The Historical context of Social Work

Definitions and History The term ‘social work’ is a collection of competing and contradictory discourses; e.g. ‘care v control’ These discourses come together at particular moments in time to frame the actions and tasks of social workers in practice By considering the historical context of Social Welfare and Social Work we can understand the present issues in Social Welfare and Social Work

The Historical Context Provision of social services in society reflect the views of those in power Our societal Norms and Social Policy affect the way social workers relate to service users Attitudes towards Social Welfare and Social Work show both continuity and change through time in Health, Housing, Poverty, Disadvantage

History of Helping Professional ‘helping ‘dates back to the start of the 19th Century (1800’s) Therefore there is a historical legacy to current Social Work values and practice Since Victorian Charity Times Social Work was concerned with: the poor, the destitute and threats to social order Charity Organised Societies - C.O.S - used ‘case work’ to work on “Social Reform & Reforming peoples character”

Bernard Bosanquent (1901) Advocated this approach and wanted to bring “the social mind to order” Case Work was developed as welfare practice to set tones for Social Work Practice Charity Organised Societies looked at the habits of working class life and Created a group of people who cared and controlled the working class

Bosanquent For Bosanquet, social work needed to be connected with education and “educational reform” Bosanquet believed the key to social progress was the development of “individual character” . This focus on ‘character’ rather than ‘social conditions’ brought his views into conflict with a number of other reformers of the time.

Deserving & Undeserving His idea divided the poor into Good Poor & Bad Poor “Deserving & Undeserving” Social and personal problems were within people, it was “their own fault” Created by life style, poor character and family Social and personal problems were not related to: The Nature of Capitalism Lack of Resources Or those in power who had authority/control

Helen Bosanquents S.W was about the “Moral education & supervision of the Poor” To minimise the costs to the state and to create social values E.G Helen Bosanquents work on the family “The family was a critical institution which influences & Informs character & morality” “Problems of destitution, crime, poverty, unemployment, & alcoholism are to be found in poor & inadequate parenting especially mothering.”

COS & Casework Casework took on the role of “Good Parents” & clients were like children Since then Social work has remained a “class specific activity” Despite radical movements & changes in the language & value base The causes of problems are still locked into individuals, behaviour, morality & deficient family relationships. 

Questions Why did you enter social work? What has poverty to do with social work  Who were Beveridge Seebohm Barcley Griffiths Kilbrandon  How did these past influences effect social work practice today?

1. Why did you enter social work? Most people enter social work to help people. To make a difference to peoples life’s For job satisfaction. We rarely question the legitimacy of the Social, Economic & Political systems & manner in which patterns of Inequality & oppression Systematically disadvantage those we work with

You & wider political systems Through out history when progressive ideas moves the locus of intervention From family or individual To wider political systems These were resisted & treated as dangerous by state agencies managing social work Thus the powerful systems in society retain control over individuals and social problems Making social work about individuals rather than social problems

2. What has poverty to do with social work? Social Workers predominantly work with Working Class / underclass / marginalised Works with those dependent on State – or no - Benefits Social Work & Social Welfare are Intertwined Social Work & Community and Society are Intertwined We work in a political System that creates and perpetuates inequalities EG. Poverty, Race, Class & Disadvantage  

Deserving & Undeserving Poor So is Social Work still inadvertently controlling working classes & creating systems for deserving & undeserving poor? Are we still concerned with social reform & reforming peoples character? Are we involved in this consciously or unconsciously? These questions lead back to “self awareness” and the development of your critical analytical skills

Lets look at the development of this through the time line Who were Beveridge Seebohm Barclay Griffiths Kilbrandon ?

TIME LINE  Beveridge Report. 1940 Developed from a report highlighting poverty & who should get assistance. Created the welfare State.  Seebohm Report. (1968). Highlighted a need to change welfare service provisions & delivery to the public. Kilbrandon Report Scotland. (1961-64) Outlined the need to have separate service for children coming before the court. Not Implemented till 1971 in the children’s Hearing System. Barclay Report (1982) Outlined the need to Standardise Social Workers Role & Task & Education & Training. Griffith Report. (1988) Emphasised partnership between workers service users & Carers to provide appropriate service -Community Care Act 1990.

