Introducing anti-oppressive social work practices in public services: Rhetoric to practice

While anti-oppressive social work has become a central focus in theoretical social work discussions, the impact of its principles in the field is still marginal, especially in public social services. The few studies documenting the implementation of anti-oppressive practices in service organisations have typically focused on non-governmental agencies or grass-roots community organisations. The influence of anti-oppressive discourse on the public social services is virtually unknown. This article describes a case study of a long-term, comprehensive change process that aimed to develop a new service based on critical anti-oppressive principles in the public social services. Using quantitative and qualitative data from extensive evaluation studies carried out during different stages of the change process, the article reveals the complexity of introducing anti-oppressive social work principles within the public welfare system. Findings and conclusions, far from categorical, call for a theoretical and practical debate on the role of these principles at the hard core of social work practice: the public services.