Towards an Empowering Social Work

Abstract

This book has provided a framework for understanding the idea of empowerment, and knowledge about the skills required for developing the paradigm of empowerment-in-practice. Empowerment is a concept which may apply first and foremost to oneself, then to other individuals, groups and organisations in society. Or, it can be applied so as to enable workers, service users, carers and other people to further their own development and that of others. But this book has emphasised that in today’s world, the personal and social aspirations of social workers and service users towards empowerment are unlikely to be realised in full, if at all. It is better to work in this spirit of cautious realism, than to set out with grandiose hopes which are quickly dashed.