Routledge Complexity and Social Work

Being socially competent is essential in late modern society. We expect people to find their own accommodation, partner, job, community and lifestyle and struggle to find answers for those who are not able or do not have the opportunity to achieve these things. By placing social complexity, social vulnerability and social efficacy within a framework of social policy and social practice, Complexity and Social Work argues that growing social complexity excludes more and more citizens from social participation. The book starts with exploring complexity, super-diversity, vulnerability and social efficacy. From there the book deals with the discourses of social policy, social work and social work research, pledging for social policy aiming at desired outcomes, for generic contextual social work, and for a research practice that recognises practical wisdom. Aimed at final year undergraduates, postgraduates, professionals, trainers and lecturers involved in social work, social policy, social care, mental health and allied fields who are committed to treating socially vulnerable people with respect and acceptance, this book, the first of its kind, offers new perspectives on social complexity for practice, theory and research in human services. Review 'Hans van Ewijk, a leading European thinker, calls on vast range of reference to make an innovative case for a renewal of effectiveness in social work, so that it can respond to the complexity of today’s society and the failings of overloaded social provision. He puts forward an inspirational but critical conception of the possibilities for social work as a co-productive enterprise with active citizens in the future.'- Malcolm Payne, Kingston University 'This book is a tour de force in its grasp of the contemporary moment and what this implies for professional practices. It offers theoretical depth and astute commentary on the nature of issues confronting individuals, groups and organisations in an era of rapid change and stretches the professional imaginaion to more significantly engage with social complexity. Van Ewijk offers a timely and authoritative observation of a profession in transition and a comprehensive resource for discussion and debate that will have international appeal.' - Charlotte Williams OBE, Professor of Social Work and Deputy Dean, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia About the Author Hans van Ewijk is Emeritus Professor of Social Work Theory at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. He has been executive director of the Dutch Institute of Care and Welfare. He is a past president of ICSW Europe and past chair of ENSACT. Since 2006 he has also been a visiting professor at Tartu University, Estonia.