Social Work and the Struggle for Social Justice in an International Context

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Social Work and
the Struggle for Social Justice in an
International Context

• The Irish Experience
• Kerry Cuskelly
• Mental Health Social Worker

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My background
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Current context of Irish life
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History of social work in Ireland
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case studies The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope
and S.P.A.R.K.
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The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope
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The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope
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The Spectacle of Defiance and Hope
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Social work and the spectacle of defiance and hope

• Question 1 From a social work perspective, have
  your client groups ability to access services
  changed in the past three years? e.g. is it
  harder to access respite services for older
  people or people with disabilities, are there
  fewer foster care places, are there fewer youth
  services to link young people into, are there
  less home help hours, are there longer waiting
  lists, have some community services completely
  gone?
• Question 2 Have your client groups talked to you
  about how these austerity measures have impacted
  adversely on their lives, have you talked to them
  about this? e.g. are people more socially
  isolated, are there more mental health issues,
  are there more family or relationship issues than
  before?
• Question 3 Has your remit/job/role as a social
  worker changed in the past few years to reflect
  the austerity measures? e.g. are you spending
  less time face-to-face with clients, are you
  finding yourself "gate-keeping" more in terms of
  rationing what services there are for your client
  groups, are you doing more crisis-led work than
  before, are you doing less preventative and
  supportive work than before, has your
  relationship wit h your clients been adversely
  affected?
• Question 4 What strengths do you see in the
  client groups you are working with despite all of
  the above? What strengths do you see in the
  social work profession despite all of the above?
  What do you think should happen next in order to
  improve things for your client group?

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Social Work and the Spectacle of Defiance and Hope
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Social Work and the spectacle of defiance and hope
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S.P.A.R.K.
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S.P.A.R.K.
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S.P.A.R.K.
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S.P.A.R.K.
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References/Resources

• References/Resources
• http//www.facebook.com/ClaimingOurFuture?reftss
  kwall
• http//www.facebook.com/UnlockNAMA
• http//www.facebook.com/profile.php?id10000179173
  4951
• http//www.facebook.com/irishsingleparentsfightbac
  k
• http//www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-University/15
  6847037760130
• http//www.facebook.com/OccupyDameStreet
• http//www.facebook.com/pages/United-Left-Alliance
  /129916530394898
• http//www.facebook.com/peopleb4profit
• http//www.facebook.com/SWPIreland
• www.socialistparty.net
• http//www.facebook.com/NotOurDebt
• www.tascnet.ie
• www.politico.ie
• Kearney, N. and C. Skehill, 2005, Social Work in
  Ireland Historical Perspectives. Dublin
  Institute of Public Administration.
• www.newsocialworkers.com
• http//www.sparkcampaign.com/
• http//www.swp.ie/content/cutbacks-child-poverty-a
  nd-junkets
• http//www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1
  208/1224308743063.html

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Thank You!

• Email kerry.cuskelly_at_gmail.com for a copy of the
  written presentation or any questions/queries.