Implementing social policy
social workers’ experience from Estonia and Norway
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v7i1.83Keywords:
social work, social policy, Estonia, Norway, policy implementationAbstract
In this explorative article the relationship between social policy and social work will be in focus. The article discusses similarities and differences between Estonia and Norway.The empirical material consists of eight focus group interviews with social workers in the two countries. The aim of the study was to investigate to what extent the social work profession represents change agents in the social policy framework. The article looks at the differences and communalities in different years in the two countries. The authors conclude that social workers are important actors in implementing changes at the local level. They seem, however, to be more concerned about the daily encounters with the individual users than about the general policy framework.The main findings suggested that social workers in both countries see themselves as spokespersons for respect for and cooperation with the users while simultaneously arguing that social workers only to a very limited extent see the implementation of social policies as a part of their roles.
References
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Norwegian Social Service Act (1991)
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Oltedal, S. (2003) The “LegPro”-project, Unpublished paper Bodø University College.
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Tulva, T. (1996) Eesti sotsiaaltöö ajas ja muutumises. Tallinn: Tallinna Pedagoogikaülikooli Kirjastus.
Villadsen, K., Gruber, T. & Bengtsson, S. (1998) Socialpolitiske strategier – på tværs af frivillige og offentlige organisationer. Socialforskningsinstituttet 98:16. Kobenhavn.
Walker, A. & Walker, C. (2002) Social policy and social work. In Adams, R (ed) Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates. Palgrave: Hampshire.
Wormer, K. Van (1997) Social Welfare A World View. Neslon Hall Publishers: Chicago.
Yeates, N (2001) Globalization and Social Policy. London: Sage.
Yelloly, M. & Henkel, M. (2005) Learning and Teaching in social work. Towards Reflective Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Doel, M. & Shardlow, S.M. (2005) Modern Social Work Practice. Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings. Ashgate: Hampshire.
Dølvik, J.(et.al) (2007) Hamskifte: den norske modellen i endring. Oslo:Gyldendal Akademisk.
Esping-Andersen, G. (1990) The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeton: Princeton paperbacks. Estonian Social Welfare Act (1995).
Fjortoft. K. & Skorstad, B. (1998) Etikk i sosialt arbeid. Mellom samfunnsplikt og person- lig ansvar. Ad Notam Gyldendal: Oslo.
FO (2000) Yrkesetisk grunnlagsdokument for barnevernpedagoger, sosionomer og vernepleiere. Oslo: Fellesorganisasjonen for barnevernpedagoger, sosionomer og vernepleiere.
Fløtten, T. (2006) Welfare States under Quadruple Pressure. Presentation at a conference in Riga. Oslo: Fafo (http://www.fafo.no/BalticWelfare ; downloaded 21-10-2009)
Fløtten, T., Dahl, E. & Grønningsæter, A. (2001) De norske fattigdommen. Hvordan arter den seg, hvor lenge varer den og hva kan vi gjøre med den? Fafo-notat 2001:16.
Ginsburg, N. (2006) Globalisation and pressure on social policy development. Fafo (http:// www.fafo.no/BalticWelfare/Baltikum-presentasjoner/NormanGinsburg.pdf; 21-10-2009)
Grønningsæter, A. & Kiik, R. (2009) ‘My work is exciting’ - social workers in Estonia compared to Norway. European Journal of Social Work; Volume 12(1) pp. 25-39.
Grønningsæter, A. (2003) Great Expectations. Social exclusion and social policy in Estonia and Latvia. Oslo: Fafo-report 410.
Haaland, K. R.; Njå, M & Montgomery, H. (1999) Fagutvikling i sosialt arbeid – et system- isk perspektiv. Tano Aschehoug: Otta.
