Verner Denvall

Evidence in action: a Thompsonian perspective on evidence-based decision-making in social work

Welcome to the first issue of Volume 11, and a new decade for our journal, which celebrated its 10th birthday in 2007. Whilst still a relative youngster as journals go, its development through its early years has been safe and steady, nurtured by careful parenting and the attention of a close and supportive extended family network. Adolescence beckons, with all the excitement and challenges that can be anticipated through the teenage years new relationships, strengthened attachments, and growing maturity without, we hope, too much emotional turmoil. The journal has, with the transition from 2007 to 2008, undergone some changes in the structure of the board. Since 2004, when the original European Journal of Social Work and Social Work in Europe joined to become the journal that exists today, the board has been led by Joint Editors, myself and Karen Lyons, supported by the wise counsel of Michael Preston-Shoot as Managing Editor and experienced members from across Europe. With 2008, Karen and Michael have stepped down from their roles and from the editorial board. Both, in different but very necessary ways, have made a huge contribution to the journal’s quality and success. We will miss them greatly, whilst working hard to preserve and extend the valuable legacy they have given us through their energy, commitment and vision. I have become sole Editor and am delighted to welcome my colleague, Staffan Höjer, to the new post of Deputy Editor. Staffan, based at the University of Göteborg, Sweden, has been a member of the board since 2004, and brings to his new role a wealth of experience, both in publishing and within European academic and professional networks. We look forward to working closely with board colleagues, old and new, and with our widening network of writers and reviewers, to consolidate and continue to build the journal’s future. Within this issue you will find a call for expressions of interest in joining the board, which will expand its membership during the coming year. As the journal moves into its next decade, so a new era of governance negotiation within Europe itself begins. When the European Constitution foundered in 2005, following rejection by voters in France and the Netherlands, and an equivocal reception elsewhere, the search for a framework to address governance issues within Europe continued, culminating with the signing of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2007. Many of the provisions of the constitution find expression here, with measures to deepen and extend collaboration between the member states, and to enhance the EU’s profile and negotiating power in the global political environment. Equally, as with any ‘agreement’ of this nature in the diverse and widening European context, the treaty represents an attempt to agree on what can be agreed whilst differing on what cannot, and thus contains checks and balances, permissions and restrictions, which enable member states to preserve, and negotiate within their domestic context the delicate question of, sovereignty. Of particular interest to those working in the social professions, perhaps, is the destiny of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is made legally binding by the new treaty. What this actually means is the subject of much debate, with differing interpretations on the breadth of its application within the delicately balancedEvidence-based practice presupposes evidence-based decision-making. In the debate it is argued that a social work fashioned after evidence should be more rational, less authoritarian, and built on scientific knowledge, respect and ethics. Yet the empirical evidence that this idea works is weak. In fact, the difficulties met during efforts to implement evidence could be a sound reaction. Indeed, difficulties experienced could be a defensive organizational reaction to a new, disturbing technology. In this article, James D. Thompsons classical study Organizations in Action from 1967 is applied to evidence-based decision-making in social work. It shows, to date, that many problems have been given, at best, tenuous attention. It is argued that a focus on evidence will raise ambiguity and complexity levels within organizations, and that new professional specialists will emerge. Further, new constellations of power will appear, leading to a change of balance within the domains of social work.

Evidence in action: a Thompsonian perspective on evidence-based decision-making in social work: Evidens i aktion: ett Thompsonskt perspektiv på evidensbaserat beslutsfattande i socialt arbete

Evidence-based practice presupposes evidence-based decision-making. In the debate it is argued that a social work fashioned after evidence should be more rational, less authoritarian, and built on scientific knowledge, respect and ethics. Yet the empirical evidence that this idea works is weak. In fact, the difficulties met during efforts to implement evidence could be a sound reaction. Indeed, difficulties experienced could be a defensive organizational reaction to a new, disturbing technology. In this article, James D. Thompsons classical study Organizations in Action from 1967 is applied to evidence-based decision-making in social work. It shows, to date, that many problems have been given, at best, tenuous attention. It is argued that a focus on evidence will raise ambiguity and complexity levels within organizations, and that new professional specialists will emerge. Further, new constellations of power will appear, leading to a change of balance within the domains of social work.

The pursuit of standardization in domestic violence social work: A multiple case study of how the idea of using risk assessment tools is manifested and processed in the Swedish social services:

This multiple case study examines how the idea of using risk assessment tools is manifested and processed in Swedish social services. Based on the analysis of interviews with different stakeholders and of organizational documents in two social service organizations, we investigate the actors who control local risk assessment practices. The findings illustrate that a relatively small group of social workers in the organizations have been able to forward their claims and decide how risk assessment work should be carried out without much intrusion from local managers or politicians. The findings also validate other studies that found that increased standardization can strengthen social workers’ ability to perform their professional task rather than lead to de-professionalization. This article ends with a discussion of what risk assessment practices might mean for domestic violence victims.

