Social Work Theory

This essay discusses how knowledge of theory provide insights into individuals/groups different experiences of discrimination. Knowledge is the theoretical or practical understanding of something or someone, for instance, description, information or skills which can be gained by experience or education by learning or discovering. In philosophy, knowledge is called epistemology and is defined to be a ‘’justified true belief’’ by the philosopher Plato. Views on theory, range from a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain facts. Theory offers a framework for an idea to justify a course of action, in regards to social work practice, Payne (2014) states ‘’…helps us to be accountable, self-disciplined professionals’’ (p. 3). This assignment

For example, Payne defines theory as a "generalised set of ideas that describes our knowledge…. A social work theory is one that helps us to do or to understand social work" (Payne, 2014, p. 5). Complementary to this, Stepney (2012, p. 21) demonstrates in diagram how theoretical knowledge derived from social science leads to a professional adaption for social work which is consistent with its anti-oppressive value base, for it to become a practice theory, subsequently, applied to practice through models and methods. There are different levels of analysis social science knowledge e.g. Sociology, Social Psychology and Political theory. The relationship between theory and practice in social work shows a link in the role as it is amongst the individual and society, thus, formal theories allow a social explanation to understand. These theories enable social work to understand and analyse a presenting ‘need’ or social issue, e.g. risk/poverty. According to Thompson (2010, p. 8) theory is important because it enables challenge and critique. Thompson suggests if a social work practitioner uses theory in a situation it will allow challenge and critique to flourish and develop over time. Furthermore, he believes if the social work practitioner takes on this approach, they are in a better position because the approach is open to integrity instead of false assumptions and

However, there are problems with placing people into categories however, oppression does have complex levels which vary from age, ethnicity, gender, class and sexuality. Nevertheless, discrimination can be identified in many forms such as ageism, sexism, racism and disablism. An example of disablism, a form of discrimination took place when doctors refused to treat an 18 month child whose disability meant the child could not raise their head off the pillow. The issue to be discussed is a form of discrimination, racism which is faced by ethnic minorities who suffer from a mental illness. The use of appropriate models will also analyse the