This study seeks to explore the material, epistemological and phenomenological foundations of social work. It focuses on the idea of reconstructing a political genealogy that enables the creation of a contemporary topography of helping relationships. Moreover, the article explores a current interpretation of social work through the lens of Michel Foucault, drawing on concepts such as genealogy, power, governmentality and biopolitics within the complex framework of social work, its ethics and its aspiration to contribute to the representation of social justice.
This study examines the role of social workers in bereavement interventions across physical, psychosocial and spiritual dimensions, employing techniques and skills that enhance their effectiveness in this field. To this end, a systematic review was undertaken to determine whether these interventions have been adequately researched and to assess the extent of the scientific literature on the topic. Analysis of the extracted data revealed the presence of interventions conducted by social workers in bereavement contexts and at the end of life across various settings.
The aspiration of anyone is to work in the field in which they have been trained. Although there is a strong vocational dimension to the profession of social work, the reality is no different. When entering the labour market, social workers in Spain have long faced the dilemma of either preparing for competitive examinations to join public administrations or seeking employment in third sector organisations, private companies or —more recently— pursuing independent practice.
The purpose of this article is to explore the opportunities, advantages and benefits (OAB) associated with the use of intervision by social intervention professionals in Catalonia, Spain. A categorical content analysis was conducted, based on semi-structured interviews with six social intervention professionals who participate in continuous intervision sessions.
This article sets out the testimonies of social workers of basic social services in Catalonia, focussing on the primary problems related to the internal operation of these services and the practice of the profession in our nation when it comes to addressing the chronic nature of poverty. The research underpinning this paper is qualitative and encompasses a SWOT analysis and semi-structured interviews with 18 social workers from across the region who carry out their professional activity locally at both town and county councils.
Bodies of thought is a text that seeks to reflect on thought and action, but in a living, conscious way from the perspective of social work: the need for mutual recognition in which profession and citizenship are part and parcel, and this cannot be achieved without common ground between theories underpinning our everyday practice and popular wisdom.
Power is a fundamental part of social work insofar as it involves the network of social relationships that produce social intervention. Based on the approach proposed by Foucault, the power of the social work profession is addressed specifically, as well as how it is embedded in every day’s practice. The thread is the knowledge-power binomial, which in professional terms is read as a discipline-exercise of the profession. From this, five dimensions are analyzed in which manifestations of social work’s power can occur and that it are necessary to know how to manage.
This article outlines some questions on social work methods. A social group work classification related to the main aims of group work practice is proposed as well as the correspondent technical approach. The criteria for the group practice organization are established and some of the the characteristic phenomena about group process are described.
With this article I make an itinerary for what has been for me the fact of being and acting as supervisor from the social work as autonomous and in the exercise free of the profession in the last 20 years.
A recently established field in Catalonia, palliative care offers a substantial professional domain for social work. The care model required for its development, based on a comprehensive approach to all the issues arising from the situation of terminal illness and the need to care for the patient and their family as a unit, makes the work of the social worker paramount. This has been true since the earliest experiences in English hospices, and indeed it also applies here in Catalonia.
