Hardback
Hybrid Social Work
Contested Knowledge, Fragile Collaboration and Social Citizenship
9781035327201 Edward Elgar Publishing
This prescient book examines the evolving hybrid nature of social work within modern welfare states. Expert authors discuss how human service providers engage with a variety of other providers and logics, such as medical, psychological, educational and law
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Critical Acclaim
More Information
This prescient book examines the evolving hybrid nature of social work within modern welfare states. Expert authors discuss how human service providers engage with a variety of other providers and logics, such as medical, psychological, educational and law.
Drawing on case studies from Australia, Europe, and North America, chapters analyze the changing responsibilities of social workers, exploring their involvement in policy practice, epistemic communities, and interprofessional collaboration. Contributing authors demonstrate how practitioners navigate the challenges of medicalization, juridification, managerialism and shifting expectations. They highlight the key potential of interdisciplinary approaches to overcome entrenched fragmentations in the human service sector. Ultimately, the book argues that while hybrid social work is often sought after in Western welfare systems, it involves considerable complexity for professionals.
Presenting insightful perspectives on the interaction between social work practice and broader welfare state developments, this book is an indispensable resource for students and scholars in social work, social policy, political science, and the sociology of professions and organizations. It will also benefit political advisors and policymakers across the social welfare sector.
Drawing on case studies from Australia, Europe, and North America, chapters analyze the changing responsibilities of social workers, exploring their involvement in policy practice, epistemic communities, and interprofessional collaboration. Contributing authors demonstrate how practitioners navigate the challenges of medicalization, juridification, managerialism and shifting expectations. They highlight the key potential of interdisciplinary approaches to overcome entrenched fragmentations in the human service sector. Ultimately, the book argues that while hybrid social work is often sought after in Western welfare systems, it involves considerable complexity for professionals.
Presenting insightful perspectives on the interaction between social work practice and broader welfare state developments, this book is an indispensable resource for students and scholars in social work, social policy, political science, and the sociology of professions and organizations. It will also benefit political advisors and policymakers across the social welfare sector.
Critical Acclaim
‘Most significant is the research underlying the scholarly work presented in this edited book, undertaken in different Western welfare states. Esteemed researchers from Europe, the US and Australia discuss the complex interdependencies of human service provision through a hybrid social work lens. The chapters portray an eloquent dance between the tensions and opportunities of collaboration and of maintaining professional boundaries. It highlights that social workers under hybrid governance may both contribute to disguising power and hierarchies, and that social workers in such settings may play significant roles as mediators of trust. It raises important questions about the role of social workers within interprofessional networks in evolving hybrid landscapes.’
– Christa Fouche, University of Auckland, New Zealand
‘Prominent scholars of social work from Europe and elsewhere have come together to create a compelling volume highlighting the significance of what they call “hybrid social work.” Grounded in a strong theoretical frame and buttressed by informative empirical research, the various chapters of this book show that hybrid social work is an important antidote to the ascendent clinical approach to social work. Hybrid Social Work crosses boundaries as needed and places social work practice in a broader context. All social work should take heed and learn from this fine collection.’
– Sanford Schram, Stony Brook University, SUNY, USA
– Christa Fouche, University of Auckland, New Zealand
‘Prominent scholars of social work from Europe and elsewhere have come together to create a compelling volume highlighting the significance of what they call “hybrid social work.” Grounded in a strong theoretical frame and buttressed by informative empirical research, the various chapters of this book show that hybrid social work is an important antidote to the ascendent clinical approach to social work. Hybrid Social Work crosses boundaries as needed and places social work practice in a broader context. All social work should take heed and learn from this fine collection.’
– Sanford Schram, Stony Brook University, SUNY, USA
