Nick Constantine & Mark Carrigher

Workshop Aims

Facilitate a constructive discussion on power conflicts and

imbalances in placement settings.

Discuss experiences of power conflicts and practice dilemmas.

Suggestions to minimise, challenge and overcome such issues.

Why a workshop on power conflicts? Modern western society promotes a value base that is dominated by a

neo-liberal ideology, free market economics, consumerism, competition,

individualism and inequality.

Such societies therefore necessitate the existence of hierarchies, conflict

and imbalances of power dynamics which are an inherent aspect of our

practice.

Social Work Value Base“Social work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of

all people” (BASW The Code of Ethics for Social Work, 2012: 2.1).

Social work promotes the core values of Humanism, Equality, Social

Justice, Human Rights, Collaboration/Partnership, Non-Judgemental,

Empowerment, Acceptance, Respect for individuals and diversity.

Strong theoretical tradition which advocates a model of practice that

challenges abusive power imbalances and oppressive structures,

institutions, organisations and individuals.

• Anti-oppressive practice (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006);

• Feminist perspectives (Dominelli, 2002)

• Critical theory/ reflection (Fook, 2002)

• Structural perspectives (Mullaly, 2006)

• Radical Perspectives (Fook, 1993)

How do we tackle this dilemma as a social worker/student?

Are power imbalances and conflictual positions necessarily a

bad thing?

"Practice informed by the legitimate use of power results in

empowering practice while the illegitimate use of power equals

professional malpractice" Darlymple & Burke (2006: 14).

HHHStudent Social

Worker

University/Academic requirements

PersonalFamilyReligiousFinancial

Service Users/colleagues

Placement OrganisationPractice educatorTeam managerOn site supervisor

What are some of the key issues?

Workload pressures

Organisational culture

Conflicting responsibilities –between Service users, practice educator,

University, personal commitments

Relationships in placement - Practice Educator/colleagues - on site

supervisor/learning co-ordinator

Appropriate support available - supervision

Group discussions

What are your experiences of power imbalances on placement?

Were you able to secure positive outcomes?

Progressive ways forward for negotiating difficulties?

What is the practice reality?

Moving forward Preparation Structural support – academic institution, BASW, College of Social Work,

Unions, SWAN Supervision Self care – stress management Knowledge and understanding Discuss at the earliest opportunity with your PE and tutor Use collective power of your fellow students to aid tackling issuesthat

arise on placement Check with your institution re supervision hours – revisit Learning

Agreement if necessary. Forums – Carespace/Community Care/facebook/#CCSWISS

BibliographyThe British Association of Social Work (2012) The Code of Ethics for

Social Work, [online] www.cdn.basw.co.uk(accessed 12/03/2012)Dalrymple, J & Burke, B. (2006) Anti Oppressive Practice, Social

Care and the Law, Berkshire: Open University Press.Dominelli, L (2002) Feminist Social Work Theory and Practice,

Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.Fook, J (1993) Radical Case Work a Theory of Practice, St

Leonards: Allen and Unwin.Fook, J (2002) Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice, London:

Sage Publications.Mullaly, B (2006) The New Structural Social Work Ideology Theory

and Practice, 3rd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.