Some thoughts on the relationship between theory and practice in and for social work

Parton, Nigel

doi:10.1093/bjsw/30.4.449

Cited by 190 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Rather like the establishment of free schools in the education world in England, new generously funded forms of social work trainings are being introduced while traditional university based programmes face continuing uncertainty about their future and dwindling financial support. Parton (2000) helps to account for social work's politicized positioning as he sets out how it sits in the space he describes as 'the social' between the individual and the state. From within this space, social workers attempt to mediate between service users in need of support and the state, advocating for services along with managing risk and resources in an uneasy alliance.…”

Section: The Social Work Profession Under Scrutinymentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Stumbling through’? Relationship-based social work practice in austere times

Hingley‐Jones¹,

Ruch²

2016

Journal of Social Work Practice

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Abstract:In recent times relationship-based practice has become a familiar term in social work practice and education. Despite its widespread adoption, how relationship-based practice is understood varies widely. Drawing on contemporary conceptualisations of the child and family and individuals as psychosocial subjects experiencing social suffering, this paper explores how current social work practice can be understood in the context of neoliberalism and austerity. Setting these ideas in an historical context helps to inform our understanding as to why social work seems to be the focus of sustained political discontent and scrutiny, making it difficult to retain a balanced relationship-based professional stance. Contemporary responses to the current challenges of everyday practice are outlined and the contribution of psychodynamic and systemic ideas to promoting relationship-based practice is explored. The paper concludes by considering how the concept of social systems as defences against anxiety can inform our understanding of the resistance amongst practitioners to relationship-based practice and emphasises the importance of reflective spaces and places for developing and maintaining integrated, mature relational approaches to practice which both impact on practice at the individual casework and social structural level.

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Section: The Social Work Profession Under Scrutinymentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Stumbling through’? Relationship-based social work practice in austere times

Hingley‐Jones¹,

Ruch²

2016

Journal of Social Work Practice

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“…(Parton 2000) Part of the difficulty here lies in the relationship between social science subjects and social work and the drive within social work to claim a body of theory as its own. In reality it has had, since its rejection of psychoanalytically based theory four decades ago (see above), mainly sociology, along side positivist psychology, to draw on in the construction of this.…”

Section: Sociology and Social Work Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This goes beyond the notion of simply applying knowledge from the academic discipline to the practice of social work, in the problematic way identified by e.g. Parton (2000), but offers a complex, process-driven account of the fundamentals of identity, interpersonal relations and ways of knowing (an epistemology and ontology) with which students and social workers can make sense of the whole experience, including their location within it.…”

Section: …Our Capacity To Be a Reflexive Agent Is Often Constrained Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why social work and sociology need psychosocial theory

Frost

2015

Nordic Social Work Research

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“…Complex situations in the first place need a political answer, but can easily be translated into problems that, supposedly, require a methodical answer (Roose, Roets & De Bie, 2011). The critique on a methodical approach is that it is technical instead of relational (Parton, 2000). However, a relational approach also holds a risk of self-referentiality.…”

Section: Action Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Action Research and Democracy

Roose

Bie

Roets

2013

Civic Learning, Democratic Citizenship and the Public Sphere

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In this contribution, we discuss a number of points of interest in the relationship between action research and learning democracy, based on our own experiences with action research. Action research can contribute to learning democracy when it evolves as a democratic practice. The core of this practice is the collaboration with those involved. This collaboration is inspired by a practical question that emerges from practices, that is analysed against the background of its meaning for the way in which it intervenes in people's specific situations and driven by the question whether it contributes to a greater realisation of humanity and social justice. The desired change in action research is therefore not initially intended as a solution for a specific problem, but as increasing the level of doubt about the interpretations of, and actions on, realities and situations. Casting doubt on existing realities and situations, therefore, requires that a variety of possible interpretations of the situations at stake are challenged. Supporting this communicative space, as well as the researcher's engagement to conduct the study, assumes a performative attitude so that the objective reality is also linked to the intersubjective reality and the social environment of the actors involved.

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Some thoughts on the relationship between theory and practice in and for social work

Cited by 190 publications

References 17 publications

‘Stumbling through’? Relationship-based social work practice in austere times

‘Stumbling through’? Relationship-based social work practice in austere times

Why social work and sociology need psychosocial theory

Action Research and Democracy

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