Socialno delo, Vol. 42 (2003), Part 3
ARTICLE
A Case of Quasi Systemic Sociological-organisational Theory of Social Work - 139, (Abstract)
SOCIAL WORK BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS
Some Ethical Challenges of Social Work in Croatia - 183, (Abstract)
Abstracts
Blaž Mesec
A Case of Quasi Systemic Sociological-organisational Theory of Social Work
In the framework of a broader review of social work theories, which in perspective should fill the gap in Slovenian professional literature in social work, the theory of Pincus and Minahan has been presented as an historically important attempt to overcome the traditional division of social work methods into case work, group work and community work. The theory is conceived by the reviewer as a quasi systemic organizational-sociological theory. It's main characteristic is a contradiction: on the one hand it rejects the traditional division of methods and pleads for the equalization of the client-worker/service relationships, for the participation of users, and for advocacy, while on the other hand it uses the "systemic" terminology. At the same time its authors do not consider the basic and essential concepts of the systemic theory. Nevertheless, the authors succeeded in demonstrating the connectedness of different levels of work on a case and thus the connectedness of the three methods.
Keywords: theory of social work, social work methods, systemic theory.
Dr. Blaž Mesec is associate professor of methodology at University of Ljubljana School of Social Work.
Darja Kuzmanič Korva
Strategies for the Formation of a Network of Plural Providers
Work in the field of social care is intended for the community, that is, for the local level on which special social-care services are provided. It is of little importance whether the services are carried out by public offices, non-profit voluntary organisations, private agencies or informal networks. The problems occupying the various providers in the field of social care are so vast that no single provider can achieve a universal response to the demands and problems of local community. It is still worse if, because of isolation and the lack of professional co-operation, even a group of different providers cannot satisfy community needs but only pass it on. Help in the field of social care is only efficient if it is provided at once. In practice, the providers who deal with a certain problem are often uncoordinated, so they solve it less adequately and later. It is urgent to make available the information on all providers who carry out the needed service. Work in the field of social care will only be efficient if providers are linked into a unified system and the information on programmes and services offered on the local and state levels are made available.
Keywords: synergy, provider network, public organisations, non-profit voluntary organisations, private organisations.
Darja Kuzmanič Korva, M. A., is the executive secretary of the Council of Slovenian Social Work Centres, experienced in care for adults and tutelage and in co-ordinating programmes and providers in the field of social welfare.
Kristina Urbanc, Marjana Kletečki
Some Ethical Challenges of Social Work in Croatia
The tendencies to bureaucratise social work practice as well as increasingly restrictive and residual legislation in the field of social policy are becoming a rich source of ethical dilemmas, and hence of professional stress for social workers. By help of case analyses from the existing practice, legal directions and recent literature from the field the authors distinguish several levels of ethical dilemmas, which most often contain the conflict between values and ethical principles. There are no single or universal responses to such problems, and the authors generally emphasise the importance of the elevation of professional competence of social workers and of the reflection of personal systems of values and beliefs. Undoubtedly in these processes, both in social work practice and education in Croatia, supervision plays an increasingly important role as the specific form of support and assistance to social workers.
Keywords: ethics, conflict or roles, bureaucratisation, supervision.
Dr. Kristina Urbanc is a social worker and a senior lecturer of social work with individuals and of creative methods at the University of Zagreb Social Work Study Centre. Marjana Kletečki is a social worker, employed at "Trnje" centre of social work in Zagreb for polyvalent forms of social work, and a long-term associate of the University of Zagreb Social Work Study Centre.