From Rhetoric to Reality: Social Work Leading Change Through Learning and Implementing Community Development Approaches

Despite a strong evidence base demonstrating the potential for community development approaches to promote positive social change in individuals, families and communities, the expansion of individualised casework in the UK in recent years, has led to the marginalisation of community development in social work practice and training. Drawing on an evaluation of a specialist community development training programme, the findings contribute to this evidence base, highlighting the key benefits of adopting a community development approach, as well as identifying challenges faced by social workers. Data from a synchronous survey of 39 social workers who successfully completed the programme indicates how their learning produced a mind-set shift, which enabled them to introduce new approaches, such as co-production and asset-based community development into their practice. This resulted in perceived community benefits such as grassroots leadership and empowerment. This paper makes recommendations to shift policy changes from rhetoric to reality.