Papers by Jonathan Crabtree Parker
Springer eBooks, 2020
This chapter will present the organisational sociology model of isomorphic convergences and sugge... more This chapter will present the organisational sociology model of isomorphic convergences and suggest it is a useful mode of analysis for understanding developments in contemporary social work education including the work of the International Association of Schools of Social Work in promoting shared understandings and global standards. Some of the benefits and some of the risks that standardization and convergence offers social work education will be considered whilst a critique of the model and ways in which it can be challenged and moulded towards positive change will also be presented. Subsequently, social work education in the UK and Malaysia will be introduced. The UK has a long history of social work education and, in colonial days, initiated social work/welfare in Malaya (the former colonial name for Malaysia). An historical overview will be given for both countries. The legacy of British colonialism remains post-independence, although this is now tempered by US and Asia Pacific influences and, importantly, a growing recognition of the centrality of indigeneity. In the UK, devolution of the four administrations, New Public Management and latterly the spectre of 'Brexit' (leaving the European Union) has influenced developments and there is a growing insularity of approach. The development of social work education in both countries will be explored using the model of isomorphic convergence and considering this in terms of 'professional imperialism'. Contemporary developments will be investigated through a post-colonial lens and the model critiqued and refined. The chapter will conclude by exploring potential futures for social work education drawing on the complex and somewhat contested definitions and practices of social work. The importance of (re)developing and (re)imagining social work education futures and recognizing shared relationships will be emphasized as part of this analysis.
Social Work Education, 2018
Social work is a slippery and contested phenomenon having many forms and interpretations made by ... more Social work is a slippery and contested phenomenon having many forms and interpretations made by an equally wide range of social actors including those who use social work services, employer organisations, States and professional bodies, and social workers themselves. We all may have some notion of what the term social work means but we consistently fail to capture its many forms and may misinterpret its meaning for others. It is historically and contemporaneously a precarious construct that can be manipulated for many different ends, something that its chequered history also demonstrates, especially within Europe and through its colonial reproductions. This paper considers social work’s history in the context of contemporary socio-political landscapes of precarity in Europe. It posits the need, if social work is to achieve its human rights and social justice potential, to rekindle a politically radical form of social work that challenges established and official versions and sits u...
International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 2007
This paper examines the relationship between personality characteristics-as indexed by the ICES P... more This paper examines the relationship between personality characteristics-as indexed by the ICES Personality Inventory (Bartram, 1994; 1998) and the IBS Clinical Inventory (Mauger, Adkinson, Zoss, Firestone & Hook, 1980)-and bullying behavior. Although it proved to be difficult to obtain a large enough sample of bullies, the findings indicated that bullies are aggressive, hostile, and extraverted and independent. Furthermore, bullies are egocentric, selfish, and show little concern for the opinions of others. High levels of aggressiveness, assertiveness, competitiveness and independence are traits that are also associated with leadership.
The aspirations of many people are destroyed with the onset of a life threatening illness. Antici... more The aspirations of many people are destroyed with the onset of a life threatening illness. Anticipated life trajectories and perceptions that people have of themselves must be altered, as the prospect of growing old becomes unattainable. Such news may often leave people bewildered and yearning for a future that is different to the one they now face. They may harbour feelings of regret, helplessness and hopelessness. This paper explores the possible benefits of the use of life review as a therapeutic intervention in younger people faced with the end of life due to their prognosis.
