Abstract
The impacts on adult social work in England of the Covid-19 pandemic were sudden and are proving long-standing. In England, many social workers moved to home working and virtual contact with colleagues, managers, staff from other agencies and service users. A first national lockdown was followed by a lessening of restrictions, but a second wave started at the end of Summer 2020 and restrictions were re-introduced. This study draws on telephone interviews with a sample of twenty-two social workers working with adults in a wide range of roles and settings in ten local authorities and two National Health Service Hospital Trusts, interviewed August–October 2020. Following transcription, interview data were analysed thematically. Findings are reported under three emerging themes: using professional judgement, new and emerging case work and embedding change. These are compared with findings from studies of practice in children’s services and of surveys of social workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Implications for practice, service users and research are explored.
Highlights
IntroductionCases first peaked in early April 2020 when a national lockdown was instigated, fell from May to early July and social restrictions were lessened
BackgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the UK significantly
This study draws on telephone interviews with a sample of twenty-two social workers working with adults in a wide range of roles and settings in ten local authorities and two National Health Service Hospital Trusts, interviewed August–October 2020
Summary
Cases first peaked in early April 2020 when a national lockdown was instigated, fell from May to early July and social restrictions were lessened. As the pandemic developed several studies from across the world of social work practice have emerged, many taking unique national perspectives and with different aims, methods and underpinning theoretical backgrounds. These include interviews with practising social workers in Barcelona during the first fifteen days of the pandemic (Redondo-Sama et al, 2020), interviews from England’s children’s services (Baginsky and Manthorpe, 2020a; Cook and Zschomler, 2020); an international survey of ethical challenges in practice
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