Journal of Social Work

* Findings: Selected findings relating to the genealogical and archaeological construction of social work discourse in Ireland are provided to illuminate how its particular historical pathways both enabled and constrained its development. It was found that, to some extent, conceptualizations of social work in the context of its space within the social were applicable to the Irish context. However, it was also found that a number of other factors were also significant, implying the need for problematization of existing theories of the social.

* Applications: Although some of the findings relate directly to the particular spatial context of Ireland, others are transferable to the UK and international contexts. The research asserts that, while social work represents a diffuse and complex activity, enabled and constrained by its genealogical context, the potential exists in the profession for greater attention to be paid to its archaeological construction. In light of contemporary neo-liberal conditions of governance, the need for such attention is emphasized.

* Findings: These arguments are not easy, but have the potential to prompt moral panic, based in part on journalists' contributions, which rely on inappropriate simplification of selected academic work that supports these links or cycles. Such an over-simplified version can develop an energy of its own or a quasi-autonomous status (Foucault, 1969) that permeates public consciousness and professional practice.

* Applications: The article questions this process and the coherence of the arguments, and identifies some limitations for social work practice arising from this problematic and pervasive approach.

* Findings: There is an extensive and long-standing literature base relating to loss and grief. However, the major focus of such work is predominantly psychological and individualistic in its focus. Only recently a solid body of work relating to the sociological dimensions of loss and grief has begun to build up. This new literature has largely followed the pattern of the development of anti-discriminatory practice in social work, with a major emphasis on class, race and gender, and little attention paid to the less well-established forms of discrimination such as ageism, disablism and heterosexism.

* Applications: This article explores the relationship between these three forms of discrimination and loss and grief, with a view to establishing the importance of developing a broad-based anti-discriminatory practice in this important area of social work.

* Findings: The article briefly traces the historical development of the concepts of risk and uncertainty and identifies a number of theoretical frameworks, noting that the risk society is marked by change, uncertainty, and a reduced faith in experts. Some commentators have drawn out the implications of these ideas for social work. At present, however, we lack a social model of risk. The article describes a continuum of risk management, marked by controlling attitudes at one end and more empowering approaches at the other. The former is evident in risk avoidance strategies, the latter in positive risk-taking; the literature on each is reviewed.

* Applications: The views of service users are largely absent from the literature but their role in taking and managing risks on an everyday basis should not be overlooked, nor their potential to play a more significant role in the process. Pointers for future research are identified.

* Findings: The likely setting of registerable qualifications for workers in residential child care at Vocational Qualification (VQ) level calls into question an erstwhile consensus favouring parity with other areas of social work. This may merely expose more fundamental structural and pedagogical differences between residential child care and the social work profession as it has developed.

* Applications: Possible routes through which residential child care might achieve a professional identity and knowledge base, and some of the requirements for this to come about, are considered.