Commentary on Coulter et al. 2019 ‘Attaining Theoretical Coherence Within Relationship-Based Practice in Child and Family Social Work: The Systemic Perspective’

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1630-1635
Author(s):  
Richard Mc Kenny
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Partial Case

Abstract Coulter et al. (2019) argue that there is an urgent need for a theoretically coherent conceptualisation of contemporary relationship-based practice (RBP) models within child and family social work. They propose that a systemic and social constructionist ‘lens’ can provide this coherence. This reply draws attention to one particular difficulty with their argument and makes a partial case for maintaining clear distinctions between models, with distinct nomenclature.

scholarly journals Attaining Theoretical Coherence Within Relationship-Based Practice in Child and Family Social Work: The Systemic Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Coulter ◽  
Stanley Houston ◽  
Suzanne Mooney ◽  
John Devaney ◽  
Gavin Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Systemic Theory ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Fidelity Model

Abstract Social work practice has an essential, yet ambiguous, relationship with theory. This state of affairs is currently evident in the range of contemporary relationship-based practice (RBP) models being applied within Child and Family Social Work. This article argues that there is an urgent need for a theoretically coherent conceptualisation of these models to enable social work practitioners to embrace their common precepts and so enable more effective interventions. In contrast to attempts to show the distinctiveness of current models for reasons of fidelity, model identity and marketing, this unifying approach advocates for recognition of the commonality and complementarity of contemporary RBP models. The article argues that systemic theory which applies a social constructionist orientation can provide this coherence, helping social workers develop their practice in an informed way. In making this case, the emergent evidence base is noted and recommendations are made about how greater convergence and complementarity can be promoted. This article contributes to the debate about how practice and policy should be guided by theoretical ideas of coherence, alongside more utilitarian ideas advocating the importance of evidence and effectiveness.

scholarly journals Māori social work views and practices of rapport building with rangatahi Māori

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Rapport Building

This article presents the results of a qualitative study that explored Māori social workers’ perspectives of working to establish rapport with rangatahi Māori in community mental health services. The research was conducted using a social constructionist perspective, informed and guided by Māori-centred research principles. Six Māori social workers from different parts of the country volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. These face-to-face interviews were designed after reviewing current literature and were guided by a practice framework that enabled the voices of the Māori social workers to be heard, eliciting in detail where their views have come from. The findings from the research showed that Māori social workers view rapport as essential in their practice and therefore they practise in a way that facilitates this. They utilise values and beliefs in their practice, integrated with a Māori worldview, that contribute towards rapport building with youth and also with their whänau. Reflective practice is used constantly in order to maintain ethical practice. The practice implications are also discussed; that an understanding of how Māori social workers view and practise rapport can be beneficial, that there is a need for whānau involvement and that this can enhance rapport with rangatahi, that an inherent valuing of rangatahi is key and finally that reflective practice is essential for Māori social work professional and personal development.

scholarly journals Social Work and the Colonization of the Life-World

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Pozzuto ◽  
Paul Dezendorf ◽  
Margaret Arnd-Caddigan
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Professional Knowledge ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Life World ◽  
Symbolic Structure ◽  
Rational Practice

This paper examines the effect of technical-rational social work practice upon the lived experience of recipients. The authors explore the influence of technical-rational practice upon the creation of reality from a social constructionist perspective. Kondrat’s (1992) argument for the construction of professional knowledge independent of a technical-rational approach and Rosen’s (1994) response provide a path into the material. The differences between the two views are explored by means of a discussion of theories of language and reality as well as the contrasting worldviews found in comparing existential versus behavioral approaches and strengths perspective versus cognitive-behavioral approaches to social work. The emphasis upon a technical-rational practice is identified as an element in the deformation of the symbolic structure of the life-world.

Moral and Ethical Issues in Working with Lesbians and Gay Men

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Hartman ◽  
Joan Laird
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
A Value ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ethical Stance

In this article, we address some of the ways that ethical issues have been confronted and avoided in the social work profession and argue that a social constructionist perspective allows for the generation of principles for a practice that foregrounds critical thinking and a value-based ethical stance. We outline these principles and consider them in relation to the special issues that arise in practice with lesbians and gay men.

