scholarly journals Socialarbejdere i et spændingsfelt mellem politik og brugernes behov

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Bømler
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Regulatory Constraints ◽  
The Social

This article discusses the obligatory job activation measures directed toward workers receiving temporary sickness benefits, a policy that took effect on 1. January 2010. The requirement that workers on sick leave be subject to activation measures so they can return to work more quickly indicates a change in attitude about how we become well again. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze how social workers in the Danish municipality of Aalborg work with activation of workers on sick leave. It describes how they manage the professional and ethical dilemmas they experience due to the specific activation requirements directed toward workers on sick leave. The problem takes its point of departure in our lack of specific knowledge about how the municipal job counselling centres manage the activation of those receiving sick leave benefits. This article is a part of a pilot project, and therefore based on a limited amount of data. The pilot project should be seen as a preliminary phase of a larger qualitative study of the methodological challenges in the sick leave sector. The article is based on a focus group interview with five social workers in a job centre in the municipality of Aalborg. The results of the pilot study have been surprising. Even though there are professional and ethical dilemmas facing the social workers in the job centre, these are of less importance than the New Public Management based restructuring that has been taking place in the Danish public sector for nearly thirty years. Regulatory constraints, budget controls and standardization of the methods of social work are experienced by the social workers as the greatest obstacle to carry out professionally qualified social work. The requirements connected with regulations, standardized methods and budget controls have placed the social workers in a field of tension between politics and their clients’ needs. Hence, the professional social sector workers find themselves compelled to manoeuvre in an organizational context that places contradictory demand on their activities.

scholarly journals Leadership Support of Supervision in Social Work Practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Vito
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Human Service ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Human Service Organizations ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Leadership Support

This article discusses research findings that highlight the importance of leadership support of supervision for social workers in human service organizations. While supervision is considered a cornerstone of social work practice, whether and how such supervision is supported by human service leaders is not adequately analyzed. Using qualitative research data from interviews with supervisors and managers in southern Ontario, this article presents the vital role social work leaders play in supporting supervision by modelling values, and creating a safe organizational culture. The challenges of providing this support are also discussed in the current context of new public management. The article concludes with a series of recommendations, including: prioritizing supervision to promote organizational learning, organizational restructuring to reduce power differentials, modelling social work values to create a safe learning culture, and supporting supervisory and leadership training for social workers. Findings may be of interest to social workers who are leading, supervising, teaching or practicing in human service organizations.

scholarly journals Two tales of community work

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-32
Author(s):  
Håvard Aaslund ◽  
Eelke Pruim
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Role Stress ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Dutch Sample

Community-oriented approaches in social work are highlighted in both social work literature and policy documents in post-financial crisis Europe, and in the Nordic welfare states where professionalized bureaucracy, universal benefits and institutionalized social work have been the norm. The aim of this article is to explore social workers’ experiences of role changes in the transition to a more community-oriented approach, characterized by ambulatory work, the facilitation of local resources, multi-disciplinary collaboration and user participation. The empirical data consists of qualitative data from two cases: a political reform in the Netherlands (The Social Support Act), and a user-initialized project in Norway. Ten social workers from nine different organizations were interviewed in the Netherlands, and four social workers from one community-based project in Norway. We analysed these as a multiple case study of a transformation towards community-based practice, but one in which the political and organizational context differs. A common theme was the changing of the roles of the social worker and the subsequent experiences of challenges in different contextual settings. We present our findings under the topics of identity work, differing organizational expectations and role conflicts. Social workers in both the Norwegian and Dutch sample express experiences of multiple roles, vague roles and conflicting roles, with our analysis showing that role stress was common in both cases, regardless of whether the initiative was top-down or bottom-up. Remedying role stress could be a crucial element in processes aiming at user participation, social cohesion, cross-disciplinary cooperation and strengths perspectives.

scholarly journals Organizational Professionalism: Social Workers Negotiating Tools of NPM

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanna Mik-Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Meaningful Work ◽  
Welfare Recipient ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
New Public ◽  
Treatment Facilities ◽  
The Individual

This article examines how social workers and managers perceive meaningful work and expertise in six care and treatment facilities in Denmark. Based on 29 interviews with social workers (n=22) and managers (n=7), the article shows how New Public Management-inspired tools such as scoring schemas align with social work values such as “client-centeredness” and working with the individual welfare recipient face-to-face. The article finds that fitting social work into organizational schemas changes the work practices of social workers and also the way members of this profession define meaningful work and expertise. In addition, the article also finds that scoring schemas cause conflicts among social workers regarding the character of expertise when values of social work (to meet a welfare recipient’s need) must be aligned with NPM-inspired values of organizations (to meet managers’ demand for documentation).

