This book brings a novel approach to issues of connecting social work practice to theory and the personal life narrative. The authors each find their own unique way of integrating the self, theory, and practice, in different social work practice and education settings. Contributors use the methodology of narrative to tell their story about their social work journey, be that in research, teaching, or practice.

The backdrop for this book is Sweden. The country's rich heritage of welfare provision but also recent cultural diversity offers a unique Nordic context to the subject matter. The contributors engage with these new conditions for Swedish social work through an intersectional lens. Topics explored include:

• Digging in the present: A day in the life of a school counsellor
• We live in a political world: Between needs and money
• The problematic labour market situation of immigrants to Sweden: Consequences and causes
• Tackling the contradictory nature of social work
• Using anti-oppressive practice to promote social inclusion in social work education

The result is a book that is personal and reflexive, and positions the contributors' narratives as a window to understand and address social problems.

Narratives of Social Work Practice and Education in Sweden should engage those interested in the Swedish welfare state, and who want to learn about how social work is taught and practised in this country. Intended to be a general introduction, the book provides guidance to those considering working in the field and for those newly qualified. It also provides examples for students of social work to connect personal narratives to social work settings.



About the Author

Linda Lane, PhD, is a senior lecturer and researcher at the Department of Social Work at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, where she completed her doctorate in Economic History in 2004. Her research focuses on international studies of work and family life, gender empowerment, disability in higher education and sexual harassment in the work place. Since 2011, she has studied gender empowerment and poverty in India. Her latest publication with colleague Birgitta Jordansson is Conceptualizing work in the Swedish gender equality debate (2019). Dr. Lane has more than 15 years of teaching experience in Social Work in Sweden and India.

Michael Wallengren-Lynch, DSW, is a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Malmoe in Sweden. He practised social work from 2004 to 2015 and completed his doctorate in Social Work at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom in 2015. His current research interests focus on social work interventions in school settings, internationalization within social work, and social work education. His latest publication with colleagues Anna R. Bengtsson and Katarina Hollertz is Applying a 'signature pedagogy' in the teaching of critical social work theory and practice (2018), which won the award for 'Best Pedagogical Article' in Social Work Education: The International Journal. Dr Wallengren-Lynch has over 12 years of experience in Social Work practice from Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sweden.

Reviews
"It is a concise book that holds riches: life stories about overcoming insecurities and fears, making sense of the world, making choices, taking chances and giving voice to those who struggle after learning themselves to find their own. ... The authors address students and to those interested in pursuing social work. Educators and practitioners are also expected to find value in this book." (Anca Mihai, European Journal of Social Work, Vol. 25 (1), 2022)



Book Information
ISBN 9783030458737
Author Linda Lane
Format Hardback
Page Count 140
Imprint Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher Springer Nature Switzerland AG