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BJSW Advance Access originally published online on October 10, 2007
British Journal of Social Work 2009 39(2):318-333; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcm115
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

The Outcomes Research Project: An Exploration of Customary Practice in Australian Health Settings

Margaret Shapiro, Deborah Setterlund, Jennifer Warburton, Ian O’Connor and Sue Cumming

Dr Margaret Shapiro is an Associate Professor of the School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.

Dr Deborah Setterlund is a Senior Lecturer of the School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.

Dr Jennifer Warburton is a Senior Lecturer of the School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.

Prof. Ian O’Connor is a Vice Chancellor and President of the Griffith University, Kessels Rd, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.

Ms. Sue Cumming is a Director of the Social Work, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.

Correspondence to Dr. Margaret Shapiro, Associate Professor, School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. E-mail: m.shapiro{at}uq.edu.au


  Abstract

In response to the new ‘outcomes movement’ in health care settings internationally, social workers are increasingly expected to communicate their practice using the language of outcomes. Yet, little research has focused on the language that social workers use to describe their practice and how they identify appropriate interventions and link them to clearly defined evaluative outcomes. This paper is part of a large programme of research exploring and identifying issues associated with social work practice in the Australian health context. Specifically, the paper draws on qualitative data from the first stage of the project that explores issues associated with customary social work practice. Findings from the paper suggest clear evidence of tensions and difficulties experienced by social workers in attempting to communicate the critical expertise behind their practice and that practitioners have only rudimentary understanding of the concepts of outcomes and evaluation. A key challenge for social work research concerns how to encourage the profession actively to engage with the outcomes movement whilst maintaining the core principles and values of social work.

Keywords: outcomes, evaluation, health, social work


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