Development of social worker critical reflexivity through integration of lived experience into further education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Social work education is not completed by graduation from school, and further education is becoming increasingly important. It has been co-opted by neoliberal concepts, even though it should help to solve serious social problems and defend the interests of social groups threatened by current development. Learning from lived experience is key to further education in reaching the critical reflexivity of social workers. Few research studies deal with the involvement of experts by experience in further education. We are interested in learning about the factors contributing to social workers’ learning from lived experience. Our research interest is to deepen our knowledge of the involvement of lived experience in further education of social workers; specifically, we are asking what factors influence social worker learning from lived experience. We are using the research of further education of social workers in chosen municipalities in the Czech Republic and suggest critical aspects of learning modules when working with lived experience.