Reflexive professionalisation in social work practice development, research, and education: the vital challenge of democratic citizen participation

ABSTRACTThis paper examines how the renewed critical emphasis on reflexive professionalisation in the field of social work can take into account the challenges regarding the politics of democratic participation of service users as citizens while working towards social justice. Our contribution is based on the findings of a collaborative European research project involving researchers, students, public service organisations, service user organisations, and educators from various European countries. The aim of the project was to gain a differentiated and in-depth understanding of how reflexive professionalisation in social work may function as a concept and practice that stimulates social care that integrates a commitment to democratic citizen participation. Based on a qualitative content analysis of 21 transnational empirical case studies, we identify four vital dimensions of developing reflexive and democratic participatory approaches in social service contexts: (1) cultivating a historical awareness of how the professional identity and mandate of social workers has been and is currently (nationally) defined; (2) articulating the professional positions and normative value orientations that underpin (participatory) practice development; (3) reflecting on the constructions of problems, service user identities and related actions; and (4) creating space for ambiguity, risks and mistakes.ABSTRACTDeze paper onderzoekt hoe de hernieuwde nadruk op reflexiviteit in het veld van het sociaal werk een engagement tot reflexieve professionalisering kan omvatten waarbij rekening wordt gehouden met de uitdagingen van het representeren van gebruikers als burgers en waarbij naar sociale rechtvaardigheid wordt gestreefd. De bijdrage van deze paper is gebaseerd op de bevindingen van een Europees onderzoeksproject waarin onderzoekers, studenten, publieke voorzieningen, gebruikersorganisaties en lesgevers uit diverse Europese landen ernaar streefden om een gedifferentieerd en diepgaand inzicht te verwerven in hoe reflexieve professionalisering in het sociaal werk zich verhoudt tot een kritisch begrip van democratische burgerparticipatie. Op basis van een kwalitatieve inhoudsanalyse van 21 transnationale, empirische case studies werden 4 cruciale dimensies geïdentificeerd van wat het betekent om reflexieve en democratische participatieve benaderingen te ontwikkelen in de context van sociale voorzieningen: (1) het cultiveren van een historisch bewustzijn over hoe de professionele identiteit en het publieke mandaat van sociaal werkers (nationaal) gedefinieerd werden en worden; (2) het expliciteren van de professionele posities en normatieve waardenkaders die (participatieve) praktijkontwikkeling onderbouwen; (3) reflecteren op de constructie van probleemdefinities, gebruikersidentiteiten en bijhorende interventies; en (4) het creëren van ruimte voor ambiguïteit, risico en fouten.KEYWORDS: Reflexive professionalisationparticipationuser involvementdemocratic social worksocial servicesSLEUTELWOORDEN: Reflexieve professionaliseringparticipatiegebruikersparticipatiedemocratisch sociaal werksociale voorzieningen AcknowledgementsWe would like to acknowledge the contributions to this paper of each of the co-authors. All co-authors were involved in the INORP-project and have provided research data from their respective (doctoral) research projects that served as case studies of participatory social work for this paper. All co-authors were furthermore involved in the process of cross-analyzing the findings of the case studies and developing the conceptual framework for the paper during the Intensive Programmes at College University Dublin (December 2022) and Ghent University (May 2023). All co-authors have provided feedback throughout the process of writing this paper and have agreed with its publication in this form.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was co-financed by EU funds under the Erasmus+ K203-CAC1B7D2 strategic partnership for innovation for the period 2020–2023.Notes on contributorsLaura Van BeverenLaura Van Beveren is a post-doctoral researcher, affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy and the Culture & Education research group at Ghent University. Her research interests include critical and cultural pedagogy, rhetorical studies and critical reflexivity in social and behavioural sciences.Nele FerynNele Feryn is a PhD student at the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University (Belgium). Her research has particular interest in the integration of social work in primary health care settings.Juno TourneJuno Tourne is a PhD student at the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University in Belgium. Her research interests include secondary education, educational inequality, and The Commons.Walter LorenzWalter Lorenz is a qualified social worker (LSE), taught social work at universities in Ireland (Cork) and Italy (Bolzano) and on retiring became contract professor at Charles University, Prague. He has written on intercultural pedagogy and political aspects of social work in various European contexts. He co-founded the European Journal of Social Work and Social Work & Society.Rudi RooseRudi Roose is a Professor of social work, affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent university, Belgium.Isabella ÅbergIsabella Åberg, MSocSc, Social Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki. Social worker at the city of Helsinki.Helena BlombergHelena Blomberg is a Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at the Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki. Her research interests include issues of poverty, inequality and vulnerabilities, comparative perspectives on welfare attitudes, policy changes and agenda setting in welfare states.Philomena ButlerPhil Butler has been employed as a Senior Social