Theory and Practice in Long Term Social Work: a Case-Study of Practice with Social Services Department Clients

This study is based on empirical research into the practice of 14 social services department social workers with 42 of their long term clients. The findings suggest that, contrary to expectation, this type of social work practice is not characterised by a problem solving approach, but rather by a concern for the containment of problems and the maintenance of stability. This leads to a restricted form of social work practice which is not linked to any particular method of intervention. Reasons for this theory-practice hiatus are suggested along with a discussion of the issues surrounding training for long term social work of this kind in the future.