Reflective practice via the lens of the life career and paradox: a contemplation of being and becoming a social worker

ABSTRACT

Reflective practice constitutes an important aspect of social work enactment, with a range of theory available to the practitioner. This paper continues this heritage with a theory of reflection informed via continental philosophy. The theory advocated here considers the life career of the practitioner via the duality of being and becoming, providing a critical lens upon retrospective enactment illuminating paradoxical moments. Such moments provide diachronic and nuanced insights into enactment across a range of interconnected strands of the life career, allowing the practitioner to consider important emergent themes across career articulation and thus action within and outside the vista of paid employment. This paper provides a case illustration to demonstrate the penetrative nature of such a lens, advocating future research endeavours to inform social work pedagogy and practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflective practice
• social work
• paradox
• career

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ricky Gee

Dr. Ricky Gee is a senior lecturer based at Nottingham Trent University. Ricky has a range of experiences within HE including research, pedagogy and course leadership. The focus of Ricky's research is exploring sociological, philosophical and political dimensions of 'career'. Taking such a broad view of career enables Ricky to undertake an interdisciplinary approach to his research and teaching.

Adam Barnard

Dr. Adam Barnard has worked in Higher Education for over twenty years. During this time, he has worked with a variety of students and learners across educational contexts. He is programme leader for Professional Doctorates in Social Practice at Nottingham Trent University. His latest works are Developing Professional Practice in Health and Social Care (2019), Key Themes in Health and Social Care published by Routledge in 2011, and Value Base of Social Work and Social Care with Open University Press (2008). He has published articles from findings from his research in philosophy, political and social theory. He is involved in the leadership and management of research in social science including ethics, governance, supervision and development. He is currently teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate Health and Social Care and Social Work programmes. He is working on a book on developing reflective practice in Health and Social Care. He is committed to challenging policy, research and practice that does not contribute to ethical and value based professionalism of frontline workers.