Working together: using group relations theory to understand and rethink the interplay between administrators and social work practitioners

This essay attempts to explain and theorise observable tensions between the roles of social work practitioner and administrator. It uses the psychoanalytic concepts of primary task and authority to draw attention to this under examined area. Employing illustrative vignettes from practice, it argues that a lack of integration between the roles leads to worker dissatisfaction and weakens service delivery. The essay then suggests that the false split between the roles of social worker and administrator is symptomatic of wider political policy in which public sector budget control is set in opposition to service user need and/or professional judgement. Taking inspiration from the work of Clare Winnicott, it calls for an integrated managerial system in which both roles are enabled to work together to develop common, service user orientated goals and practice.