Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations?
Social work practice and education have been significantly impacted by neoliberal governmentality, which can greatly undermine the espoused social justice mission of social work. This study explores the research questions: How might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal orga...
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doaj-0cb3ab7c46b342eb8c349ddf5307776f2021-03-10T00:06:25ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602021-03-0110979710.3390/socsci10030097Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations?Christine Morley0Charlie O’Bree1Centre for Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, AustraliaSocial work practice and education have been significantly impacted by neoliberal governmentality, which can greatly undermine the espoused social justice mission of social work. This study explores the research questions: How might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? This study uses critical reflection on a critical incident (from Author 2’s practice) as a methodology to respond to the first research question. It further analyses the findings of the critically reflective inquiry by drawing on relevant concepts from critical theorists to respond to the second question and expand the possibilities for practitioners to develop emancipatory practices in neoliberal organisations. The findings suggest critical reflection on the critical incident examined was effective in improving social work practice, and that additional critical analysis of the wider issues raised by the research findings may enhance social work as a value-driven, client-centred and social change-oriented profession. The article highlights the benefits and outcomes of working in a critically reflective way, and makes an original contribution to the growing literature that suggests critical reflection is a vital skill for social work practice in neoliberal organisations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/3/97critical reflectioncritical analysissocial work practiceneoliberalismmanagerialism |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Christine Morley Charlie O’Bree |
spellingShingle |
Christine Morley Charlie O’Bree Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? Social Sciences critical reflection critical analysis social work practice neoliberalism managerialism |
author_facet |
Christine Morley Charlie O’Bree |
author_sort |
Christine Morley |
title |
Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? |
title_short |
Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? |
title_full |
Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? |
title_fullStr |
Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Critical Reflection: An Imperative Skill for Social Work Practice in Neoliberal Organisations? |
title_sort |
critical reflection: an imperative skill for social work practice in neoliberal organisations? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Social Sciences |
issn |
2076-0760 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Social work practice and education have been significantly impacted by neoliberal governmentality, which can greatly undermine the espoused social justice mission of social work. This study explores the research questions: How might critical reflection support social work practice in neoliberal organisations? And how might critical analysis using insights from critical theorists fortify the findings of critically reflective research? This study uses critical reflection on a critical incident (from Author 2’s practice) as a methodology to respond to the first research question. It further analyses the findings of the critically reflective inquiry by drawing on relevant concepts from critical theorists to respond to the second question and expand the possibilities for practitioners to develop emancipatory practices in neoliberal organisations. The findings suggest critical reflection on the critical incident examined was effective in improving social work practice, and that additional critical analysis of the wider issues raised by the research findings may enhance social work as a value-driven, client-centred and social change-oriented profession. The article highlights the benefits and outcomes of working in a critically reflective way, and makes an original contribution to the growing literature that suggests critical reflection is a vital skill for social work practice in neoliberal organisations. |
topic |
critical reflection critical analysis social work practice neoliberalism managerialism |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/3/97 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT christinemorley criticalreflectionanimperativeskillforsocialworkpracticeinneoliberalorganisations AT charlieobree criticalreflectionanimperativeskillforsocialworkpracticeinneoliberalorganisations |
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1724227115150213120 |