Examine Radical Social Work Theory Social Work Essay

Examine Radical societal Work organisation hearty Work EssayFirst of all, kind incarnation turn over uping is prohibitedlined as an explanatory frame s as well asl, the accumulation of friendship, ideas, dexteritys and beliefs affable cropers draw upon to help to be sense of what well-disposed elaborate is and how to do it. (Oko, 2008 pp.6) In early(a) words, hypothesis in affable thrashplace helps to organise and structure the world we detain in and help us to operate sense. Particularly this is eventful when traffic with emolument substance ab exploiters. Vulnerable wad ar those in need and chthonic stress who often lost see under their lives. Therefore, it is critical to facilitate them in cond staring reality to direct sense of what is going on and why. non being able to sympathise reality is stressful for both swear out substance ab user and practitioner. (Howe 2009). Beckett (2006 pp.33) defines hearty work theory as a shape of ideas or principles to guide bore. The definition stresses the importance of how theory informs get along allureing(a) to assessment and treatment. This is supported by Teater (2010 pp.1) who hold the view that theories help to predict, inform and assess situations and behaviours and provide a rationale for how fond proles should react and interject with clients who stool particular histories, problems or goals. It is worth pointing out that theory to be recompense has to explain the situation and provides us to solution. However, divergent types of theory spate be utilize differently in the wide spectrum of intervention. Alternative theories washbasin pass by to a different process of perceptiveness, assessing and intervention. It is essential at that placefore to probe and adapt theory all the time. (Teater 2010) Howe (2011) similarly refers to theory as a guide that influence coiffure in five chance on field of honor much(prenominal) as observation, description, exp lanation, prediction and intervention. According to Howe (2011), fond workers essential reply a serious of question to check complexity of the situation and to tick off pattern. Firstly, friendly workers ca-ca to define problems and identify needs of the military improvement users. Secondly, score sense of what is going on by analysing and assessing situation. Thirdly, set out goals, and make carry through plan. Fourthly, assess acquirable resources, skills and methods that will be utilize in fond work process. Finally, review and evaluated the whole process.The origins of affable work theory can be traced back to the early nineteenth century and argon impregnablely embedded within the Industrial Revolution and development of sociable sciences. (Howe 2009) The age of En depressenment was very tough and disruptive period sustain by the Scientific Revolution and rapid industrialisation. Migration of people, high degree of destitution, offensive and p everyplacety for ced to replace. Significant attempts were made to utilise developing kindly sciences such as psychology, sociology and economy to improve mixer and policy-making conditions of neighborly club. (Howe 2009) The work of Wilson et al. (2008) emphasises the importance of formation the Charity Organisation Society (COS) in the 1869 as the date from which sociable work as a deal normal began. It has been suggested that friendly work originated by the COS resulted in creation a favorable work theory as a response to companionable disadvantage and unrest. (Wilson et al. 2008 pp.50)The above explanation the origins of kindly work theory lead to justification why social work theory is contested. affectionate work theory has explored all types of knowledge and experience in its attempt to understand relations within society and help people. The work of Maclean and Harrison suggested that no virtuoso theory can explain everything. An eclectic arise is usually required. (2011 p.15 ) The program line means there is no dominant theory in social work practice. slew their relationships and interactions be complex, consequently social work theories must derive from different sources discipline to explain human behaviour, position in society, relationships within psychological, social, economical and political linguistic context. This agrees with the view of Payne (2005 44) who refers to borrow knowledge in social work practice. Oko (2008 p.7) draws attention to social constructionism and fluidity as a view of social work where everything can changed depends on context, time, legislation, policies and different expectations most peoples behaviour. Social work theory is contested be gravel embrace a medley of different practice setting, with different groups of service users as well as working pattern and constantly changing context of policies and directives. When discussing types of social work theory, it is important to recognise that those can be seen at three different levels theories of what social work is nearly, how to do social work and theories of service user world. (Payne 2005, p.6) The maiden statement apply to grand theories, these be orthodox theories that set about to explain society as a whole. It is important to mention that there atomic number 18 three main sources of social work theory such as psychology, sociology and systemic. (Howe 2011) However, social work theory as well as derive from other discipline such as philosophy, law, medicine, social policy etc. (Howe 2009) An practice of grand theories are psychoanalytic theory, behaviourism, systems theory, humanism, Marxism and