Uncovering the Double-Edged Sword of Inter-Organisational Networks of Welfare Services: Tackling Wicked Issues in Social Work

Abstract

This article deals with the tendency within the field of social work practice to create inter-organisational networks for welfare provision. We highlight the opportunities that then arise for social work to tackle social exclusion, and to perform its mediating role between the public sphere of government and the private sphere of individuals and families. We argue that the advantages of inter-organisational networking and collaboration can be realised by overcoming fragmentation of care at the micro level of welfare provision to citizens, but also by using these networks as a forum for debate to challenge dominant conceptualisations of complex social problems across organisational and sectorial boundaries. However, we also point to the danger of a so-called 'network euphoria', and discuss some of the risks associated with working together through networks. Therefore, the central argument of the article implies that those involved in these networks need to develop a common framework, or value base, with reference to human rights and principles of social justice.

The Long and Winding Road: Building Legitimacy for Complex Social Innovation in Networks

“…The extant research was conducted in the home‐care sector. Home‐care providers increasingly engage in interorganizational networks to develop social NSCs to ensure that vulnerable populations are fully cared for in health and welfare services (De Corte et al, ; van Riel et al, ). Specifically, this research adopts a case study design to examine social NSC legitimation in its real‐world context.…”

“…Recent studies have focused on such social NSCs and their impact on the quality of welfare and health provision, thereby showing positive effects for the targeted populations (e.g., De Corte, Verschuere, Roets, and De Bie, ; De Regge et al, ). Many of these services, however, fail to successfully realize social benefits because of pre‐NSC launch difficulties of the networks developing such innovations (Huxham and Vangen, ; Popp, MacKean, Casebeer, Milward, and Lindstrom, ).…”

Managing the flow of private information on children and parents in poverty situations: Creating a panoptic eye in interorganizational networks?

“…The well‐intended idea of providing a differentiated supply of social services for families (Mkandawire, ), however, implies that welfare recipients often encounter substantial obstacles or thresholds at the supply side of welfare provision, preventing them from benefiting from high‐quality social services (Roets, Roose, Schiettecat, & Vandenbroeck, . Moreover, welfare recipients increasingly seem to suffer from “the complex and multidimensional character of social problems in contemporary Western welfare states” (De Corte, Verschuere, Roets, & Bouverne‐De Bie, : 4). In research, this phenomenon is referred to as “wicked issues,” “which cut across a diversity of service areas and policy domains and are too complex to be dealt with by single welfare organisations” (De Corte et al, : 4).…”

“…Moreover, welfare recipients increasingly seem to suffer from “the complex and multidimensional character of social problems in contemporary Western welfare states” (De Corte, Verschuere, Roets, & Bouverne‐De Bie, : 4). In research, this phenomenon is referred to as “wicked issues,” “which cut across a diversity of service areas and policy domains and are too complex to be dealt with by single welfare organisations” (De Corte et al, : 4). In recent decades, many countries have therefore initiated a countermovement of interorganizational networking to fill the gaps in social work service provision and to overcome deficiencies in the institutional division and distribution of welfare knowledge (Allen, ; Provan, ; Vandenbroeck & Lazzari, ).…”

“…In recent decades, many countries have therefore initiated a countermovement of interorganizational networking to fill the gaps in social work service provision and to overcome deficiencies in the institutional division and distribution of welfare knowledge (Allen, ; Provan, ; Vandenbroeck & Lazzari, ). Also in the field of child and family social work, many efforts have been made to create interorganizational networks that involve a wide range of locally embedded social work actors (see Roets et al, ; Allen, ; De Corte et al, ; Frost, ; Garrett, ). In this development, interorganizational collaboration and the integration of services are perceived as systemic and sustainable solutions for the current and historical fragmentation of services (Allen, ; Anthony, King, & Austin, ).…”