The McDonaldization of Social Work

1. Auflage 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7546-4639-6
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 208 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 485 g

Based upon George Ritzer's McDonaldization of Society thesis and incorporating aspects of social theory, this book examines the introduction of care management to social work practice. Donna Dustin analyzes care management as an example of the managerial application of efficiency, calculability, predictability and control to social work practice. These principles, put to good use in organizations that produce tangible outputs at a profit, are being increasingly applied in non-profit public sector organizations where the outcomes require intangibles such as professional relationships. The author examines whether the McDonaldization process heightens dilemmas such as cost versus rights for professionals working in the social services. Using social theory to frame her research with care managers and their managers in the UK, the author examines the day-to-day implications of care management for social work practice and questions whether the construction of service users as customers contributes to empowering practice. The book's in-depth analysis of the policy background, implementation and practice of care management will resonate with social workers in other national contexts, such as the US, where the care management model has been introduced.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Dustin, Donna

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Public Health, Gesundheitsmanagement, Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Präventivmedizin, Gesundheitsförderung, Medizinisches Screening
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Community Care, Bildung, Freizeit, Freiwilligenarbeit

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents: Introduction; Part I The Macro Perspective: Understanding the Introduction of Care Management - Theory and Context: Theorizing social change; The context of social change: globalization, McDonaldization and the introduction of care management. Part II The Micro Perspective: Social Workers' Perceptions of Their Care Management Role - Findings from Research: The impact of care management on social work practice; Consumerism, choice and empowerment in care managed services; The professional status of social workers practising as care managers. Part III Considering the Macro and the Micro: Looking Back - Looking Forward: Care management as the commodification of care within postmodernity as late capitalism; Social work practice in the specialist field of care management; Bibliography; Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Donna Dustin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at the London Metropolitan University, UK.