Aotearoa New Zealand Association Of Social Workers Research Articles

Putting human rights at the heart of social work practice

This commentary was published by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2019. ANZASW invited the author to respond to several questions on the topic of human rights. In 2019, Neil was the inaugural winner of the John Fry Memorial Supreme Award for Quality and Innovation in Social Work for his work as a Palestinian human rights defender. The article is structured in a question and response format.

Lifting the veil on the government’s regulatory agenda for the social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand

INTRODUCTION: The article discusses the two contrasting agendas evident when statutory registration for social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand was introduced in 2003 – that of the professional association and that of the government.METHOD: The approach taken draws on a longitudinal research study of the aspirations for statutory registration held by a sample of members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZSW). In addition, the motives behind the professionalisation strategy introduced by the principal government social work service are examined and analysed applying Foucault’s concept of governmentality.FINDINGS: The qualitative analysis of the data shows that the profession, although aspiring to having some role in statutory registration, also held concerns about its implications. By way of contrast, the professionalisation strategy adopted by the government social work service shows it was driven by public service performance, fiscal and risk management imperatives.CONCLUSIONS: The application of the Foucauldian theory of governmentality to the data and findings shows that the introduction of statutory registration is a manifestation of the managerial and statutory controls adopted by government and a means of governmentality. This has resulted in the government holding the upper hand in providing public accountability for social work practice thereby perpetuating its hold over the profession with the risk that the ANZASW is left in its wake.

Zooming in: Social work supervisors using online supervision

A group of geographically dispersed social work practitioners who provide professional supervision responded to an invitation put out through the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) networks to be part of an online group in late 2015. Seven members committed to meeting for one hour every eight weeks using the online meeting platform, ZoomTM. This viewpoint provides an opportunity to share our experience of the development and process of this group, with its potential for ensuring a safe reflective space and ongoing professional development.

Pragmatism and practicalities: Residential placement and reintegration of young males who have sexually abused

Human service responses to sexual abuse perpetrated by young people are often extensive and expensive, and yet many aspects of these responses remain contentious. In 2007, as members of Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW), we prepared a submission to the Social Services Committee for the Inquiry into the Care and Rehabilitation of Youth Sex Offenders. This paper expands on points made in the ANZASW submission, with a particular focus on availability of suitable residential placements for young men who have sexually abused. The paper then considers issues relevant to reintegration of these youth into the community following a period in residential placement.

Bi-culturalism and accountability: Fundamental changes in social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand 1984 – 1990

A number of key events took place in the history of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. This article explores critical developments and debates in the lead up to the 1986 Turangawaewae conference at which the bi-cultural structure of the Association first emerged. The proceedings of the conference itself are examined and the subsequent establishment of a unique system of accountability for ANZASW members discussed. These events are considered significant in the shaping of the Association’s current structure, bi-lingual Code of Ethics (ANZASW, 2015), its competency assessment processes and in its contribution to the era of professional registration.While it is impossible to clearly delineate a beginning point, the article picks up the Association’s story in 1984. It is told from the perspective of the first two Manuhiri Caucus Presidents, Sarah Fraser (1986-1988) and Lynne Briggs (1988 – 1990), and gives voice to some of the participants involved through reference to documents and communications of the time. Other than the points at which the histories of the Manuhiri (later renamed as Tau Iwi) and Tangata Whenua (later renamed as Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa) caucuses intersect, it is the authors’ view that the important and ground breaking history of the Tangata Whenua Caucus is not theirs to relate.

Māori social workers’ experiences of care and protection: A selection of findings

This article explores the challenges faced by seven Māori social workers who are also members of Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) working within the child protection system in Aotearoa. Their views on what has improved for Māori whānau around recent legislation changes to family group conferencing (FGC) and newer policy initiatives such as Whānau Ora are examined. The study used a Māori-centred research approach and a thematic analysis of participants’ accounts was undertaken. From this analysis it was found that: (a) the participants walked creatively between two world views in order to best meet the needs of their own people; (b) these Māori practitioners felt over-worked and under-valued; and (c) the participants viewed the practices within FGCs as biased, demonstrating a lack of bicultural ability and contributing to significant barriers that whānau Māori experience in care and protection.

Cross-disciplinary supervision amongst social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Cross-disciplinary supervision is occurring amongst social workers in Aotearoa New Zealand and it is regarded positively. However, the findings of this research involving 54 social workers who are members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) indicates there is a) no clear understanding of what constitutes cross-disciplinary supervision; b) potential for issues to arise and c) a need for guidelines. The results are discussed in terms of developing knowledge, practice competence and accountability in relation to the practice of cross-disciplinary supervision and a framework for cross disciplinary supervision is presented.

Volunteer peer supervision: In an ever-changing social service environment

The purpose of this article is to start a discussion around the importance of peer super- vision with social service volunteers (New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations [NZFVWO], 2001, pp. 61-63). This will be achieved by addressing the history of volunteerism and the rise of Charitable Trusts (Styles, 1979, pp. 86-88). The structure of volunteerism changed, as policymakers identified the importance of including specific volunteer’s roles and functions in legislation. Furthermore, policymakers began introducing clarification around peer supervision and peer support, linking the importance of supervision for volunteerism in the social services (NZFVWO, 2001, pp. 61). The introduction of peer supervision for volunteers in the social services is to provide accountability around professional practice and registration for many social service professions. The importance of peer supervision for volunteers working in the social services should be viewed as a safeguard to provide better practice for the volunteer, client and agency (O’Donoghue, 1999, p. 7). Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) offer an alliance with supporting agencies and government around volunteering best practice in the support and development of managers and coordinators of volunteers (VNZ, 2014, para 1-15). An example of this is the Volunteer Army, which came to fruition around the Christchurch earthquakes, getting the community working alongside each other to support and help those in need. However, none of these professional bodies offer a code of ethics to provide guidelines to volunteers. The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) does offer a Code of Ethics, not only to social workers but to all social services and volunteers (Beddoe & Randal, 1994, p. 31), which could be incorporated and used as a guideline. Although social work has a code of ethics guideline there is still some debate around mandatory registration to provide accountability and safeguard clients and social work practice.

Still doing what we do: Defining social work in the 21st century

• Summary: Members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) were asked to provide their definition of social work. Over 300 responses were analysed thematically in order to determine if practitioner views corresponded to recent shifts in social work education and theory which emphasized the importance of social change, strengths based perspectives and the importance of local and indigenous contexts. • Findings: The findings demonstrate that while there was some recognition of social change and strengths-based perspectives in the definitions of social work provided, that those working in the field remain focused on ‘helping individuals, families and groups’ engage in change. Respondents did not, for the most part, acknowledge local or indigenous perspectives in their definitions. • Applications: Results from this study may be useful for social work professional organizations, and social work educators, students and future researchers who are interested in the definition of social work and its scopes of practice.

Social work Doctoral Education in New Zealand

Abstract The establishment of social work practice in New Zealand began with humanitarian efforts in the pursuit of social justice. Social work education in New Zealand combines work from psychology, sociology and law (Connolly, 1999). There are approximately 14 social work schools in New Zealand but only two, University of Canterbury and Massey Universities, offer PhD programs in social work. The professional association for social workers in New Zealand is the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW). The International Federation of Social Workers replaces the International Permanent Secretariat of Social Workers. In New Zealand, the Diploma of Social Work is the recognized qualification for entry to a career in social work.