A sampling of international practice variations

Abstract

Across the globe, social workers generally share common values and purposes, yet the focus of activities and practice parameters vary greatly. In an exploratory study, a survey of international practitioners revealed variable definitions of practice. The recent joint IASSW and IFSW definition of social work practice would likely help specific countries to clarify practice descriptions while promoting a more unified voice in social work efforts worldwide. French À travers le monde, les travailleurs sociaux partagent en général des valeurs et des buts communs. Pourtant, le centre des activités et les paramètres de pratique varient énormément. Les résultats de cette étude exploratoire des travailleurs sociaux internationaux indiquent qu'il existe des définitions variables de la pratique. La définition récente de la pratique en travail social conçue par AIETS et FITS pourrait aider des pays spécifiques à élaborer des descriptions de pratique particulières tout en favorisant une voix plus unifiée pour le travail social à travers le monde. Spanish A través del mundo, los trabajadores sociales generalmente comparten valores comunes y propósitos, aún cuando el enfoque de las actividades y los parámetros de la práctica varían enormemente. En un estudio exploratorio, una encuesta internacional de practicantes reveló definiciones diferentes de la práctica. La reciente definición común de la práctica del trabajo social por parte de organismos como la IASSW y la IFSW ayudarían bastante para que países específicos clarificasen las descripciones de la práctica; y así mismo a promover una voz más unificada en los esfuerzos del trabajo social a nivel mundial.

Using the Civic Voluntarism Model to Compare the Political Participation of US and Swiss Social Workers

“…Also, there may be reliability challenges that could potentially be attributable to the particular political environment of the 2018 midterm election when the US survey was administered as well as the concurrent anti-immigrant movement in Switzerland. Finally, there is a potential limitation in comparing and interpreting the US to Swiss participants' political participation because of different electoral systems, culture, and political structures (Norman and Hintze 2005). Likewise, variation exists in requirements for social workers to be licensed and in the normative understanding of social work practice.…”

Food security and women's health

“…It is also noted that in recent research conducted by Norman and Hintze (2005) on international practice variations, social workers in South Africa and Thailand (two countries with severe poverty) identify community work and working with NGOs as important themes. They conclude from their study that issues such as starvation and poverty will 'surely require macro-as well as the micro-efforts of social workers globally' (Norman and Hintze, 2005: 565).…”

The challenges in developing cross-national social work curricula

“…Social work has been explicitly excluded from some fields of practice, for example, mental health, while it is active in other countries (Weber and Bugarzski, 2007). Yet, even within a given field of practice where there is widespread involvement of social work such as child welfare, the roles and involvement of social workers can vary considerably between countries (Norman and Hintze, 2005). Nevertheless, it has been proposed that a strong focus on organisational issues may not best serve the advancement of international social work (Nuttman-Shwartz and Berger, 2012), particularly if they are unable to take account of ‘the conditions for social work practice [which] vary between nations because social policy ambitions and social needs differ, and the economic conditions to address them also vary widely’ (Trygged and Eriksson, 2012: 656).…”

“…Even among English speakers, some words or terminology may have acquired meanings or connotations which are country-specific (Gray and Fook, 2004; Heron and Pilkington, 2009) and any subtleties or nuances may not be immediately apparent (Zunz and Oil, 2009). Consequently, what is deemed acceptable or appropriate terminology for social work varies between countries (Nagy and Falk, 2000; Norman and Hintze, 2005, Simpson, 2009).…”