THEORIES OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE

The course is part of the common core-teachings of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Sciences of Society and Social Service, and it constitutes an introduction to the different theories of social work, meant as both a profession and an academic discipline. Particular attention will be paid to the theoretical basis and historical origins of this professional and scientific field, with regard to both the international and the Italian contexts.
The course aims to provide the key concepts to orient students within social work, thus contributing to the construction of structured, complex, and aware professional knowledge. Moreover, it aspires to stimulate a critical view not only of social work and its recent transformations, but also of the broader social and political-economic context in which it is placed.
For a better understanding of the theoretical perspectives in social work, the course will also stress the main features of the professional code of conduct. These will be framed within the historical development of social work.

1. Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course students are expected to know:
- the key terms and concepts of social work.
- the main theoretical perspectives in social work.


2. Applying knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course students are expected to be able to
- properly use social work terminology.
- express in a clear way the contents of the course.
- apply the developed skills to research and social work.


3. Evaluating skills

By the end of the course students are expected to
- be able to apply the concepts learned to the understanding of the changes in social work.


4. Communication skills

By the end of the course students are expected to have improved their ability to
- communicate the main theories of social work and their changes, also stressing their operational implications by using a correct terminology.
- interacting with other students: discussing about the issues of the course.
- giving a presentation to the class about a work group (not mandatory).


5. Learning skills

By the end of the course students are expected to have learnt how to
- critically use textbooks (and their references).
- use other materials uploaded on moodles: this is important for making connections among different approaches and different contexts.

No pre-requirements are needed to participate to the course.

The course aims to illustrate the main theoretical perspectives in social work, by placing them within the historical and academic context in which they have been produced. Moreover, it aims to show their potential applications in the practice of social work, also underlining the ambiguities and tensions that characterize the social work profession as a “care” activity
More precisely, the course will deal with the following issues:

1. What social work is: international and Italian definitions;
2. Origins and developments of social work in Italy;
3. Social work as an academic discipline: theories, models, paradigms, and new perspectives;
4. The social workers' Code of conduct
5. Social work between care and control: a dichotomy or two aspects of the same process?
6. The current challenges of social work: the effects of neoliberalism, the role of managerialism, and the ambiguities of “reflexive practice”.

1) Dominelli L, Il servizio sociale. Una professione che cambia, Erickson, 2005 (except for the following chapters: "Interventi con gli anziani " e "Interventi nell'area della devianza penale").
2) Fargion S., Il servizio sociale. Storia, temi e dibattiti, Laterza, 2009 (excpet for the following chapters: 4) "Basi conoscitive e dibattito epistemologico" e 5) "L’epistemologia della parzialità");
3) a good knowledge of:
- the international definition of Social Work (available at the following address: http://cdn.ifsw.org/assets/ifsw_13127-9.pdf )
- the Code of Conduct of Social worker - in force since 01.09.09 (available at the following address: http://www.cnoas.it/La_professione/Codice_deontologico.html )

For a better comprehension of the core issues of the course the reading of the following text is highly recommended: Campanini A. (editor) (2013), "Nuovo Dizionario di Servizio sociale", Roma Carocci Faber. Specifically, the following voices: Assistente sociale, Assistenza (storia della), Deontologia, Ordine professionale, Processo di aiuto, Servizio sociale, Storia del servizio sociale, Principi del Servizio sociale, Teoria del Servizio sociale, Trifocalità, Valori, Welfare State.

Students are required to take a written test consisting of 3 or 4 open questions to be answered. These questions are aimed at verifying their acquisition of the fundamental concepts contained in the reference readings, also in a transversal way to the topics addressed, in order to evaluate their skill in activating an overall approach and understanding related to the various topics.

The lessons will mainly consist of lectures, with insights on the contents described above. However, participation by the students attending class, in the form of questions, observations, and additions, is highly encouraged.

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development