Worker in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Ireland since 2013. She is currently working on a PhD at the University College Dublin which focuses on the lived experience of mothers with ABI and their families, using a Critical Participatory Action Research approach.Monika Čajko EibichtMonika Čajko Eibicht is a PhD student in the social work programme at Charles University in Prague with nursing and social work experience. Her doctoral research focuses on promoting reflection in health and social work education.Kateřina CaklováKateřina Caklová currently works as a supervisor and trauma counsellor. She has obtained her master's degree in Supervision at the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague, and has a certificate from the Somatic Experiencing course. She is currently mainly engaged in Supervision in the church and the health sector.Jim CampbellJim Campbell is an Emeritus Full Professor of Social Work in University College Dublin. His teaching and research interests include the relationships between social work and political conflict, and mental health social work.Sarah DonnellySarah Donnelly is an Assistant Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin. Prior to this Sarah worked as a medical social worker for 15 years in Tallaght University Hospital. Sarah’s research interests include ageing and dementia, adult safeguarding and capacity and decision-making. Sarah is currently Co-convenor for the European Network for Gerontological Social Work and Academic Advisor on Adult Safeguarding to the Irish Association of Social WorkersBláíthín GallagherBláíthín Gallagher has a strong interest in equity/inclusion/disability/ageing and has led in the development of services and projects at a national and international level. She holds postgraduate Certification in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and is a Fellow of the higher Education Authority in the UK. She was awarded HRB Health Service Research and Marie Curie fellowships and is currently working with the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.Zuzana HavrdovaZuzana Havrdová is a teacher of Supervision at the Department of Applied Social Studies FHS UK and head of the doctoral programme on Social Work in Prague. Her research focuses on Supervision and reflexivity in the social and healthcare field. She has published scientific articles and monographs and has led national and international projects since 1995.Christian KrollChristian Kroll is Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Social Policy at the Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki, and Reader in Social Work at Lund University. His research interests include, i.a., the legitimisation and legitimacy of welfare state reforms and attitude formation among the public, welfare state clients and professionals in comparative perspective.Sanni LindroosSanni Lindroos is MSocSc and PHD student at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences. She has worked in the field of adult social work, health social work and employment services.Idalina MachodoIdalina Machado, is assistant professor at the Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto/Cooperativa de Ensino Superior de Serviço Social. She holds a PhD (2013) in Sociology from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto. Her research interests focus on urban Sociology, particularly on the problem of the right to the city and housing, gentrification and social mixing processes, and poverty and exclusion of socially disadvantaged groups.Helena MargaridoHelena Margarido, Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto/Cooperativa de Ensino Superior de Serviço Social, CRL. Degree (2020) in Social Work and Master Student in Social Gerontology at Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto (ISSSP).Sara MeloSara Melo, is assistant professor at the Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto/Cooperativa de Ensino Superior de Serviço Social. She holds a PhD (2015) in Sociology from the Faculty of Arts of University of Porto. Her research interests focus, among others, on social intervention projects through art, social gerontology, gender and sexualities, and social science epistemology.Andreia MoreiraAndreia Moreira, Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto/Cooperativa de Ensino Superior de Serviço Social, CRL. Degree (2018) in Social Work and Master Student in Social Gerontology at Instituto Superior de Serviço Social do Porto (ISSSP). Social Worker at Porto Importa-se Project.Stina SjöblomStina Sjöblom is a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences and currently working as a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare as a part of the Disability in Society Unit team. She is a qualified special social worker in the field of Empowering social work with a special interest in disability rights and disability policy.Freda QuinlanFreda Quinlan is a PhD candidate at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, University College Dublin, where her research is focused on non-intimate coercive control of older adults. She received a BA and Diploma in Social Work in 1999 from Brunel University, London and a MPhil from Trinity College, Dublin in 2002. She is currently employed in the Irish health service as a social work team leader in adult safeguarding.Jaroslav ZemanJaroslav Zeman is a student of Supervision and a graduate of rehabilitation – psychosocial care and physiotherapy. He works as a physiotherapist in private practice and teaches physiotherapy methods in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He has been enrolled in psychosomatic training since 2022.Griet RoetsGriet Roets has a PhD in Educational Sciences (2008), and is currently Associate Professor in Social Work affiliated to the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, and member of the core team of the inter-disciplinary research consortium of the Urban Academy at Ghent University, Belgium.