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Social work in Israel: professional characteristics in an international comparative perspective
Author(s) -
Weiss Idit,
Spiro Shimon,
Sherer Moshe,
KorinLanger Nora
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of social welfare
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1468-2397
pISSN - 1369-6866
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2004.00324.x
Subject(s) - social work , autonomy , monopoly , competence (human resources) , social welfare , public relations , sociology , welfare state , trademark , ethical code , political science , social psychology , psychology , law , economics , market economy , politics
This article employs a comparative framework in the analysis of the professional characteristics of social work in Israel. Using the attributes and the power approaches to professions, Israeli social work is analysed according to eight variables: a protected ‘trademark’, monopoly over social care and delivery of services within state welfare systems, occupational autonomy, length of training and control over training, internal differentiation by levels of expertise and competence, professional organisation, a sanction‐backed code of ethics, and material and symbolic rewards. The analysis reveals that Israeli social work has undergone an extensive professionalisation process and that it has characteristics that are not common in other countries. Initial explanations for this process are offered and discussed.