Conclusion: Full Profile of Social Work in Deprived Communities

Abstract

In this concluding chapter, we outline the role of social work in deprived communities. First, we argue that social work in deprived communities should be a specific field of practice in community work and in social work. Reasons for this are the following: deprivation of communities is a social problem, the deprivation of communities is a generator of social inequalities, and deprived communities are a phenomenon exhibiting specific internal dynamics and processes. While engaging with deprived communities, social workers should have understanding of the concept (how it is measured, different semantics in the background of different concepts) as well as theories that assist in understanding internal dynamics in deprived communities. Furthermore, social workers should understand and explore how deprived community affects individual well-being and how principles of community development are threatened in deprived communities. We provide extensive elaboration of these issues throughout the book. Considering social work practice in deprived communities, we conclude with four main professional tasks: social work has the task of helping to build basic community structures; social work should insist on integration and oppose segregation of (new) community members; social work should act across multiple levels and offer support to vulnerable communities and vulnerable individuals; and the professional community should invest in building capacities of local stakeholders, and social workers, by strengthening links with higher education institutions, supporting social workers in deprived communities, and encouraging collaborative multi-professional projects. All of these tasks are explained in detail throughout the book and summarised in concluding chapter. Finally, we conclude that being a social worker in deprived communities builds specific professional identity and presents unique challenge in professional pathway of social worker.