WORK EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS IN THE OPINION OF SOCIAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES – RESEARCH STATEMENT

Ewa Grudziewska,Marta Mikołajczyk

doi:10.12955/cbup.v6.1217

Abstract

The subject of the analysis presented in this paper are work effectiveness factors in the opinion of social workers and probation officers. The research was conducted among 121 persons: 64 probation officers executing judgments in family and minors related cases, and 57 social workers. The method of a diagnostic survey was applied during the research. The results show that 62,5% of probation officers consider their work effectiveness as moderate and 31,2% consider their work effective when 64,9% of social workers consider their work moderately effective and 31,6% claim their work is effective. Undoubtedly, the effectiveness of work of both probation officers and social workers depends largely - in the opinion of respondents - on their professional experience and skills, good contacts with the local community in which they work or work autonomy, though the high prestige of the profession is not a factor supporting effectiveness of their work. The presented research results can not refer to the entire population of representatives of these two professions, but they indicate further directions of research on the broadly understood professional identity of representatives of social services inPoland.

Highlights

Social services representatives are, among others, probation officers and social workers
Regardless of the fact if an individual enters into a conflict with the law or not, they require orientation, a guide, and a coordinator who shall support improvement of the difficult living situation of the individual. Both the probation officer and the social worker may work with a person, but they need to take into consideration the fact that the person is a member of a broader social system, of a family, a local community
The surveyed probation officers are of the opinion that the most important factors determining the effectiveness of their work include: extensive professional experience (76.6%), skills and interests (71.9%), good contacts with the local community (68.7%), independence and autonomy in action (67.2%) and self-improvement (57.8%)

Summary

Introduction

Among others, probation officers and social workers. The surveyed probation officers are of the opinion that the most important factors determining the effectiveness of their work include: extensive professional experience (76.6%), skills and interests (71.9%), good contacts with the local community (68.7%), independence and autonomy in action (67.2%) and self-improvement (57.8%).

Results

Conclusion