Professionalization in social work Staffan Höjer Phd and associate professor The university of Gothenburg, Sweden

What is professionalization? A collective process organising the relations to the state, other professions and the public An individual process that concerns the relation between the individual and her competence A socialisation process - how to become a member of a professional group

Two important theoretical concepts (Abbot 1988) Jurisdiction - declares the boundaries about who can do what - the controll over certain working tasks Discretion - the space of freedom of action that professional have thanks to their education and experience

Different views on professionalization (1) Trait views - Tries to answer questions like ”Is social work a profession” Ex Flexner 1915 and Greenwood 1958 or Etzioni Lists on what constiutes a profession; systematic knowledge base,professional authority, social sanction, ethical codes, professional culture Some people call this view naive.

Different views on professionalization (2) Professional closure. Professionalization is a way for professionals to enhance their own status and position. To get jurisdiction in order to keep others out. Some people call this view cynical.

Social work as a professional project Let us focus on the collective level for a while (Later we shall return to the individual level)

Important steps towards professional status for social work in Sweden 1. Pre-professional activities and traditions 2. The birth of the concept social work and later the title of social worker 3. Supervision (as the first form of education - returns later) 4. Education BSW (bachelor level)

Important steps towards professional status for social work in Sweden (2) 5. Theoretical knowledge (books and theories for social work) 6. Ethics (ethical codes= 7. Masters education MSW. 8. The birth of the academic discipline PhD in social work 9. The establishment of the authorization system

Possible steps under way Certification system? Call for evidence based practice? Privatization? Service user inclusion??? Other things?

The position for social work in Sweden is quite good + very popular education, a lot of research in social work, almost every social worker has supervision by external supervisor, no unemployment - salaries are not as high as many other, sometimes social workers are questioned in media, social workers try to avoid some social work jobs

Different forms of professionalism (Evetts 2006) Occupational professionalism (based on the trust in professional knowledge, education, ethics and experience) Organisational professionalism (based on regulation and controle, rules and regulations and routines)

Is there a move from occupational to organizational professionaism? Marketization, New Public Management, EBP, New standards, effectivisation, value for money… all of that effects the view on what is the prefered professionalism. Management wants effeciant social servants.

Professional status - internal hierarchies There are big differences inside the profession when it comes to the views about different jobs. There is a drift from low status jobs to high status jobs Low status normally concerns ”the exercise of formal authority” with lower profssional discretion How status normally: higher discretion, fewer clients, more specialization,

Notes from an empirical study in Sweden When asked about the status different social work jobs, the following list was created (Dellgran & Höjer 2006) 1000 social workers answered a questionairre:

Internal status - social work in Sweden (highest) 1. Individual or family therapy 2. Education and research 3. Child or family psychiatric team 4. Family law 5. Personal administration 6. Adult psychiatric team

Internal status - social work in Sweden (middle) 7. Child welfare, open care 8. Child welfare, local welfare office 9. Social work in schools 10. Child welfare, institution 11. Health social work, somatic 12 Youth work 13. Alcohol and drug treatment, open care

Internal status - social work in Sweden (lowest) 14. Unemployment and rehabilitation 15. Probation social work 16. Handicapped and disabilities 17. Alcohol + drug treatment, institution 18. Alcohol + drug Local welfare office 19. Elderly care 20 Social assistance

WHY? Let us discuss the reasons in the group work and then come back to the discussion. Good luck with your work!