scholarly journals La mediación comunitaria y/o vecinal: un aporte a la democratización social y un nuevo espacio para el trabajo social de comunidad

2016 ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Estela Adasme Calisto ◽  
Christian Quinteros Flores Quinteros Flores
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Social Fabric ◽  
New Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Politica Publica ◽  
Trabajo Social ◽  
Good Resource

La técnica de la mediación se ha ampliado en Chile desde espacios tradicionales como el escolar o el familiar, a otros espacios menos habituales como el laboral e incluso el comunitario o vecinal. Sin embargo, en este último ámbito, su utilización en Chile hoy es muy incipiente y reviste desafíos a la institucionalidad y a quienes la operan en el marco de la nueva gestión pública. Para el Trabajo Social –importante operador de la política pública y responsable de contribuir a la necesaria “democratización social”–, este tipo de mediación puede constituir un buen recurso o bien público al momento de fortalecer el tejido social, además que le permite aprovechar la expertise de la formación recibida por este profesional. Este artículo busca contextualizar sociohistóricamente la práctica de la mediación comunitaria en Chile, permitiendo explorar algunas oportunidades que presenta hoy este espacio para el Trabajo Social, en épocas de globalización.Palabras clave: Ciudadanía, Desarrollo Sinergético, Mediación Vecinal-Comunitaria, Trabajo Social de Comunidad.A mediação comunitária e/ou da vizinhança: uma contribuição para a democratização social e um novo espaço para o trabalho social de comunidadeA técnica de mediação tem se expandido no Chile desde espaços tradicionais, tais como a escola e a família, para outros espaços menos tradicionais, tais como o trabalho e até mesmo o comunitário ou vizinhança. No entanto, neste último aspecto, seu uso no Chile hoje é muito incipiente e reveste de desafios à institucionalidade e aqueles que operam no âmbitoda nova gestão pública. Para o Trabalho Social – importante operador dapolítica pública e responsável de contribuir a necessária “democratizaçãosocial” – este tipo de mediação pode se constituir num bom recurso ouBem público ao momento de fortalecer o tecido social, além do mais,que lhe permite aproveitar os conhecimentos da formação recebida poreste profissional. Este artigo visa contextualizar sociohistoricamente aprática da mediação comunitária no Chile, permitindo explorar algumasoportunidades que hoje apresenta este espaço para o trabalho Social emtempos de globalização.Palavras-chave: Cidadania, Desenvolvimento sinergético, MediaçãoVizinhança-Comunitária, Trabalho Social de Comunidade.Community and/or neighborhood mediation: Acontribution to social democracy and a new space forcommunity social workThe technique of mediation has expanded in Chile from traditional areassuch as school or family to other less traditional such as labor and eventhe community or neighborhood. However, the latter is very new in Chiletoday and imposes challenges to institutions and to those who operate itunder the new public management. For the Social Work – major operatorof public policy and responsible for contributing to the necessary “socialdemocracy” – this type of mediation can be a good resource to strengthenthe social fabric and leverage expertise of this professional training. Thisarticle is aimed to socio historically contextualize community mediationpractice in Chile exploring some opportunities today for social work inglobalization times.Keywords: Citizenship, synergistic development, neighborhood-communitymediation, community social work.  

Resisting Neoliberal Social Work Fragmentation: The Wall-to-Wall Alliance

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-345
Author(s):  
Roni Strier
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Welfare Expenditures

Abstract Worldwide neoliberal policies are transforming the landscape of social work. Studies have shown that these policies increased social workers’ caseloads, regulated welfare expenditures, impaired public services’ capabilities to attend to the needs of growing demand, transformed social services delivery by implanting new public management methods, and often also worsened working conditions and deteriorated the professional status of social workers. Moreover, these policies have raised both poverty and inequality levels and left their negative marks on social work education, by prioritizing academic disciplines more attuned with the needs of neoliberal regimes. This article seeks to encourage schools of social work, social workers in the social services, and people living in poverty to challenge the harmful impact of this context by engaging in meaningful alliances focused on the fight against poverty and social exclusion. This article presents a long-term partnership project between a school of social work, local public social services, and groups of active clients, to tackle the issue of poverty in Israel. The article describes the project, introduces the theoretical and methodological principles, analyzes achievements and challenges, and finally discusses the potential contribution of such partnerships for the future of the profession.

