Social workers in the new human services marketplace: Trends, challenges and responses

Abstract

This paper examines employment trends in social welfare occupations and challenges to the industrial and cultural recognition of professional social work in the new human services market place. Following examination of the threats posed by market reform and the crisis in public confidence in some domains of human services work, I focus on three key concerns. First, through analysis of Census data from 1996 to 2001, I compare trends in the employment of social workers, welfare workers and community workers. Second, drawing on the work of Nancy Fraser (1997), I argue that the challenges facing social workers can be understood as problems of 'recognition'. Using this framework, I examine the external contests to the valuing of professional social work and also the internal challenges, that is, threats from within the social work profession to the industrial and cultural recognition of social work. Finally, I will consider how social workers, particularly new graduates, can respond to the challenges facing them in the new human services marketplace. I propose that social workers should claim a position as practice leaders and I outline practical strategies for achieving this goal.

Protecting Clients From Harm: The Role of Continuing Professional Education

“…The possession of an accredited social work degree is not of paramount importance in Australia, evidenced by the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (cited by Healy, 2004), which defines a social worker as possessing a bachelor or higher degree qualification, assessing social needs of individuals and groups, assisting people to develop and use the skills and resources needed to resolve social and other problems, but not specifically possessing an accredited social work degree.…”

“…In an environment of generalised solutions, where social work values are considered expendable (Lishman, 2002), professional social workers are devalued by non-recognition in service contracts and evaluation of the relational and social dimensions of their practice (Healy, 2004).…”

Does job satisfaction mediate the relationship between work–family conflict and psychological strain? A study of Australian social workers

“…Social work practice has long been considered to be complex work which is not based on simple formulas or prescriptions, but is characterized by constant change and uncertainty (Healy, 2004;Trevithick, 2005). It involves working with intricate problems of human experience, engaging with vulnerable and powerless members of society, and working with individuals, groups and communities of varied economic class, racial and ethnic groups, cultures and sexual orientations (O'Connor, Wilson, & Setterlund, 2003).…”

Northern Territory Social Work: Views and Approaches

“…Conversely, Healy (2004) and Gibelman (2000) note the unresolved issue of people without accredited social work qualifications reporting as social workers. Without social work registration, these issues seem likely to continue.…”

“…64Á68;Sullivan, 2000), accusing social workers of maintaining profitable careers at the expense of the poor they serve. Healy (2004) noted the duplicity of this argument given that doctors, teachers, and nurses all act similarly in their own contexts. Payne (2001) found previous attempts to articulate the functions of social work to be overly ambitious, with limited substantiation.…”