Social work's changing task : an analysis of the changing task of social work as seen through the history and development of one Scottish voluntary organisation, Family Care

This thesis uses a case-study of the historical development of one Scottish voluntary social work agency - Family Care - as a vehicle for exploring the complex and changing nature of the social work task. I argue that social work is best understood as a discursive formation - that is, a collection of contradictory and competing discourses that come together to frame the task of social work, defining not just its capabilities but also its potential. I argue that there is no essential social work task, but that on the contrary, social work has always been subject to competing claims of definition and practice. It is only therefore by exploring the different discourses within social work that we can begin to understand what social work is and might be today. Family Care, although today a relatively small and specialised voluntary social work agency, offers in its historical development over the last eighty years a useful cross-section of some of the concerns which have been central to the formation of the social work task. The discourses which form the basis of my investigation and analysis are as follows :- vigilance and social purity ; Christian ethics and values ; professionalism ; the "psy" discourse ; feminism and familialism ; welfare ideologies. I conclude that the very complexity and diversity which is endemic in social work is a cause for optimism. Accepting the limitations and responsibilities which are a necessary part of social work, we should strive to make the social work task as non-oppressive and as just as possible

Social work home visits to children and families in the UK - a Foucauldian perspective

The home visit is at the heart of social work practice with children and families; it is what children and families' social workers do more than any other single activity (except for recording), and it is through the home visit that assessments are made on a daily basis about risk, protection and welfare of children. And yet it is, more than any other activity, an example of what Pithouse has called an ‘invisible trade’: it happens behind closed doors, in the most secret and intimate spaces of family life. Drawing on conceptual tools associated with the work of Foucault, this article sets out to provide a critical, chronological review of research, policy and practice on home visiting. We aim to explain how and in what ways changing discourses have shaped the emergence, legitimacy, research and practice of the social work home visit to children and families at significant time periods and in a UK context. We end by highlighting the importance for the social work profession of engagement and critical reflection on the identified themes as part of their daily practice

Collaborative storytelling in residential social work:Revisiting our shared past

In the hope that it may be of use to others, this short article introduces a journey of reflection and discovery that we are currently engaged in, from two very different perspectives. Both of us have first-hand experience of the Edinburgh voluntary organisation, The Guild of Service for Women (later Family Care and now Birthlink), one of us as a former social worker and the other as someone who grew up in residential care. We first met online almost two years ago and, since that time, we have been working together on our shared past in a process of co-inquiry, learning much about social work and childcare from the 1940s onwards. We have also been learning about ourselves and about some of the other people involved in our stories. Our main ‘take-home’ message is that the history of social work and childcare belongs to all of us. Furthermore, there is much to be gained from stepping outside the boxes (real and imagined) that constrain us and beginning to truly listen to each other’s stories

Purdah in the 21st century:Women’s experiences of work and space in Dhaka

In many countries, women’s movements continue to be dictated by gendered spaces, including social practices such as purdah. At the same time, globalisation and increased urbanisation in recent years have transformed women’s lives, bringing about a significant increase in opportunities for women to work outside their homes. This article explores purdah in Bangladeshi society through an ethnographic study in one of Dhaka’s low income communities. It will be argued that while new employment opportunities allow women to enter spaces that were hitherto not accessible to them, these employment opportunities are, in reality, often extensions of existing exploitative, patriarchal systems. Furthermore, women must manage their movements in specific ways in order to maintain a positive identity and moral status. These negotiations are an integral part of the day-to-day experiences of women as they navigate their relationships and employment in the changed context of their lives

Integrating palliative care into the community:the role of hospices and schools

Objectives: Palliative care services have, up to now, paid insufficient attention to social aspects of dying and bereavement and this has affected how patients and their families experience end of life and bereavement within their communities. New public health approaches to palliative care offer a different way forward by seeking to develop communities that support death and bereavement. Such approaches are now a priority for the majority of hospices in the UK and work with schools has been identified as a key area of work. Practice that engages schools and children on issues concerning end-of-life care is, however, underdeveloped and underdocumented. This research explored the role of hospices in working with schools to promote education and support around end-of-life and bereavement experiences. Methods: Action research was used to explore the potential for hospices to work with schools and engage participants in change processes. The research was conducted in 1 hospice and 2 primary schools in Scotland. Participants included children, parents and school and hospice staff. Results: Seven innovations were identified that were found to be useful for the school curriculum and the relationship between hospices, school communities and wider society. A model for integrated practice between hospices and schools is suggested. Conclusions: This research adds to knowledge about how hospices might engage in community engagement activities that encourage school staff to develop greater openness and support around end-of-life and bereavement care for their children. This will require a rethinking of normal hospice services to also participate in community capacity building