Thinking beyond the contract: A journey to collaborative community social work

Authors

  • Stefanie Döbl Newtown Union Health Service
  • Amy Ross St Vincent de Paul in Newtown, Wellington.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol25iss1id97

Keywords:

community social work, ngo, contract culture

Abstract

Social workers from two different Wellington-based community service providers, Newtown Union Health Service (NUHS) and St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Wellington Area discuss their organisations and how they worked together to build an award-winning1 practice model in their community. Their reflection on their work raises important questions regarding our responsibilities and options to meet client needs in a heavily contracted funding environment and presents the learnings and challenges of their collaboration.

Author Biographies

Stefanie Döbl, Newtown Union Health Service

Stefanie Döbl is a registered social worker based at Newtown Union Health Service, a primary health care practicein Wellington. Having practised social work both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas for 10 years, she feels honoured in having the opportunity to work closely with people from Wellington’s diverse communities. Stefanie is also currently studying towards a Master of Health Sciences

Amy Ross, St Vincent de Paul in Newtown, Wellington.

Amy Ross is a community social worker working for St Vincent de Paul in Newtown, Wellington. With bachelor and masters degrees in social work from Massey University Amy has 14 years’experience in the NGO sector. Passionate about social work and social workers Amy is an outspoken advocate of social justice and the connection that social work can and should have to challenging injustice in whatever guise it may appear

References

Aimers, J., &Walker, P. (2008).Is community accountability being overlooked as a result of government-third sector partnering in New Zealand? Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal, 20(3), 14-25.

Carey, M. (2008). Everything must go? The privatisation of state social work. British Journal of Social Work, 38(5), 918-935.

Fairfax Media. (2012). Bennett: Adult after adult let tortured girl down. Retrieved from TVNZ website: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/three-year-sentence-father-abused-girl-4713012

Ferguson, I. (2008). Reclaiming social work: Challenging neo-liberalism and promoting social justice. London: Sage.

Gross, R., Rabinowitz, J., Feldman, D., & Boerma, W. (1996). Primary health care physicians’ treatment of psychosocial problems: Implications for social work. Health and Social Work, 21(2), 89-95.

Harms, L., & Connolly, M. (2009). The art and science of social work.In L. Harms & M. Connolly (Eds.), Social work: Contexts and practice (Vol. 2). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Hibbs, S. (2005). The state, professionalisation and social work. Social Work Review, 17(2), 38-42.

Hughes, M., & Wearing, M. (2007). Organisations and management in social work. London: Sage.

Lloyd, C., King, R., & Chenoweth, L. (2002). Social work, stress and burnout: A review. Journal of Mental Health, 11(3), 255-265.

Maslow, A. H. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper.

Newtown Union Health Service. (2011). Annual Report.

Statistics New Zealand. (2006). Quick stats about Newtown East. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand.

Downloads

Published

2016-05-19

How to Cite

Döbl, S., & Ross, A. (2016). Thinking beyond the contract: A journey to collaborative community social work. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 25(1), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol25iss1id97

Issue

Section

Articles