scholarly journals ETHICAL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL WORK IN MODERN SOCIETY

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 710-716
Author(s):  
Hermína Mareková
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Ethics ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Moral Standards ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ethical Norms

The basic principle for the exercise of professional social work is the respect for human rights and social justice. The social worker's activity is associated with high expectations on the part of society, although the moral standards of society are typically on a lower level. The legislative environment or norms governing the decisions of social workers are determined by legislation as well as generally applicable ethical norms. In practice, this creates ethical dilemmas consisting in the acceptance of a hierarchy or priorities of individual norms, whereas the adopted and applied values and norms can be counterproductive. This situation may cause a conflict between professional ethics and valid social norms. The following article tackles the issues in social work arising from the stereotypes surviving in society and a lack of competence of many social workers.

Satisfaction with the Social Work Profession: A Ten-Year Analysis of Undergraduate Students' Perceptions

1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Hanson ◽  
James G. McCullagh
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
The Social

A 10-yr. study of 746 social work undergraduates' perceived satisfaction with seven factors related to their career choice suggested high satisfaction with social work as a career; with the purposes and functions of social work, and the students' initial volunteer experience. There were no significant changes in satisfaction over the 10-yr. period, which findings parallel those of other studies in which similar methods have been used with practicing social workers.

"Effetti corrosivi"? Problematizzare l'impatto del New Public Management e della governance sui social workers del settore pubblico

2012 ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Riccardo Guidi
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
New Public

L'articolo sviluppa considerazioni di carattere metodologico e sostanziale sull'impatto che le riforme ispirate al New Public Management e alla governance hanno avuto sul lavoro sociale. Nella prima parte dell'articolo sono sinteticamente esposti i caratteri fondamentali dei due paradigmi di riforma. La seconda parte si focalizza sull'approccio di studio all'innovazione nel campo della Pubblica Amministrazione. La terza parte espone alcune evidenze empiriche della letteratura internazionale sui cambiamenti del lavoro sociale. Sull'Italia viene proposta una rilettura dei dati di due ricerche nazionali svolte a cavallo del ciclo di riforme del welfare degli anni 2000. L'articolo giunge alla conclusione che lo studio dell'impatto delle riforme sul lavoro sociale richiede di considerare una pluralitŕ di "variabili di traduzione" delle riforme (pathdependent e actor-dependent). Siul piano teorico ciň sollecita a verificare la possibilitŕ di un incontro tra il neo-istituzionalismo sociologico e l'Actor-Network Theory.

Social workers, critical theory and the political sphere: addressing political misrecognition and marginalisation in the Republic of Ireland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Electoral Representation ◽  
Irish Politics

Despite the traditional social justice mandate of social work, and critical and radical theoretical traditions that pursue egalitarian and just societies, the engagement of the social work academy with Irish politics has been underwhelming at best. While there are abstract analyses that address sociopolitical theory and ideological wrongdoings related to neoliberalist rationality, attention in social work academia to the nuts and bolts of everyday political life in Ireland, such as democratic party politics and electoral representation, leaves much to the imagination. This article therefore pursues a more grounded reading of social justice in Irish politics for social workers. The supporting proposition is that to effectively interject in political misrecognition and marginalisation, social workers must understand the present political state of play. Towards achieving this, Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition aids thematic critical commentary on the literature.

Social work education in action: How studying for the profession facilitates the adaptation of internationally educated social workers in Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Annie Pullen Sansfaçon ◽  
Marion Brown
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Work Skills ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theory Project ◽  
Work Education ◽  
Adaptation Processes ◽  
Depth Interviews

This article presents the results and theorization of a 4-year Grounded Theory project that sought to understand the processes and dynamics involved in the professional adaptation of internationally educated social workers now practicing in Canada. In-depth interviews with 66 participants, who undertook social work education outside of Canada and have subsequently settled to practice in the country, were conducted. Results highlight that the social work educational background of the professionals not only offers key conceptual, theoretical, and analytical foundations needed to adapt knowledge and skills to practice abroad, but also provides tools to navigate and negotiate professional adaptation processes as a whole. We conclude that ultimately, social workers may adapt well to their new work contexts because of the transferability of social work skills, knowledge, and values to new practice settings, thus facilitating interventions with services users and also their own process of professional adaptation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document