The Misrecognition of Social Problems

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-158
Author(s):  
LaTonya J. Trotter

This chapter assesses the challenges faced by the Forest Grove Elder Services' social workers, providing a better understanding of the hurdles faced by the profession at large. State disinvestment in social problems grounds the devaluation of social work as a profession. However, this may be of little interest to anyone who is not a social worker. If the Grove's members were getting their needs met by others—whether it be nurse practitioners (NPs), chaplains, or occupational therapists (OTs)—it is not readily apparent how this devaluation might impact anything other than the professional aspirations of social workers. The chapter then argues that there are consequences for relocating problems from one terrain to another. The tools found in the clinic may not be the same as those located outside it. Moreover, not all social work concerns are necessarily taken up by those best positioned as advocates. At the Grove, social concerns were addressed both by those with recognized credentials and by those without them. When anyone is perceived as able to do social work, clients may lose an ally with the organizational power to advocate on their behalf. The chapter illustrates that the relocation of social problems has implications for people's understanding of what constitutes those problems and what they envision as the available arsenal of solutions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (Extra-A) ◽  
pp. 287-292
Author(s):  
Yanina V. Shimanovskaya ◽  
Alexander S. Sarychev ◽  
Mihail V. Firsov ◽  
Galina P. Medvedeva ◽  
Natalia P. Konstantinova

The article explores the problem of training future social workers to study the social difficulties arising in young families, as well as to use the social technologies for resolving said difficulties under the current conditions of the development of Russian society. A wide range of technologies implemented by a social worker in working with a young family to improve the effectiveness of the realization of its potential is provided.


Author(s):  
Sadye L. M. Logan

As chief executive director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Battle demonstrated a pioneering leadership that stimulated the organization and the social work profession to broader areas of social concerns. He was a social worker, educator, consultant, businessman, and former government official. Throughout his career, he blended expertise in management and labor issues with social work skills and knowledge.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 295-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Yi Chen ◽  
I-Chen Tang

The human rights concept is that everyone is entitled to enjoy those rights inherent to being human, without distinction. However, should human rights be considered a self-evident value for the social work profession? This study was to explore how social workers in Taiwan perceive the human rights concept. Responses from 276 social worker participants were analyzed by using a self-administered questionnaire. This study showed that social workers had a general knowledge of human rights. Receiving human rights educational training and engaging in social protests were important variables in increasing human rights awareness for social work practitioners.


Author(s):  
Maryna Lekholetova

The article presents an analysis of different approaches of domestic scientists to the interpretation of the concept of «social work management». The author surveys the features of management as an object of governance in the activities of a social worker. Features include the social nature of management information; the need for motivation methods that effectively influences and motivates professionals to better results in social work; availability of social workers' professional competence; the presence of problems with forecasting the results of management in the social sphere; the importance of current and final management results. The author proves the necessity of social workers' self-management skills (time management, motivation, stress resistance and recuperation, development of emotional intelligence) for the effective performance of management tasks in professional activities.  The article highlights the principles that should be followed in solving organizational and managerial tasks in social work management (purposefulness, ability of realization, adaptability, efficiency). The researcher presents the structure of social work management methods in the study (economic, administrative, social counselling, psychological and pedagogical influence, social influence). Research characterizes the methods of social work management while working with recipients of social services (methods of individual social work, methods of group social work, methods of community work, methods of social service design).


