Reimagining the Role of Human Services Workers: Staff Experiences of a Social Change Initiative

Abstract

Despite recognition that social inclusion is a primary goal within the field of human services, people with disabilities continue to live lives of clienthood, marginalisation, and exclusion and human services staff struggle to make social inclusion a priority. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of human services staff about their experiences of an organisationally inspired initiative intended to change the focus of their everyday practices to better facilitate the social inclusion of persons with disabilities. A qualitative case study was used to gather observations, field and reflective notes, semi-structured interviews with staff (n = 15), and reflexive journaling. Thematic analysis of the data led to three themes: (a) challenges, old and new, (b) needing (careful) change, and (c) creating, learning and working together. These findings highlight the complexity of how to create change in the field of human services, but also demonstrate how innovative approaches have the potential to shift and reimagine how human services workers can better support people with disabilities in living meaningful lives.

Keywords:

• Case study
• change
• citizenship
• disability
• innovation
• services
• social inclusion
• support workers

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Debbie Reid and Ben Weinlick for their generosity, insight and commitment to making the world a better place for all citizens.

Notes

1. The term human services may be used synonymously with disability services.

2. We use person-first language in this paper consistent with the language of the Skills Society, our community partner for this research.