Internal and external evaluation of social work

Abstract

In the UK a number of factors are bringing the idea of evaluation of social work into a new prominence. This paper considers the different meanings which may be attached to the terms internal and external in the context of social work evaluation, and outlines the differences between scientific, developmental and managerial approaches. It is argued that while some suspicion of the purpose of current demands for evaluation may be justified, the calls for greater accountability have some justice and are unlikely to diminish. If the domination of bureaucratic and financial considerations over professional judgements is to be avoided, social workers must overcome their alleged anti‐evaluative professional culture and consider how to systematically evaluate their own practice, both individually and collectively.