8 Professionalising work with the poor
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Mark Henrickson
Abstract
This chapter addresses the question of whether social work is a profession or something else. It establishes a conservative list of attributes of a profession that includes a clearly defined and altruistic purpose, transmissible theoretical knowledge, specialised skills or techniques, a common values base and ethical code, individual responsibility and autonomy in decision-making, self-governing association, and public and political recognition as a distinct professional group. Social work currently meets some of these criteria in some places in the world, but nowhere currently meets all of the criteria. Social work must consider to what extent it wishes to act in a social control function on behalf of the state. Social workers must decide whether establishing social work as a global profession is important. The chapter proposes four possible ways forward.
Abstract
This chapter addresses the question of whether social work is a profession or something else. It establishes a conservative list of attributes of a profession that includes a clearly defined and altruistic purpose, transmissible theoretical knowledge, specialised skills or techniques, a common values base and ethical code, individual responsibility and autonomy in decision-making, self-governing association, and public and political recognition as a distinct professional group. Social work currently meets some of these criteria in some places in the world, but nowhere currently meets all of the criteria. Social work must consider to what extent it wishes to act in a social control function on behalf of the state. Social workers must decide whether establishing social work as a global profession is important. The chapter proposes four possible ways forward.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- A royal responsibility 18
- Inventing the poor 42
- Reforming the poor 67
- Capitalising the poor 94
- Industrialising the poor 121
- Liberalising the poor 154
- Professionalising work with the poor 180
- A global perspective 198
- Creating a global future 214
- References 224
- Index 246
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- A royal responsibility 18
- Inventing the poor 42
- Reforming the poor 67
- Capitalising the poor 94
- Industrialising the poor 121
- Liberalising the poor 154
- Professionalising work with the poor 180
- A global perspective 198
- Creating a global future 214
- References 224
- Index 246
