This chapter presents material about the international context within which social work has developed. Social work is a global profession but one which shows considerable variation in its history, education and practices between countries, posing particular challenges for transnational social workers. The chapter questions the extent to which the global definition and international ethical code and education standards are widely understood or applied, weakening their possible utility for transnational social workers. The chapter goes on to acknowledge that many social problems are international in nature and that social workers would recognise the issues and client groups common across national borders. However, the way that services are organised and the expected responses of social workers show significant variations between countries, with implications for local practices. Finally, the chapter identifies some of the commonly reported strengths of transnational social workers but argues that these are often undervalued due to their positioning as incomers to a system and, therefore, as learners.
Social Work Practice in an International Context