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Kateřina Glumbíková

Social work in the Czech Republic is confronted with the impact of global neoliberalism, which is manifested by privatisation of social services, individualisation of social risks and economisation. Reflexivity of social workers working with vulnerable children and their families has the potential to lead to a higher quality of social work, strengthening of social workers' identity, and empowering social workers to promote changes in everyday practice. Meeting this potential requires an understanding of constructing reflexivity by social workers, which is the objective of this paper. We used a qualitative research strategy, particularly group and individual interviews with social workers and their analysis using current approaches to grounded theory. Concerning data analysis, we found out that constructing reflexivity (nature and subject of reflexion) derives from the perceived roles of social workers (social worker as an ununderstood artist, social worker a as mediator between social and individual, social workers as an agent of a (society) change, social workers as an agent of normalisation and reflexive professional). The acquired data, within the situational analysis, was inserted into a position map on the scale of holistic and technical reflection. The conclusion discusses the implication for practice and education in social work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13198
Author(s):  
Inês Casquilho-Martins

The effects of the international crisis brought economic and financial risks, as well as consequences for human, social and sustainable development. This study aims to analyse the effects of social intervention with families since the 2008 crisis in Portugal. Through a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with social workers (23), to identify the main impacts of the crisis and the adopted social intervention practices. We highlight a new increase in social problems and the growth of vulnerable groups facing an unprepared social protection system. The Portuguese case reveals that the effects of austerity have shown a decline in the welfare and benefits system, leading to worsened social problems, such as increased poverty and unemployment, as well as social inequalities. Social Work was required to respond to these consequences, although organisational contexts and austerity measures constrained practitioners’ autonomy. By reflecting on this critical period, we seek to contribute to better social protection and assistance models in the face of the current and future crisis. In this sense, Social Work practice ensures a means to guarantee fundamental rights and social justice, preparing social workers and social intervention for new challenges in crisis contexts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabnam Ahmed

      Through this practice note, I share some of my reflections and learning of becoming a practice educator.  The experience has enhanced my skills as a social worker and team manager and now as a social work doctoral student.  Based on my observations of supervision as a practice assessor and my experience of having many different managers throughout my career, I have noticed when social workers move into management without a practice educator qualification, the supervisory relationship experience is a different one than that of a practice educator – turned manager.  I question why this is.  Is reflective supervision only reserved for students? I am suggesting that it should not be.  Each supervisor should be supported and enabled to connect with their Art, as supervision is a form of Art.   


2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35
Author(s):  
Sarah Hessenauer ◽  
Charles Zastrow

In this exploratory qualitative study, researchers examined key educational experiences bachelor- level social workers identified as being most helpful in transitioning to current social work careers. Twenty students from CSWE- accredited social work programs, having worked in a social work agency for a minimum of 4 months, voluntarily participated. The researchers conducted one- on- one interviews in which social workers were asked to describe educational experiences and beliefs that supported their transition to careers in social work. The data from these interviews were coded to identify themes to aid educators in examining variables significant in the education of future social workers. These themes include learning occurring in social work courses, self- awareness, learning in the field, and learning from others.


Author(s):  
Fahri Özsungur

Social work plays an important role in managing the process of planning, supervising, and ensuring the sustainability of protective and supportive measures applied to children who are dragged into crime and in need of protection in order to prevent incompatibilities that may arise in society. Social workers are actors in the field in the execution of the process. In this chapter, these practitioners who have made significant contributions to social work by giving reports and opinions about the measures taken by the courts about the children dragged into crime, determining the criminal tendencies of the children and the necessary precautions and training, are examined closely in the context of the Turkish legal system. The chapter includes the issues of judicial control, protective and supportive measures, preparation of a plan for the implementation of cautionary decisions, confidentiality, the role of the social worker and the social worker board for children who are dragged into crime and in need of protection.


Author(s):  
Joseph Walsh

The broad nature of the social work profession offers opportunities for practitioners to work with diverse clients. While committed to the welfare of all clients, social workers tend to be drawn to some clients more than others, due in part to their abilities to connect with them. A social worker’s positive feelings about his or her clients is a good thing, but it is possible that at times he or she will experience a special fondness or attraction for a client that can create biases that get in the way of a constructive working relationship. The purposes of this chapter are to explore the circumstances in which positive feelings about clients develop and to suggest ways for social workers to manage those feelings in a way that keeps their focus on the client’s welfare.


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