Social Workers in Political Office : A Comparative Perspective on Recruitment, Career Patterns and Social Advocacy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kindler, Tobias.

Contributor:

Leitner, Sigrid.

Löffler, Eva Maria.

Stolz, Klaus.

Series:

Research in Social Work Series

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (235 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bristol : Policy Press, 2025.

Summary:

One of the most significant ways that social workers can engage with policy is by holding elected office. How and why do social workers transition into political roles? And what impact do they have on policy making once they get there?

Contents:

Front Cover

Half Title

Series Information

Social Workers in Political Office: A Comparative Perspective on Recruitment, Career Patterns and Social Advocacy

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

List of figures and tables

Notes on contributors

Acknowledgements

1 Social workers in political office: conceptual framework and research agenda

Conceptual framework

Social work as a profession

Institutional opportunity structures

Political recruitment

Political career patterns

Social advocacy

Structure of the book

References

2 Austria: social workers with political responsibility at the national level

Conclusion

Note

3 Canada: social workers in the House of Commons

Pre-​parliamentary careers

Parliamentary careers

Post-​parliamentary careers

4 Czechia: social workers as members of the Czech parliament

Availability

Accessibility

Attractiveness

Funding

5 Finland: taking political office to a new level?

Political recruitment at the national level

Political recruitment in the wellbeing services counties

Career paths at national level

Career paths at county level

References.

6 Germany: between civic engagement and social advocacy

Notes

7 Israel: a limited presence on the national level

The Israeli welfare state and its social services

Social work in Israel

Professional roles before the Knesset

Political careers

8 Italy: social workers in political office as a municipal phenomenon

Social workers holding elected office at national level

SWHEOs at the municipal level

Drivers of engagement

Perceived impact of action as formal policy actors

Relevance of educational and professional background

Uniqueness of social workers as politicians in Italy

Localism: Opportunities and problems for SWHEOs in Italy

9 Portugal: delayed political engagement and short terms of office

Appendix A: Biograms of social workers elected to office in national and regional parliaments

MP1

MP2

MP3

MP-​RP (Madeira Regional Parliament)

Appendix B: Biograms of social workers elected as mayor

M1*

M2*

10 Switzerland: strong representation of social workers in the cantonal and federal parliaments

Institutional opportunity structures.

Political recruitment

11 United Kingdom: social workers in Westminster -​ party or profession?

Data collection

Results

Social work as a politics-​facilitating profession

Pathways into Parliament

Careers after Parliament

12 United States: opportunities and barriers for social work members of Congress

Social work education and licensure

Professional associations

Practice areas

Structure of the US government

Interest groups

Accessibility and attractiveness of Congress for social workers

Pre-​congressional careers

Congressional tenure

Post-​congressional careers

Sponsored legislation

Committee assignments

Relationship with the NASW

13 Comparative considerations on social workers in political office

Final observations and research perspectives

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4473-7350-2

9781447373506

OCLC:

1547079793