Military social work is a specialized field of practice spanning the micro-macro continuum and requiring advanced social work knowledge and skills. The complex behavioral health problems and service needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans highlight the need for highly trained social work professionals who can provide militarily-relevant and culturally-responsive evidence-informed services. Responding to the military behavioral health workforce and service needs of recently returned veterans presents both opportunities and challenges for military social work education. This article discusses the rationale for a military social work specialization, the need for military social work education, and opportunities and challenges for social work education. An integrated model of intellectual capital is proposed to guide strategic planning for future military social work education.
In: Gwilym , H 2018 , ' Social Work, Neoliberalism and Authoritarianism : An Analysis of Policy Document 'Regulating Social Work' ' , Critical and Radical Social Work , vol. 6 , no. 3 , pp. 407-413 . https://doi.org/10.1332/204986018X15388226259290
This discussion examines the complexity of the social work profession in the neoliberal era. Government austerity policies and a market and corporate neoliberal state have effectively trapped social work in an ideology that increasingly furthers the authoritarian nature of the profession. This will be discussed by looking at the broader policy, political and economic contexts. It will focus in detail on one specific Conservative government policy document, namely, 'Regulating social workers' (DoE and DH, 2016).
The Swedish public sector has undergone major changes over the last decades, with increased demands to be effective and perform their tasks with high quality, but also with the demand to increase the influence of users and citizens over the support given. This development has influenced how social services organise and how their work is perform, and is one motive given as to why evidence-based practice was introduced. This development can also be traced back to the manager philosophy new public management and neo-liberalism. Evidence-based practice has its origin in evidence-based medicine, which had a large impact internationally from the 1990s.Although there are different opinions concerning how evidence-based practiceshould be understood is often described on the basis of Sackett et al.'s (2000) definition which regards evidence-based practice as an integration of different knowledge sources – the best evidence, clinical or professional expertise and the values and preferences of users. The professional have the responsibility to use all these knowledge sources in the daily work.The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse different processes of the introduction of evidence-based practice. One aspect is what these processes have contributed to in terms of organising ways of working and management within social services; another aspect concerns what this means for social work. With a combination of new institutional organisational theory and Berger and Luckmann's (1967) insights into the social construction of everyday life, it is possible to analyse the introduction of evidence-based practice as a process, moving between a macro, meso and micro perspective. The empirical base for this thesis is interviews with 33 personnel from different professions and organisations. Those interviewed from thesocial services include social workers within individual and family services and socialservices managers, as well as regional representatives from a Research and Development Unit. To understand the development of evidence-based practice and its proliferation into social services I also interviewed doctors from health care in a County Council.New institutional organisational theory is useful for understanding how differentways of organising activities are spread between and within organisations. With concepts used in new institutional theory, the focus is on how evidence-based practice travels from medicine to social work, and from a national level to the local social services level, via the regional level. Giddens (1990) terms 'disemedding' and 'reembedding' are used. Different isomorphic processes are recognised in these processes, as well as strategies to decouple or loosely couple evidence-based practice from social services ordinary activities as a way to gain legitimacy. The main findings in the thesis are that evidence-based practice has been introduced with evidence-based medicine as a role model, and that this has been done from different conditions. As is described in the interviews, the development of evidencebased practice has been controlled from national organisations such as the government, the National Board of Health and Welfare and in recent years also the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Region, while the development within the medical area was governed by national organisations but performed by the medical profession, which advocated the introduction of evidence-based practice within the profession. The regional representatives largely support the myth that is presented of evidence-based practice, and have a central responsibility in the national initiativesconducted; they are intermediary between the national initiatives on development work and the local practice. When evidence-based practice is introduced in social work this has entailed loosely coupling between the myth about evidence-based practice and the ordinary activities, this strategy is especially obvious among social services managers. Furthermore, when a medical model of evidence-based practice is used, although with a broader approach, the introduction of evidence-based practice does not reflect the social workers' education, profession and ways of working in the same way as evidence-based medicine reflects the doctors' education, profession andway of working. The intention to analyse the introduction of evidence-based practice from a micro perspective is about understanding how evidence-based practice is received by the social worker and their managers. When the interviews with the doctors, social workers and managers are analysed there is less coherence between evidence-based practice and social workers' work than between evidence-based medicine and doctors' work. This