4. How did these past influences effect social work practice today? The Beveridge Report The most influential social policy of the 20th century formalised a plan of welfare reflecting the social policy & legislation of the day. Created the Welfare State & Social Work departments Concerned with Five Giants Want, Disease, Unemployment, Poverty & Squalor. Policy shaped around these factors providing welfare from cradle to grave for “deserving poor”

Beveridge Report The report came after war when people wanted to build new society First of its kind & based on principles of women carrying out the caring role But he wanted women be at home & in the workplace at the same time From this the creation of Social Work Departments & training of S.W. 1947. Eileen Younghusband Reported on the employment & training of workers Advocated for Almoning, Child Care, Church & Community Work , Family Case Work, Mental Health Disabilities, & Probation

Departments for Children, Adults, Mental Health & Disabilities Social Work was conducted by a collection of fragmented Public, Private & Charitable Agencies & Health authorities; Fredrick Seebohm led a government report to investigate the way forward for services that were available & accessible to all

Fredrick Seebohm The report resulted in integration of all Departments in Scotland All except Probation in England (1971) His report was presented in 1968 and he wanted to centralise services This was the point that modern social work was created Work centred around departments rather than individuals It also gave social work independence; a department in it’s own right

Training, Education & Professional Values This meant that as a profession social work had to consider  training and values of the profession From this a group called CCETSW developed   Central Council, for Education & Training of Social Work To Look at the training of workers & Introduce Professional Standards & Values Anti-Oppressive practice was adopted & the value base a core element of practice

Barclay (1982) SW continued to be delivered in this way until Peter Barclay was commissioned to review The Social Work Role and Task  It came after a catalogue of child abuse tragedies & inquires The knowledge and theory base of social work was looked at and the report concluded  Social Work should be more community based as well as work with individuals

Barclay (1982) Services should mobilise the community and involve them in participating to help themselves Themes of self-determination emerged But there were still themes of deserving & undeserving Certain individuals were not worthy of help Addict, Unemployed, Homeless, single parents

Griffith Barclay’s findings were not enacted till the NHS & Community Care Act 1990 When Griffith took up these principals and followed them through By then Social Work had begun to legitimise its practice Developing a Knowledge base & value base Which reflected views of who should gain the help and support

Griffith Cont Therefore the creation of welfare provision & Social work provision in society is a Social & Political concept Delivered by S.W. but controlled by those in POWER - Government In this case Griffith sought a community care approach –to share responsibility for welfare more fully with citizens of society The burdens of providing social care could be delivered “ Through the net work of informal relationships between people”.

1988 Griffith Report Community Care Agenda for Action. This brought about this white paper & then the Act However Griffith found Agencies were not co-ordinated in their service delivery. And the responsibility of different agencies was not defined to Vulnerable, Needy or Disadvantaged Groups Thus the report recommended an inter-agency approach This was enacted in the NHS & Community Care Act 1990 & implemented in April 1993 The Government made it clear that they expected Housing, Social Work, & Health to work together to provide a service 

Kilbrandon. Looked at dealing with Young Offenders & Children in Need of Care & Protection Children needed different care & attention from adults in the same circumstances. Whether they were “Troubled or Troublesome” This departed from treating children like mini adults & changed views towards children Outcomes needed to be decided after an Assessment of individuals needs “A Hearing Report” –would outline treatment measures based on educative principals & ‘Needs not Deeds’ were important

Children’s Hearing System Dept created which had responsibilities to provide support to children Children needing compulsory measures of care were encompassed into Part Three of Social Work Scotland Act 1968 Then the 1995 Children Scotland Act Part 2 Section 69/70. It took 10 Years (1971) till the Hearing System came into force. The Kilbrandon Committee advocated for a separate Children’s Panel

Children’s Panel “A lay body of people whose knowledge & experience was considered to qualify them competent to consider children’s problems” Within their own community. Such changes influenced social policy decisions regarding the Care & Control of Young People throughout the country Only in Scotland –England has Juvenile courts

The founders Kilbrandon 1964 Seebohm 1968 Barclay 1982 Grfiffiths 1988 All emphasise the importance of seeing the service user as a member of society and of a local community. To them SW is not just about working with individuals but is also about communities

Conclusion Social Work has many meanings depending on the views of “What the social problems are” Social Problems & the Nature of Social Work reflect the core of our society SW’s carry out demanding tasks with vulnerable individuals it’s a spectrum of activity from voluntary counselling to using statutory powers The majority of services users are poor, thus poverty is the starting point of social work Theories of poverty influence our practice as it determines who does & does not get welfare & social work services

Conclusion Social work today is inseparable from social policy, legislation  and Societal values Both political values and professional ones effect our practice with individuals Political beliefs influence our views about the state meeting welfare needs and who - and who does not - deserves welfare Thus ‘Social work’ is a contested concept and at any point there are competing definitions

Advised Reading Social Policy for Social Workers. Robert Adams. Palgrave.  Social work & Society (Chris Jones) -Themes issues & critical debates, Adams, Dominelli ,Payne given out in first class  Peter Alcock-Understanding Poverty (chapter 2)  Poverty first hand Effects of poverty (chapter 5) P Beresford. Modern Social Work Theory M, Payne 3rd ed Palgrave- chapter 1 Understanding Social Work Practice –Chapter on The Knowledge base of social work - Thompson