2010 Special Issue - CALL FOR PAPERS
The British Journal of Social Work Special Issue
The editors of the The British Journal of Social Work invite submission of abstracts for this Special Issue to be guest edited by Dr Jo Warner (University of Kent) and Dr Elaine Sharland (University of Sussex):
'Risk and Social Work: Critical Perspectives’ (Volume 40, No 2, February 2010)
The raised risk consciousness that is now especially prevalent in social, political and cultural life means that risk can be regarded as present everywhere but perhaps nowhere properly understood. Interest in the concept of risk in the context of social work research, theory, practice and education has grown almost exponentially in the past ten to fifteen years. This interest has encompassed an increasingly wide range of issues, including: debates about how risk should be defined or understood; the implications of attempts to balance ‘risks’ with ‘rights’; the processes and challenges of risk assessment in relation to specific service user groups; and macro level analysis of social work in the ‘risk society’. The picture internationally confirms that preoccupation with risk is not just a ‘British disease’.
This Special Issue of the The British Journal of Social Work will provide an opportunity to explore critically what is known about risk in the context of social work, and to develop further major themes that have emerged and are emergent as ‘risk’ has come to occupy centre stage in our field.
The main aims of the Special Issue are:
• To reflect critically and analytically on the concept of risk and its central position in social work research, theory, practice and education.
• To disseminate original and high quality research findings relating to risk in social work
• To extend contemporary debates about the nature of risk in social work, informed by theory, empirical research and/or practice considerations.
• To provide a forum for contributors to engage with ideas about risk from a range of disciplinary perspectives, highlighting the range of knowledges that might usefully inform our understanding of risk and social work.
When formulating abstracts, all prospective authors should note that we expect papers to:
• Offer original insights and critical perspectives on risk and social work, and avoid revisiting issues that have already been explored in articles on risk previously published in BJSW
• Demonstrate informed and reflective focus on substantive social work issues, whether in relation to theoretical developments, research, practice, policy and/or education.
• Where relevant, highlight the importance of ‘positive risk taking’ in social work and/or forms of resistance against ‘risk averse’ behaviour.
• Wherever possible, reflect the international scope of BJSW and ensure that international perspectives are integrated into the discussion. This includes consideration of the devolved nations in the UK.
Papers are particularly welcome that:
• Are submitted by authors from outside the UK who can offer international perspectives on the themes of the Special Issue
• Address key questions such as ‘why risk?’ and ‘why now?’, focusing on contemporary concerns about risk in relation to social work.
• Bring new theoretical perspectives to risk and social work, or apply recognised theoretical perspectives in original ways.
• Address issues that have been under-explored, such as: positive risk taking, risk and the reconfiguration of social work services, risk in social work education, professional identities and risk.
Timescale for Special Issue publication:
Prospective authors must be in a position to meet the following key deadlines if their abstract is accepted:
Full drafts of all papers will be due at the latest by Tuesday, 31st March 2009.
Following peer review, draft papers will be returned to authors by mid-June 2009.
Final versions of manuscripts from authors must be received by Monday, 31st August 2009.
NB: Papers may be submitted in advance of these due dates. In accordance with BJSW’s normal publication procedures, all accepted papers will be published online on the BJSW website in advance of publication in the printed volume.
Guidelines for abstract submission:
Abstract proposals not exceeding 800 words in length should be sent by email to arrive no later than Friday, 14th November 2008 to Dr Jo Warner, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent: j.warner@kent.ac.uk.