means that social workers have to shape and construct their daily work anew through internalising the new habits and routines into everyday work, something that takes energy and time, which most interviewees feel does not exist.This thesis also highlights the need for social work to approach evidence-based practice both at an organisational and a structural level, and from the level where the daily work is performed by social workers. Finally, there exists among almost all interviewees a great interest in introducing evidence-based practice, especially among the social workers, but at the moment it is not re-embedded in social work. ; Godkänd; 2014; 20140731 (beneli); Nedanstående person kommer att disputera för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen. Namn: Benitha Eliasson Ämne: Arbetsvetenskap/Human Work Science Avhandling: Social Work Approaching Evidence-Based Practice Rethinking Social Work Opponent: Professor of Health Care Organisation Mike Dent, Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Storbritannien Ordförande: Professor Elisabeth Berg, Avd för arbetsvetenskap, Institutionen för ekonomi, teknik och samhälle, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Måndag den 29 september 2014, kl 13.00 Plats: A109, Luleå tekniska universitet
The authors analyse three aspects of Brazilian social work. First, they provide an overview of Brazil, a country marked by extreme inequality that permeates the economic and social relationships of its population, including rapid contradictory economic growth and the preservation of inequality. Second, they examine the main challenges faced by the country's social workers. Third, they explore whether Brazil's undergraduate and postgraduate programs are oriented toward professional training that fosters a critical, creative, and propositional perspective. ; Los autores analizan tres aspectos del trabajo social brasileño: en primer lugar, se ofrece una visión general del Brasil, un país marcado por la desigualdad extrema que impregna las relaciones económicas y sociales de su población, incluyendo un rápido crecimiento económico y el mantenimiento de la desigualdad; en segundo lugar, se examinan los principales retos que afrontan los trabajadores sociales del país; y en tercer lugar, se explora si los programas de pregrado y postgrado de Brasil están orientados hacia la formación profesional que fomente una perspectiva crítica y creativa. ; Le autrici analizzano tre aspetti del servizio sociale brasiliano. In primo luogo propongono una panoramica sul Brasile, un paese caratterizzato da un'estrema disuguaglianza che permea i rapporti economici e sociali della popolazione, in presenza di una rapida e contraddittoria crescita economica accompagnata dalla conservazione delle disuguaglianze. In seconda battuta esaminano le principali sfide affrontate dagli assistenti sociali nel contesto socio-economico delineato. In terza istanza cercano di capire se i corsi di laurea e post-laurea in Brasile siano orientati ver-so una formazione professionale atta a favorire una prospettiva critica, creativa e propositiva.
In: Powell, Jason L. and Khan, Hafiz T.A. orcid:0000-0002-1817-3730 (2012) Foucault, social theory and social work. Romanian Journal of Sociology, IX (1). pp. 131-147. ISSN 1220-3688
The philosopher Michel Foucault's theoretical work provides fertile ground for an analysis of areas of significant concern in researching of social work through his development of the ideas of discourse, power/knowledge, surveillance and governmentality. His development of these concepts allows an insight into the function of policy not always apparent in mainstream and contemporary social policy analysis which has been based on the sociological triumvirate of social class, gender and 'race'. In this article, we can explore how and why these conceptual gifts from Foucault are pertinent to understanding how service users are constructed as objects of social work, particularly with respect to contemporary discourses of social welfare and social exclusion. The paper argues that the use of these ideas challenges some of the less obvious assumptions permeating current developments in social policy and social work provision, whilst also enabling an ability to respond more contextually to shifting frameworks of power and knowledge. There is an acknowledgement of power and its potential positive impact on subjective sense of self and social work has a part to play in this. At the same time, the paper concludes with a warning of 'risk' and professional surveillance and its restriction in facilitating empowerment of vulnerable groups.
The goal of the paper is to analyse the development of social work profession and studies in three European countries: Greece, Germany and Lithuania. The comparative method is used. The objects of the analysis are: the origin of social work and its education, foundation of fist schools, and their creators, further development of education, levels and duration of social work education, credits system, the core subjects of studies, practical work and specializations. The findings show that there is a lot of in common, as well as different in the area of social work. Commonalities of social work development were related mostly to each country's social, economical, political transformation that resulted in great changes in terms of the need of professional help and the acceptance of social work profession. Meanwhile differences mainly occurred when analysing the time of emergence of a particular stage and the rapidity of development. It was observed that commonalities in Germany, Greece and Lithuania lie mainly in core subjects of social work, importance of practical training, as well as in numerous specializations offered. Differences come about when looking at the formal system that is based on undergraduate and graduate cycles, and the credits system.
Illustrations of the contradictions that exist between values in social work discourse and practice, within the context of power and social control will be examined, utilizing a case example: early federal legislation, the Indian Adoption Project 1958-1967, and contemporary Indian Child Welfare Act. Through the use of a critical analysis, this paper will highlight the ways in which Native American families were not in a position to combat social welfare intrusion within a historical context.
