Social Work Principles Research Articles

Local Reactions to Global Problems: Undocumented Immigrants and Social Work

This study examines the tensions between the Global Statements of Ethical Principles of Social Work influenced by the Universal Declarations of Human Rights and related international conventions and the social work practices with undocumented immigrants in Sweden. The paper is based on a comprehensive study of working practices with undocumented immigrants in the framework of the Swedish social care system, where municipal social workers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) actors have been interviewed. The material was complemented by participant observations. The empirical results show how globalisation, migration and social problems of undocumented immigrants increasingly challenge the national basis of social work and create tensions between national laws and practices guiding the Swedish welfare services and the Global Statements of Ethical Principles of Social Work. The lack of adequate working methods and legal frames makes it possible for social workers and NGO actors to make informal alliances with other actors for the improvement of undocumented immigrants' living conditions. It is argued that the national basis of social work should be reformed in order to include global conditions of local social problems and realise itself as a human rights profession.

Social Work Values and Principles: Students' Experiences in intervention with Children and Youths in Detention

A project with children and juveniles in a detention centre confronts social work students with their own perceptions and experiences of being direct or indirect victims of crime, with their own values and with integrating the values and principles of social work. Within an ecological perspective, past and present issues in the country's context influence perceptions and personal values. The project challenges these perceptions and value systems. Feedback include that students realise they should not judge the young people; that these youngsters have dignity and worth in spite of where they come from and the crime they committed; that they deserve respect and should be accepted for who they are. The article discusses professional values and principles in social work and provides a case study of dealing with undergraduate social work students' fears, emotions and prejudices in teaching and integrating social work values and principles.

Challenges of recovery-oriented practice in inpatient mental health settings – the potential for social work leadership

Recovery-oriented practice has become the main mantra in mental health services, irrespective of the way it is understood, accepted and practised. This article aims to analyse the principles of recovery as stipulated in Australian national policies and to examine the challenges associated with implementing these in an inpatient mental health facility. Using a qualitative method incorporating a literature review, documentary analysis of policy and standards and reflections on social work practice in an inpatient facility, this analysis reveals a powerful alignment between recovery and social work principles. However, the analysis also highlights the noticeable absence of social work in contributions to the literature and research around the move to recovery-oriented practice. The paper concludes with a call to the social work profession to recognise its potential for taking a leadership role in mental health reform with participatory and person-centred approaches.

On being a relational practitioner in an evidence-based world

Contemporary clinical practice requires social workers to keep abreast of and apply evidence-based practice approaches. This may be a more difficult challenge for psychodynamically oriented social workers who focus on the therapeutic relationship as the principal mechanism of change. Research supporting the efficacy of the therapeutic relationship is presented, as is a case vignette that illustrates the core principles of relational social work, a postmodern contextual approach that focuses on the mutuality inherent in the therapeutic endeavor. Emphasis is placed on examining the ‘client and clinician-in-situation’ and the interactional nature of the intrapsychic, interpersonal and macro social systems in which the client and clinician operate.

Recovery in Severe Mental Illnesses: A Literature Review of Recovery Measures

Recovery is an increasingly important construct in mental health services for adults with serious mental illnesses. It is defined as an active process of integrating mental health care with daily existence, creating a purposeful life regardless of diagnosis. Social work principles align with central values of recovery. Social workers who provide services to consumers may find it helpful to use a standardized recovery instrument in practice. The authors conducted a literature review to identify recovery instruments and assess the characteristics of those instruments, examining specifically the definitions of recovery, the nature of consumer involvement in instrument development, and the psychometric properties of recovery instruments. Multiple databases (CINHAL, JSTOR, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index, Social Services Abstracts, and Social Work Abstracts) were searched, as well as the gray literature. Seventeen articles discussing 12 recovery instruments were identified, with widely different conceptualizations of recovery, types of consumer involvement, and psychometric properties. Social workers should consider the purposes for which they wish to use a recovery instrument and, when appropriate, discuss recovery conceptualizations and goals with consumers. They should then select an instrument that best matches these goals. On the basis of this review, several instruments may be helpful to social workers in providing services to consumers.

Theoretical Paper - Is homelessness a matter of social justice for counselling psychologists in the UK? A review of the literature

Content & FocusThere is a discourse within psychology relating to homelessness that describes a significant minority of individuals in Britain who are less likely to experience physical, mental and emotional wellbeing than the housed majority. Homelessness is, therefore, contextualised here as both a relevant topic for counselling psychology and as a matter of social justice. The place of social justice within the counselling psychology discourse is discussed and the situation in the US is contrasted with that in the UK. Psychology, counselling and nursing literature relating to homelessness is critiqued to discover how useful it is for counselling psychologists, whether homelessness is being considered by counselling psychologists in the UK and whether it reflects the principles of social justice work for counselling psychologists proposed by Goodman et al. (2004).ConclusionExisting literature relating to homelessness is of use to counselling psychologists in that it can be used to inform practice, understand the context of homelessness, and challenge the pathologisation of the homeless population. Of the literature considered, some of the North American papers explicitly show an interest in social justice unlike the British literature. It is difficult to ascertain the extent to which British counselling psychologists are working with homeless clients. Further research could consider: how many counselling psychologists in the UK are working with homeless clients; how counselling psychologists in the UK conceive of the relationship between the profession and society; and whether/how the conception of that relationship influences their work.

