Characteristics Of Modern Social Work

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Modern critical social work emerged in the late 1800’s and has continued to be shaped and altered until present day (Healy, 2014). Although each social work perspective contains differences, Healy (2014, p.185) has identified four common discourses that unite the modern critical social work perspectives. Firstly, she identifies the dedication of social work professionals to work collaboratively with populations who are oppressed (as cited in Leonard, 1994). Secondly, modern critical social work perspectives recognize power differentials that occur within all relationships, especially the relationship between social workers and service users. Thirdly, these perspectives acknowledge broader systems’ influence on both individuals and social workers …show more content…

Anti-oppressive modern critical social work is a leading perspective today which highlights multiple dimensions of oppression including cultural, personal and structural (Healy, 2014, p.193). Healy (2014) identifies five main components of anti-oppressive social work practice. These include the promotion of critical self-reflection by social workers and working collaboratively with service users. They also include a need for an increased understanding by social workers about forms of oppression people face, which contain oppression from the use of language to maintain unequal power relations (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006, p.150 as cited in Healy, 2014). Lastly, anti-oppressive practice encourages the empowerment of people to promote self-capacity while promoting collaboration, minimal intervention and a focus on preventative …show more content…

As noted above, it also poses some limitations and contradictions. Overall, the main components of modern critical social work, to serve oppressed populations, recognize power differentials, acknowledge the influence of larger systems and challenge unjust structures (Healy, 2014, p. 185) provide social workers with a foundation to work from in practice. As the profession of social work is continuously growing and evolving, critical social work should not be seen as a concrete and definitive way to practice, but instead as a base for understanding that should be critiqued and enhanced with the gaining of

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