Abstract Drawing on the findings of a scoping review, this article highlights the context-specific nature of rural social work that makes it different from urban social work. It begins with a discussion of the marginalization of, and paucity of literature on, rural social work within the professional discourse before discussing the study’s methodology. It, then, focuses specifically on the findings relating to ‘context’ noting its centrality to definitions of rural social work practice. As well as geographical location, influential multilevel factors, such as international and domestic policies; economic, political, and sociocultural environments; and organizational requirements formed part of the context affecting local community life and rural social work practice. Rural contexts experienced challenges relating to rural poverty, socioeconomic inequality, cumulative disadvantage, resource scarcity, and professional shortages. Although the literature suggested the need for macro practice, organizational requirements made such prescriptions difficult to implement, while some suggested that professional social work itself might not be fit for purpose, due inter alia to its persistent Western and urban bias, clinical focus, and standardized education models and pedagogical approaches. The article ends with a discussion of the implications of the findings for rural social work education and practice.

Abstract Chinese women workers have often been perceived as disempowered due to class and gender inequality, and this action research aims to elucidate their empowerment process. Conducted over five months in Shenzhen, China, the study involved social workers and a group of migrant women workers. During the initial community education project on reproductive health, women workers effectively raised awareness of gender issues, strongly fostering personal and relational empowerment. Their growing awareness of gender and class issues led to a three-month industrial action demanding factory menstrual leave. Amidst the complexities and challenges of their actions, participants gained deeper insights into the class and gender disadvantages faced by women workers and persisted in challenging unequal power relations in their daily lives. Through three tiers of reflection, women workers incrementally realized an awakening of gender and class consciousness, culminating in a process of double conscientization. This study contributes to the understanding of grassroots feminist agency in restrictive contexts and highlights the transformative role of reflection in building collective power. Future research should explore how sustained conscientization can be supported within broader social work and social policy frameworks.

Abstract The social work profession is committed to combating poverty and promoting social justice. However, there is ongoing debate about whether the provision of material assistance should be a core function of social workers. In response to recent calls for reintegrating material assistance and emotional care, this study examines the role of street-level social workers in Israel in the 1970s and their involvement in the policy process that led to the passage of the Income Support Law. Based on twenty semi-structured interviews with social workers and archival sources, the study concludes that while social workers viewed poverty and material assistance as complex issues, they played a crucial role in advocating for a separation between material assistance and psychosocial care. Their active involvement in the policy process and their professional support for this significant change were crucial in reshaping Israel’s social assistance framework, challenging previous assumptions about the limited influence of street-level bureaucrats on policy. The study offers a more nuanced understanding of how social workers can shape policy and contribute to contemporary debates on poverty and social work.

Abstract Mental health social care (MHSC) is an under-researched area, with little investigation of avoidable social and psychological harm. Understanding this type of harm from service user perspectives is critical for identifying effective strategies for harm minimization. This survivor-controlled research aimed to generate a service user-defined model of avoidable social and psychological harm in community-based MHSC in England, and gather recommendations for its minimization. We first conducted an evidence synthesis to generate an initial model. To refined and finalize the model and explore recommendations, we held two focus groups and carried out a survey with MHSC service users. The final model includes seven sources of avoidable social and psychological harm: barriers or burdens caused by systems/bureaucracy; stigma and discrimination; fragmented services; disruption to or lack of appropriate support; oppressive, controlling, or defensive organizational cultures and systems; serious misconduct or sexual abuse by staff; and neglectful, defensive, or controlling frontline practice. Nine recommendations for harm minimization are made, including: practice improvements; recruitment, education and training; monitoring and regulation; complaints processes; and independent advocacy. Further research is needed to investigate the scale of these harms, who is at particular risk, and the implementation of service user-generated harm minimization recommendations.

