Abstract
Social work practice and education have been significantly impacted by neoliberal governmentality, which can greatly undermine the espoused social justice mission of social work. This study explores the research questions: How might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? This study uses critical reflection on a critical incident (from Author 2’s practice) as a methodology to respond to the first research question. It further analyses the findings of the critically reflective inquiry by drawing on relevant concepts from critical theorists to respond to the second question and expand the possibilities for practitioners to develop emancipatory practices in neoliberal organisations. The findings suggest critical reflection on the critical incident examined was effective in improving social work practice, and that additional critical analysis of the wider issues raised by the research findings may enhance social work as a value-driven, client-centred and social change-oriented profession. The article highlights the benefits and outcomes of working in a critically reflective way, and makes an original contribution to the growing literature that suggests critical reflection is a vital skill for social work practice in neoliberal organisations.
Highlights
The neoliberalisation of the welfare sector, and of social work education and practice, has had significant impacts on contemporary human service organisations, which are deeply characterised by managerial practices and governmentality
(how) might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical social theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? Through applying Fook (2016) model of critical reflection both as an education tool and methodological approach, this paper presents research that analyses a critical incident from Author 2’s practice
The primary research questions for this study are: (How) might a critically reflective approach support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? In particular, this research examines the use of Fook (2016) model of critical reflection in one specific organisational context, and explores how the initial findings of the research process may be strengthened by further analysis that draws on the work of a range of critical theorists
Summary
The neoliberalisation of the welfare sector, and of social work education and practice, has had significant impacts on contemporary human service organisations, which are deeply characterised by managerial practices and governmentality (see for example Swift et al 2016; Hendrix et al 2020). Critically analysing the findings of the research by drawing on social theorists further unmasked the insidious operations of neoliberalism on social work practice and elucidated the possibilities for practitioners to think and act beyond the constraints of neoliberal discourses. This has systematic benefits for practitioners, service users and organisations alike, and holds important implications for social work education
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