Recognition as a virtue in social work practice

Abstract

In Norway, labour market politics and welfare politics are increasingly linked together. Accordingly, the municipality of Trondheim has been trying out new forms of social work for several years and this kind of work includes enhancing the occupational skills of clients and the personal resources they need in order to compete in the labour market. A parallel goal for this work has been to enhance clients' capacity for inclusion into society in general. In 2004, the Department of Social Work and Health Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) was invited by the management of the municipality of Trondheim to conduct a research project into one of these social work programmes with the aim of developing the capacities of the long-term unemployed and young people in receipt of income substitution. Research results established the relevance of the concept of recognition in terms of identifying the most effective elements in the social work programme. The subject of identity in late modernity was also found to be a highly relevant matter which, together with recognition, describes and explains the underlying processes and factors which make possible the enhancement of self-confidence as experienced and reported by programme participants.Arbeidsmarkedspolitikk og sosialpolitikk henger nøye sammen i et land som Norge, ikke minst ser vi dette i gjennomføringen av den pågående NAVreformen hvor arbeidslinja

Withdrawal from the public employment service by young unemployed: a matter of non-take-up or of non-compliance? How non-profit social work initiatives may inspire public services

“…a 'self-assertion strategy'. Marthinsen and Skjefstad (2011) in turn show that recognition by the social worker is a crucial factor for the enhancement of the self-confidence of receivers of income substitution participating in the Swedish Work and Competence programme. Furthermore, a study by Van Hemel and Struyven (2008) on persistent youth unemployment in Belgium indicates that young unemployed people often feel 'robbed by the system'.…”

Preparation for Practice: Can Philosophy Have a Place in Helping Students Incorporate the Social Model of Disability Within Their Praxis?

“…Within the field of social work, it is only relatively recently that Honneth's theory of recognition has been applied to social work practice (see for example Houston, 2009;2010;Houston and Dolan, 2008;Juul, 2009;Marthinsen and Skjefstad, 2011). Marthinsen and Skjefstad (2011) provide a useful discussion of how 'love' in social work terms may be translated into 'trust', requiring that the relationship between social worker and the person they are supporting needs to be based on authenticity and unconditional caring.…”

“…Marthinsen and Skjefstad (2011) provide a useful discussion of how 'love' in social work terms may be translated into 'trust', requiring that the relationship between social worker and the person they are supporting needs to be based on authenticity and unconditional caring. Writers such as Garrett (2010) have eloquently discussed some of the weaknesses of Honneth's work -in particular the downplaying of the role of the state in (re)creating divisions and social oppression in favour of interpersonal relationships.…”

Suitability for Professional Practice: Assessing and Developing Moral Character in Social Work Education

“…In their evaluation of a Scandinavian workfare programme, Marthinsen and Skjefstad (2011) propose that 'recognition' should be considered as an important virtue within social work. Drawing upon Honneth's work on the 'struggle for recognition', where the 'struggle' involves practical relations with ourselves and others in order to achieve self-confidence and esteem, they argue that recognition requires that professionals accept the hopes and aspirations of others on an equal basis rather than attempting to transform them into model citizens..…”