1. Class 2 What is social work and what do social workers do ?

2. is only guaranteed when the Is only guaranteed if the practitioner holds all these things together and these are linked to a perspective about social work!

3. So is that what social work is?
The answer to ‘what is social work?’ varies according to the:
Social conditions
culture
political and economic ideology perpetuated
and your own social conditioning and perspective.

4. To understand what social workers ‘do’ we must look at the surrounding ideology
the standards and roles you will be assessed against
this translates into the context of government policy, agency procedures and Codes of Practice
This underpins the values and what social workers actually do in practice.
today we want to help you to see how this translates into your actions and perspective

5. Social Context SW takes place in a ‘social’ context.
Social work is influenced by the social climate and the needs of service users
These are influenced and defined by the beliefs, values, policies and laws of the society
Which turn into agencies contributing to packages of care and protection thus agencies dictate the roles of a social worker

6. The influence of Discourse
To understand modern social work we need to understand the different types of discourse that surround social work
Discourse = structures of knowledge, and practices through which we understand, explain and decide things…frameworks that make some actions possible while excluding others.
Interactions between what people say or do that give meaning to their actions

7. Discourses=view of the world
Discourses about law, medicine, economics, and politics affect how we see the world
In social work this means how we see service users and why and how they have become a service user
They help social workers to make sense of the work that they do
The outcomes and purpose of practicing in a particular way
These different views of social work connect with different political views about how social work/welfare should be provided

8. Three different discourses
Reflexive-Therapeutic – therapeutic helping; promotes personal development – self growth with groups /individuals and families
Socialist/Collectivist - transformational or emancipatory practices promotes mutual support of the oppressed to gain power
Individualist/Reformist – an aspect of individual welfare – promotes work with individuals to maintain social order

9. Reflexive-Therapeutic Views
Therapeutic -helping see social work as a means to seek the best possible well-being for individuals, families, groups and communities by promoting and facilitating growth and self fulfilment
Interactions between worker and service user modifies SU ideas and allows workers to influence them
Feedback from SU’s also affects workers understanding of their issues and experiences

10. Socialist/Collectivist -Views
Seek mutual support and cooperation for the most oppressed and disadvantaged so that they can gain power and control over their lives.
Facilitates empowering people to take part in the process of learning and cooperation which creates institutions that all can own and participate in
Seek to transform and improve society through freeing people from oppression
Values statements /codes of ethics represent the objectives

11. Individualist/Reformist- views
An aspect of welfare services to individuals in society
Wants to meet individual needs and improve services to SU so services can operate more effectively
Could be seen as maintenance approaches
Maintaining people in times of difficulty so that they can recover and function again
By working this way workers maintain the social order and social fabric of society

12. Payne’s Classification of Social Work Theories
Reflexive-Therapeutic –
Socialist/Collectivist
Individualist/Reformist
These views of the world link into various social theories and guide our perspectives – the way we see things
and this guides our actions with service users

13. Ideology also influences you
Each view says something about the activities and purpose of social work and what social workers do
Your stance effects your view of the world and how you will see and understand the role and tasks of social worker
This will guide your actions and influence your interactions
Your task is to become aware how this impact on your perspective and influences your action and thoughts
Realise that such views are not static and change over time

14. Theoretical Context Analysis of Social Work Theories Payne
Type of theory
Reflexive-
Therapeutic
Socialist-
Collectivist
Individualist -reformist
Perspective:
Comprehensive
Inclusive
Theory
Model
Psycho-dynamic
Humanist existential
Social construction
Crisis
Personal
Critical
Anti-oppressive
Feminist
Empowerment
Social change
Social development
Systems
Cognitive –
behavioural
Task -centred

15. What is it then!
The answer to what is social work varies according to the social conditions, the culture the political and economic ideology perpetuated and your social conditioning
You first of all need to understand that there are differing perspectives
And how these differing perspectives, values and political influences influence your view of the world and your actions with service users

16. Different Views A change in one area affects the others
Reflexive-theraputic
Socialist-collectivist
emancipatory
Individualist-reformist
Maintenance

17. Structural Context and Perspective!
Social work takes place within complex social structures, institutions and with individuals which all influence each other
3 sets of forces construct social work practice
Those that create and construct social work as an occupation (ideological)
Those that create people as clients seeking /sent for help (agency)
Those that create the social context in which social work is practiced (workers )

18. Three arenas of the construction of social work - Payne
Political social ideology
Construct
Agency -professional
context
Client –worker
client
A change
in one area
affects
the others

19. Political -social ideological
The social and political debates and discourses form social policy that guides agencies, purpose and values
Creates social work as an occupation
It identifies deserving and undeserving individuals depending on the views of welfare and social problems
The social workers they train / make influence the nature of social work

20. Agency Context
SW takes place in organisational -associations of people constructed to achieve particular purposes
formally controlled and influenced by managers, politicians , culture and economy
Create the social context in which social work is practiced
Agencies and Employers influence how social work will operate- best practice
What agencies think affects their practice
Therefore views of social work are constantly changing

21. Client -Worker Context
Defined by social processes of disadvantages and power
This influences how people become clients/service users are they sent – do they seek help!
It’s about Individuals demands and needs for service
And societies
Knowledge gleaned from practitioners also influences what takes place

22. Conclusion
This triangular relationship between worker, agency and client and the differing discourse about social work construct a view of social work
Understanding social work involves examine the factors which establish these discourses and their relationships to each other and with social workers and service users
This also means you examining how such discourses and ideas have influenced you

23. Has this changed over time?
Yes it has thus;
We cannot understand social work with out gaining a perspective on
the history of social work
the knowledge
values and skills involved required for good practice!