Challenges and Rewards of Social Work Pioneers in the “Making” Process: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This article reports on the findings from individual interviews with 20 social worker pioneers who have more than ten years of experience in social work and have been recognized as leaders in the profession. The term “making” in the paper’s title refers to the intervention of the Chinese government, which has been crucial and has gradually “made” social work into a profession. The interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis, which revealed that the social worker pioneers’ ten years of experience in social work affected many aspects of their lives. Three major themes were identified in their experiences. Social worker pioneers faced various challenges over ten years; however, they still found satisfying work in their work environments, including discovering meaning and achieving personal accomplishments. This article offers insights into the experiences of social worker pioneers’ experiences in southern China. The study presents implications for future professional practice, especially in terms of social service practice and ongoing education to particular value to practitioners as well as mechanisms to support the work of social work professionals. The positive aspects of social service jobs may provide a rich area for future research and for the education of social work students.