Interdependence - the reflexive practitioner and the reflexive agency

Policy documents, like White Papers and Official Norwegian Reports, express expectations towards social workers becoming knowledge producers in their fields. At the same time practitioners’ professional autonomy and... [ view full abstract ]

Policy documents, like White Papers and Official Norwegian Reports, express expectations towards social workers becoming knowledge producers in their fields. At the same time practitioners’ professional autonomy and discretion seem to be increasingly restricted, especially within a bureaucratic framework. How is this to be interpreted – and handled?
We pose such questions in our research, part of the project “Innovation and Service Development through evolving Forms of Collaboration” (2013-2017), where we explore processes and transitions from knowledge production to organisational learning and professional practices. Social workers from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Services (NAV) and the Child Welfare Services (CWS) are participating. The aim is to enhance interprofessional/-organisational cooperation and develop better services for families with children (aged 0-18) who are receiving social benefits and assistance measures simultaneously from these services. The concept “wicked issues” is appropriate to describe the challenges expressed. Methodologically we are inspired from action research. Along with interviews, seminars / workshops are used in producing and analysing data. In this presentation we will highlight viewpoints from the practitioners.
CWS states “empowered employees” as their fundament and value. NAV emphasizes that they will create arenas to enhance reflection, and to share competencies both vertically and horizontally between colleagues. The practitioners experience barriers, conflicts and contradictions when it comes to realising the ideals mentioned, both inside their own organisation and between the organisations. Producing knowledge and exchanging competencies is not enough to change practice. In the practitioners’ conversations about these issues their official mandate, public and professional ethos, and the matter of agency are at stake. We analyse these themes in terms of social worker as a street-level-position, professionalisation/de-professionalisation and the demanding interdependence between the reflexive practitioner and the reflexive agency. We draw upon theories of professions and organisations to discuss and create meaning of what is described.