Social Work Education: Human Behavior and Social Environment

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
History Of ◽  
Current Knowledge Base ◽  
Changing Knowledge ◽  
Work Education

This entry provides a brief history of social work's changing knowledge base about human behavior and identifies the current knowledge base as multidimensional, multispherical, multicultural, multidirectional, multidisciplinary, and multitheoretical. It provides an overview of eight broad theoretical perspectives currently used in social work: systems, conflict, rational choice, social constructionist, psychodynamic, developmental, social behavioral, and humanistic perspectives. Each perspective is analyzed in terms of its central ideas, practice implications, and empirical evidence. The entry ends with a brief discussion of trends and directions.

scholarly journals Virtual worlds: Relationship between real life and experience in Second Life

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott P. Anstadt ◽  
Shannon Bradley ◽  
Ashley Burnette ◽  
Lesley L. Medley
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
The Social

<p>Due to the unique applications of virtual reality in many modern contexts, Second Life (SL) offers inimitable opportunities for research and exploration and experiential learning as part of a distance learning curriculum assignment. A review of current research regarding SL examined real world social influences in online interactions and what the effects on users may be. This aids students in understanding the social constructionist perceptions and worldview of those persons they may serve in social services. This suggests the importance of developing an understanding of the relationship between users’ real life (RL) and their SL. Some research has begun to reveal the effectiveness of telecommunication and computer simulation with certain clients in the fields of mental health and social work, yet there is a lack of sufficient research done within the context of virtual worlds. The current study surveyed users of several educationally and health focused SIMS (simulations) as to what motivates their SL and RL interactions. The data explores associations between users’ RL and their SL in several areas,potentially addressing the future role of educating social work students regarding research methodology in online virtual reality interactions. Implications for social work are discussed including engaging clients using incentives for social participation built into the SL milieu.</p>

scholarly journals Social Workers’ Management of Child Interpreting: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siân E Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Spoken language interpreters are commonly used to facilitate communication for emergent bilingual service users in social work. Children often have greater English language proficiency than their parents and may interpret for family members in a variety of contexts, including social work. This article approaches the topic of child interpreting from social workers’ perspectives and presents findings from in-depth interviews about child interpreting. Social constructionist theories are used to examine the way social workers manage child interpreting. The findings indicate that social workers manage child interpreting by monitoring, scaffolding or stopping encounters. Through talking about child interpreting, the social workers conceptualise children as passive, vulnerable or untrustworthy. Social workers recognised the potential contributions that child interpreters offered but remained concerned about their ability to translate technical and emotionally laden messages. Given that child interpreting was found to be unavoidable in social work, there is scope to develop a framework for safe and effective child-interpreting practice. Future research directions include an exploration of children’s perceptions about interpreting in social work contexts.

scholarly journals Social Work in Ghana

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-124
Author(s):  
Christel Avendal
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Social Institution ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
The Social ◽  
Traditional Authorities ◽  
The University

In contemporary Ghana, the traditional system and professional social work operate as two parallel systems within the field of social work. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how the teaching of contemporary professional social work in Ghana takes into account traditional actors and practices. The traditional system includes extended family members and traditional authorities such as chiefs or family heads. It formed the social institution that protected and cared for the vulnerable before (Western) social work was introduced as a formal profession in Ghana. A 10-week ethnographic field study was conducted at the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana. The study employed a qualitative, social constructionist approach, interpreting the results within a theoretical framework of social world theory. The empirical material consisted of interviews with students and teachers, participant observation at lectures, and various documents. The main findings of the study were that professional social workers and traditional actors can be seen as members of two subworlds – the subworld of professional social workers and the subworld of traditional actors. Students and teachers discuss interventions from the perspective of social workers and traditional actors. Their ability to take different perspectives seems to be crucial for localisation – the process by which social work is made relevant to local culture and traditions. The interviewees’ accounts reveal how localisation is not only about culture, but also about social structures and practical considerations. The poor state of the social work profession in Ghana affects interventions in a profound way.

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