Social Work Frameworks: Systems Theory
As social workers in the NDIS, we draw upon our training in social work theories to assist participants in navigating the numerous systems within their lives. One of our favourite social work theories we draw on daily is systems theory. This blog will touch on the basics of the role of social work in Australia, why social workers use theories and summarise what systems theory is when it comes to social work.
What is the role of a social worker?
Social workers are allied health professionals who help people address personal challenges and navigate complex systems and barriers. They work directly with individuals, families, groups, workplaces, and communities, providing support, counselling, information, and links to other support services.
What can a social worker do in Australia?
The unique lens and skillset of a social worker is highly sought after across various workplace settings and systems, such as:
Hospital/medical
Education
Government
Welfare and advocacy agencies
NDIS
Prison
Courts
Police force
Private organisations
Social workers may specialise in certain areas, such as:
Mental health
Disability
Substance use
Domestic and sexual violence
Homelessness
Immigration
Asylum seeker and refugee
Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
School refusal
Trauma
Relationships
Counselling
Grief/bereavement
Case management
Community engagement
As there are many settings and sectors to which social workers can bring their expertise, there are many diverse approaches social workers learn to draw on in the field. These different perspectives social workers utilise when understanding and supporting people are called social work theories.
‘Social work theories serve as foundational frameworks guiding practice, informing interventions, and understanding human behaviour in social contexts. They are essential tools for addressing individual and systemic challenges, providing critical insights from psychological and sociological perspectives.’ Anne Gomez
Social work theories
Social work theories incorporate theories and knowledge shared across disciplines, such as psychology, philosophy, economics, education, health, and anthropology. These theories have been refined based on scientific evidence, research, and observations.
Social workers often work among and directly support vulnerable people within complex organisations and structures. At any time, various competing influences and factors affect any system (a group of related things that work together as a whole, including an individual, group, or organisation; more on this later), which is why social work theories are pivotal for social workers to understand and explain human behaviour within various systems.
Social work theories provide social workers with methods to understand and describe the motivations, impulses, personalities, and forces that affect people's behaviour. By using theory to assess client needs; social workers can provide more tailored, person-centred interventions.
‘Whether drawing from psychological or sociological theories, social work theory guides efforts to address social injustice and empower individuals for positive change. Ultimately, it is a roadmap for navigating complex human experiences and societal systems.' Anne Gomez
Given the complexities of the human experience, the societies we live in, and the social work role, there are over a dozen social work theories, additional approaches, and tools social workers learn throughout their tertiary education and build upon throughout their careers. In our work as NDIS social workers, support coordinators and psychosocial functional capacity assessors, we've found that systems theory is one of the most utilised theories for assisting and supporting our clients.
What is systems theory?
Systems theory isn't exclusive to social work; it's utilised across many disciplines to understand a system better. In its simplest form, it promotes the idea that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In systems theory, the idea is that a system cannot be understood by merely identifying each component; the relationships, structure, and boundaries between each component affect the system as a whole and our understanding of it.
'A system - whether it is a cell, an organ, an individual, a family, or a corporation—is composed of interdependent elements that share some common goals, interrelated functions, boundaries, and an identity.' Barbara M. Newman, Philip R. Newman
What is systems theory in social work?
How does systems theory apply in social work? Systems theory promotes focusing on the context of a given situation rather than narrowing in on a particular issue or individual. It emphasises that all the factors within a system affect each other and that we should address how they affect one another when assessing the system. Recognising this interconnectedness, social workers apply system theory to address needs and challenges in a situation. System theory reminds us that various factors influence behaviour when working together to form a system.
For one individual, their varying systems may include familial and social relationships, environment, economic status, sexual orientation, cultural background, religion, community, gender, disability, and neurodiversity.
These components can significantly affect an individual's mental health and well-being. Systems theory highlights the importance of recognising the exchange occurring between an individual and their environment (various systems) when trying to understand their situation.
‘Social workers can apply systems theory to uncover how those factors — alone or in combination — influence people’s thoughts and actions.’ Social Work Licence Map
Working alongside individuals to understand the systems they are in, social workers can help expand or protect boundaries for their clients, connect them to, or encourage distance from specific environmental influences. Social workers may utilise the theory in trying to understand how things like child abuse, family conflict, and community dysfunction relates to a person’s history or current experience with things like such as anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm, or relationship issues.
Social workers can also use a systems approach to help improve collective outcomes within organisations. For example, in the education system, they may identify and redesign curricula or address cultural competency, or within a family system improve relationships by demonstrating healthier communications styles.
Systems theory highlights through addressing systemic issues; we can improve individual and community well-being.
'The systems approach not only helps the client but also helps the social work profession recognise the common complex systems that positively or negatively influence people—the larger macrosystems of community and culture.’
By observing the various systems that exist for an individual, a social worker knows that multiple factors contribute to an individual's situation. Along with assessing their needs, strengths, and challenges, a social worker can develop tailored interventions to improve their unique situation while assisting in navigating complex social systems and promoting ways of thinking to influence systemic change.