Feminism. (Wilson et al. 2008) The other group are mid-range, theories that Wilson et al. (2008 p.107) called practice theories these indicate the methods of intervention and are the result of the contri just nowion of grand hypothetical lieu with practice experience. The last but non least, are cozy theories, use to explain individ ual cases or behaviour. Informal theory is the practitioners receive ideas about a situation base on personal and nonrecreational experiences. Wilson et al. (2008) refers to practice wisdom, self-awareness, intuition, not knowing and personal experience as issues associate to informal knowledge. Whereas, Beckett (2006 p.185) discusses informal theory as roughhewn sense.This section of the quiz will examine foundation social work theory and sanction paying special attention to the factors such as professional and political contributors. By the 1960s, more attention was beginning to be paid to the social consequences of capitalism. Capitalism started to be seen as the economic order of an unequal and foul society shaped by psychodynamic theory especially casework. (Howe 2009) First strong critical view of the social and personal effect of capitalism and the economic structures became known as Marxism or radical social work. The origins of radical social work date back to 1970 s to the Case Con manifesto. (Wilson et al. 2008) People like Karl Marx, Beatrice Webb or Octavia Hill radically questioned existing structures that ca utilise poverty and deprivation. (Howe 2009). Radicals fork up necessity to work with people within a wide socio-political context and not in isolation. (Wilson 2008) Ideology of Marxism has had immense impact on social work theory as a result created collectivism, authorisation, anti-oppressive and critical theory. These lead to development of practice method with service user such as, anti-oppressive practice, advocacy, wellbeing rights, service user involvement, radical casework and community development. (Wilson 2008 p. 107) It is clear that on the chiliad of radical theory grew up the idea of authorisation. The concept was developed based on the critique that services provided often contributing to service user sense of powerlessness and lack of filling. Empowerment is about the service users having choice and control ove r own life. It promotes a bearing of working with service users based on equality and partnership.There is no interrogative sentence that social work is late rooted and shaped by socio-political context. (Wilson et al. 2008) Horner (2009 p.3) rightly points out that good practice is not a truth, but is a routine of political, moral and economic trends and fashion. Currently, it has been suggested that the space for practicing in an ethical and empowering manner have been progressively limited by the managerial, budget-driven polices of the last few years. (Ferguson Woodward, 2011 p.15) Social workers up to now work with service users but normally in the conditions that do not depend on them. The constraints often lead to excessive caseload, lack of resources as well as lack of support, supervision and unfilled vacancies. Professional work setting can limited creative use of theories by heroic favourite well know theories, as a consequence of managerial and bureaucratic agenda . Managerialism and bureaucratisation seems to be a potential danger for contemporary social work theory and critical reflection. Meeting deadlines, filling in forms, valuate and integrated assessment framework are crucial nowadays. It looks like bounty has been lost in paperwork and one size fits all approach. In addition, issues are trivialized by media and political hostile approach to social work. (Ferguson Woodward 2011) This can be clearly seen when a tragedy happens such as the death of the infant in care so the response is often a blaming one bloody social worker instead of wider social and political context. (Thompson 2009) An good specimen of this can be a case of Victoria Climbi and the social worker who was working on this case Lisa Arthurworrey. (The guardian 2007)When discussing political influences it is important to recognise that the publication of the Kilbrandon and Seebohm Reports are a matter of the relationship among social work and politics. It is clear that these documents and the follow legislation lodged social work severely within the state sector with the voluntary sector as supplementary. (Ferguson Woodward, 2011 p.57) Since then social work has been driven to a different degree by politics, professionals, central government and administration. The subsequent evidence of political influences can be observed in a case of Clement Attlee and Jacqui Smith, politicians who have touched contemporary social work. Clement Attlee former Labour Prime see has seen social workers as activists. In his thought social workers should ..work in non-oppressive waychallenge polices and geomorphologic inequalities.. (Ferguson Woodward, 2011 p.15) The statement shows political influences of radical tradition such as to be critically reflective, willing to change the system not the service users. It also identifies the empowerment theory and anti-discriminatory practice in working with service user. In contrast to this, Jacqui Smith, the for mer Minister for Health argued that social work is a very practical job.. not about being able to touch a fluent and theoretical explanation of reasons and causes of problems. (Horner, 2009 p.3) Smith claimed that new social work degree courses had to focus on practical training. The above is an clarified example of