Abstract Social work education has shifted to an anti-oppressive approach, prioritizing the skills and tools necessary to recognize systemic inequalities and disenfranchisement. However, social work curricula within the USA may be lacking in providing the proactive leadership skills necessary for social workers to empower clients and other stakeholders, particularly in specializations focused on work with individuals and families (referred to as clinical or ‘micro’-level practice). The purpose of this exploration is to examine how social work educators perceive leadership as a necessary part of their curriculum. Educators (n = 102) completed a survey focused on their perceptions of the inclusion of leadership content throughout Master of Social Work curricula and were asked to identify specific courses they felt currently contained leadership content. Analysis revealed a relationship between positions and perceptive of leadership content inclusion; qualitative analysis revealed that macro-level courses are most frequently identified as containing leadership content over micro-level clinical courses. The results of this study may allow for a move towards understanding leadership as part of the overall social work and set the foundation for understanding leadership on a national and global level.

Abstract In the UK, children who are convicted of sexual offences are subject, under certain circumstances, to the notification requirements of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act that is, they become registered sexual offenders. However, data on the number of children required to notify has not been available in the public domain, and equally there is little research on the particular issues that registration bring to bear on children. This project sought to address those two questions. Access to quantitative data was provided by the police to establish how many children and young people are on the sex offender register, and qualitative interviews were carried out with a range of professionals to examine the issues that arise when working with them. We found that the number of children who are subject to notification requirements in England and Wales is, arguably, very low. Interviewees voiced a good deal of support for the existence of a register for children, given the small number of serious cases that reach this point. However, participants found some aspects of registration for children at odds with current principles that govern youth justice. These issues are discussed and recommendations made.

Abstract Leadership has long been underemphasized in social work education and practice. This study investigates how transformational leadership influences turnover intention among Chinese social workers—an urgent and persistent challenge facing the profession in China. Drawing on a sample of 667 social workers from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, the study employs structural equation modeling to examine the mediating roles of two key work attitudes: job autonomy and professional commitment. The results reveal that transformational leadership is negatively associated with turnover intention, and that this relationship is partially mediated by both job autonomy and professional commitment. By clarifying the psychological mechanisms linking leadership and retention, this study advances the limited scholarship on leadership within Chinese social work. Beyond the Chinese context, the findings offer broader insights into how internal organizational leadership may support social worker retention, especially in settings where financial and structural challenges are prevalent. Practical implications for strengthening leadership capacity in social work organizations are discussed.

Abstract The Welsh Government’s Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales pilot has been subject to public and political debate. While proponents applaud the ambitious nature of the policy and its intent to strengthen support for young people leaving care, critics have raised concern about its design and questioned its potential for positive impact. This article contributes to the debate by detailing the views and early experiences of professionals with direct responsibility for implementing the policy and supporting recipients. Online focus groups were conducted with forty-one professionals of varying seniority. Analysis of the data revealed a range of different and often contrasting perspectives. This included differences of opinion between participants, as well as individuals feeling personally conflicted. Whilst participants recognized the potential of the basic income pilot to reduce disadvantage and bolster young people’s future prospects, they were simultaneously concerned about differences in the needs, circumstances and characteristics of young people leaving care and the risk of harm for those considered vulnerable. The mixed views are considered in relation to the policy and practice context, whereby professionals have responsibilities as ‘corporate parents’ and devolution has resulted in partial rather than full transfer of powers from the central UK Government.

Abstract This study joins recent research focusing on social work’s colonial legacies and the structural implications of political violence. This approach provides us with important new directions on how to rethink and reshape social work education in contexts influenced by colonialism. The study investigated challenges faced by minoritized Arab social work students, supervised by Jewish supervisors, mainly in Hebrew-speaking Jewish practicum settings, and examined coping strategies employed to address those challenges. Qualitative research derived data from in-depth semi-structured interviews with fourteen Palestinian–Israeli students. Two main challenges were described: (1) biased training demoting Arabic in favour of the Hebrew language that did not adequately serve the Arab service users’ needs. (2) Supervisors promoting controversial interventions tainted by politicization and nationalism. The interviewees described three coping strategies, according to the students’ understanding of the balance of power in their relationship with their supervisor: transferring responsibility to academic faculty to address their complaints; forming coalitions with the practicum institution’s staff to support their position; or gathering courage to directly confront supervisors. Social work qualification institutions should ensure politically-informed training in times/zones of conflict and war.