Formation of practice wisdom in social work with vulnerable children and their families in the Czech Republic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Numerous authors have dealt with the definition of practice wisdom and its components. However, little is known about its formation. The submitted paper thus aims at analyzing and describing the dynamics of practice wisdom formation in social workers working with vulnerable children and their families in Czechia. The data originated within a thematic narrative analysis of repeated in-depth interviews with six participants, who were perceived by the expert environment as workers with practice wisdom. We created four constructs of practice wisdom: acquired knowledge as a prerequisite of the creation of practice wisdom in social work, practice wisdom as an implementation of external imperatives, practice wisdom practice as a process of continuous knowledge production, and transformation through the reflection of direct experience from the practice. The paper contains implications for education in social work.