New managerialism, social service departments and social work practice today

Global economics, demographic change and the rise of neo-liberal-ism have contributed to the new managerialist ethos of public sector organisations. In consequence, Local Authority Social Service Departments have been reformed and now operate by means of management approaches borrowed form the private sector. It is argued here that this new organisational and managerial context is reshaping the very nature of social work. Previous methods have given way to a managerial-technicist practice that fails to place due emphasis on the non-rational component of the human condition and the process of caring. This approach is compared to the earlier reflexive-therapeutic, socialist-collectivist and individualist-reformist perspectives, as identified by Payne (1997). The paper concludes by noting the uncertain future of Social Service Departments as well as social work itself.