Transcript BSc (Hons) Social Work Comparing Social Work Systems

BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Comparing Social Welfare Systems
Europe: Social Practice, Social
Policy and Social Work
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Objectives of the session:
• To provide a brief context for the
unit;
• To introduce some of the ideas and
themes to be covered;
• To reflect on the key ideas and
issues for social work and social
work practise in Europe.
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
What is “Europe”?
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Geographical Europe
Historical Europe
Demographic Europe
Political Europe
Financial Europe
Social Care Practice in Europe
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Geographical Europe
• ? countries that form Europe,
• ? countries that make up the European
Union.
Yet:
– Israel
– Ceuta and Melilla; Canaries Islands “Fortress Europe”
– The Caribbean’s
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Historical Europe
• Greek Democracy, Roman Empire;
Christianity; Humanity; Enlightment.
But what about:
• Viking; Ottoman; Islam roots e.g.
Alhambra, Spain
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Demographic Europe
• Europe is the second smallest of the
traditional 7 continents (Australia the
smallest)
– 4, 010,000 square miles = 2.04% of the earth’s
surface
– Population - 728 million (11%).In terms of
population it is the third largest (Africa and Asia
are the largest).
• The population of the European Union is 454.9
million.
– Malta is the most densely populated and the
smallest, with France the largest. Finland is the
least densely populated.
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
A Europe of nation states?
A Europe of cultures and
regions?
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
The functioning of the European Union is supported by five major institutions:
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The European Parliament (732 members 750 max.)
The Council of the European Union (or 'Council of Ministers') (25 members)
The European Commission (25 members, with a supporting staff of about 18,000)
The European Court of Justice (incorporating the Court of First Instance) (25 judges (& 25
judges of CFI))
The European Court of Auditors (25 members)
The European Council (regular summit with 26 members), which is a regular meeting of the
25 head of member states and the European Commission president is sometimes also listed
as an institution, although since it lacks its own staff, budget and the legal powers held by
the above 5 institutions, it is better described as a "quasi-institution".
There are two financial bodies[17]:
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European Central Bank (which alongside the national Central Banks, composes the European
System of Central Banks)
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European Investment Bank (including the European Investment Fund)
There are also two advisory committees to the institutions:
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Committee of the Regions, advising on regional issues
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Economic and Social Committee, advising on economic and social policy (principally relations
between workers and employers)
There are also a great number of more specialized agencies of the European Union,
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Total budget of the European Union =
105 259 468 772 Euros
The European Council published estimations on
17 November 2005 that the economy of the
European Union will have grown approximately
2.3%
Lisbon Strategy which aims at making "the EU
the world's most dynamic and competitive
economy" by 2010.
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
This raises a range of issues:
• Them and us: Single versus plural
identities.
• Social inclusion/social exclusion;
• Fortress Europe;
• Regionalisation rather than national
boundaries: Bolzano district of Italy 2%
unemployment; Sardinia – 16%.
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Social practice in Europe
Same problems, different answers – need for cross national exchange
and learning. Not imitation – social practice is contextual and there is a
need for differentiated provision and methods.
Common trends
– Crisis of the nation state;
– Globalisation of politics, economy, culture and society – Mc World;
– Localisation of politics economy, culture and society: traditions
languages/dialects, cultural heritage (e.g. Welsh Assembly);
– Mobility and migration: forced mobility human trade (illegal labour; women
and children);
– Multiculturality vs. ethnocentrism/racism;
– Single versus plural identities : who is a citizen? (e.g. Holland citizenship
exam);
– Population changes - triple ageing of population – more people of 65+ (25% of
EU population in 2035) with a longer life expectancy; less children and young
people (birth rate in Europe: 1.6);
– Transition from rural to industrial to knowledge based society.
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
“The social work profession promotes
social change, problem solving in human
relationships and the empowerment and
liberation of people to enhance wellbeing. Utilising theories of human
behaviour and social systems, social
work intervenes at the point where
people interact with their environments.
Principles of human rights and social
justice are fundamental to social work.”
(IFSW, 2006)
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
“Europe incorporates multiple and varied
structures through which social work
and social welfare services are
delivered. These reflect very different
views on the role of the state in the
direct or indirect provision of welfare
and on the responsibility of the family,
and more particular of women, for the
survival and well-being of dependent
family members”
(Rowlings, 1997: 114)
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
Common trends
• Declining role of traditional institutions (religion,
trade unions, political parties) and ideologies and
development of the network society
• Professional interaction – international transfer of
methods (Home Start; Home Training)
• Neo-liberalism
– less state, more market, less solidarity
– self reliance and responsibility by individuals
– commodification of social services.
• Citizens as (critical) consumers
• De-institutionalisation
• Individualised care
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Comparing Social Work Systems
References
• Cox, D. and Pawar, M. (2006),
International Social Work, Thousand
Oaks, California: Sage.
• Healy, L. (2001) International social
work: Professional action in an
interdependent world, New York:
Oxford University Press.