Debates en sociología, Dec 11, 2023
Strongly emerging Indigenous methodologies have attracted researchers to employ diverse research ... more Strongly emerging Indigenous methodologies have attracted researchers to employ diverse research paradigms within a moral commitment to conducting research based on ethical sensitivities and appropriate research protocols, as informed by research work with marginalized and unfamiliar groups including Indigenous Communities. However, adopting Indigenous methodological approaches may raise additional ethical considerations requiring a nuanced examination of what these may entail and competing ethical claims regarding research funding, research processes, outcomes and output. In this article, we draw sociological insights from Bourdieusian theory, as well as feminist epistemology, to explore the ethical implications arising from qualitative research the authors recently completed with Indigenous communities in equatorial Malaysia and Costa Rica, where Indigenous land rights and access issues form the contextualizing and comparative backdrop to the study, with reference to relevant international UN policies such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
Findings: indicated that definitions of terrorism were highly contested. The issue of what social... more Findings: indicated that definitions of terrorism were highly contested. The issue of what social workers needed to know to address terrorism generated lively discussion, where an awareness of the impact on emotional health was emphasised, together with the additional needs of displaced families/individuals. Participants were aware of the need to consider the socio-economic and political disparities that may underpin terrorism, along with an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of communities. Conclusions: Findings reveal participants felt that a more extensive and sensitive range of intervention tools needed to taught and deployed via a coherent and nuanced understanding of the geo-political dimensions surrounding the construction of ‘global terrorism’ and its potential impact on local populations and vulnerable communities. Findings highlighted the importance of earlier generic community-based and therapeutic approaches were favoured above neoliberal emphases on a...
The Journal of practice teaching & learning, 2009
Higher Education Pedagogies, 2018
This study evaluates the impact of undergraduate research on student achievement. It analyses gra... more This study evaluates the impact of undergraduate research on student achievement. It analyses graduating students from 2012 to 2016 at a UK university that requires a research project comprising 25% of finalyear credits in most subjects, providing a sample of over 5000 students across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. It compares project grades to other final-year grades to gauge the 'research gain' or impact on students' achievement. Multiple regression analysis then determines what factors affect this impact. It finds that students achieve better grades on research projects than the average of other modules. This improvement is larger for students with lower prior achievement, women, and students in the natural sciences, though smaller for Asians and students declaring a disability. The implications are that undergraduate research provides a measurable benefit to all students, but this impact is larger for some, though not all, historically underrepresented or underachieving groups of students.
The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 2013
The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 2005
Practice learning has assumed a place of central importance in the current qualifying education f... more Practice learning has assumed a place of central importance in the current qualifying education for social work in the UK. This paper seeks to explore whether students should be encouraged to contribute to the process of assessment and, assuming that they should, how this might be achieved. A self-efficacy model is proposed as a means of students assessing themselves and creating a constructive dialogue on their progress and development as beginning social workers.
The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 2006
The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 2010
The future of practice education in social work in England is under discussion. An integral part ... more The future of practice education in social work in England is under discussion. An integral part of this relates to those considered qualified and appropriate to assess student social workers and the qualification framework necessary to ensure their supply. A draft Practice Educator Framework for England was published in October 2009. Fifteen partnerships of employers and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were invited to deliver pilot Practice Educator programmes to test out the draft framework. This paper reports the formative and final evaluations from these pilot sites and lays the foundation for considerations of the future development of practice education in England. The evaluation and the pilot were commissioned by Skills for Care and funded by the Social Work Development Partnership. In total, 321 candidates had been or were in the process of being recruited to these pilot sites; whilst 24 candidates withdrew from or deferred their studies. The findings from the evaluation indicated that the vast majority of pilot sites had accredited their programmes academically, many at Master's degree level. Candidate feedback was predominantly positive; however, about one in eight candidates disagreed that their programme had provided them with sufficient mentoring support. A third of pilot sites have realised they do not have the numbers of stage 2 Practice Educators that qualifying placements may require. Strong partnerships between employers and HEIs and targeted funding will be needed to ensure that future programmes meet workforce development needs.
Social Work Education, 2010
This paper describes research commissioned by Skills for Care South West to identify and track th... more This paper describes research commissioned by Skills for Care South West to identify and track the learning and development needs of newly qualified social workers through their first year of employment. The perceptions of 22 newly qualified social workers are reported concerning the effectiveness of the social work degree in England, their induction and probationary periods and their progress towards postqualifying social work education as part of their continuing professional development. The perspectives of line managers, people who use services and carers are also discussed. Findings from the research suggest that the social work degree has been well received by most newly qualified social workers and highlights the perceived importance of a statutory placement for social work degree students. Key social work practice skills that require further development are identified. There is also a rationale presented for greater investment in the induction and probationary periods of newly qualified social workers.
Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 2010
Social work in the UK has undergone a period of momentous change in the last decade with the intr... more Social work in the UK has undergone a period of momentous change in the last decade with the introduction of a 'modernising agenda' that has increased managerial approaches to the organisation, development and delivery of services. These approaches are embedded and social workers and social work managers must fi nd ways of working within them to synthesise appropriate responses that promote the values and cultural heritage of social work within the new context. This paper considers the possibilities offered by communities of practice to develop learning organisations in which a managed and participatory approach to social work and social care can be generated. A super-ordinate model of contending learning cultures is developed and used to create a blue print for practice that draws on a range of management and professional theories and perspectives. Successful involvement of people who use services is identifi ed as a key feature of a more advanced approach to leading a community of practice and the effectiveness of supervision is seen as dependent on the development of a community. The approach offers a strategy for fi rst line and middle managers to develop team effectiveness and improve services that is robust and not dependent on organisational initiatives and cultures.
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2006
Exploring community nurses' perceptions of life review in palliative care Aims and objectives. Th... more Exploring community nurses' perceptions of life review in palliative care Aims and objectives. This exploratory study aimed to identify community nurses' understanding of life review as a therapeutic intervention for younger people requiring palliative care. The objectives set out to: (i) Describe the participants' understanding of reminiscence and life review (ii) Detail their current ideas regarding a structured approach to using life review in the community setting. (iii) Outline their understanding of the possible advantages and limitations of life review in relation to palliative care. (iv) Identify future training requirements. Background. The literature review illustrated how the eighth developmental stage of Erikson's theory, ego-integrity vs. despair, is a 'crisis' often faced by older people entering the final stage of life. Life review is considered a useful therapeutic intervention in the resolution of this crisis. Younger terminally ill people in the palliative stage of an illness may face the same final crises due to their reduced lifespan. Therefore, this study explored the benefits and limitations of life review as an intervention in palliative care. Method. The study used a purposive sample of community nurses responsible for delivering generic and specialist palliative care. A qualitative method of data collection in the form of three focus group interviews was used. Subsequent data were manually analysed, categorized and coded with associations between the themes identified. Results. The findings suggested that community nurses have limited knowledge pertaining to the use of life review and tend to confuse the intervention with reminiscence. Furthermore, they believed that life review could potentially cause harm to practitioners engaged in listening to another person's life story. However, the participants concur that with appropriate training they would find life review a useful intervention to use in palliative care. Conclusions. The results led to the identification of a number of key recommendations: Community nurses require specific education in the technicalities of life review and additional interpersonal skills training. The need for formalized support through clinical supervision is also recognized and discussed. Finally, suggestions are offered regarding the need to generate wider evidence and how, possibly, to integrate life review into existing palliative care services. Relevance to clinical practice. This study has demonstrated that community nurses are keen to extend the support offered to younger terminally ill people who are in Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 197 the palliative stage of their illness. Despite having limited knowledge of life the main components and underpinning theory pertaining to life review participants could appreciate the potential of life review as a therapeutic intervention in palliative care and were keen to learn more about its use and gain the necessary knowledge and skills.
Groupwork, 2008
Social work in the UK has undergone a period of momentous change in the last decade with the intr... more Social work in the UK has undergone a period of momentous change in the last decade with the introduction of a 'modernising agenda' that has increased managerial approaches to the organisation, development and delivery of services. Whilst posing a threat to some, these approaches are embedded and social workers must find ways of working within them to synthesise appropriate responses that promote the values and cultural heritage of social work within the new context. This paper considers the possibilities offered by communities of practice to develop learning organisations in which a managed and participatory approach to social care can be generated. A super-ordinate model of contending cultures is developed and practice that draws on and is predicated by groupwork principles is presented as a potential way forward.
The application of sociological theories often presents great challenges to practitioners in many... more The application of sociological theories often presents great challenges to practitioners in many fields of human practice. Sometimes the explicit use of theories is avoided, Ostrich like, with social workers protesting that they do not see their relevance. Some social wor kers espouse an anti intellectualism that fails to un
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Papers by Jonathan Crabtree Parker