The notion of theories as representing competing framework of explanation to

aid out understanding is suggestive of the possibility of adopting an eclectic

approarch to theorising which enables us to draw on a range of different ideas
which together can help us to strart understand what might be going on and
what the matter is. However, being an electic practitioner is not just about
drawing on different theore-critical thinking skills which seek to see how well
these ideas go together in construct ing a fuller understanding. When critically
analysed , these ideas can serve as an explanation that seeks to help us make
better sense. Theories there serve as a basis for meaning-making and lay the
groundwork for our involvement with service users. However, the adoption of a
social contructionst approarch support us in a critically reflective process of
considering the importance of contextual factors which help shape and construct
our ideas and their influence on our understanding and meaning making
Formal theories and their contribution to practice
Social work takes place in a social and political context. There what social work
is and what social workers do are influenced not only by ideas about the
nature of society but equally, due to its mediating role between the state and teh
individual ( parton 1996). Social works role is also influenced by datates about
the state in walfare and this represents its political context.
In this section, we look at different theories that seek to explain questions about
the nature of society and the role of the individual with in it. Formal theories
represent what is probably most typically thought of as theory by students and
practitioners. theory is what is written down in texts and represent the ideas
that are used to explain and help use understand questions about social work;
wheather, for example, the text attempts to help us make sense of social work
eduction, practice teaching or social work methods of intervention . thus formal
theories of social work represent the ideas which are used to help us make
sense , provide explanations and challenge our thinking about social work. Since
social work falls between the individual and society, we cannot avoid a
consideration of theories about the nature of society , since social work is a
socially mandated activity and will therefore reflect competing views about
societys responsibility to vulnerable and socially excluded groups and
individuals. It is possible therefore, to see why formal texts on social work that
explore questions about the nature of social work can range from type of
education and thaining considered necessary, to databas about its various
praktice settingas and questions about social policy for instance
There are a range iof different explanations or theories which social workers
draw upon to help them make sanse of the practice context of their work , or in
their work with different service user. So, for instance, explanations about child
and adult delopment can draw upon psychological and biological explanations
about human growth and development to develop their understanding. In
addition, social workers are increasingly governed in their role by policies and
produres drawn from welfare legislation, and again, you will find it helpful to
referv to texts such as using the law in social work (2007) by robert john, which

will introduce you to the range of legislation that surrounds the task of social
work
However, in this book, i emphasise the importance of understanding questions
about the nature of spciety, since social work performs a mediatory role between
the individual and society and therefore, explanations about the nature society
influence our view or understanding about the rolr and purpose of social work .
these represent socialogical explanations about the nature of society and be can
be futher described as formal theories which emphasise a social explanation
to help us make sense, unsurprisingly there are different explantions have led
two main competing political views about the role of state of the walfare . one
view involves the belief that individuals should take primary responsibility for
their walfare, independent of goverment involvement, while the alternative view
argues that goverment has a responsibility to support its citizens, particularly
those who are socially and materially disadvantaged. These two opposing views
can be characterised as representing a discourse around right and
responsibilies and will be discussed later on in this chapter. To begin with,
however , we wiil look at the different explanations about the nature of sociiety
and how these views have influenced detabas about the nature of social work
There are theree main theories which seek to explain questions about the nature
of society. The first two are knowns as structuralist approaches , since they see
society as largely shaping social life. However , they provide competing
explanations based on a structural analysis of society and lead to contrasting
views about the role of social work. In contrast, the third explanation is known as
an interpretivist approach and draw on principles of social contructionism and is
know as a social action theory . this approach is concerned more with
explanations about action and meaning and is concerned with how individuals
contruct meaning about their social life . the unit of analysis is the individual and
social life is seen as principally contructed through meaning
Consensus theory
The first structuralist approach to be examined is functionalist or consensus
perspective on the nature of society. The consensus perspective advocates the
importance of a common shared belief system which is learnt through a process
of socialisation, begun initially though the family and continued with in the
education system and reinforced though our socialisation and the mass media,
thuss we are all socialised into a common belief system , a kind of common
culture with expectations about appropriate way