Professional Identity and Social Work
How are identities formed among social workers, many of whom perform complex, challenging and ambiguous public sector functions on a regular basis? Why does identity come to matter for professional social work? This book, the first of its kind in the field, examines professional identity in relation to social work by asking how practitioners think of themselves as a social worker, a professional self-concept often entangled in a range of relations, beliefs, values and experiences.
Bringing together the perspectives of an internationally renowned group of specialists, the collection addresses a range of issues associated with professional identity construction and being professional in the context of a rapidly changing inter-professional environment. It introduces new concepts to social work, including materiality, enactment, performance, affect, entanglement, capital and worth, to consider the vexed issues surrounding matters of professional identity in social work.
This will be an essential guide to all those keen to debate the challenges and possibilities confronting contemporary social work through the lens of professional identity, whether they are students, educators, practitioners, researchers, managers, policy-makers or associated professionals. It will also appeal to those interested in social theory, organisational sociology and leadership as well as anyone working in related fields of health and education.
Stephen A. Webb is Professor of Social Work at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland. Previous to this he was Professor of Human Sciences and Director of the Institute for Social Inclusion and Well-being, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia and Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Sussex, UK.
This book is a very substantial contribution to the neglected topic of social work and its professional identity. Whilst retaining a clear and insightful focus, this collection ranges far and wide to incorporate key critical insights from a wide range of expert and knowledgeable commentators. This is an exciting addition to our underpopulated literature on professionalism in social work.
Roger Smith, Professor of Social Work in the School of Applied Social Sciences, Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University, UK
Professional Identity and Social Work
Edited by Stephen A. Webb
First published 2017
by Routledge
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2017 selection and editorial matter, Stephen A. Webb; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Stephen A. Webb to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-23442-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23443-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-30695-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
This book is dedicated to my wife, Penni, the love of my life.
And in the spirit of inter-species companionship, to our dog Hegel, and kitten, Kore the unspeakable girl who did everything she could to stop this book being written by prancing around on the keyboard.
Contents
Stephen A. Webb
Part I
Key concepts and perspectives
Mike Dent
Fran Wiles
Torben Elgaard Jensen
Elizabeth Harlow
Part II
Location, context and workplace culture
Mark Erickson and Jem Price
Emily Keddell and Tony Stanley
Melissa Hardesty
Liz Beddoe
Julia Emprechtinger and Peter Voll
Stewart Collins
Mark Smith
Part III
Professional education, socialisation and readiness for practice
Julia Wheeler
Jadwiga Leigh
Maura Daly and Martin Kettle
Stephen A. Webb
As with all books, this one would not have been possible without the inspiration, support and knowledge of a great many people. It is always impossible to name everyone who has contributed to any book and the journey it takes. First and foremost, I would like to thank all the chapter authors for their excellent contributions. It was a great pleasure working with such a talented, stimulating group of international researchers. The innovative and original contributions will make a significant impact and contribution to the field of social work and more widely. I am grateful to the staff at Routledge, and particularly Shannon Kneis, Editorial Assistant, Sociology and Social Care, for her help and support. As before I have found Routledge to be such a great publisher to work with. Much discussion has taken place with colleagues and students at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). In particular, I would like to thank colleagues Ian Brodie, Brian Coyle, Scott Grant, Simon Gittins, Sharon Jackson, Martin Kettle, Barrie Levine, Pearse McCusker, David McKendrick, Louise Shanks and Lynn Sheridan, and doctoral researchers, Maura Daly, Natalia Farmer and Heather Lynch. In many ways this is a GCU social work book. Their progressive values continue to inspire. In various Scottish social work policy roles, people who helped me think about professional identity, I want to thank Mairi-Anne Macdonald, Pat McCowan, Brian Relph and Jane Devine for insights and discussion. Social work in Scotland is a healthier place with their policy and practice contributions. International research partners in Portugal provided support and discussion in developing this project, including Cristina Albuquerque at Universidade de Coimbra, and Ins Amaro, at Instituto Universitrio de Lisboa. From Holland, an acknowledgement to my friend Willem Blok, a soul mate. As ever, I want to offer my deep gratitude for my wife, Penni, for her continuing support, patience, kindness and love. Finally, I would like to offer a dedication in the book to my old pal David Philpott. A steadfast radical social worker and piano man, who worked lyrically with people with head injuries, and died at the young age of 62 on the 12th September 2016. He is deeply missed.
Liz Beddoe is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Lizs research interests include critical perspectives on social work education and professional supervision. Liz has published articles on supervision and professional issues in New Zealand and international journals. Recent books include the co-authored
