Resources

Publications by Social Work Bodies

Alberta College of Social Workers – Standards of Practice

The Standards of Practice is a document that outlines how we are to provide and maintain services, our conduct regarding the collection of fees, the standards and methods of record-keeping, the requirements of continued learning and competency, guidelines for professional relationships in practice, and the standards of professional accountability.  It is the ethics and rules that we are, as social workers, expected to follow to maintain and enhance the integrity of the profession in the province of Alberta.  As we as practitioners are representatives of the profession, it is essential to continually review and reflect on our adherence to the Standards of Practice.

Canadian Association of Social Workers – 2005 Code of Ethics

Similar, and complementary to the ACSW standards of practice is the Code of Ethics.  The Code of Ethics outlines 6 core values that guide our actions in social work practice.  Each value is broken down into concrete principles that outline actions that we, as adherents and promoters of the social work profession, are to carry out in daily practice.  Similar to the standards of practice, this document is intended to enhance our service to communities and maintain the integrity and standing of the social work profession.  Thus, it is a document that should also be continually revisited and reviewed to ensure our decisions in practice are compliant with the nature of social work.

Canadian Association of Social Workers – Critical Social Work: Past, present, and future 

It is difficult to be genuinely reflexive in practice if we do not understand the sociohistorical contexts and influences of social work practice.  One of the critical considerations of social work practice is the rise of neoliberalism, which aims to focus policies on globalized and deregulated financial transactions, as well as reduced state involvement in funding programs to ameliorate social problems (Chappell, 2014, p. 20).  It becomes crucial to examine how these political developments impact the wellbeing of individuals, groups, and communities.

I see it as imperative for social workers to become critical thinkers of social policy, social trends, political science, and economic trends to be impactful in practice.  One of the concepts that have led to my perspective is recouperation (Debord, 1995, pp. 136-138), in which agents of change are absorbed by systems and commodified as a means to maintain political systems.  Theoretically, this would thereby have the potential to restrict the scope of social transformation that can be carried out by the social work profession as social work becomes more transactional than transformational.  If we are to be agents of social change, critical examination and conversations of the dominant discourse on social problems must ensue.  It also means that there is a need to resist commodifying social work skillsets.

Publications by Government Bodies

Other Resources for Reflexivity and Capacity Building

Brené Brown – Homepage

Brené Brown is a social worker who has written a series of books that explore shame, vulnerability, and self-reflection.  The importance of her works is that they serve as good tutorials and reminders for the importance of reflexivity.  The downloads section of this page has a series of worksheets that build off the concepts outlined in her writings.  These worksheets would be useful to use when reflecting on practice and looking at how we as social workers can continue to grow personally and professionally.

This resource by the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE) outlines how to conduct a photovoice as well as outline community research methods for qualitative materials.   Photojournaling, therapeutic photography, and photovoices are an outlet for reflection, self-exploration, and creativity that draw from the experiences of the individual (Gibson, 2018; Lowenthal, 2013).  This resource can serve as a form of client empowerment as well as a tool for social action.

 Motivational Interviewing – Personal Values Card Sort

A component of motivational interviewing is a reflection of values and how current behaviour is either aiding in or impeding progress on the goals of those we serve.  The value cards in this link can serve as a useful tool not only in exploring ambivalence but can also act as a tool for clients in a range of situations were ranking or identifying personal values would be of benefit.

Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre – Homepage

Calgary Centre for Sexuality – Homepage 

Centre for Race and Culture – Homepage

Join One Love – Join One Love Homepage

This website has resources to develop skills in facilitation of healthy boundaries for relationships, with the ultimate goal of building capacity for youth to identify and successfully negate entering abusive relationships.  Resources are geared to a wide audience of children/youth, and there are a variety of resources for those who undergo their training.

Community Mapping Tools

Pathways to Education – Community Mapping Tool

Census Mapper – Census Mapper Home Page

Virtual Social Work Practice Resources

Practice Management Platforms (PIPEDA Compliant)

Owl Practice – Homepage

Synaptek – Homepage

Therabyte App – Homepage

References

Chappell, R. (2014). Social welfare in Canadian society. Toronto, Ontario: Nelson Education.

Debord, G. (1995). The society of the spectacle (D. Nicholson-Smith, Trans.). New York: Zone Books.

Gibson, N. (2018). Therapeutic photography: Enhancing self-esteem, self-efficacy and resilience. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Loewenthal, D. (Ed.). (2013). Phototherapy and Therapeutic Photography in a Digital Age. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.