Abstract
This thesis makes a unique contribution to knowledge as the first mixed methods study in Northern Ireland to explore social workers perspectives of relationship-based practice. Starting with a systematic literature review, the thematic synthesis of 39 published studies provides comprehensive evidence of the negative effects of bureaucracy on both social workers and service users alike. With literature predominantly focused on England, to understand the current research context a quantitative survey examining the distribution of time in frontline practice and perceptions of bureaucracy and relationship-based practice provides up-to-date insights on the nature of social work in Northern Ireland, before progressing with qualitative semi-structured interviews to enable a greater understanding of the lived experiences of frontline practitioners. Adopting the Four Expressions of Power framework for analysis, the study shines a light on the multiple factors that shape decisions on the frontline, both enabling and inhibiting relationship-based practice. Although participants demonstrated a strong understanding of relationship-based practice and could articulate the underpinning values and relevant theories, findings present a context dominated by paperwork and procedures, pulling social workers away from meaningful engagement with service users towards a system focused on outputs and information management. Acts of resistance and creative thinking was deemed necessary to work in an enabling way within a disabling system, yet ultimately, the research demonstrates it is not the sole responsibility of an individual social worker to embody relationship-based practice. A whole institutional response is necessary to develop conditions conducive to placing relationships at the heart of practice, and promotion in practice guidelines and policy documents alone is insufficient. Without a critical review of existing bureaucratic burdens and workloads, how true to social work can these roles remain?Thesis is redacted to remove the survey tool due to missing copyright permissions.
| Date of Award | Aug 2022 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Sponsors | European Union 's Horizon 2020 |
| Supervisor | Tony McGinn (Supervisor), Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley (Supervisor) & Shaun Roddy (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- social work
- relationship-based practice
- Northern Ireland
- power
- mixed methods
- systematic literature review
- bureaucracy
- administration
- nanagerialism