Complexity and Social Work

List of figuresIntroduction Finding a pathCharacter, structure and origin of the bookChapter 1: Social Complexity and vulnerability IntroductionSetting the problemIncrease in number of people facing difficulties in coping with daily lifeDiscussing the rise in socio-psychological problemsSocial vulnerabilityThe new social questState of progressCategorisation and emancipationThe problem of system based answersState of progress under discussionFrom a positioning society to a place finding societyThe exclusionary social worldPositioning, profiling and connectingSocial competencesSocial capitalProblematic social behaviourSocial complexityThe power of specialised knowledgeComplexity as a description, a way of thinking, and a research areaCharacter of social complexityThe parts and the wholeEmergenceSelf-governanceLacking a coreSuperdiversity, class and povertyThe concept of superdiversityDescriptive, methodological and political angles of superdiversityClass and poverty in superdiversityChanging perspective on answering social problemsNeed for customised approachesRecognition of social-efficacyThe complexity, claims and capacity triangleA change in perspective or new paradigmFinal remarkReferencesChapter 2: Social efficacyIntroductionPolanyi: Tacit knowledgeAn indwelling structureThe risk of detached knowledgeThe paradox of evidence and relevanceThe higher and lower orderThe problem of rational empirical scienceSense of coherenceBourdieu: HabitusFieldHabitusDispositionsCapitalDurkheim and the importance of professional groupsSchoen: ArtistryArtistry in complexityJohn Dewey's concept of reflectivityThe swamp workerThreefold reflection and double loop learningMindfulnessCitizen-professionalSen: CapabilitiesCapability as an alternative approachCapabilities and functioningsResources and environmentPublic reasoningConclusive reflectionsProfessional social efficacyThe social efficacy column The capability cycleSynchronySocial efficacy under pressureFinal remarkReferencesChapter 3: Normative professionalisationIntroductionProfessionalisationProfessionals under attackProfessional logics and defining elementsNormative Professionalisation: history and essentialsResistance to the neo-liberal agendaInspiring concepts and thoughtsDeveloping normative professionalisationCharacteristicsMoral capitalThreefold normativityA provisional definition Fostering professionalisationSteps for implementationNormative professionalisation in researchFinal remarkReferencesChapter 4: Transformation and DeinstitutionalisationIntroductionTransforming the welfare stateArguments for transformationPrivatisationLocalisationCivil societyActive citizenshipThe concept of active citizenshipRelative and relational citizenshipDeinstitutionalizationDefinition and dreamShared valuesAnalysing institutionsAnalysing deinstitutionalisationAttitudeLack of favourable conditionsCooperationResourcesStaffPromising elements for a successful strategyCommon direction Cooperation and innovationEmpowering citizens Empowering professionalsCreating favourable financial conditionsFinal remarkReferencesChapter 5: Social workIntroductionExploring and positioning social workSolidarity and empathyBlurring borders and defining specialismsPositioning social workSocial work based on active citizenship The social modelMore than just a helping profession Core assignmentWork perspectiveA broad generic approachA connecting professionThe social work body of knowledgeDefining the domainSocial work theories 1. Social case work2. Social pedagogy and ecological social work3. Caring social work4. Critical social work and anti-oppressive social work5. Constructive social work6. Faith based social work 7. Involuntary social work: probation and rehabilitation8. Managerial social work9. Citizenship based social workSocial work research Ethics and meaning of life Methodology and methodsOrganisation and political contextPositioning social work in local social policySocial work in different zonesOrganising social work professionalsProfessionalisation Standards of a recognized professionModels of professionalisationContextual social work What is it?A teleological practice: implementing social justiceSocial work in complex and superdiverse contextsFinal remarkReferencesChapter 6: Social work as a practice based science and researchIntroductionSocial work as a science and a disciplineChanging perspectivesEpistemological discourse on scienceDichotomiesPositioning social work in the epistemological discourseSocial work researchPractice based researchCharacterising social work researchCategorising social work research fields and perspectivesAreas of social work researchResearch methodology and methodsMethodologyMixed methodValidity in practice based researchCharacterising the epistemological position of social work researchEvidence based practice or evidence biased practice?What is EBP?Strong EBPLevels of evidenceThe seven stepsWeak EBPPros and Cons of EBP and its alternativesProsConsAlternatives to EBPFinal remarkReferencesChapter 7: The case of Marc. Applying theory to practice.IntroductionMultiple connectionsCase: Marc WigginsFour essential connectionsConnecting with the user and his (or her) contextConnecting with societyConnecting with the professionConnecting with oneselfIngredients for coping with social complexityFinal remarkReferences