As climate change is linked with the day-to-day struggles of people that social workers engage with, it has direct and immediate relevance for the profession. This ongoing study explores in which ways social workers are conscious of and integrate climate change discourses and interventions into their daily work as a part of a re-politicizing and emancipatory social work approach.
Method: So far, 12 semi-structured interviews with social workers have been conducted.
Findings: The urgency of the issue is strongly felt in many of their (private) consciousnesses and climate-related adaptations are also listed in the professional context. However, these changes are not seen as sufficient to significantly reduce the footprint, and the issue of climate change is not actively addressed. SW's express that they see no scope for thinking or acting on climate-related issues. The neoliberalisation of the "social market" is seen by most as restrictive, as is the increasingly individualised nature of work. As a result of NPM, SW's describe their tasks being increasingly specified, fragmented and manual based, leading to a limitation of their ability to act. They express a lack of both knowledge and tools to work on the topic and call for clear elements in training and continuing education.
Conclusion: SW's need to further engender consciousness and facilitate change towards a reconceptualization of social work as a politicized profession so that they can address the multiplicity of precursors to and consequences of Climate Change in order to prepare for a society in Climate Crisis.