Social work as a meso-level profession: towards network-oriented practice and research

Social work practitioners and academics have long recognised that the various problems faced by service users are linked to the wider social structures in which they are embedded. Here, I argue that a network perspective enables us to advance the theory and analysis of the relational dimensions of social work practice. Network-oriented social work understands service users as network structures located at the meso level of society. First, this paper presents the benefits of locating service users at the meso level of society. Second, the key concepts fundamental to network-oriented social work are outlined. Third, this paper demonstrates how Social Network Analysis can be used to scientifically analyse the personal networks of service users. Network-oriented social work is helpful as a contextual framework so that the structural disadvantages of service users can be better understood, processed in social work practice, and scientifically analysed.