Recognition of shared biographical experiences: potential for democratisation processes in social work

This article examines the relevance of shared biographical experiences of social work professionals and service users, exploring their implications for professional practice and democratic participation within the profession. Drawing on 13 expert interviews conducted in German-speaking contexts, the article researches how professionals’ lived experiences are perceived and utilised within social work organisations. The findings reveal a paradoxical dynamic: while shared biographical experiences are recognised as potentially valuable resources that can enhance understanding and professional relationships, they are simultaneously problematised as risks to professional agency. Professionals with shared lived experiences are positioned as ‘provisional professionals’ who must undergo individual ‘processing’ to transform their biographical knowledge into acceptable professional practice. This processing occurs largely without institutional support, relegating structural challenges to individual responsibility. The analysis demonstrates a variation in how epistemic injustice is created in social work, as experiential knowledge is systematically devalued. This undermines the profession’s democratic aspirations by constraining the agency and participation of ‘affected’ professionals. The article concludes that recognising shared biographical experiences as legitimate professional resources could enhance both democratic participation among professionals and service accessibility for users, thereby strengthening social work’s commitment to inclusive practice and social justice.