A Time to Re-ignite the Creative Flames: Views of Experienced Social Workers on Creativity in the Profession

Abstract

The social work profession has always benefited from the creativity of its members; however, the forms creativity take and how creativity is understood by practitioners have not been well documented. This article shares findings from a doctoral research study that included 30 interviews with social workers who were retiring from many years of service. The metaphor of "fire-making" emerged from the data analysis, conducted using a grounded theory approach, and is used to present the findings in a creative manner. The practitioners' views reveal a belief in the value and presence of creativity in the social work profession.