Diary helps social workers reflect on their profession

Published On Tue 22 Apr 2014 by Grant Hill

A fictionalised social worker’s diary forms the basis of a new book by University of Dundee researchers aimed at helping those in the profession deal with both their emotions and those of the people they work with.

‘Reflective Social Work Practice’, co-authored by Dr Richard Ingram, Dr Jane Fenton, Dr Ann Hodson and Professor Divya Jindal-Snape from the University’s Transformative Change: Educational and Life Transitions (TCELT) Research Centre, will be published on Thursday, 24th April by Palgrave.

The book provides social workers with a framework for reflecting on their day-to-day practice and the challenges they face dealing with often vulnerable people in a variety of emotionally charged situations and in conjunction with other agencies from different disciplines.

Dr Ingram said, “Emotions and values are central to social work as is collaborating with other professionals and agencies. Social workers will experience a range of ethical and emotional dilemmas and challenges in the course of their practice, and it is essential that they are given the opportunity and tools to engage in meaningful reflection. This fosters resilience within workers, and leads to informed and considered practice.”

Using a social worker's diary as a starting point, it provides valuable insight into how reflection enhances skills and how factors such as values and emotions can shape social work practice. The nature of a social worker’s role means working closely with people in difficult circumstances, who may also be dealing with agencies with different professional methods and cultures, such as child protection, health, social care, education, and criminal justice.

The diary, case studies and reflective activities aim to outline examples from practice, and how critical reflection leads to an enhanced understanding of the nuances of such situations and strategies for acting differently in similar circumstances in future

“There can be a gap between theory and reality, and this can be bridged by developing reflective practice skills and looking critically at areas of work such as assessments, decisions and interventions,” said Professor Jindal-Snape. “Whilst the stories told and reflected upon are fictionalised, they are an amalgam of real-life situations that the authors have encountered either in their own practice or uncovered in research carried out with social workers.”

‘Reflective Social Work Practice’ highlights the strengths of TCELT, part of the University’s School of Education, Social Work and Community Education, and is being published in Palgrave’s prestigious social work book series. It will be published internationally and will be available in a range of book stockists, including Amazon.

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