Social Workers must not just talk about anti-oppressive practice, we have a duty to make it real. The role of the welfare state in this era, and in the current context it can be argued, has been significantly reduced with access to support such as benefits and housing becoming more conditional and less abundant. New Directions in Social Work Practice. SCIE (2009) state that a clear role within advocacy is to work alongside people to ensure that there is a move away from a service-led culture; an opportunity to empower individuals rather than just allowing them to argue their case. Therefore, it is important to recognise respect of rights, responsibilities and opportunities as main issues of … We have many volunteers and activists who are social workers by trade. Pp. The revisiting of community based work is central to radical social work theory and practice. Manchester: Equality and Human Rights Commission, Ferguson, I. and Woodward, R., (2009). Spitzer (1975) provides a Marxist analysis of capitalism, identifying that it defines two service user groups: social junk, those that are classified as dependent and a drain on society’s resources, thus needing care, and social dynamite, those that are dangerous and needing to be controlled. A dominating feature of radical social work aims for values of equality, justice and involvement in society by means of collective action (Howe, 2009). If we are not actively identifying and challenging discrimination toward our service users then in effect we are not practicing social work according to the definition provided by the International Federation of Social Workers; ‘principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities’ (IFSW, 2014). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Gov UK., (2014). Administrative staff working for an NHS mental health Trust covering a large area of the South West of England are ... Why are G4S continuing as preferred providers of facilities for the most vulnerable in society?? Available from: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/word/pipconsult.doc [Accessed 17th December 2014], Doyal L. and Gough, I., (1991). Bristol: Policy Press, swansocialwork@gmail.com Web Design & Development By Boyintree © Copyright 2020. How the Thatcher years marked a turning point for social work. Looking at how the personalisation agenda specifically in relation to direct payments affects the two service user groups, it is difficult to argue that this does not render service users more susceptible to abuse. L. Dominelli. Pearson (1973) argues that to proclaim the humanistic nature of social work is fraudulent in that it produces an aims culture, aims of which are impossible to achieve in a capitalist society. Baldwin and Sadd (2006) argue that current participation can be viewed as tokenistic, however we must stress the importance of eliminating this, forming alliances and moving towards the top end of the ladder in which Arnstein (1969) describes. Radical social work aims to: *support social work that is informed by a class analysis. The notion of the ‘mixed economy of care’ can not only lead to confusion and fear amongst vulnerable adults, but also expose them to abuse. The latter is a contradiction demonstrating the overwhelming power held by capitalists in society – the ability to create a hierarchical structure in which an ‘underclass’ categorises those that Spitzer (1975) refers to as social ‘junk’ and ‘dynamite’. Professionals also need to act collectively in order to actively advocate for social justice. A radical social worker’s role involves positive assistance, the sustaining of mutual respect and the location of a service user’s problems in a wider social and political context (Brake and Bailey, … ‘Seen but not heard’ – Young People’s Experience of Advocacy. The privatisation of public services contributes to the capitalist dominance in society and the increased emphasis on health and social care organisations running for profit can have disastrous consequences for service users. Radical and critical social work has existed since the start of the profession. People experiencing stigma are less able to participate in seemingly generic life experiences – a career, intimate relationships and a place to call home (Goffman, 1963). Baldwin (2011) argues that a critically reflective stance is crucial in that it notes how users are constructed within the welfare system. From the settlement movement, to the feminist and anti-racist social approaches of the 1970s and the more recent Social Work Action Network, radical social workers have contributed to the development of inclusive and genuinely anti-oppressive practices in social work. Available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/resource/doc/47121/0020821.pdf [Accessed 17th December 2014], Baldwin, M. and Sadd, J., (2006).