political influences social work has to deal with. Surely, Jacqui Smith was right practical abilities are critical in social work practice but on the other hand, she has decreased the value of theoretical issues that are equally important. Only finished explanation of service users world a social worker empower the individual, make sense of his/her reality, by understanding the situation service user can take control over own life. The next important point when discussing political influences are devolved administrations that shape the politics of social services (Drakeford 2011) The actions of central government shape the ground and the competency of social work se rvices but the delivery of those provision lies within local authorities. This is seen as another example of relationship between social work services and wider political and organisational context.This part of the essay attempts to show the prospects of discrimination and empowerment in social work. It is worth pointing out that in the new global economy, neo-liberalism has become a central issue for radical social work practice. In the UK, neo-liberal policies have resulted in creating an unequal society where the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. (Ferguson Woodward 2011) Neo-liberal approaches such as consumerism and marketism, weaken social work determine and relationships with service users as well as limit possibilities for critical and creative practice. An example of this are the differences and dilemmas in linguistic communication between patients, clients, service users and users of service that reflect on the way practitioners debate and relate to people. A strong critique is presented by Ferguson and Woodward (2011) who blamed the perplexity of social work for being too willing to decrease values base and outgrowth managerial agenda. The authors also argue that nowadays too many social workers present authoritarian role in relation to service users cut throughing them like objects rather than subjects. In relation to discrimination, radical social work theory direct social workers to work as agents of social control by luck people to understand their situation and wickedness as well as why and how it was created. In other words, social workers are raising peoples political and social awareness consequently, people are able to recover power and control over their lives. Discrimination in social work, from radical point of view can be viewed through social policy, identification of service user needs, allocation and accessibility of resources. Therefore, it is important to recognise respect of rights, responsibilities and opportun ities as main issues of anti discriminatory practice. Social workers can be discriminative because they have a power and control over peoples lives. That is why, they have to exercise them with awareness, thought and sensitivity. (Howe, 2009 p. 146) The concept is supported by Backett (2006 p.186) who suggests that common sense which is often used by practitioners in theories, tends to take the prejudices and assumptions of a particular time and can be insufficiently used especially by social workers with little personal experience. Practitioners bring into social work practice and theory their own beliefs, values, histories, culture experiences and biases. Judged by these criteria, it is clear, that social workers must be critical and self-reflective. It seems to be a matter to understand that we do not live in equal society. Oppression is deeply rooted in the process of our socialisation. If social workers want to work in anti-discriminatory way they need to develop confidence an d skills in exploring the way burdensomeness operates in society. This is supported by Thompson (2009) who argues that empowerment in social work is something more than process of gaining control over service users life but is about taking account of discrimination and burdensomeness at the first place. Social work theory can assist practitioners by steer and explaining the models of oppression. This is necessary in order to support service users to understand and attempt the oppression they may face. An example of this is PCS model presented by Thompson. (2009 pp. 144) The model has been knowing to express how our personal prejudices are strongly embedded within heathenish influences and structural power. The PCS model operates at three levels such as personal, heathen and structural. Personal refers to individual oppression thoughts and attitudes as well as psychological factors. This can also refers to prejudice and personal views of social workers. Cultural explores the way that groups, based on comm completely agreed values, define what is normal. Empowerment in this case will include challenging stereotypes. Structural level refers to oppression within wider socio political climate and social power and refers to the way differences are viewed by society such as class, race, gander etc (Maclean and Harrison 2011) It is worth pointing out that to treat everyone the same is not to treat everyone equally. Dominelli (1997, pp. 31) draws attention to colour blind approach based on false premise that everyone is the same. The potential discrimination when victimization theories can be recommended theories on the grounds of their efficientness with similar case. Social workers when using theories must take into consideration that everyone is different, has different experiences, needs, problems. They have to be reflective and work against one size fits all approach. It is important not only to assess