How are identities formed among social workers, many of whom perform complex, challenging and ambiguous public sector functions on a regular basis? Why does identity come to matter for professional social work? This book, the first of its kind in the field, examines professional identity in relation to social work by asking how practitioners think of themselves as a "social worker", a professional self-concept often entangled in a range of relations, beliefs, values and experiences.
Bringing together the perspectives of an internationally renowned group of specialists, the collection addresses a range of issues associated with professional identity construction and "being professional" in the context of a rapidly changing inter-professional environment. It introduces new concepts to social work, including materiality, enactment, performance, affect, entanglement, capital and worth, to consider the vexed issues surrounding matters of professional identity in social work.
This will be an essential guide to all those keen to debate the challenges and possibilities confronting contemporary social work through the lens of professional identity, whether they are students, educators, practitioners, researchers, managers, policy-makers or associated professionals. It will also appeal to those interested in social theory, organisational sociology and leadership as well as anyone working in related fields of health and education.
'This book is a very substantial contribution to the neglected topic of social work and its professional identity. Whilst retaining a clear and insightful focus, this collection ranges far and wide to incorporate key critical insights from a wide range of expert and knowledgeable commentators. This is an exciting addition to our underpopulated literature on professionalism in social work' - Professor Roger Smith, Professor of Social Work in the School of Applied Social Sciences, Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University
