Narratives of Social Work Practice and Education in Sweden

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.