Psycho-social perspectives on living and working with violence in distressed and traumatised (dis-) organisations

Scanlon, Christopher

Abstract

The published work presented in this submission examines the nature and form of psychosocial processes that lead towards and away from mental health, social security and community and organisational cohesion. It demonstrates the application of psychosocial research methods to the
problem of living and working with violence in a range of clinical and educational settings. The emergent work is described in 14 pieces of work; 8 peer-reviewed articles, 4 book chapters and 2 edited volumes. Each of these pieces of work is accompanied by short discussion and commentary on its impact and dissemination.

The published work presented extends over a 15 year period and demonstrates learning derived from a 30 year professional and academic commitment to an in-depth exploration of the ways in which structural and
cultural processes of inclusion/exclusion give rise to personal and interpersonal violence that poses significant risks of psychosocial harm. The work also explores the reciprocal nature of the violence played out between
‘identified clients’, the systems of care tasked with helping them and the wider society from whom these systems of care take their authority. A central concern of the presented work is to consider the often distressing and
traumatising ways in which this reciprocal structural and behavioural violence impacts frontline workers and teams that comprise these organisations.

The submission also draws upon psychosocial, group analytic, systems psychodynamic and educational theories of practice, to explore the ways in which reflective practice and team development interventions may be deployed to equip multi-disciplinary teams with the necessary resilience and
reflective capacity to work with this psychosocial violence in more creative, thoughtful and collaborative ways. The impact of the published work and the implication for future professional clinical, educational and consultancy practice is also discussed.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Keywords: psycho-social perspectives, violence, (dis-)organisations
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/932501
• Award Date: May 1, 2013