Who’s got the power?: A social pedagogical exploration of power, the important element within relationship-based practice

Abstract

This article introduces the reader to the Danish social pedagogy concept of the 3 Ps, which assists in helping social workers to set out the boundaries between the Professional. Personal and Private in relationship-based practice. A key aspect of relationship-based practice is the ability to work in an anti-oppressive way, and a critical awareness and ability to understand and analyze power is central to this. The author and her colleague have developed the 3 Ps framework to focus in more detail on the issue of power, to assist social workers and students to address this within their everyday practice. This focuses on a social worker’s approach to the purpose of their work, being aware of the needs and whose needs are being met as well as formal and informal power dynamics. The framework aims to assist social workers and students to consider their everyday practice, addressing the issue of power and supporting anti-oppressive practice.