BJSW Advance Access originally published online on November 17, 2005
British Journal of Social Work 2006 36(8):1271-1288; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bch385
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Social Work, Merit and Ethnic Diversity
Nick Johns is a lecturer in Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Plymouth. Having returned to higher education as a mature student, he gained his Ph.D. in 2002. His research interests revolve around issues of equality and diversity in various policy locations and settings.
Bill Jordan is Professor of Social Policy at Plymouth and Huddersfield Universities, and Reader in Social Policy at London Metropolitan University. He worked as a probation officer and social worker for twenty years, and has held visiting chairs in several European countries. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Sex, Money and Power: The Transformation of Collective Life (2004, Polity).
Correspondence to Nick Johns, School of Sociology, Politics and Law, University of Plymouth, 16 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA. E-mail: nrjohns{at}plym.ac.uk
This paper concentrates on the issues of merit and diversity in social work. The principal focus is ethnic diversity, used as an example to illustrate a wider point about diversity. It is clear that ethnic diversity in particular has become a major political objective across the public sector as part of the ‘community cohesion’ initiative. Several benefits have been identified and linked to the achievement of ethnic diversity in the workforce; many of these have appeared in social work debate. The argument here is that while diversity has transformative potential, it must be located within a more radical agenda if it is to be successful. As a profession with a radical thread to its pedigree, social work is well placed to take this agenda forward.
Keywords: merit, diversity, community, radical social work