Our Social Work publishing features books and journals that help to address issues arising from poverty, inequality and social injustice.
The list includes monographs, textbooks and practitioner guides, series, including Research in Social Work co-published with the European Social Work Research Association, and the Critical and Radical Social Work and European Social Work Research journals.
Policy Press is the leading UK book publisher for books on child abuse, child sexual exploitation, child protection and children’s social work.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely used to support decision making and interventions, arguably saving time, reducing bias and improving decision accuracy. The profession must urgently appraise the potential and pitfalls of this rapidly developing technology. This challenge was addressed at the 2024 European Social Work Research Association conference in Vilnius, at which the Evidence into Practice Special Interest Group focused on three contemporary AI developments: (1) large language models (LLMs); (2) AI- and robot-supported interventions; and (3) predictive risk modelling (PRM). This short ‘Reflection, exchange and dialogue’ article outlines the presentations, issues discussed and further reflections. Although LLMs have an impressive ability to manipulate language, essential case detail and analysis remain human tasks. There are robot technologies already helping people in the domains of disability and eldercare, and AI ‘language robots’ are being used favourably in low-risk mental health contexts, providing a non-judgemental (non-human) and ever-available ‘listener’ and ‘advisor’. PRMs raise many conflicting views. The ‘black box’ of AI may ‘hide’ systemic bias, though proponents argue that humans are biased too, so perfection is not an appropriate comparator. Our conclusion is that a priority is to examine, shape and regulate the interface between humans and computer algorithms.
The growing application of creative methods as a humanistic craft in social work research reflects an appreciation of their methodological value. Creative methods can enhance democratisation and inclusion within the academic research process, yet challenges limit their potential. Although applied to develop understanding of social work practice more broadly, creative methods have not yet been included in research focused on empathy. This article aims to contribute to the flourishing of creative methods by outlining a visual and a poetic method applied to develop understanding of meanings and experiences of empathy by focusing on social workers’ perspectives. Situated within the English child protection system (2021–23), the constructionist research design was constrained by COVID-19. The article describes the visual method (relational practice gallery) and the poetic method (relational practice poems) and includes example representations. The application of creative methods enabled social workers’ previously relatively unheard voices to be included in new understandings of empathy and illuminated the nuances of their ascribed meanings and intricate, emotional and situated relational empathic practice experiences. Limitations and methodological considerations are discussed. The article contributes to building research capacity among researchers exploring relational social work practice, for whom creative methods might be novel or daunting, and to the flourishing of creative research methods more broadly.
Decision making on eligibility for means-tested social assistance (SA) is often perceived as a predominantly administrative field of social work practice. The present study challenges the notion of SA eligibility as a matter that can simply be ‘uncovered’. Using data from a vignette survey, the aim was to analyse patterns of uncertainty in assessments of eligibility for the SA benefit in Sweden. Approximately 1,000 social workers were tasked with assessing eligibility based on case descriptions, indicating whether they believed multiple decisions were feasible. Indications of uncertainty were examined using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation. Directed content analysis was employed to examine free-text responses. In nearly half of the 7,821 assessments analysed, participants indicated that both an approval and a denial decision were possible. The results illustrate that even when the ‘raw material’ processed in the means test is identical, assessment discrepancies can arise on reasonable grounds. However, while professionals actively shape the practical implications of SA policy through discretionary interpretations, the decision-making process can be portrayed as being guided by a straightforward logic. An important insight brought forward is that the significant role of human judgement risks being obscured if the interpretative and relational dimensions of the work are not acknowledged.
The rise in mental health issues among young people in Norway led to the introduction of the Individual Placement and Support for Young Adults (IPS-Y) programme. Implemented across 47 labour and welfare offices, the programme targets 16- to 30-year-olds with mental health issues, focusing on employment and education. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) specialists, who are central to the programme, coordinate activities with employers, healthcare providers, welfare agencies and educational institutions. While standard IPS has been thoroughly evaluated, there is limited knowledge about the implementation of the IPS-Y programme. Based on four cases and 22 interviews, this qualitative study bridges this gap by examining the experiences of IPS specialists and collaborating partners, exploring how education functions within the model, and evaluating experiences with the young participants as a target group in the programme. The findings indicate that IPS specialists face challenges navigating the educational system due to its complexity and lack of efficient collaboration structures. IPS specialists are seen as engaged, filling gaps where the system fails and often extending beyond their intended role, as the young participants require extensive effort and flexibility. Our study underscores the need to develop effective collaboration structures for the success of the IPS-Y model.
The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in social work has accelerated over the past few years, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This development has had significant consequences for the field. As the use of ICTs has expanded, understanding the impact on social work practice has become crucial. This study’s aim is to synthesise the existing knowledge of ICT use in social work by presenting an overview of the current literature, including studies that have examined the use of ICTs and their identified consequences. A literature review of studies published from 2015 to 2024 was conducted within several databases. The initial search yielded 7,947 studies, 29 of which were included in the final review. The findings illustrate how the integration of ICTs into social work, shaped by organisational policies, client preferences, generational differences and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, offers such benefits as enhanced communication and improved time management. However, the incorporation of ICTs also introduces challenges related to professional boundaries, privacy and autonomy. We advocate carefully balancing the challenges of ICT use against core social work principles and conducting further research to bridge the gap between evolving technologies and ethical social work practices.
The concept of matching refers to the process of selecting a family foster home to fit an individual child in placement. Matching is important for the quality of care, as the carers need the necessary resources to meet the child’s needs. Failure in matching can have negative consequences, such as a ‘breakdown’. The aim of this article is to explore the social workers’ practice when matching children and foster carers to ensure the children will receive good care and avoid a placement change. The article uses a qualitative approach and is based on interviews with 31 participants. Social workers and managers at municipal social services, as well as consultants, were interviewed about their work. The professionals reflected on what aspects they perceive as most important in matching and what challenges they encounter that complicate the process. Narratives of successful matches often focused on the characteristics, competence and experience of the foster carers to meet the needs of the children. Some of the challenges highlighted were time pressure and a lack of family foster homes to choose from. This means that professionals have to compromise and prioritise what is most important in relation to the needs of the child.
Based on a Danish research project in child and family welfare services, we present reflections, exchanges and dialogue from workshops held at one national and four international conferences (please see details in the ‘Acknowledgements’). The article highlights shared discussions and perspectives on challenges across European countries by examining predictive risk modelling (PRM) technologies in evolving organisational contexts. We provide insights into implications for practice, research and policy based on how social work researchers envision the future of PRM.
Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and due to traditional values, social workers who provide support for vulnerable women in Iran must navigate within a system that often limits women’s agency and autonomy. Based on ten semi-structured interviews with experienced Iranian social workers, this article illuminates how women’s vulnerability and empowerment are perceived and how women’s vulnerability is addressed in the empowerment process. The findings offer valuable insights to enhance empowerment practice by reflecting on the impacts of cultural norms and values on women’s empowerment. They contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how social workers in Iran perceive and address vulnerability and empowerment.