The essence of social work as part of social security

This article examines social work as a sphere of social-protection policy. Analyzes the theoretical and legal approaches to the essence of social work. Defines the principles of social work as general principles, guidelines on which to base social work.

Introducing Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices in Public Services: Rhetoric to Practice

Abstract While anti-oppressive social work has become a central focus in theoretical social workdiscussions, the impact of its principles in the field is still marginal, especially in publicsocial services. The few studies documenting the implementation of anti-oppressivepractices in service organisations have typically focused on non-governmental agenciesor grass-roots community organisations. The influence of anti-oppressive discourse onthe public social services is virtually unknown. This article describes a case study of along-term, comprehensive change process that aimed to develop a new service basedon critical anti-oppressive principles in the public social services. Using quantitativeand qualitative data from extensive evaluation studies carried out during differentstages of the change process, the article reveals the complexity of introducing anti-op-pressive social work principles within the public welfare system. Findings and conclu-sions, far from categorical, call for a theoretical and practical debate on the role ofthese principles at the hard core of social work practice: the public services.Keywords: Anti-oppressive social work, anti-oppressive practice, social services,public services, critical theory

Advocacy versus Social Work: What the Setting-Up of an Advocacy Rights Hub Reveals about Social Work's Ability to Promote Social Inclusion

This paper uses a service evaluation of a city-wide Advocacy Rights Hub, based in a northern-English city, as a vehicle to explore the shift in welfare provision away from regulated state welfare to the deregulated voluntary sector in circumstances of diminishing welfare resources in the UK. It focuses on two significant trends relating to welfare that are exposed through the evaluation. The first is how social policies are increasingly directed away from addressing the needs of the socially excluded in low-income communities. The second and related issue is how these policy trends have led to the ascendency of advocacy and shrinking of statutory social work. It will reveal the inability of statutory social workers to act as advocates and reach out to the socially excluded, and how the contested territory of advocacy lays bare the increasing erosion of social work's professional values and principles.

Beyond the Pale of Psychoanalysis: Relational Theory and Generalist Social Work Practice

Many have noted the consonance between contemporary relational theory and classic social work values and practice principles such as person in environment and starting where the client is. However, there have been few efforts to explore relational theory’s utility to the generalist social work framework. This paper takes the position that relational theory’s intersubjective stance lends new coherence to classic social work principles, and therefore elucidates the process aspects of evidence-based social work practice. In order to illustrate this point, the author applies relational theory to implementation issues around early childhood home visitation with Spanish-speaking immigrant clients—a social work service modality that, like so many others, does not fall into the category of individual psychotherapy in the context of private practice.

American Indian Women and Sexual Assault

This article informs social workers about sexual violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women and the policy reforms in the 2010 Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA). It describes the unmet needs of AI/AN survivors, reviews the TLOA reforms on sexual assault in relation to social work and public health principles, discusses the complementary roles for social workers and public health practitioners in reform efforts, and offers guidance for professional participation that emphasizes tribal sovereignty, indigenous capacity, and cultural competence.

Social Work and Personalisation

In the early years of the 21st century the policy of personalisation has been actively pursued across all four British countries. Drawing on the work of the disability movement, personalisation aims to increase the levels of choice and control for adult users of social care services. It suggests that much preceding practice has magnified individuals’ dependency and constrained their choice. During implementation it has been suggested that social workers should move away from rationing towards advocacy and brokerage. This paper examines social work within personalisation from three perspectives. First, it engages with those areas of policy that chime with social work principles and values. It then rehearses the elements of the reform agenda which are more questionable from the social work viewpoint. Finally it links the implementation of policy to the impact of substantial cuts in social care budgets as the effects of the Conservative-led coalition’s austerity programme bite.

Instilling the Soul of Group Work in Social Work Education

This article addresses the process of developing an educational model for teaching social work with groups in an undergraduate social work degree program in Israel. The model was developed against a backdrop of decreasing status of social group work within the profession and the consequent loss of its unique identity and power in the social work field. The model's aims are to provide the students with the basic principles of social group work, to ensure its place in their professional identity, and to awaken curiosity regarding its use in their future practice as social workers.