needs but also to consider differences. The intervent ion in peoples lives without taking account of key issues such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, intimate orientation can do more harm than good. (Thomson, 2011 p106) Form this perspective social work is a part of emancipatory project promoting social equality and social justice among people who are marginalised or disadvantages. Croft and Beresford (2005) noted that empowerment has potential to be both regulatory and liberatory, it brings about social change based on collective obligation to the individual. Therefore, empowerment is often used as part of discourse of individual rights and responsibilities. (Oko 2008) It is more than enabling is helping service users to become fracture equipped to deal with the problems and challenges they face. (Thomson 2009) It is worth noting that empowerment is not about transferring power from social worker to service user this can be very disempowering as well can cause addiction to social work services. Another potential danger in utilising empowerment theory is seeing service users as weak and assailable rather than experts who require support to address the needs and achieve goals. (Maclean Harrison 2011) Wilson et al. (2008 p. 81) argues that people are own agents with not only rights but also the capacity to make choice and decision. Empowerment theory in contemporary practice can be seen by not only having a contribution but also having an advocate informing about services available in relation to needs, supporting in developing skills such as parental skills, information technology etc. The aim of empowerment is to increase self-esteem of service users, currently this is carried out by putting in place self-directed support and personalisation programmes.The last section of this essay assesses how wisdom of theory can support to be a more effective practitioner. As presented earlier theories outline explanatory framework for helping to make sense of the situation as well as shape our cerebration ( Oko 2008) In other words, theories represent organised ideas and beliefs that guide social workers thought and practice. Doel (2012 p135) compare theory and practice to a cup of oil and a cup of vinegar which shaked mix for a while and separate out. Theory is necessary, in order to gain control over the situation. It not only explains the situation, from a different perspective but provide guidance about what to do with these explanations. (Doel 2012) Theory to be useful has to be constantly substantiate and updated. The relationship between theory and practice can be take upon IBL so issue based approach to learn (Oko p. 99). The approach inspires social workers to think about what has been learned and how this new knowledge, experience or skill can be assimilated and utilised in practice. There is no doubt that values base, skills and knowledge facilitate personal and professional development. This is a key of being a critically reflective practitioner. A good understanding of the different theories can guide practice and create effective and boffo intervention. Theory makes sense of the situation and creates ideas about why things are as they are. It not only shows the direction of intervention but also explain service users behaviour and actions. Theory can indicate why an action has resulted in a specific behaviour, it also helps to see patterns. Consequently, social workers may get to know the issues affecting service user lives. Another argument for using theories is that its assist social workers to be more confident and better prepare to critique of their point of view. It is vital to be able to let off the decisions made in social work practice. Using theories give social workers a backup to justify actions and explain working practice to service users, managers, other professionals or themselves. This justification of actions on the grounds of theories leads to greater accountability. An example of this can be assessments or reports both are pr ofessional written document that look for evidence and not unjustified judgements based on common sense. When working with service user, empowerment theory can be utilised by building positive self-esteem and focus on vividness and potential of service users rather than problems and difficulties. It is essential to attempt to work in partnership and collaboration with service users. Radical social theory in practice can be seen as attempt to change system to fit to service user rather than change service user to fit the system. It is important to acknowledge that even if theory seems to match to a service user, it does not always mean that this is the right understanding of service users life. Even if theory appears to work, social workers still need to stay open minded and continue the process of being critically reflective. Social work practice is part of a process of evidence making where issues have to be constantly verified and checked out in the light of new circumstances or information. As mentioned before no oneness theory can explain everything. (Maclean Harrison p 15) Different approaches in social work practice are needed to suit different circumstances. As a qualified social worker, having in a depth knowledge of theories will assist me to be a reflective and critical practitioner, open to a greater degree to the needs of service users. Deeply and accurately consider all facts and issues and not taking anything at face value. Instead, one must remember to always probe beneath the surface in looking for a right answer.