‘An Analytics of Social Work’

Abstract

In this chapter and the next, I draw upon findings from an empirical research study that I undertook concerning the impact of risk on social work. More specifically, the research concerned if, how and why the rise of risk is impacting on the theory and practice of social work, across a variety of domains. It is not my intention to present primary data in this chapter — space precludes this, and in any case this is, or will be, available elsewhere (e.g. Hardy 2010, 2014). Nor will I labour methodological issues. Suffice to say this was a small scale, interview based study of ‘frontline’ practitioner perspectives in social work (mental health social work, forensic mental health and the probation service) which concerned if and how concerns about risk are impacting on how practitioners understand and undertake their roles and responsibilities.