Hansen, I. L. & Grønningsæter, A. B. (2010) Nye velferdssignaler. Oslo: Fafo-report 2010:40
Hare, I. (2004) Definition of Social work for the 21st century: The IFSW’s revised definition of social work. In International Social Work 47 (3) p 407. Sage Publications
Heinon, T. & Spearman, L. (2001) Social Work Practice: problem Solving and Beyond. Toronto: Irwin Publishing.
Hegland, T.J. (2000) Samfundsbillder- som baggrund for socialpolitik, socialt arbejde og forskning i sociale forhold. In Bech- Jørgensen, B. & Kristiansen, S. Sociale Perspektiver. Forskningsgruppen Arbejds- og Levemiljøer ALFUFF: Aalborg Universitet.
Hutchinson, G. S., Lund, L.; Lyngstad, R. & Oltedal, S. (eds.) (2001) Social Work in Five Countries. HBO-reprot No 25. Bodø; Høgskolen I Bodø.
Hutchinson, G. S. & Oltedal, S. (2000) Theoretical models in social work. HBO report No 5. Bodo: Hogskolen i Bodo.
Hutchinson, G. S. & Oltedal, S. (2006) Modeller i sosial arbeide. Købehavn:Hans Reizel.
IFSW (2009) International Definition of Social Work. http://www.ifsw.org/Info/1.def.html (downloaded 25-10-2009).
Jansson, B. S.; Dempsey, D; McCroskey, J. & Schneider, R. ( 2005) Four Models of Policy Practice: Local, State and national Arenas. In Weil, M. (ed) The Handbook of Community Practice. London: Sage, 319-337.
Kiik, R. (2006) Key Themes and Settings of Social Work in Estonia. Doctoral thesis. Tartu: Tartu University.
Kiik, R. and Sirotkina, R. (2005) The Development of Social Work as a Speciality and the Profession in Estonia. In Social work and Society. International Online-Only Journal.
Kokkinn, J. (1998) Profesjnelt sosialt arbeid. Tano Aschehoug: Otta.
Leppik, L. (1999) Euroopa Liidu mõju Eesti sotsiaalpoliitikale. Eesti 21. sajandil. Aregus- trategiad. Visoonid.Valikud. Tallinn: TEA Kirjastus.
Levin, I. (2004) Hva er sosialt arbeid. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Levin, I. (2001) Diskurser i og om sosialt arbeid. In Sandbæk, M. Fra motttaker til aktør. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademiske.
Morgan, D.L (1988) Focus groups as qualitative research. Newbury Park: SAGE Publications
Norwegian Social Service Act (1991)
Norwegian Child Protection Act (1992)
Oltedal, S. (2003) The “LegPro”-project, Unpublished paper Bodø University College.
Reamer, F.G. (1993) The philosophical Foundations of Social Work. Columbia University Press: New York.
Thompson, N. (2000) Understanding Social Work. Preparing for Practice. Macmillan Press LTD: London.
Trumm, A. (2006) Poverty in Estonia. Overview of main trends and patterns of poverty in the years 1996–2002. Oslo: Fafo-report 497.
Tulva, T. (1996) Eesti sotsiaaltöö ajas ja muutumises. Tallinn: Tallinna Pedagoogikaülikooli Kirjastus.
Villadsen, K., Gruber, T. & Bengtsson, S. (1998) Socialpolitiske strategier – på tværs af frivillige og offentlige organisationer. Socialforskningsinstituttet 98:16. Kobenhavn.
Walker, A. & Walker, C. (2002) Social policy and social work. In Adams, R (ed) Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates. Palgrave: Hampshire.
Wormer, K. Van (1997) Social Welfare A World View. Neslon Hall Publishers: Chicago.
Yeates, N (2001) Globalization and Social Policy. London: Sage.
Yelloly, M. & Henkel, M. (2005) Learning and Teaching in social work. Towards Reflective Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
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Published
2012-04-02
How to Cite
Grønningsæter, A. B., & Kiik, R. (2012). Implementing social policy: social workers’ experience from Estonia and Norway. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 7(1), 92–103. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v7i1.83
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