Grief and Loss: A Social Work Perspective

Abstract

Despite the wealth of research that exists in the area of death, grief, and loss, the scarcity of literature examining the impact upon social work practitioners is troubling. This article initially draws upon a case study to explore this impact through the theoretical framework of disenfranchised grief. Further comment is made regarding the possible factors that have led to the profession as a whole experiencing disenfranchised grief. The article concludes by arguing that practitioners are best served through the use of “super-vision,” which enables them to not only examine their practice but also their response to death, grief, and loss.

KEYWORDS:

• bureaucracy
• disenfranchised grief
• Monro
• social work
• supervision

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer E. Simpson

Jennifer E. Simpson is a regional academic manager working for the Open University on its undergraduate social work program in the south of England. As a social work practitioner, she specialized in children and family social work, in particular foster care. She has also worked extensively with educational establishments in the area of child protection and building resilience.