5 Facilitation
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John Gal
Abstract
Research on social workers’ policy engagement shows that one of the most important factors linked to their policy role is the support that they get from their workplace. Thus, social workers’ engagement in policy will be facilitated if the dominant values and modes of practice in their immediate work environment, that is, ‘the organizational culture’, allow or encourage them to engage in this type of practice and provide them with the resources, facilities and support necessary to do so. Here, we draw on theoretical knowledge on organisations and on the findings of studies on the facilitating role of organisations in the policy engagement of social workers in order to identify the conditions under which social workers in organisations engage in policymaking and the factors that impact the form that this will take. The chapter explores these themes with regard to social workers in advocacy organisations, service providers and governmental services, particularly those on the local level.
Abstract
Research on social workers’ policy engagement shows that one of the most important factors linked to their policy role is the support that they get from their workplace. Thus, social workers’ engagement in policy will be facilitated if the dominant values and modes of practice in their immediate work environment, that is, ‘the organizational culture’, allow or encourage them to engage in this type of practice and provide them with the resources, facilities and support necessary to do so. Here, we draw on theoretical knowledge on organisations and on the findings of studies on the facilitating role of organisations in the policy engagement of social workers in order to identify the conditions under which social workers in organisations engage in policymaking and the factors that impact the form that this will take. The chapter explores these themes with regard to social workers in advocacy organisations, service providers and governmental services, particularly those on the local level.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Introduction 1
- On the social work–social policy interface 13
- The environments 41
- Opportunity 61
- Facilitation 81
- Motivation 102
- Explaining the policy engagement of social workers and beyond 120
- Notes 131
- References 132
- Index 167
