1 Social work and social innovation: how the twain can meet
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Jean Pierre Wilken
Abstract
In this chapter, we investigate whether social innovation is a useful notion for social work and, if so, how social work can contribute to social innovation. We distinguish three dimensions. The first dimension is how social work can (co-)create innovations in the field of social services contributing to social quality and well-being. We argue that social work research has a supporting function in these processes, as it provides the empirical and theoretical basis for a critical stand and for innovation.
The second dimension is how social work can contribute to the ‘social’ in all kinds of innovations, meaning that social quality is put at the centre. This includes taking a critical stance towards the use of ‘social’ in various innovation contexts, to remain diligently focused on what the true social benefits are for people. The third dimension is to look at the innovative character of social work itself, as a profession and an academic discipline, since playing a role in social innovation means that we as professionals and researchers must be innovative ourselves. Innovation competencies therefore need to be part of the body of knowledge of social work and part of the curricula of social work education.
Abstract
In this chapter, we investigate whether social innovation is a useful notion for social work and, if so, how social work can contribute to social innovation. We distinguish three dimensions. The first dimension is how social work can (co-)create innovations in the field of social services contributing to social quality and well-being. We argue that social work research has a supporting function in these processes, as it provides the empirical and theoretical basis for a critical stand and for innovation.
The second dimension is how social work can contribute to the ‘social’ in all kinds of innovations, meaning that social quality is put at the centre. This includes taking a critical stance towards the use of ‘social’ in various innovation contexts, to remain diligently focused on what the true social benefits are for people. The third dimension is to look at the innovative character of social work itself, as a profession and an academic discipline, since playing a role in social innovation means that we as professionals and researchers must be innovative ourselves. Innovation competencies therefore need to be part of the body of knowledge of social work and part of the curricula of social work education.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables x
- List of abbreviations xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Introduction 1
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Framing social innovation and social work
- Social work and social innovation: how the twain can meet 11
- How to change our neighbourhoods, regions and the world: using symptoms, systems and transformation as a framework for social innovation and social work 24
- Social work, social innovation, discretion and creativity: day-to-day innovation of practice 41
- Potential for social innovation in social work: applying the capability approach 54
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Examples of social innovations in social work across Europe
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Co-creation and co-production of social services: social innovation in practice
- The art of co-creation: service innovation in Europe 71
- Promoting social services innovation: regional and local examples from across Europe 84
- Co-creation in action: lessons from the CoSIE project 98
- Social innovation and service users’ involvement: enhancing the knowledge of social work 112
- Moderating processes of social innovation: insights from a case study on labour market activation 124
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Education and learning: social innovation in social work education and learning
- Regional learning networks in the social welfare domain: drivers of social innovation in social work 139
- Putting learning communities into practice: innovation of social work education 150
- Learning from innovation processes: introducing Easy Language in adult protection services 164
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Community work, community-led innovation and collective action
- The rediscovery of community: community development as social innovation 179
- Climate change from a green social work perspective: responding to a constantly evolving crisis challenging social work practice 193
- Co-creation of nature-based solutions: guidelines for citizen engagement 208
- Innovating social work practices to better address homelessness: participatory action research with community services in Italy 223
- Challenging the power status quo: paradoxes in grassroots social innovation 236
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Social entrepreneurship: inclusive and regenerative models of social business and innovation for sustainable impact
- Social entrepreneurship as social innovation: what about social work? 251
- The growing rhetoric of entrepreneurship in times of crisis: future challenges of social work in the case of Portugal 263
- Unlimited incubators for belonging, cohesion and impact: nurturing ‘what is already there’ 276
- Developing the innovative power of social work: synthesis and future directions 289
- Index 298
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables x
- List of abbreviations xi
- Notes on contributors xiii
- Introduction 1
-
Framing social innovation and social work
- Social work and social innovation: how the twain can meet 11
- How to change our neighbourhoods, regions and the world: using symptoms, systems and transformation as a framework for social innovation and social work 24
- Social work, social innovation, discretion and creativity: day-to-day innovation of practice 41
- Potential for social innovation in social work: applying the capability approach 54
-
Examples of social innovations in social work across Europe
-
Co-creation and co-production of social services: social innovation in practice
- The art of co-creation: service innovation in Europe 71
- Promoting social services innovation: regional and local examples from across Europe 84
- Co-creation in action: lessons from the CoSIE project 98
- Social innovation and service users’ involvement: enhancing the knowledge of social work 112
- Moderating processes of social innovation: insights from a case study on labour market activation 124
-
Education and learning: social innovation in social work education and learning
- Regional learning networks in the social welfare domain: drivers of social innovation in social work 139
- Putting learning communities into practice: innovation of social work education 150
- Learning from innovation processes: introducing Easy Language in adult protection services 164
-
Community work, community-led innovation and collective action
- The rediscovery of community: community development as social innovation 179
- Climate change from a green social work perspective: responding to a constantly evolving crisis challenging social work practice 193
- Co-creation of nature-based solutions: guidelines for citizen engagement 208
- Innovating social work practices to better address homelessness: participatory action research with community services in Italy 223
- Challenging the power status quo: paradoxes in grassroots social innovation 236
-
Social entrepreneurship: inclusive and regenerative models of social business and innovation for sustainable impact
- Social entrepreneurship as social innovation: what about social work? 251
- The growing rhetoric of entrepreneurship in times of crisis: future challenges of social work in the case of Portugal 263
- Unlimited incubators for belonging, cohesion and impact: nurturing ‘what is already there’ 276
- Developing the innovative power of social work: synthesis and future directions 289
- Index 298
