A specialist’s perspective on the value of generalist practice: A qualitative network analysis

Abstract

Social work practise is increasingly confronted with the dilemma of specialisation versus generalism. This article embraces the idea of a network that combines the strengths of specialist and generalist service organisations. We focus on the role of generalist service providers in a network of specialist organisations. We conduct 25 interviews with social workers in a network of service organisations in a single district in Antwerp, Belgium. Social workers (n ¼ 15) from specialist service organisations are interviewed to determine how they perceive collaboration with social workers from generalist service organisations. We also include the perspectives of 10 respondents affiliated with generalist service agencies.Findings: The results show that generalists facilitate interactions between specialists and their clients. Their holistic perspective on the complex problems of very vulnerable clients allows them to fulfil critical functions such as brokering information and mediating when conflicts arise.Application: Our analysis provides a better understanding of the role of generalist organisations in a network of specialist service organisations. This article concludes that further research on the importance of collaboration, networks and generalist practise is necessary to further develop a research agenda that focuses on how social work is able to address the complex problems of vulnerable target groups.

Services Wanted? Understanding the Non-take-up of Social Support at the Local Level

“…Several scholars emphasize the importance of striking the right balance between specialized and generalist services (see, e.g. Raeymaeckers 2016;Blom 2004). And as Raeymaeckers (2016) finds, generalists act both as brokers and as mediators.…”

Distribution of responsibility in inter-professional teams in welfare-to-work

“…Labour-market participation is thus not reserved for unemployed people with no other challenges than unemployment, but is increasingly seen as a means of ensuring social integration and individual welfare for people with social problems besides unemployment (Møller andStone 2013, Lindsay andHouston 2013). The inclusion of clients with complex challenges under welfare-to-work efforts and the concurrent specialization of services (Grell, Ahmadi, and Blom 2016;Raeymaeckers 2016) have necessitated collaboration across different sectors, as well as a focus on 'holistic' and coordinated interventions (Axelsson and Bihari Axelsson 2006;Røysum 2013).…”

Welfare work in the Brussels prisons: a puzzle with many pieces

“…They work together with more specialist services in order to meet the different needs of the target group, for example when met with an addiction problem. The collaboration between generalist and specialist services offers added value for vulnerable target groups such as detainees [Maschi, 2009;Ellem et al, 2012;Raeymaeckers, 2016]. The specialized services focus on one specific problem or target group while generalist social work focuses on different target groups or problems in different areas of life [Blom, 2004;Perlinski et al, 2013;Raeymaeckers, 2016].…”