Innovations and social problem solving: A comparative study

This article explores the practical implementation of two innovative projects in Denmark and Sweden. The research is motivated by the high political interest in innovations as a modern quick fix to societal problems. Innovations are regarded as an all-round solution; however, research has mainly been focused on technical and economic factors without considering social problem solving. Utilizing ethnographic methodology, the study reveals that the same innovative process solves problems on one structural level, but creates new problems on another. Faith is generally seen as an important element of innovations geared to social problem solving. Results show that faith is bound to certain structural levels and that a given innovative process runs the risk of creating conflicting perceptions at different levels. The research demonstrates the importance of including components such as value differences, conflicts of interest, and ideology when promoting innovations and when studying innovative efforts.

Supply and Demand. Evaluation training for Social Work and Social Care in a Swedish Context

Only during the last two decades has the discourse on evaluation been on the Swedish agenda of social work and social care. One assumption is that a conscious need for evaluation knowledge and evaluation capacity has finally surfaced. This is based on the view that work efforts of social service organizations are regarded as chiefly authority‐based and to a lesser degree based upon scientific knowledge. This article addresses two questions: which actors are involved in training evaluators in, and of, social work in Sweden and what kind of knowledge is communicated in training programmes? Further, is the discourse of evidence‐based practice incorporated into the training of social workers? A national study in Sweden, conducted in 2002, reveals that only a minority of social work and social care students are exposed to the concept and practice of evaluation throughout their education, and this is in a most rudimentary way. R&D units offer practitioners more training in evaluation and related knowledge development activities. However, this work is not conducted in a focused manner nor is every Swedish municipality necessarily targeted. If evaluation education and training opportunities are viewed in light of a supply‐and‐demand situation, we may find an explanation of the current curriculum for evaluation in the social work educational system and the corresponding evaluation practice levels in social service organizations.

The standardizers: social workers’ role when implementing assessment tools in the Swedish social services

Abstract Standardisation and standards are common in the modern world, including in social work. This article focuses on social workers who implement the assessment tool Children’s needs in focus (Barns behov i centrum BBIC) in Swedish social work with children and families. Inspired by ‘siblings’ in the UK, the National Board of Health and Welfare has developed and supported the implementation of the BBIC. From the start, the implementation strategy was to engage well-educated and experienced social workers as educators. The article studies these educators (standardizers) as mediators between national imperatives and local practice during the implementation of the BBIC in the social services. Based on interviews with 10 BBIC educators, three standardizer roles were identified: the instrumental, the adaptive and the transformative. These roles affect the practice of social work in potentially different ways.

Evaluating homelessness – a comparative analysis of top-ten articles from the US and Europe

ABSTRACT Homelessness as a political and social dominion has a number of features that make it particularly difficult to tackle. In addition to being a wicked problem, homelessness offers several analytical avenues. How do these characteristics affect the evaluation of programmes and projects aspiring to combat homelessness? Dissimilar pictures and solutions regarding homelessness in the US and in European countries will likely affect recommendations given as a result of evaluations performed. For this study, the empirical base is a sample of the most cited evaluations of homelessness programmes published in professional journals between 1996 and 2010. Most of these evaluations are from the US. These US evaluations more often use large-scale national programmes and quantitative methods, whereas European evaluations more often have smaller sample sizes and qualitative methods. In both regions, the evaluators seldom use theory from social science when analysing their findings. It is suggested that European evaluation research should be noticed to a larger extent since it is probably better suited for application in a European context.

Data recording in performance management : trouble with the logics

In recent years, performance management (PM) has become a buzzword in public sector organizations. Well-functioning PM systems rely on valid performance data, but critics point out that conflicting rationale or logic among professional staff in recording information can undermine the quality of the data. Based on a case study of social service staff members, the authors explore three recording logics. The findings reveal a complexity of recording behavior and show how frontline staff shift between recording logics according to the situation. The actual data recordings depend not only on the overall logic but also on factors such as attitudes, assumptions, and motives. The authors suggest that shifting recording logics weaken the validity of performance data. These shifts undermine the idea of PM as a trustworthy strategy to bridge the gap between professional and managerial staff, as well as the possibility of a well-informed management.

Knocking on heaven’s door: The evaluation community goes to church

Ideas and concepts about evaluation travel around the globe. Studies of how evaluation models are disseminated, diffused and implemented are important. In this article, we examine an organization with a history of traditions and legitimacy and a successful audit of its own and how it responds to modern concepts of administration where evaluation plays an important role. Based on an analytical framework from organizational theory, we show how an evaluation model has been either adopted, rejected or transformed depending on the local context and consider why central policies have had limited success in its implementation. This article should contribute to a better understanding of the transformation that evaluation undergoes in the journey between and within organizations.