This study explores the current state of social work services in Australian schools. A total of 65 social workers participated in the survey. The majority of respondents had permanent positions and over half of them were working part-time. The number of schools serviced was wide-ranging and the median was 6 schools. The major funding source was state government, the primary referral sources were school staff, and the primary reasons for referral were behavioural and mental health problems. Respondents reported good support from employers and high levels of work efficacy and satisfaction. A large proportion of their hours were spent on counselling, paperwork, case management, and consultations. The major barriers to their work were lack of time, lack of resources, and lack of recognition given to social work perspectives and roles. Given the paucity of literature, findings from this study are expected to lay a foundation for future studies.
In social work education practice learning is recognised as central to the degree, facilitating the development of practice skills, professional identity and a professional practice framework. Social work practitioners, organisations and social work education are exposed to global, economic, social and political changes and workplace pressures that impact social work education and practice including the provision of student practice learning. Social Work practice learning with 'external' supervision is becoming more prevalent, but in some countries it is considered less desirable than practice learning with 'in house' supervision. The small body of literature on practice learning with external supervision through the use of practice assessors/external field educators explores the benefits and the complexities of these set-ups, but particularly emphasises the importance of establishing and maintaining the triad relationship of supervisor, on-site and off-site supervisor and the provision of continued support. Equally, literature on external supervision raises concerns about the visibility of students' work when the assessor is external to the organisation. Literature also suggests that students are more positive about practice learning where the social worker is on site. This presentation provides interim findings of my current Australian PhD research into exploring 'Social Work Student Placements with External Supervision'. The aim of the research is to explore the experiences of key stakeholders in social work practice learning with external supervision and develop practice in this area. A qualitative approach guided in –depth interviews with Australian students, field educators/practice assessors, task supervisors and university liaison persons. This presentation reports on the experiences of social workers who provide 'external' supervision and assessment in practice learning. The implications that can be drawn from the data for an International context are considered. A range of themes have emerged, including a focus on supervision, relationships, roles, placement preparation and assessment. Preliminary findings suggest that knowledge and understanding of context is dominant in social workers' reflections on their experience.
This article explores the relationship between law and social work. It navigates the importance of the relationship and the similarities and differences between the objectives of legal and social work practitioners. It critically reviews transnational conventions and how individual countries have legislated to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk. It reflects on how far nation-states uphold human rights and the rule of law and evaluates how social work has been positioned and has performed in different legislative contexts.
The article aims to provide a brief overview of the legacy of social welfare and social work within former Yugoslavia and how it was enacted and practised in Bosnia and Herzegovina (one of six states within it) as well as the key changes that followed during and after the 1992-1996 war in this country. The overview also highlights specific roles of both international organisations and local decision makers during and after the war and how it impacted both grassroots social work practice and the changing needs of people who use services – particularly the ever increasing experience of poverty and it's various impacts. Within a complex and politicised governance structure, key issues for consideration of the future role for the profession are highlighted.
This study explores the concepts of joy and resilience in Social Work. It also creates a context for the effect that neoliberalism has had on the profession. It explores how social workers, who have been seen as practicing with excellence, have remained resilient and joyful in this field. The present study provides some insight into the joys of being a social worker, as well as the current political challenges that are inherent within the social work profession. Through a semi-structured interview process, nine participants provided knowledge about joy being a single thread in a multifaceted rope that strengthens resilience in the field and enables social worker to do their jobs. It also provides insight into the benefits of positive collegial alliances, positive client interaction and the importance of education and mentorship for new members of the profession. ; joy ; resilience ; job satisfaction ; neoliberalism ; burnout ; change ; education ; social work
This study explores the concepts of joy and resilience in Social Work. It also creates a context for the effect that neoliberalism has had on the profession. It explores how social workers, who have been seen as practicing with excellence, have remained resilient and joyful in this field. The present study provides some insight into the joys of being a social worker, as well as the current political challenges that are inherent within the social work profession. Through a semi-structured interview process, nine participants provided knowledge about joy being a single thread in a multifaceted rope that strengthens resilience in the field and enables social worker to do their jobs. It also provides insight into the benefits of positive collegial alliances, positive client interaction and the importance of education and mentorship for new members of the profession. ; joy ; resilience ; job satisfaction ; neoliberalism ; burnout ; change ; education ; social work
