Complexity and Social Work

Being socially competent is essential in late modern society. We expect people to find their own accommodation, partner, job, community and lifestyle and struggle to find answers for those who are not able or do not have the opportunity to achieve these things. By placing social complexity, social vulnerability and social efficacy within a framework of social policy and social practice, Complexity and Social Work argues that growing social complexity excludes more and more citizens from social participation. The book starts with exploring complexity, super-diversity, vulnerability and social efficacy. From there the book deals with the discourses of social policy, social work and social work research, pledging for social policy aiming at desired outcomes, for generic contextual social work, and for a research practice that recognises practical wisdom. Aimed at final year undergraduates, postgraduates, professionals, trainers and lecturers involved in social work, social policy, social care, mental health and allied fields who are committed to treating socially vulnerable people with respect and acceptance, this book, the first of its kind, offers new perspectives on social complexity for practice, theory and research in human services.

Table of Contents:
List of figures; Introduction; Finding a path; Character, structure and origin of the book; Chapter 1: Social Complexity and vulnerability; Introduction; Setting the problem; Increase in number of people facing difficulties in coping with daily life; Discussing the rise in socio-psychological problems; Social vulnerability; The new social quest; State of progress; Categorisation and emancipation; The problem of system based answers; State of progress under discussion; From a positioning society to a place finding society; The exclusionary social world; Positioning, profiling and connecting; Social competences; Social capital; Problematic social behaviour; Social complexity; The power of specialised knowledge; Complexity as a description, a way of thinking, and a research area; Character of social complexity; The parts and the whole; Emergence; Self-governance; Lacking a coreSuperdiversity, class and poverty; The concept of superdiversity; Descriptive, methodological and political angles of superdiversity; Class and poverty in superdiversity; Changing perspective on answering social problems; Need for customised approaches; Recognition of social-efficacy; The complexity, claims and capacity triangle; A change in perspective or new paradigm; Final remark; References; Chapter 2: Social efficacy; Introduction; Polanyi: Tacit knowledge; An indwelling structure; The risk of detached knowledge; The paradox of evidence and relevance; The higher and lower order; The problem of rational empirical science; Sense of coherence; Bourdieu: Habitus; Field; Habitus; Dispositions; Capital; Durkheim and the importance of professional groups; Schön: Artistry; Artistry in complexity; John Dewey’s concept of reflectivity; The swamp worker; Threefold reflection and double loop learning; Mindfulness; Citizen-professional; Sen: Capabilities; Capability as an alternative approach; Capabilities and functionings; Resources and environment; Public reasoning; Conclusive reflections; Professional social efficacy; The social efficacy column; The capability cycle; Synchrony; Social efficacy under pressure; Final remark; References; Chapter 3: Normative professionalisation; Introduction; Professionalisation; Professionals under attack; Professional logics and defining elements; Normative Professionalisation: history and essentials; Resistance to the neo-liberal agenda; Inspiring concepts and thoughts; Developing normative professionalisation; Characteristics; Moral capital; Threefold normativity; A provisional definition; Fostering professionalisation; Steps for implementation; Normative professionalisation in research; Final remark; References; Chapter 4: Transformation and Deinstitutionalisation; Introduction; Transforming the welfare state; Arguments for transformation; Privatisation; Localisation; Civil society; Active citizenship; The concept of active citizenship; Relative and relational citizenship; Deinstitutionalization; Definition and dream; Shared values; Analysing institutions; Analysing deinstitutionalisation; Attitude; Lack of favourable conditions; Cooperation; Resources; Staff; Promising elements for a successful strategy; Common direction; Cooperation and innovation; Empowering citizens; Empowering professionals; Creating favourable financial conditions; Final remark; References; Chapter 5: Social work; Introduction; Exploring and positioning social work; Solidarity and empathy; Blurring borders and defining specialisms; Positioning social work; Social work based on active citizenship ; The social model; More than just a helping profession Core assignment; Work perspective; A broad generic approach; A connecting profession; The social work body of knowledge; Defining the domain; Social work theories; 1. Social case work; 2. Social pedagogy and ecological social work; 3. Caring social work; 4. Critical social work and anti-oppressive social work; 5. Constructive social work; 6. Faith based social work ; 7. Involuntary social work: probation and rehabilitation; 8. Managerial social work; 9. Citizenship based social work; Social work research; Ethics and meaning of life Methodology and methods; Organisation and political context; Positioning social work in local social policy; Social work in different zones; Organising social work professionals; Professionalisation; Standards of a recognized profession; Models of professionalisationContextual social work; What is it?; A teleological practice: implementing social justice; Social work in complex and superdiverse contexts; Final remark; References; Chapter 6: Social work as a practice based science and research; Introduction; Social work as a science and a discipline; Changing perspectives; Epistemological discourse on science; Dichotomies; Positioning social work in the epistemological discourse; Social work research; Practice based research; Characterising social work research; Categorising social work research fields and perspectives; Areas of social work research; Research methodology and methods; Methodology; Mixed method; Validity in practice based research; Characterising the epistemological position of social work research; Evidence based practice or evidence biased practice?; What is EBP?; Strong EBP; Levels of evidence; The seven steps; Weak EBP; Pros and Cons of EBP and its alternatives; Pros; Cons; Alternatives to EBPFinal remark; References; Chapter 7: The case of Marc. Applying theory to practice; Introduction; Multiple connections; Case: Marc Wiggins; Four essential connections; Connecting with the user and his (or her) context; Connecting with society; Connecting with the profession; Connecting with oneself; Ingredients for coping with social complexity; Final remark; References

About the Author :
Hans van Ewijk is Emeritus Professor of Social Work Theory at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. He has been executive director of the Dutch Institute of Care and Welfare. He is a past president of ICSW Europe and past chair of ENSACT. Since 2006 he has also been a visiting professor at Tartu University, Estonia.

Review :
'Hans van Ewijk, a leading European thinker, calls on vast range of reference to make an innovative case for a renewal of effectiveness in social work, so that it can respond to the complexity of today’s society and the failings of overloaded social provision. He puts forward an inspirational but critical conception of the possibilities for social work as a co-productive enterprise with active citizens in the future.'- Malcolm Payne, Kingston University 'This book is a tour de force in its grasp of the contemporary moment and what this implies for professional practices. It offers theoretical depth and astute commentary on the nature of issues confronting individuals, groups and organisations in an era of rapid change and stretches the professional imaginaion to more significantly engage with social complexity. Van Ewijk offers a timely and authoritative observation of a profession in transition and a comprehensive resource for discussion and debate that will have international appeal.' - Charlotte Williams OBE, Professor of Social Work and Deputy Dean, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia