Social workers’ policy practice in Italy. Exploring different professional strategies for changing policies and organisations

Policy engagement is a critical aspect of social work, reflecting its political ethos and commitment to advancing social justice and rights. This article explores Policy Practice (PP), a key strategy through which social workers influence policies and organisations. The study aims to refine the articulation of PP and broaden its scope to better align with the complexity of contemporary social work. Drawing on existing literature and the results of a Principal Component Analysis of data from a national survey of over 6,800 Italian social workers, the article introduces a taxonomy of PP comprising Internal Informal PP, Internal Formal PP, External Direct PP, and External Indirect PP. It also provides data on the frequencies of involvement of Italian social workers in various PP activities. The findings identify Informal IPP–grounded in loosely structured interactions with managers and colleagues–as the most widespread and prevalent form, likely representing the ‘daily life’ of PP. This nuanced taxonomy enhances the understanding of PP’s multifaceted nature. The findings call for further exploration of PP across diverse contexts, emphasising the need to address specific challenges and obstacles associated with each type to strengthen social workers’ policy engagement.