Mechanisms of Gatekeeping in the Social Work Profession: Lessons Learned from Canada, Hong Kong and South Korea

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miu Chung Yan ◽  
Jinah Lee ◽  
Edward Ko Ling Chan
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Work ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Registration System ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Striving to be a full-fledged profession with statutorily delegated self-regulatory authority has been a goal of the social work profession in many countries since Abraham Flexner’s (1915 ‘Is social work a profession?’, Paper presented at the Forty-Second Annual Session of The National Conference of Charities and Correction, Baltimore, MD, pp. 581, 584–8, 590. denial of its professional status in the USA. A full self-regulation requires two gatekeeping mechanisms: professional education and registration. Whereas professional social work education has been in place in many parts of the world, the establishment of a mandatory registration system is still limited to a few countries. Although two mechanisms share the same mandate and function as self-regulation, they tend to be discussed separately in the literature. How they connect and work with each other is seldom explored. In this article, by examining the development of these two mechanisms in Canada, Hong Kong and South Korea, we present three different ways of how these mechanisms are connected and discuss observations of those connections.

Professionalism, Professionalization, and Deprofessionalization in Journalism

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Wiik
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Occupational Socialization ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Professional Discourse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Journalism Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Normative Value

The notion of professionalism within journalism is widespread and has been thoroughly explored. “Professionalism” refers to a normative value system utilized by professionals in relation to their clients, work practices, and occupational socialization. The perspective implies a number of characteristics distinguishing professions from occupations: autonomy, exclusive knowledge, ethical codes of conduct, occupational ideals/culture, and altruistic features (i.e., to act in the public interest). Jointly, these values function as a framework for journalists in everyday practice, guiding and controlling them. In a Western context, this framework legitimizes the social contract that allows journalism the privilege of autonomy and self-regulation on a structural level. The professionalism of journalists has been empirically studied since the 1950s, and the field is constantly expanding. Similar popular conceptualizations when interrogating the norms, practice, and ideals of journalists include, for instance, “role,” “habitus,” “interpretive community,” “ideology,” and “culture.” However, the major body of journalism studies has tried to capture those aspects from a perspective of professional theory. Today, the professional status of journalists is challenged and questioned. Exclusivity is broken, autonomy declines, and other actors are increasingly redefining the field. In this context, new methods and ideals arise. The professional discourse of journalists evolves and adapts in new ways, as does the research in this area.

scholarly journals Regulation, Registration and Social Work: An International Comparison

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidan Worsley ◽  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Ken McLaughlin ◽  
Barbra Teater
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
And Function ◽  
Role And Function

Abstract The anticipated change of social work regulator in England from the Health and Care Professions Council to Social Work England in 2019 will herald the third, national regulator in seven years for the social work profession. Social Work England will be a new, bespoke, professionally specific regulator established as a non-departmental public body with a primary objective to protect the public. Looking globally, we can observe different approaches to the regulation of the social work profession—and many different stages of the profession’s regulatory journey between countries. Using a comparative policy analysis approach and case studies, this article looks more closely at three countries’ arrangements and attempts to understand why regulation might take the shape it does in each country. The case studies examine England, the USA (as this has a state approach, we focus on New York) and New Zealand, with contributions from qualified social work authors located within each country. We consider that there are three key elements to apply to analysis: definition of role and function, the construction of the public interest and the attitude to risk.

An Emerging Resource in U.S. Social Work—Professional Education of Bachelor Degree Personnel

1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-33
Author(s):  
Allie C. Kilpatrick ◽  
Gary L. Shaffer
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Past ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The U.S

Baccalaureate social work personnel in the United States have gone through a significant transformation during the past decade. Always a significant part of the social work labour force, they are now being prepared to assume a profes sional role. The two studies discussed in this paper highlight some of the current trends in Batchelor of Social Work programmes which have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974. As this transition continues into the 1980's, the Baccalaureate practitioner will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of social services in the U.S.

scholarly journals Building the Social Work Workforce: Saving Lives and Families

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Briar-Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Workforce Needs

This article depicts a journey over the decades to address some of the needs of children and families in the child welfare system. Recounting a few key milestones and challenges in the past 40 years, it is argued that workforce development is one key to improved outcomes for abused and neglected children and their families. Major events and several turning points are chronicled. Emerging workforce needs in aging are also cited as lessons learned from child welfare have implications for building a gero savvy social work workforce. Funding streams involving IV-E and Medicaid are discussed. It is argued that workforce development can be a life and death issue for some of these most vulnerable populations. Thus, the workforce development agenda must be at the forefront of the social work profession for the 21st century. Key funding streams are needed to foster investments in building and sustaining the social work workforce.

Looking Back, Thinking Forward: How a Television Series Facilitated the Development of the Social Work Profession in Hong Kong

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Kin Kwan ◽  
Oi Ngor Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Public Image ◽  
Television Series ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
Long Term Impact

Abstract The healthy development of the social work profession rests on the public’s understanding and trust. The media play a significant role in shaping the public image of social work. This article describes a focus group study that was designed to retrace the long-term impact of an iconic television series in 1976 on the public’s reception of the nascent profession of social work amongst a group of social work practitioners. Four focus groups were conducted with thirty practicing and retired social workers. The content of the focus group discussions was coded and analysed to generate three major themes: (i) the television series gave a real-world articulation of the work of social workers and catalysed the profession’s public receptivity; (ii) it inspired a call amongst conscientious young people to join the profession; and (iii) it contributed to the construction of social workers’ professional identity. The findings demonstrate the contribution of this television series, hence the role of media, to the early development of professional social work in Hong Kong.

Social workers’ adaptation in times of pandemic crisis: A Hong Kong case

2021 ◽  
pp. 002087282110645
Author(s):  
Henry Wai Hang Ling ◽  
Michelle Shum ◽  
Chi Kin Kwan ◽  
Mingdie Xu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behavior ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Planned Behavior ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
New Situation

Through the lens of the theory of planned behavior, this article explores how social workers adapt to a new situation due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three focus group sessions were conducted with 23 social workers from child and youth, family, and elderly services in Hong Kong. Three major themes were generated: (1) repositioning the social work profession, (2) renegotiating contracts with funders, and (3) exploring novel intervention methods. Implications of the findings are discussed. To ensure social workers can respond effectively in crises, an evolving nature of the profession is advocated to enshrine its spirit to serve.

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