Creation of a social work practice plan: an attempt to learn from business and logic modelling

ABSTRACT

Social work practice is often criticised for lack of support of theories and research evidence. This article attempts to learn from business practice and proposes the creation of a plan as an essential part of social work practice and education to encourage the use of theories and research evidence in social work practice and to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of social work practice. Based on logic modelling, a modified logic social work practice plan is presented and illustrated using a case example. The plan incorporates basic social work elements and the elements of alternative interventions, monitoring and control as well as cost. The potential benefits of inclusion of practice plan in social work practice and the ways to promote the adoption of a practice plan in social work education and practice are discussed.

社会工作实践时常被批评缺乏理论和研究证据的支持。本文尝试向商业实践学习并提出把社会工作实践计划的建构作为社会工作实践和教育的基本构成要素，以鼓励社会工作者在实践中应用理论和研究证据，提升社会工作实践的效能、效率和责信度。基于逻辑模型，我们提出并通过案例来呈现一个修正的逻辑社会工作实践计划。此计划包含社会工作的基本要素以及社会工作介入的替代方案、监控和费用等要素。我们也探讨在社会工作实践中引入实践计划的潜在益处和推动在社会工作实践和教育中采用实践计划的途径。

KEYWORDS:

• Logic modelling
• business plan
• cost effectiveness
• social work practice
• accountability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.