Fabio Folgheraiter

The Relational Theory of Social Work: Phenomenological Foundations presents readers with a clear theoretical and methodological conceptualization of helping practices through the lens of one of the most prominent paradigmatical developments in social work—the Relational Method. It provides readers with guidelines at policy, management, and fieldwork levels, which can be applied across all areas of professional social work. The text treats social problems not as pathologies that need to be cured, but as complex events that require awareness and the participation of a community of actors to be addressed effectively. Readers learn about the nuances of collective agency and "coping networks," the tapestry of social relations that interweave in shared caring action. The book explores how social workers can catalyze and structure these networks to enable people to cope with life's complexities, from technical problems that can be solved with specific techniques to more complex life situations that demand a complete reorganization of one's lifestyle. The Relational Theory of Social Work is an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in social work and community development. Its focus on reflective practice and phenomenological aspect of social action, and it provides readers with an insightful and innovative exploration of social problems and how to address them.

In this innovative book, a revised English edition of an important Italian text, Fabio Folgheraiter presents a systematic introduction to networking and reflexive practice in social work. He draws on Italian experience and practice in community care and development to foster a deeper understanding of the relational core of social `problems' and `solutions', demonstrating an alternative approach to the current trend in positivistic evidence-based methods. The text explores how the interested parties in social care (users, carers, neighbours, volunteers, professional workers, managers, policy makers) can acquire a shared power in care planning and decision making. Folgheraiter demonstrates that when this networking and empowerment occurs, caring initiatives become truly social based and their efficacy increases. This book provides the framework for the repositioning of social care practice in relation to the state and civil society. The model of practice proposed is an important step towards the development of networks that can effect change locally, nationally and globally.