly journals Lifting the veil on the government’s regulatory agenda for the social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31
Author(s):  
Howard Randal
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Veil ◽  
Foucauldian Theory

INTRODUCTION: The article discusses the two contrasting agendas evident when statutory registration for social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand was introduced in 2003 – that of the professional association and that of the government.METHOD:  The approach taken draws on a longitudinal research study of the aspirations for statutory registration held by a sample of members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZSW). In addition, the motives behind the professionalisation strategy introduced by the principal government social work service are examined and analysed applying Foucault’s concept of governmentality.FINDINGS: The qualitative analysis of the data shows that the profession, although aspiring to having some role in statutory registration, also held concerns about its implications. By way of contrast, the professionalisation strategy adopted by the government social work service shows it was driven by public service performance, fiscal and risk management imperatives.CONCLUSIONS: The application of the Foucauldian theory of governmentality to the data and findings shows that the introduction of statutory registration is a manifestation of the managerial and statutory controls adopted by government and a means of governmentality. This has resulted in the government holding the upper hand in providing public accountability for social work practice thereby perpetuating its hold over the profession with the risk that the ANZASW is left in its wake. 

Infusion of Gerontology Content: An Ethical Imperative

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Roberts ◽  
Rosemary Blieszner
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Work Area ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Education

The infusion of aging content into the social work curriculum has been the subject of recent discussion by social work researchers. Aging content is needed for ethical social work practice because demographic trends demonstrate that social workers will treat older people regardless of work area preference. Age bias precludes ethical social work practice. However, the infusion of gerontological subject matter may decrease age bias and may thereby promote ethical practice. The authors' research demonstrates that age bias exists among social workers despite attention to the phenomenon, lending support to recommendations for infusion of aging content into baccalaureate social work education. Baccalaureate social work education is an opportune venue in which to introduce work with elders.

Emotional Support Animals: An Overview of Practical and Legal Issues for Social Workers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sur Ah Hahn ◽  
Jennifer Hinton ◽  
Ann Hallyburton
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Intrinsic Nature ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Work Education ◽  
Client Assessment

Abstract Limited literature exists to guide social workers in the effective and ethical use of emotional support animals (ESAs) in practice. This article deals with practical issues these professionals face in dealing with requests for ESA authorization. The article provides an overview of relevant U.S. regulations (as of mid-2019) governing housing, travel, workplaces, and higher education; examines the uses, efficacy, and special concerns regarding ESAs; and presents recommendations for the use of ESAs in social work practice. Ethical implications for social workers dealing with client assessment and ESA authorization are discussed. The authors also address the intrinsic nature of human and ESA well-being and its relevance to client-centered social work practice. In addition, the authors discuss opportunities for incorporating ESAs into social work education.

scholarly journals Primary Care Social Work Practice with Older Adult Veterans During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Application of Ecological Systems Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-121
Author(s):  
Lashawn Smith
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
The Government

In March 2020, The state of New York became the American epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic with the most vulnerable of populations including older adults being affected.  As a result of the Government shut-down to slow the spread of Covid-19, many primary care social workers, including this writer pivoted to remote telework detail on short notice. While utilizing an ecological systems theoretical framework, this article will explore how primary care social workers in the Veterans Health Administration worked through the Covid-19 pandemic to effectively provide social work services and case management to older adult Veterans.

scholarly journals Progressive change-makers or agents of Colonialism? Taking another look at the CASWE’s Standards for curriculum accreditation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameena Ashley Ali
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Progressive Change ◽  
Canadian Association ◽  
Work Education ◽  
Schools Of Social Work

This major research paper (MRP) examines how Schools of Social Work (SSW) in Canada reproduce social workers who participate in and perpetuate existing systems of oppression. Social workers either end up continuing to contribute to existing oppressive structures in society or working towards breaking down those structures; and an integral part in making that distinction is the education that they receive. This MRP focuses on critically analyzing the Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) standards for Masters of Social Work (MSW) curriculum accreditation through an anti-colonial and post colonialism framework with an understanding of the effects of neoliberalism. This critical analysis was conducted through critical discourse analysis to reveal how colonialism and neoliberalism permeate curriculum standards which ultimately shape social work practice today. Main findings indicate that the curriculum accreditation standards have underlying discourses related to professionalism, social justice, surveillance, institutionalization and the absence of race.

Charting the Development of Spirituality in Social Work in the Second Decade of the 21st Century: A Critical Commentary

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 961-978
Author(s):  
Beth R Crisp
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Practice Models ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This article provides a critical commentary on the place of spirituality in social work scholarship in the second decade of the twenty-first century. Compared with previous decades, the applications of spirituality within social work have expanded, and understandings of what spirituality entails have become more nuanced. In part, this reflects an intention and methodology which enabled scholarship from beyond the Anglosphere to be included in this commentary, including the perspectives of indigenous peoples. Three key issues were identified in the literature: a lack of consensus as to how spirituality is understood, including whether it can be measured; the broadening scope for spirituality in social work practice, including growing recognition that spirituality has a role beyond direct practice in social policy and advocacy work; and the impact on social workers or holistic practice models which acknowledge the spirituality of service users and consequences of this for social work education. Although there are many positives to have emerged from this growing acceptance of a legitimate place for spirituality in social work, social workers need to take care to ensure that the ways they incorporate spirituality into their practice is not harmful to service users.

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