Reinventing the employable citizen: a perspective for social work

Authors:
ROETS Griet, et al
Journal article citation:
British Journal of Social Work, 42(1), 2012, pp.94-110.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Modern economies try to employ economically inactive individuals, such as people with chronic mental health problems, through a wide range of strategies. This article, based on a project in Flanders, Belgium, in which social workers are charged with managing labour market training programmes, explores the support elements available for people with mental health problems. It aims to transfer the Belgian experience to the British context in an analysis of the various notions and interpretations of citizenship in social practices. In the analysis, the authors differentiate between notions and experiences of normative and relational citizenship. They argue that a relational approach to citizenship enables social workers in Belgium to make use of their discretionary space to negotiate employment trajectories in a flexible way. In conclusion, social workers are in a critical position to influence social policy makers.

Subject terms:
mental health problems, social workers, citizenship, employment;
Location(s):
Belgium
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1468-263X
ISSN print:
0045-3102

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