Challenging Anthropocentricism in Social Work Through Ethics and Spirituality: Lessons from Studies in Human-Animal Bonds

During the process of teaching theoretical foundations in a Canadian school of social work, I sought to combine my teaching of critical anti-oppressive practice (AOP) with established ideas from the field of human-animal bonds (HAB) and from the spiritual experiences arising within my relationships to companion animals. This article addresses the challenges I confronted by identifying speciesism, a specific form of discrimination based on species not recognized within social work's anti-oppressive practice paradigm. I argue that anti-oppressive social work is, in effect, oppressive because it informs a perspective that prioritizes humans over other animals, nature, and the planet. By drawing on the extensive body of literature in the field of HAB, which like AOP is informed by critical social theories, this article highlights how an AOP approach is delimited to diversity among humans. The implication of anthropocentrism as the central organizing principle of AOP social work is that it limits the profession's value framework and the potential for sustainable outcomes for well-being among all beings. Pathways to address these implications are offered by reference to work that explores issues of spirituality and ethics in both social work and HAB research.

Responding to People Sleeping Rough: Dilemmas and Opportunities for Social Work

Rough sleeping refers to the state of being literally without shelter or residing in shelter not fit for human habitation. People who sleep rough are thought to be a group who experience a range of complex problems in addition to their homelessness. Despite their small numbers relative to the broader homeless population, rough sleepers have been identified as a target group for policy and practice intervention. This article critically examines outreach responses directed toward people sleeping rough. Moving beyond traditional charity approaches or interventions that “move people on”, emerging models of “assertive outreach” have been implemented in Australia as part of broader strategies to reduce homelessness. Challenging the idea that assertive outreach is a shift from a social work approach, it is argued that interventions to actively end rough sleeping are consistent with social work principles. Indeed, this article takes it that social work must advocate for the provision of affordable housing as central to rough sleeping interventions. Housing not only enables people to achieve human dignity and worth, but the linking of housing with outreach responses to rough sleepers will facilitate a trusting and effective working relationship.

Helping the helpers: an international training program for professionals providing social services for hiv‐positive children and their families in Southern Kazakhstan

AbstractOver one hundred children and some of their parents were infected with HIV in state hospitals in the Chimkent region in Southern Kazakhstan. After this tragedy, the Regional Department of Public Health organized social services for these families and asked the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide them with training and supervision. Twelve seminars were conducted for the social workers in Chimkent over an 18‐month period. The JDC team also met with the local medical staff as well as with governmental and nongovernmental organizations to assess their needs and provide organizational support for the social services. This article presents an analysis of the psychosocial challenges associated with the mass HIV infection episode in Kazakhstan. The analysis is based on Hofstede's (2001) theory of cultural values, theories on cross‐cultural interaction (Cushner & Brislin, 1995), and principles of multicultural social work (Potocky‐Tripodi, 2002). The training program is described, and its results are discussed. General principles and practical recommendations for planning and implementing cross‐cultural international humanitarian programs in the field of HIV are suggested. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A tutela do direito ao trabalho digno frente à globalização econômica

This article proposes rethinking the social condition of the worker front of economic globalization, and about the protection of standards labor when opposed to the interests of capital. For this talk will be on globalization and eco- nomic liberalism, developing a brief analysis of these henomena and their impli- cations in world of work. Then perform will be a discussion directed at quest for realization of the democratic rule of law, making override the principle of human dignity and social value work in the global economy.

'Stop Stealing Our Stories': The Ethics of Research with Vulnerable Groups

The article discusses the challenges and opportunities faced when integrating participatory methods into human rights-based research. It describes the development of a participatory action research approach designed to fulfil the aim of undertaking advocacy-focused research grounded in human rights and community participation. It reflects the principles of anti-oppressive social work and the ethics of undertaking research with vulnerable populations. In line with other contributions to this special issue, the article explores questions such as: ‘Where does knowledge about the story come from and how is it passed on?’; ‘What spurs ethical thinking at an individual and organizational level?’; and ‘How can ethical sensitivity and strategic effectiveness be combined?’

Structural Social Work Lens: A View of Youth Engagement in the Social Policy Life of their Communities

Presented through a structural social work lens, this paper is a description and analysis of an action research project designed to explore factors that encourage or impede the engagement of youth in the social policy life of their communities. The project was conceptualized in a geographic region characterized by the erosion of community sustainability due to social economic disadvantage and out migration. The project aimed to strengthen communities by enhancing participation of youth in social policy development. It utilized a workshop designed and delivered by youth for youth and the development a Social Policy Action Plan (SPAP) to address a policy issue of concern in youth’s local community. Principles of structural social work, with particular attention to power sharing, unmasking the structures, collective consciousness, transformation of power/political and personal change, social action and community capacity building are applied as a lens to explore this project.

Community Health Workers and Their Value to Social Work

Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital and unique role in linking diverse and underserved populations to health and social service systems. Despite their effectiveness, as documented by empirical studies across various disciplines including public health, nursing, and biomedicine, the value and potential role of CHWs in the social work practice and research literature has been largely absent. Thus, this article introduces social workers to CHWs, their role in promoting culturally appropriate practice, and their utility in collaboration with social workers in community settings. This integrative review also discusses current challenges identified by the CHW literature, including potential barriers to the expansion of CHW programs, as well as issues of training, certification, and sustainability. The review also discusses the close alignment of CHWs with social work values and principles of social justice, suggesting opportunities for enhanced social work practice and research.