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ABSTRACT
This paper reports on a study (commissioned by central government) of a specialist social work service provided by local government agencies (local authorities) in Ireland. The service originated in the 1960s, was designed to meet the accommodation related needs of Travellers, an indigenous, Irish, ethnic group, who have faced centuries of social exclusion and discrimination. The paper begins with an account of the economic and social problems faced by Travellers and then the few available Irish and UK publications. It then reports on qualitative findings drawn from interviews with social workers, Travellers and other key stakeholders. The idiom ‘betwixt and between’ is used to characterise the social work role. Respondents aspired to forms of social action and advocacy roles but were sometimes viewed with suspicion by Traveller activists. Local authority structures were overly focused on non-social work functions where social work expertise was rarely acknowledged or utilised. This partly explains why social workers faced challenges in upholding their professional values, regulatory obligations and continuous professional development. The authors conclude by arguing for a more clearly defined, human-rights based social work role, referencing lessons that can be drawn from the wider European literature.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Notes on contributors
Joanne Kelleher
Joanne Kelleher, Dr, is a post-doctoral research fellow and a registered social worker.
Jim Campbell
Jim Campbell, Professor, is professor of social work and a registered social worker.
Michelle Norris
Michelle Norris, Professor, is professor of social policy.
Angela Palmer
Angela Palmer, Dr, is a post-doctoral research fellow.