Agency in social work with the elderly in institutional rehabilitation

Transkriptio

1 Agency in social work with the elderly in institutional rehabilitation Presentation for 2nd International Conference Practice Research in Social Work Producing Robust Knowledge , Helsinki, Finland Ylva Krokfors Lic. Soc. Sc.

2 What is agency in my research context? Human agency is mainly meaningful intentional everyday behavior and action where the past, present and future are always present. It is built socially as part of institutions, communities, cultural beliefs, norms and interactional relationships. Agency is also influenced by (for example) agent s personal characteristics, values, position and the place where the action is set on

3 What is agency in my research context? It is also reflective intelligence, ability to critically mould ones reception/ sensitivity to react in problematic situations and if needed to abandon familiar schemes or choose another way of acting (Jyrkämä 2008,191,Karvinen-Niinikoski etc.2007, 90-91, Emirbayer, Mische 1998, 963, Biesta, Tedder 2006, 11 Giddens 1984,Ojala, et al.2009, 22; Biesta & Tedder 2007,Jyrkämä 2008,191,Karvinen-Niinikoski etc.2007, 90-91, 11 Giddens 1984).

4 Space of agency psychobiography work experience The social worker education personality cultural backgound The meeting cultural background psychobiography personality The elderly previous rehab. experiences history Space of agency 4 Ylva Krokfors 2009

5 Framework of agency and theory of social domains Jyrki Jyrkämä has, based on semiotic sociology and Anthony Giddens`s structuration theory, created his own framework of agency: Elderly people s agency is monitoring and building their lifespan, acting within their own milieus s time-local framework and as decisionmaking individuals Agency is studied as life-span, structurecoordinates and modalities (Jyrkämä 2010).

6 Framework of agency and theory of social domains Derek Layder has created a theory of social domains. According to it the social reality constitutes of four domains: psychobiography, situated activity, social settings and contextual resources (Layder 2006, 298). In the context that the social worker and the client are in contact, all the above named affect the way they act. the individuals and the situational actions influence equally human relationships

7 Framework of agency and theory of social domains Layder s theory of social domains and Jyrkämä s framework of agency are completing and overlapping each other Human agency is not just here and now, but past experiences, present and future are strongly present. I see agency as a major in which the agent and the action as levels are included (Laulainen 2010,30). My view of agency based on Jyrkämä s and Layders thoughts I (at the moment) call reflective

8 Methodological use of the concepts It can be used by researchers as a method when wanting to analyze client s or social worker s agency It can be used as an interview- method for social workers when interviewing clients It can be used as part of social worker education at the university or in practical social work

9 What is the use of the reflective agency concept for gerontological social work? Making use of reflective agency for example as using the modalities of agency as interviewquestions and to recognize the influence of social domains in an elderly persons agency, could highlight their everyday life more realistically This could be of much help when trying to get an overall picture of the elderly persons life-situation, agency and what premises there are for promoting independent living

10 What is the use of the reflective agency concept for gerontological social work? Looking at the social worker s agency is a way of giving attention to the social work with the elderly and how it is performed Reflecting their own agency help students and professional social workers in finding the focus of their work and promotes their professional development

11 References Biesta G, Tedder M. How is agency possible?. Towards an ecological understanding of agency as achievement. Working paper 5. Learning Lives, University of Exeter. Emirbayer M, Mische A. What is Agency? American Journal of Sociology. Volume 103 Number Giddens A. The constitution of society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Polity Press, Cambridge Jyrkämä J. Toimijuus, ikääntyminen ja arkielämä. Hahmottelua teoreettis- metodologiseksi viitekehykseksi. s Gerontologia

12 References Jyrkämä J. Toimijuus ja toimijatilanteet - aineksia ikääntymisen arjen tutkimiseen,s in Seppänen M, Karisto A, Kröger T (toim.) Vanhuus ja sosiaalityö. Sosiaalityö avuttomuuden ja toimijuuden välissä. PS- Kustannus, Juva Jyrkämä J. Ikääntyminen, toimintakyky ja toimintatilanteet,s In Marin, Marjatta & Hakonen, Sinikka (toim.) Seniorityö arjen kulttuurissa.ps- kustannus, Juva Karvinen- Niinikoski S, Rantalaiho U-M, Salonen J. Työnohjaus sosiaalityössä. Edita, Helsinki 2007.

13 References Krokfors, Y. Näkemyksiä ja kokemuksia gerontologisesta sosiaalityöstä sairaalassa. p In Strömberg- Jakka. M. & Karttunen. T. (eds.) Sosiaalityön haasteet. Tukea ammattilaisten arkeen, PS-kustannus, Jyväskylä Krokfors, Y. Miten sosiaalityöntekijän toimijuus näkyy ikääntyneen haastattelutilanteessa? tapaustutkimus kuntoutuslaitoksesta. Gerontologia 3/2010. Laulainen, S. Jos mittää et anna niin mittää et saa. Strateginen toimijuus ja organisaatiokansalaisuus vanhustyössä.

14 References Layder, D. Intimacy and Power: The dynamics of personal relationships in modern society. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke Layder, D. Understanding Social Theory, Second Edition, Sage Publications, London Ojala, H, Palmu, T, Saarinen, J (toim.).sukupuoli ja toimijuus koulutuksessa. Vastapaino, Tampere Svensson K, Johnsson E, Laanemets L. Handlingsutrymme: utmaningar i socialt arbete. Natur och Kultur, Stockholm 2008.