Felice D. Perlmutter, MSW, Ph.D. The name of a family in the field of social work management. Many social work management students read her early book in the field, Hat exchange: From social work practice to management Pediatricians are aimed to help decide where to move from casework and group work to management anywhere. Temple University emeritus professor Perlmutter, in addition to the ten books' articles on social policy, human services, and nonprofit management,
In 1974, at Temple University which is one of the first programs of social work management, it helped to start social administration school. Perlmutter is one of the founder of the national network of social work managers. "The idea that social work managers needed to have their own specialized organization that promised to support specific tasks with the development of professional expertise was the reason we established our network," Perlmutter I will explain.
The national network of social work managers recently celebrated the 20th anniversary at the annual research laboratory held at Jane Adder Social Work College of Illinois University in Chicago. Mr. Perlmutter was one of a number of founder and keynote speaker of this event. I got the opportunity to chat with Perlmutter how the profession changed in the past 20 years since the network was founded. She did not keep secret the fact that she came with an agenda for the 20th anniversary event. She thinks that social work management as a profession is in danger. She wanted to develop support to change these managers to be trained and how job titles are approved and licensed.
Jones: You write a wide range of social workers in managerial positions. Was the management constantly your concern?
Perlmutter: I have been at the forefront for many years. At first I played a role as a group worker, then a community organizer, then an administrator, then an educator. My early years as a social worker was the era when our profession was proud and productive, and the avant-garde era of social movement and social change. My research is related to administration and policy, I have always been engaged in research protocols.
Jones: What social work must contribute to the replicated management in other fields?
Perlmutter: This is a case of a small number of occupations oriented towards consumers as a lifestyle such as living-oriented consumers, tackling social problems, emphasizing social policy, promoting advocacy It is one. The value of a person with a degree in social work in management is their orientation to clients, services, and advocacy.
Jones: What are the tasks of organization management today?
Perlmutter: Today's Human Services Organization is even more difficult to implement and more difficult to implement than the business because of the additional challenge of balancing corporate mission and client focus with business dimension. Business skills such as financial management, publicity, development, strategy planning are necessary for social work manager. So it's a very difficult job. Extensive preparation is necessary.
Jones: How is the external environment different for social workers?
Perlmutter: I would like to emphasize that the whole external context in which people practice changed is really big because social problems become more complicated and financing becomes more difficult. It is management oriented from clinical orientation. Clinically oriented practitioners are generally focused on the current situation, here and now, and neutral with the customer. In contrast, the administrator is not a specific client, but a more prospective, more aggressive decision maker who is concerned about the whole system.
Jones: I know that you recently updated Exchange the hat. What changed since the first edition was released in 1984?
Perlmutter: Wendy Crook joined me in this second edition collaborative edition. So I updated the agencies and types of problems to use as examples of cases. For example, narcotics poisoning agencies, services for violent women, AID organizations, etc. were not treated in the first edition. And, to help decide when social workers are interested in these macroscopic aspects at any time, we will discuss the changing needs for management leadership, such as decision making, governance and government relations.
Jones : And is the decision more complicated than today?
Perlmutter: I will say so. Given the challenges in our society today, social institutions often need to participate in partnerships and partnerships not only at the local level but also at the state and federal levels. It is a political and interpersonal process and requires different skills. You must be comfortable to go out and play with the big boys. Today's social work manager must be a politician and must be familiar with the board.
Jones: The network is very interested in increasingly social service organizations hiring social workers so far to become executives of senior executives (often MBAs or lawyers). What happened?
Perlmutter: The skill required at the top is another skill, not a clinical skill. I think that is where social work deceives it. This is no longer an easy process of raising a line from staff to administrator, administrator. People doing this are not prepared. It is a failure when there are people trained as a clinician, political, and there are clues about other skills that you need to become successful executives.
Jones: Is there some value in having a trained social worker running a social work organization?
Perlmutter: The value of having a person with this particular degree is the direction of clients and services, but that is not happening. I was annoyed by the research by Dona Hardina on the network. We found that this particular trained person at the top of the organization does not give the staff and clients the authority to participate in decisions. We have this rhetoric on empowerment and participation decision, but we do not practice it. We will use it as a mantra. For years we are on our own denial and are obsessed with these words.
Jones: Is this reflection of the generic approach many social work schools have done?
Perlmutter: I think that the occupation has been lost in preparation for management. Many of us taught in social work school management procedures have moved our specialty activities to other organizations that are compatible with our educational philosophy. And unfortunately, the general atmosphere of many schools neglects or denies preparation for management. I do not believe that occupations respond appropriately in any way. You should admit that you must resign that you are not the chief executive and you will be a medium sized administrator who is managing and supervising.
Jones: Why did this happen? Does this reflect the students entering these schools?
Perlmutter: It is a fact that many students entering these schools consider it the best way to go for personal practice. They do not want to go to PhD. If you proceed to the psychology course and get a license, they will come for MSW.
Jones: Professional and licensing organizations tend to be driven by the needs and interests of members. Therefore, if this is very emphasized in the direction of clinical concern, it must be an important factor.
Perlmutter: This problem is certainly exacerbated by the Social Work Education Council, an accreditation body in the field of social work education. CSWE is obstacle because it requires a general first year. I asked what kind of administrative specialization CSWE has. I was talking to one of their experts about my surprise and disgust. "Unfortunately, CSWE does not maintain a list of management vocational schools." I was also surprised by the CSWE website catalog catalog: international practice, diversity, rural areas, domestic violence , Emphasis was placed on a special population such as women's health, but there was no publication on management and management, does this indicate CSWE's carelessness against management?
Jones: How is the National Association of Social Workers?
Perlmutter: It also focuses on clinical research. I challenged the network: NASW 's silence is only by paying attention to what I did not advocate for these managers, against myths of many occupations, clinical licenses , Supporting the idea that rising from the front line is the best training for management. Silence for advanced clinical social worker testing and licensing approval and necessary training for social work manager does not help us a bit!
Jones: Are you abandoning social worker managerial positions? If social workers do not take the leadership of social services organizations and become organized by lawyers and lawyers, it will be a very different field.
Perlmutter: Although it is different, it is not necessarily bad. I think there are compatible values from many other people in these positions from other occupations. You can hire someone who has clinical skills. You need interpersonal skills. One of my best students who got an MBA from Wharton taught me that they talked about the interpersonal skills and ethics of the business school. These skills are not an exclusive area of social work.
Jones: Dr. Perlmutter, Thank you for sharing your views with me. Are there other ideas for the readers? Today's social work What?
Perlmutter: From the organizational philosophy, we believe that every organization wants to survive. The way for social work management to survive is a transition that involves changing social work schools, CSWE's accreditation process, educational preparation in state license acquisition. The criteria for social work managers developed by the network is certainly an important first step and is necessary, but it is not enough to ensure the survival of social work management.
Side bar:
Nationwide network of social work managers
The national network of social work managers is a specialized organization that supports the work of social work managers. The network has created a certificate of exercise standards and social work manager, certified social work manager (CSWM). The network has an annual training institution that supports the professional development of social work managers. The network also publishes a reputable journal in social work and a newsletter of information that all members receive.
EmoticonEmoticon