1st Edition

Complexity and Social Work

By Hans Van Ewijk Copyright 2018
    184 Pages 5 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    184 Pages 5 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Being socially competent is essential in late modern society. We expect people to find their own accommodation, partner, job, community and lifestyle and struggle to find answers for those who are not able or do not have the opportunity to achieve these things. By placing social complexity, social vulnerability and social efficacy within a framework of social policy and social practice, Complexity and Social Work argues that growing social complexity excludes more and more citizens from social participation.

    The book starts with exploring complexity, super-diversity, vulnerability and social efficacy. From there the book deals with the discourses of social policy, social work and social work research, pledging for social policy aiming at desired outcomes, for generic contextual social work, and for a research practice that recognises practical wisdom.

    Aimed at final year undergraduates, postgraduates, professionals, trainers and lecturers involved in social work, social policy, social care, mental health and allied fields who are committed to treating socially vulnerable people with respect and acceptance, this book, the first of its kind, offers new perspectives on social complexity for practice, theory and research in human services.

    List of figures

    Introduction

    Finding a path

    Character, structure and origin of the book

    Chapter 1: Social Complexity and vulnerability

    Introduction

    Setting the problem

    Increase in number of people facing difficulties in coping with daily life

    Discussing the rise in socio-psychological problems

    Social vulnerability

    The new social quest

    State of progress

    Categorisation and emancipation

    The problem of system based answers

    State of progress under discussion

    From a positioning society to a place finding society

    The exclusionary social world

    Positioning, profiling and connecting

    Social competences

    Social capital

    Problematic social behaviour

    Social complexity

    The power of specialised knowledge

    Complexity as a description, a way of thinking, and a research area

    Character of social complexity

    The parts and the whole

    Emergence

    Self-governance

    Lacking a coreSuperdiversity, class and poverty

    The concept of superdiversity

    Descriptive, methodological and political angles of superdiversity

    Class and poverty in superdiversity

    Changing perspective on answering social problems

    Need for customised approaches

    Recognition of social-efficacy

    The complexity, claims and capacity triangle

    A change in perspective or new paradigm

    Final remark

    References

    Chapter 2: Social efficacy

    Introduction

    Polanyi: Tacit knowledge

    An indwelling structure

    The risk of detached knowledge

    The paradox of evidence and relevance

    The higher and lower order

    The problem of rational empirical science

    Sense of coherence

    Bourdieu: Habitus

    Field

    Habitus

    Dispositions

    Capital

    Durkheim and the importance of professional groups

    Schön: Artistry

    Artistry in complexity

    John Dewey’s concept of reflectivity

    The swamp worker

    Threefold reflection and double loop learning

    Mindfulness

    Citizen-professional

    Sen: Capabilities

    Capability as an alternative approach

    Capabilities and functionings

    Resources and environment

    Public reasoning

    Conclusive reflections

    Professional social efficacy

    The social efficacy column

    The capability cycle

    Synchrony

    Social efficacy under pressure

    Final remark

    References

    Chapter 3: Normative professionalisation

    Introduction

    Professionalisation

    Professionals under attack

    Professional logics and defining elements

    Normative Professionalisation: history and essentials

    Resistance to the neo-liberal agenda

    Inspiring concepts and thoughts

    Developing normative professionalisation

    Characteristics

    Moral capital

    Threefold normativity

    A provisional definition

    Fostering professionalisation

    Steps for implementation

    Normative professionalisation in research

    Final remark

    References

    Chapter 4: Transformation and Deinstitutionalisation

    Introduction

    Transforming the welfare state

    Arguments for transformation

    Privatisation

    Localisation

    Civil society

    Active citizenship

    The concept of active citizenship

    Relative and relational citizenship

    Deinstitutionalization

    Definition and dream

    Shared values

    Analysing institutions

    Analysing deinstitutionalisation

    Attitude

    Lack of favourable conditions

    Cooperation

    Resources

    Staff

    Promising elements for a successful strategy

    Common direction

    Cooperation and innovation

    Empowering citizens

    Empowering professionals

    Creating favourable financial conditionsFinal remark

    References

    Chapter 5: Social work

    Introduction

    Exploring and positioning social work

    Solidarity and empathy

    Blurring borders and defining specialisms

    Positioning social work

    Social work based on active citizenship

    The social model

    More than just a helping profession Core assignment

    Work perspective

    A broad generic approach

    A connecting profession

    The social work body of knowledge

    Defining the domain

    Social work theories

    1. Social case work

    2. Social pedagogy and ecological social work

    3. Caring social work

    4. Critical social work and anti-oppressive social work

    5. Constructive social work

    6. Faith based social work

    7. Involuntary social work: probation and rehabilitation

    8. Managerial social work

    9. Citizenship based social work

    Social work research

    Ethics and meaning of life Methodology and methods

    Organisation and political context

    Positioning social work in local social policy

    Social work in different zones

    Organising social work professionals

    Professionalisation

    Standards of a recognized profession

    Models of professionalisationContextual social work

    What is it?

    A teleological practice: implementing social justice

    Social work in complex and superdiverse contexts

    Final remark

    References

    Chapter 6: Social work as a practice based science and research

    Introduction

    Social work as a science and a discipline

    Changing perspectives

    Epistemological discourse on science

    Dichotomies

    Positioning social work in the epistemological discourse

    Social work research

    Practice based research

    Characterising social work research

    Categorising social work research fields and perspectives

    Areas of social work research

    Research methodology and methods

    Methodology

    Mixed method

    Validity in practice based research

    Characterising the epistemological position of social work research

    Evidence based practice or evidence biased practice?

    What is EBP?

    Strong EBP

    Levels of evidence

    The seven steps

    Weak EBP

    Pros and Cons of EBP and its alternatives

    Pros

    Cons

    Alternatives to EBPFinal remark

    References

    Chapter 7: The case of Marc. Applying theory to practice.Introduction

    Multiple connections

    Case: Marc Wiggins

    Four essential connections

    Connecting with the user and his (or her) context

    Connecting with society

    Connecting with the profession

    Connecting with oneselfIngredients for coping with social complexity

    Final remark

    References

    Biography

    Hans van Ewijk is Emeritus Professor of Social Work Theory at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. He has been executive director of the Dutch Institute of Care and Welfare. He is a past president of ICSW Europe and past chair of ENSACT. Since 2006 he has also been a visiting professor at Tartu University, Estonia.

    'Hans van Ewijk, a leading European thinker, calls on vast range of reference to make an innovative case for a renewal of effectiveness in social work, so that it can respond to the complexity of today’s society and the failings of overloaded social provision. He puts forward an inspirational but critical conception of the possibilities for social work as a co-productive enterprise with active citizens in the future.'- Malcolm Payne, Kingston University 

    'This book is a tour de force in its grasp of the contemporary moment and what this implies for professional practices. It offers theoretical depth and astute commentary on the nature of issues confronting individuals, groups and organisations in an era of rapid change and stretches the professional imaginaion to more significantly engage with social complexity. Van Ewijk offers a timely and authoritative observation of a profession in transition and a comprehensive resource for discussion and debate that will have international appeal.' - Charlotte Williams OBE, Professor of Social Work and Deputy Dean, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia