Abstract
Social work practitioners report that they are regularly faced with a number of practice dilemmas, in particular, the need to find more effective ways of managing risk when working with vulnerable adults and children. Research has consistently identified three crucial dilemmas: how to promote prevention alongside protection in responding to everyday crises, how to enhance stress resilience in coping with adversity, and the need to balance effectiveness with a commitment to social justice. The refugee crisis in Europe, with over 8 million women and children displaced from Ukraine during the past year, has only intensified these dilemmas and the pressure on social welfare agencies. There have been numerous research projects in Europe, Australia and the United States concerned with prevention and resilience, but unfortunately few of the lessons appear to have been incorporated into mainstream services. The latter remain heavily focussed on protection and risk management. In this presentation the case for critical practice will be examined, informed by findings from cross-national research with practitioners in three welfare states. This will indicate why, in an era of displacement and social change, critical practice offers the most effective way of responding to the dilemmas facing social welfare agencies on the front line.
Presenters
Paul StepneyAdjunct Professor of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tampere University, Finland, Finland
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Critical Practice, Social Welfare, Prevention, Resilience, Protection, Effectiveness
