Historical Perspectives on Social Work

Social Work is an ever changing concept We have seen that Social work is a contested concept and at any one point there are competing definitions Since the early days it has been associated with continual change and critical reflection on what it is and where it takes place. It has been identified with social justice and with disempowered members of society

Social Work: has been identified with the policy failures in health, crime and education about dealing with those ‘in need’ those that are seen as ‘troublesome’ and troubling in society The functions of Social Work have been influenced by these themes

Political ideology and approaches to welfare Social work has been influences by political movements; by linking Malcom Payne’s 3 different approaches of welfare to the history of social work and building on our understandings of various political ideologies; we can examine the influence these differing ideologies, discourses and paradigms have on us as social work practitioners

What is a Paradigm? A frame work containing the commonly accepted views about a subject A belief system (theory) that guides the way we do things or establishes a set of practices It can range from influencing our thoughts to actions and behaviour

Examples of ideology COS- Saw social work as being about individuals So by working to educate them –this would change them and societies problems! Other political movements rejected individual case work As it believed it diverted SW away from the key concepts of combating disadvantage and poverty.

Marxist ideological view: A belief that throughout history one societal class has held political and economic control within society over another It focuses on one class (upper class) oppressing the lower classes Thus human actions and institutions are economically and politically controlled and that therefore class struggle is needed to create change by helping individuals to overcome the external mechanisms of power, economy and resources that are the real cause of their problems

Marxism and Critical / Radical Social Work A Marxist view of the world transferred to social work then: Sees social problems as arising from various forms oppression and class control. SW is about helping Service Users to gain power over decisions and actions by reducing the social blocks and barriers to power It’s about helping to address social injustices, as opposed to focusing on individual people's problems. If SW’s don't think analytically about what they do they could become an instrument of class control and could maintain the capitalist state of working class subordination

Feminist ideology: Feminism has its origins in the women's liberation movement of the 1960s It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and examine women's social roles To empower them and help society recognise the impact of male supremacy and power It focuses on critiquing social relations and promoting women’s rights and issues women's oppression is caused by their economic dependence and male domination It aims to change women’s positions and bring about gender equality The transformation of gender relations is at the heart of the social processes

Feminism and social work Education is a means to change and highlight explanations for men’s violence, aggressive behaviour and power Drives the focuses away from mother blaming and mothering practices which excludes the male role and male responsibility Alerting workers to deal with both male and female service users on issues of abuse and violence It’s focus on the inclusion of the oppressions of women and children based on gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, able-bodiedness and age, race and class then opens up scrutiny the harm caused to women and children by men’s behaviour Highlights power issues relating to sexual abuse, sexual violence and domestic abuse of women and children

‘Radical’ Social Work A commitment to overcoming inequality and oppression by examining the structural problems and issues in society Aims to help individuals strive for structural change It endeavours to reduce poverty and inequality of wealth It about working to build social arrangements which can overcome disadvantage and injustice A way of working that seeks to re-address the lack of power and control of those who are disadvantaged It’s about advocating with, and on behalf of, service users and carers It values both individual relationship-based practice and collective approaches.

‘Radical’ social work: provides a forum for sharing experiences, discussing current events, clarifying views and developing awareness of social issues. believes that social work activity is being undermined by managerialism, welfare cuts and the stigmatisation of service users Social work is seen as a catalyst for social change – the tasks are to work with the oppressed and marginalised to empower them and transform society by working collectively Builds cooperation and consciousness raising Helping people to understand the negative social consequences of the market organisation of society Helping people deal collectively with social problems rather than individualising their problems

Liberalism: A political philosophy which emphasizes liberty, freedom and equal rights of an individual Individualism links to a strong value-system and to having less economic, political, religious and social institutions and arrangements. Fundamental views are of promoting human rights, liberal-democracy, fair and free elections, free trade, capitalism and free religion. There are various types of liberalism

Social Liberalism Believes in a legitimate state role in addressing economic and social issues such as poverty, unemployment, health care and education To achieve change a coordination of a strong, welfare-oriented, and interventionist state is needed It believes in human rights, multiparty democracy, social responsibility, economic democracy, a market economy and a strong sense of solidarity. A reaction against social liberalism was neo-liberalism -led to monetarist economic policies and reduction in government provision of services and beliefs that inequalities can be an incentive for individuals to develop ‘Neo-liberalism’ is the current ruling political ideology in Britain

Neo-liberalism and social work: Global market forces have an impact on Service Users creating opportunities (or lack of them) and influencing employment, health and social services Welfare links to the dictates of a globalised economy and no longer permits nations to determine their social welfare systems for they fear missing out on competitive opportunities Current beliefs are about less state intervention, more market freedom and more individual responsibility The re-organisation of health, social work and education services with demands for deregulation, privatisation and flexibilisation within services to create market places where every person can act as a consumer and look after their own interests

Current Social Work: Not all people have equal capacity to shape their world as some experience high levels of marginalisation, oppression and inequality The impacts of these effect an individuals psychological states and behaviour making them more vulnerable, less resilient and less engaged Thus it is this relationship between the individuals psychological state and the external environment that continues to be the focus of social work

Some Conclusions: Social Work can be defined by its current tasks and functions and the current leading influential paradigms and political ideologies As social work has matured over time we can see that many paradigms and ideologies have been incorporated into the functions and tasks of social work Governments and organisations took responsibility for the poor and the vulnerable and social workers undertook specified regulated tasks and strove to become a profession

As potential professional Social Workers you are part of these discourses How much is society responsible for - and how much are individuals responsible for - their own welfare? How to balance care and control - how to promote positive personal development and human growth? How to tackle oppression, disadvantage, marginalisation and exclusion? As potential social workers you are could be in positions of power You can be an agent of positive social change or a powerful part of state and control – and perhaps both at the same time…?