- Titel
- Micro-political policy engagement in social work counselling in Germany - between collaboration and confrontation
- Zitierfähige Url:
- https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa2-971124
- Konferenz
- Special interest group (SIG) social work and policy engagement, European Conference for Social Work Research (ECSWR). München, 12.03.2025-14.03.2025
- Erstveröffentlichung
- 2025
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.25366/2025.90
- Abstract (EN)
- Social rights are fundamental to a welfare state. However, once established, these rights must be implemented and actively claimed by individuals. In Germany, social counselling provided by social workers 1 facilitates access to these rights and assists individuals in realizing them. This form of counselling not only conveys crucial information but also offers practical support while addressing the psychosocial aspects of those seeking assistance. In my doctoral project I investigate how this type of counselling is carried out. The data basis consisting in research interviews with people working in this field is analysed with the Grounded Theory Methodology. Preliminary evaluations indicate that, in addition to direct interactions between social workers and clients, interactions with authorities play a crucial role. I conceptualize this interaction between social workers and authorities as 'achieving or pushing through contact'. Social workers typically engage with authorities to expedite processes, resolve client issues, or ensure legal compliance. Various modes of action emerge: social workers can adopt either a guiding role (alongside clients) or a more vicarious role (acting on behalf of clients). Depending on the channels of communication available for the social workers, these interactions can be either cooperative (aiming to create alliances with authorities) or confrontational (demanding or threatening legal action).
- Freie Schlagwörter (DE)
- Sozialberatung, Sozialbehörden, Grounded theory, Soziale Rechte, Soziale Arbeit
- Freie Schlagwörter (EN)
- social counselling, interaction with authorities, grounded theory, accessing social rights, social work, take-up advocacy, policy engagement
- Klassifikation (DDC)
- 300
- 360
- Klassifikation (RVK)
- MS 6470
- Publizierende Institution
- Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt am Main
- Version / Begutachtungsstatus
- angenommene Version / Postprint / Autorenversion
- URN Qucosa
- urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa2-971124
- Veröffentlichungsdatum Qucosa
- 20.05.2025
- Dokumenttyp
- Konferenzbeitrag
- Sprache des Dokumentes
- Englisch
- Lizenz / Rechtehinweis
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0- Inhaltsverzeichnis
Table of contents 1. Social work counselling includes informative-legal aspects 2. Methodology 3. Preliminary findings 3.1 The Interaction Triangle – directions of interaction in social work counselling 3.2 Achieving contacting as micro-political policy engagement – interaction with authorities from collaboration to confrontation Step 1: To establish a direct contact with the administrative officer Step 2: Alliance-building attempts Step 3: Putting authorities under pressure Step 4: Using legal remedies 4. Conclusions References