The Incessant Professionalization of Social Work: Institutional Change As a Catalyst for Strengthening a Professional Project – the Leps Experience in Italy
The Incessant Professionalization of Social Work: Institutional Change As a Catalyst for Strengthening a Professional Project – the Leps Experience in Italy
Thursday, 10 July 2025: 12:15
Location: SJES002 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Oral Presentation
The introduction of "Essential Levels of Social Services" (LEPS) in Italy opened a road to the further professionalization of social workers. The LEPS are designed to ensure minimum standards of social services throughout the country. They define the basic service levels that all local authorities are obliged to provide, focusing on reducing inequalities and enhancing the quality of services. The government ensures funds and guidelines to help local authorities meet these standards.
In this respect, the establishment of the "LEPS Supervision" has raised critical questions regarding how this measure will support the professionalization of social workers. Supervision is targeted at assisting social workers and other professionals in social services. It does so by providing emotional support, developing relational skills, and guiding professionals in resolving workplace challenges.
Drawing on the "boundary work" framework (Gieryn, 1983; Abbott, 1988; Llewellyn, 1998; Carlile, 2002; Lamont & Molnár, 2002; Hernes, 2004; Kellogg et al., 2006; Langley et al., 2019), this presentation analyzes the contribution of the LEPS Supervision to the redefinition of the boundaries among professional autonomy, institutional expectations, and inter-professional collaboration.
The study concentrates on two regions in Central Italy, belonging to the same macro-area but showing different characteristics with respect to the institutional and organizational structures. A comparative approach can serve this purpose, looking at how the organizational dynamics interact with the professionalization process of social workers. The interplay between organizational structures and professional identity construction shows how the LEPS Supervision supports social work as a distinct profession while generating shifts in the boundaries defining social work, healthcare, and administrative roles.
These findings extend beyond the actual implications of professionalization and the broader development of social services at the regional and national levels. It is around the management of evolving boundaries that the core of empowering social workers and ensuring service integration lies.
In this respect, the establishment of the "LEPS Supervision" has raised critical questions regarding how this measure will support the professionalization of social workers. Supervision is targeted at assisting social workers and other professionals in social services. It does so by providing emotional support, developing relational skills, and guiding professionals in resolving workplace challenges.
Drawing on the "boundary work" framework (Gieryn, 1983; Abbott, 1988; Llewellyn, 1998; Carlile, 2002; Lamont & Molnár, 2002; Hernes, 2004; Kellogg et al., 2006; Langley et al., 2019), this presentation analyzes the contribution of the LEPS Supervision to the redefinition of the boundaries among professional autonomy, institutional expectations, and inter-professional collaboration.
The study concentrates on two regions in Central Italy, belonging to the same macro-area but showing different characteristics with respect to the institutional and organizational structures. A comparative approach can serve this purpose, looking at how the organizational dynamics interact with the professionalization process of social workers. The interplay between organizational structures and professional identity construction shows how the LEPS Supervision supports social work as a distinct profession while generating shifts in the boundaries defining social work, healthcare, and administrative roles.
These findings extend beyond the actual implications of professionalization and the broader development of social services at the regional and national levels. It is around the management of evolving boundaries that the core of empowering social workers and ensuring service integration lies.