The previous soviet contract between the state and the citizen was based on the obligation of the state to provide care for its citizens, but Russian citizens still have their expectations of the state-supported social services. In the sector of welfare services and care, in Russia significant developments have occurred since the late 1980s. Social services and the training of qualified social workers are key elements in these developments. A number of social services, social centers, social work specialists have appeared in the last two decades. Higher education training for social workers is a major contributor to these achievements. According to the current legislation, the recipient of social services in Russia is a person or a family in a difficult life situation, defined as a circumstance that contravenes or may damage the livelihood of a citizen (family) and requires professional support and assistance. ; El anterior contrato soviético entre el estado y el ciudadano, estaba basado en la obligación del estado de prestar atención a sus ciudadanos. Sin embargo, los ciudadanos rusos todavía tienen expectativas de que el estado apoye los servicios sociales. Desde finales de los Ochenta se han producido cambios significativos en el sector de los servicios sociales y la protección social. En esta evolución son elementos clave los servicios sociales y la formación de trabajadores sociales cualificados. En las últimas dos décadas han aparecido servicios sociales, centros sociales y trabajadores sociales especializados. La educación superior de trabajadores sociales es una importante contribución a estos logros. En Rusia, según la legislación vigente, el beneficiario de los servicios sociales es una persona o una familia en dificultad. Esta es definida como una circunstancia que vulnera o puede poner en peligro la subsistencia de un ciudadano (familia) y requiere apoyo y asistencia profesional. ; Il precedente contratto tra lo Stato e il cittadino di epoca sovietica si basava sull'obbligo del primo di fornire cure al secondo. Ancora oggi i cittadini russi si attendono servizi sociali erogati dallo Stato. Dalla fine degli anni Ottanta, nel settore dei servizi di assistenza e cura, si sono registrati sviluppi significativi in Russia. I servizi sociali e la formazione degli assistenti sociali qualificati sono gli elementi chiave dell'attuale nuovo corso. La formazione di livello universitario pure. Il destinatario dei servizi sociali è una persona o una famiglia che vive una situazione difficile, definita come quella circostanza che danneggia o può danneggiare la vita di un cittadino (famiglia) e che richiede supporto e assistenza professionali.
The proposed Symposium is related to the Special Interest Group on Social Work and Extreme Events and is proposed by the Group initiators. Over the past year, we witnessed an almost unprecedented movement of people due to political conflict. Based on the figures by the EU Border Agency (Frontex), more than 500,000 refugees were detected at EU external borders in the first eight months of 2015. In the Spring of 2014, large scale and repeated flooding in South-East Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia) caused damage similar to that experienced during the political conflicts in the same region in the early 1990s. The purpose of the Group and the proposed Symposium is to explore how and whether the impact of political conflicts and/or national disasters on social work can be explored through a joint title of 'extreme events'. This is relevant not solely because many countries experience one or even both types of extreme events, as noted above. The relevance and parallels are also encapsulated in the impact of such events on the variety of social work resources (from infrastructure to loss of life and limb) and the difference between the urgent/immediate responses during the extreme events and during long-term recovery. Recently, a group of social work academics from a variety of countries affected by political conflicts and/or natural disasters in Europe and Asia (Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, UK/Northern Ireland, Slovenia and Sri Lanka) initiated a network to explore this theme. In parallel, the network also explores the frequently contested and difficult relationships between the local social work practices and traditions with those of international development organisations, frequently active in countries affected by extreme events. It is hoped that the work within the network can inform and improve the emergency protocols and subsequent post-extreme event reconstruction and development practices in relation to vulnerable groups (e.g. women, children without parental care, people with disabilities, older people), as well as contribute to the growth of social work disciplinary knowledge on this theme. The Symposium is to help outline some of the thinking and work within the network to date, based on the studies conducted by the participants in their own contexts and as a group. The focus of the Symposium will be on the methodological challenges this theme poses for research, both within particular countries, as well as through cross-national and/or comparative research. The current group is comprised of scholars from the countries affected by extreme events who hope to build on their current studies, explore them within the wider framework of extreme events and to initiate future joint research. The rationale for local scholars' participation stems from the need to enable mutual learning process, not aiming for a single, unified, outcome or finding – based on the lessons learnt to date from cross-national action research (Matthies et al., 2000). The key findings from group discussions to date indicate concerns whether and how international, cross-country methodology can be developed which would allow for more meaningful knowledge sharing between social workers and development practitioners in different countries. Possibilities to use 'green social work' and critical theory as relevant theoretical frameworks for international collaboration on this theme will be outlined. The findings to date also highlight a range of roles that social workers do or should employ during and after the extreme events, from targeted assistance to vulnerable groups to involvement in peace building and reconciliation.