PractisinGrace
Framework
PRACTISINGRACE is a new mnemonic used during 1:1 conversations with mentees to explore stories of professional identity and factors that can positively or negatively impact performance. PRACTISINGRACE will be used alongside the 3S’s© tool and the Metro Map to create alternative, positive, and future stories
PRACTISINGRACE is a development of the acronym the ‘social GGRRAAACCEEESSS’ which are Gender, Geography, Race, Religion, Age, Ability, Appearance, Culture, Class/Caste, Education, Employment, Ethnicity, Spirituality, Sexuality, Sexual orientation. *
The social GGRRAAACCEEESSS is a framework describing how these different aspects of identity can afford people different levels of power and privilege in society. In a social work context, the model is an invitation for practitioners to explore how these positions influence their beliefs, behaviour, and decision making.
Social work practitioners are expected to navigate multiple relationships at any given time, with individuals and families, supervisors, supervisees, the organisation, and wider professional systems. These relationships are complex and often tricky, and when they are not working well, positions become polarised and blame is apportioned.
The PRACTISINGRACE mnemonic was created by Jac Shelley in response to deficit stereotypes regarding the competency of Black, South Asian, and racially minoritised social work practitioners. It is the first of a three-part facilitated mentoring tool that explores professional identity through the stories told by practitioners verses the stories told about them by others, and how these stories intersect positively or negatively. The PRACTISINGRACE framework is a reflexive tool that enables practitioners to think about the presenting dilemma or challenge, what positions are taken and why, and creates opportunities for positive reconnections to be made and new stories to emerge.
*Developed by Burnham (1992, 1993) and Roper-Hall (1998)
PractisinGrace
Power / Privileged groups / Prejudice / Positioning / Performance / Personal-[Un]Professional-Political / Perspectives / Partnership / Production / Private / Psychological Safety / Powerless
Race-ism / s / Relational risk taking / Reasonable adjustments / Reflexivity / Rights / Duties / Responsibilities / Race-based bias / Risk
Assertive / Authority / Appraisal / Action Plan / Angry / Aggressive / Argumentative / Afraid / Accent / Abbreviated Names / Anti-discrimination / Anti-racism / Aesthetics / Assimilate / Allies / Affirmation
Competence / Confident / Challenging / Criticism / Capabilities / Context / Curiosity / Connection / Conflict / Communication / UnComfortable / Covert Microaggression / Code Language / Cognitive Dissonance / Colour Blind / Confused / Contribution / Culture fit / Courage
Tone policing / Tricky / Truth / Trust / Team / Time / Trans / Homophobia
Inequitable Practice / Inequality / Institutionalised / Incompetence / Invisibility / Identity / Isolated / Invalidation / Intimidating / Intent / Impact / Invisible attacks
Sexuality / Sexual orientation / Spirituality / Success / Standards / Self-esteem / Status / Scrutiny / Sickness / Safe uncertainty / Stereotype threats / Scary / Smelly Food / Silence / Safe space / Something else
Improvement / Imposter syndrome / Internalised microaggressions / Ignored
Negativity / Nepotism / Neurodivergent / Autism spectrum disorder / ADHD / Dyslexia / Dyscalculia / Dyspraxia
Gender identity / LGBTQ+ / Geography / Global Majority
Race / Religion / Racially minoritised
Age / [Dis]Ability / Appearance
Culture / Class / Caste
Ethnicity / Education / Employment / Equity / Explanation / Emotional / Experiences / Emotional tax / Mental health wellbeing / Moral injury
The PRACTISINGRACE framework is used alongside the 3S’s© tool and Metro Map to facilitate 1:1 mentoring conversations that explore personal stories, professional experiences, and what might ‘get in the way’ of achieving success.
Discussing experiences of inequitable practice in the workplace can be distressing which is why conversations are facilitated using the PRACTISINGRACE framework, the 3S’s© tool, and the Metro Map.
The PRACTISINGRACE framework and Metro Map invite mentees to explore the complex narratives and themes that can arise in supervision, practice, and other professional settings. The 3S’s© tool invites mentees to take ownership of stories that celebrate their success and discard unhelpful narratives so that they can create realistic strategies that can be put into action.
The 3S’s© tool is used alongside the PRACTISINGRACE framework and Metro Map to facilitate 1:1 conversations with mentees.
Scaffolding
Strategy
Stories of Success
If you are interested in mentoring sessions:
Group Chat
Group Chat invites Black, South Asian, and racially minoritised social work practitioners to meet via an online platform to discuss current social issues affecting social work practice. Group Chat is facilitated by mentoring partners. Conversations will take place via Zoom every six weeks for 1 ½ hours in the evenings between 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Contact info@valuingourworkforce.co.uk for more information.
For more information about our work with Black, South Asian, and racially minoritised social work professionals and to request support from our team
Social Work Practitioners THE 3S’s©: SCAFFOLDING, STRATEGY & STORIES OF SUCCESS