A profession with dual foci: is social work losing the balance?

Individual and social are the two foci of the mission of change that drives the social work profession. This dual-focus provides not only a cultural mechanism by which the profession can negotiate its professional boundaries but the flexibility for the profession to adjust its focus when its social...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:China journal of social work 2012-07, Vol.5 (2), p.163-172
Main Authors: Yan, Miu-chung, Tsui, Ming-sum, Chu, William C.K., Pak, Chui-man
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptability
Boundaries
duality
Ideologies
Ideology
mission
Motivation
Neoliberalism
professional identity
Professions
Social Work
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Summary:Individual and social are the two foci of the mission of change that drives the social work profession. This dual-focus provides not only a cultural mechanism by which the profession can negotiate its professional boundaries but the flexibility for the profession to adjust its focus when its social assignment changes. However, the uncritical pursuit of a full-fledged professional status within a neoliberal ideology is upsetting the balance of these two foci and may weaken the long term adaptability of the profession.
ISSN:1752-5098
1752-5101
DOI:10.1080/17525098.2012.680943