The end of social work
A plain writing contribution
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10896227 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tony McGinn (0000-0001-9465-5523, Ulster University , Magee Campus , BT48 7JL, Northern, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 1688-1702 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-06 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjsw/bcaf288 |
| OpenAlex | W7118976967 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
The end of the social work debate attracts interesting commentary on the challenges and opportunities for the development of our profession. This contribution briefly reviews the debate to date and argues that it is dominated by abstract theorizing when we could concern ourselves with more concrete things that matter to the people we work with. This is a critical commentary paper, drawing on practice experience, previous commentaries, and research to argue that a profession without an evidence base, dominated by fear and faff, and having almost lost sight of relationship-based practice, is indeed at risk. It delves into social work’s inherent dislike of rigorous practice evaluations and suggests that this has hurt us. Conceding that only some of us are in a position to stand against the proceduralists’ destruction of our profession, guidance on how to stand is offered
Position (finance) · Position paper · Sight · Social practice · Work (physics) · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Social Work Education and Practice
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Unpacking evidence-based practice in social work education
When the ‘Golden’ Standard Should Be the General Standard
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Response to Bruce A.Thyer's Comments on Social Work Authorship
Bureaucratic sludge
Guided or independent? Social workers, central bureaucracy and evidence-based practice
Some Comments on the Notion of Social Work as a Human Service Cartel
Social Workers’ Experiences of Bureaucracy
Imagining the End of Official Social Work
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What Is the Relationship between Worker Skills and Outcomes for Families in Child and Family Social Work
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How Children Become Invisible in Child Protection Work
The impact of bureaucracy and managerialism on relationship‐based practise
When interventions harm
| Highly cited | No |
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