Critical social work

Social work is a profession that is set out to improve the well-being of society, whether it is direct or indirect. Direct social workers address societal issues within a micro perspective, for instance, one-on-one counselling. Indirect social workers improve the well-being of society through a macro perspective, for instance, government agencies aimed at forming and critiquing social programs or policies. A significant characteristic of a social worker is being critical or analytical with regards to any possible issues. Social work is a critical practice because it integrates critical thinking/reflection, critical consciousness and the analysis of oppression. These three factors share the idea of being critical and aware of different perspectives…

Critical Analysis Paper #1 Question #1: Social Work and Systems Theory Social Work as a concept and a career is simple, yet difficult to define. Social work has grown and developed from the seed that is envelops social issues in our society. As Robbins, Chatterjee, and Canda state in Contemporary Human Behavior Theory (2012), defined situations within society have dictated the need for social work and advocates to speak on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. From the…

The history of social welfare in Canada has shaped the social work profession over the past century. York university recognizes that to make progress moving forward, one must analyze the past and make changes accordingly. Acknowledging the historical and cultural context of certain events is one of the key components of York University’s dominant framework of critical practice. Historically speaking, many events occurred that have been influential in the growth of Canadian social work. The Great…

Define Critical Reflection, including its theoretical foundations Within the field of social work, the professionals have to recognize and evaluate their own personal values, thoughts and beliefs. A social worker must be able to recognize how their personal preferences may or may not affect their behaviors and decisions in their daily practice. For this reason, critical reflection is a very important concept to be knowledgeable of within the social work profession. Critical reflection can be…

For my critical reflection I will be analyzing a fifteen-minute video role-play I conducted when a young person presented to a mock family support service seeking housing support and information after leaving home due to family violence. As a social work student I will examine in practice if I used anti oppressive skill orientations to support the client’s needs, referencing peer feedback provided by a university student to support my arguments. This reflection will include my areas of…

A critical incident is an expected occurrence in group work, though not all incidents will carry the same degree of seriousness nor will they be unambiguous in nature. The reality of differences among even those with common backgrounds or presenting problems would allude to the fact that it is more likely then not that a critical incident will occur within a group setting. Though often conflict itself is perceived as negative, it can, if apprioately addressed, be a positive turning point in a…

Critical reflection My Initial reaction to video was extreme sympathy, empathy and rage. I recognized my disgust in the behaviors of precious’s parents in relation to the treatment and care of precious. I further recognized however. How real this situation could be within the career and field of work that Social Workers are providing services through. Acknowledging that my disgust would need extreme self-awareness to check, acknowledge, and learn about my own personal bias and limitations when…

relative to social work: Some of the roles of the social work profession are to provide resources to effectively help clients and groups of individuals engage with their environment and cope with negative stimuli. Social workers specialize according to the environment their clients inhabit to advocate for the client and provide professional resources. As vulnerable populations exist and resources limited, social issues need to be addressed by the social work profession. It is the duty of the…

crisis is a critical part of the helping process. Understanding this practice is both theoretically and experientially formed. Focusing on both the individual and familial systems from the initial engagement are the foundations of opening communication channels and developing an appropriate working relationship within their social concepts. Outcomes lead by correct interpretations during the initial engagement, are critical to the assessment process. The worker must identify themselves as part…

Psychosocial theory has had a profound impact on Social Work, introducing the consideration of the individual and their environment within the same context (Hollis, 1958). Previous research considered the “internal” and “external” effects upon individuals separately, although Turner argued “people are to be understood as products of the interaction among their biogenetic endowment, the effect of significant relationships, the impact of life experiences and their participation in societal,…