Abstract In a women-majority profession, white heterosexual men disproportionately hold senior leadership positions in social work and social care. Within the literature that examines diversity in leadership, including gender, less is known about sexuality and sexual identity. This study contributes to this area by exploring senior lesbian leaders’ experiences and perspectives on leadership in social work and social care. Their accounts of the leadership styles and approaches used helps to understand more about how being lesbian affects their experience of ‘doing’ leadership. Twenty-three senior lesbian leaders who were ‘out’ at work engaged in focus groups and semi-structured interviews across England. Thematic ‘framework’ data analysis generated key themes. These addressed the intersectionalities of leadership identity with gender, sexual identities, and experiences of discrimination; the role and significance of feminist thinking; and a strong and consistent values base informing their lesbian leadership styles. Findings enable more nuanced thinking on the complexities of identities in social work and social care leadership and how these are enabled and supported within diversity and inclusion strategies.

Abstract In recent years, political and academic attention has been directed towards gender and over-indebtedness. That gender plays a role in people’s acquisition and management of overwhelming debt is well-established, but few empirical examinations are devoted to how social workers encountering over-indebted women and men consider gender in their everyday practice. This qualitative vignette study analyses how thirty-nine Swedish budget and debt counsellors interpret the needs of over-indebted women and men, and how gender is produced in and through their need interpretations. The analysis identifies five vocabularies that counsellors utilize to interpret over-indebted women’s and men’s needs: vocabularies of activity, strength, incapability, vulnerability and severity. Several of these vocabularies, in turn, build on accounts linking masculinity to capability and independence, and femininity to vulnerability. While the counsellors draw on experiences and beliefs related to gender to perform need interpretations, they simultaneously articulate gender-neutrality as a professional ideal. The findings are discussed in relation to their implications for over-indebted women’s and men’s ability to regain financial stability, and suggestions are made on how to develop gender awareness in the practice of budget- and debt counselling.

Abstract Social work in China faces the challenge posed by social workers’ increased professionalization but declining professional attachment. Besides external environmental factors, personality also affects professional competence and attachment. Building on Developmental Contextualism and the Big Five personality theory, this study examines how personality (i.e. extraversion and conscientiousness) shapes accredited MSW newcomers’ professional competence and attachment. Using latent growth modeling and data collected at three points in time from newcomers (N = 154), it was found that newcomers’ baseline trajectory of change in professional competence is positive, while that in professional attachment is negative. The initial level of professional competence mediates a negative relationship between extraversion and the declining rate of professional attachment. The findings provide empirical research evidence and insights for the effective identification and preparation of suitable social workers.

Abstract This qualitative study examined the experiences of social workers who were both victims and professionals working in the field during the 6 February 2023, Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. Semi-structured interviews were employed as the data collection tool. Participants were selected through a criterion and snowball sampling methods, and interviews were conducted with a total of twelve social workers. The data, analysed using thematic analysis, revealed four main themes and twelve sub-themes: dimensions of trauma, post-traumatic responses, professional coping mechanisms, and social support mechanisms. The findings highlight participants’ dual roles as both professionals and disaster victims, which generated significant stress and traumatic responses. Importantly, the analysis demonstrated that active coping strategies and social support mechanisms not only fostered resilience but also facilitated post-traumatic growth (PTG) and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG). Participants’ strengthened professional identity and enhanced social relationships emerged as characteristic PTG indicators, while their field experiences cultivated increased empathy and personal confidence—core components of VPTG. However, these positive adaptations did not fully mitigate their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or secondary traumatic stress.

Abstract This article explores the lived experiences of fourteen Bedouin youth from southern Israel, who were arrested following the May 2021 protests, and charged under Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Law. The young men, most of whom had no prior criminal records, were held for extended periods under harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and severe post-release restrictions. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, this study examines their perceptions of the arrest, interrogation, and ongoing legal processes, as well as the broader emotional, social, and psychological consequences of these experiences. Thematic analysis reveals four central themes: the sense of life ‘before and after’ the arrest, life on hold, accelerated maturation and social disconnection, and continuous trauma. These findings underscore the long-term harms of criminalization and securitization for minority youth, particularly in contexts of ethnic tension and political marginalization. The article highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed social work practices and culturally responsive mental health services in minority communities. It further examines the ethical and practical challenges social workers face in navigating legal systems that may perpetuate structural inequalities. The study calls for critical reflection on the role of social work in conflict-affected areas and advocates for a human rights-oriented approach to youth justice and community care.

Abstract Grassroots innovations, emerging as a relatively new phenomenon in citizen-led movements, are distinguished by their focus on sustainable innovation and their bottom-up approach to addressing local challenges. Grassroots innovations prioritize learning and innovation, making them crucial agents of social and sustainable transformation. In eco-social approaches, social workers are committed to work with such communities. This research explores the role of leadership and meaning-making within grassroots innovations, particularly in the creation of transformative spaces that drive sustainable development. By conducting ethnographic case studies of two Dutch grassroots initiatives and employing grounded theory methodology, the study reveals the role of leadership and meaning-making processes. Initiators lead by facilitating a space for transformation, by enhancing community by co-creating neighbourhood-level sustainability, including different voices and the use of narratives in shaping identity and fostering a collective sense of purpose, ultimately offering a hopeful alternative to societal crises. This article aims to inform social work professionals about the leadership dynamics within grassroots innovations and suggest their important role in supporting these initiatives as part of eco-social work. Social professionals should refrain from intervening in the substantive direction of citizen initiatives but should ensure the safeguarding of the three key elements of the leadership process.

Abstract Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse involves regulations that legally require the reporting of suspected cases of child abuse to state authorities. In this study, we examine the debate surrounding the planned introduction of MR for child sexual abuse (CSA) in England. The research explores the discourses shaping the MR debate employing a qualitative, grounded theory approach that incorporates policy document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The findings address four key themes: (1) MR as a tool to promote disclosure of harm to children; (2) MR as a way to improve intervention and professional responses; (3) MR's role in reshaping public and professional attitudes and responsibility towards CSA; and (4) MR's potential contribution to detecting crime and addressing institutional cover-ups. The analysis explores the diverse understandings and rationales underpinning the MR debate in England, revealing potential challenges, including the complexities of balancing child welfare with public protection mandates. The study suggests focusing policy to respond to the child’s needs rather than focusing on criminal justice outcomes, ensuring that any implementation of MR prioritizes children’s well-being. The research may contribute to the critical discussion of child protection policy internationally, offering insights relevant to social work practice and policy development.

Abstract Studies conducted in countries across the world have consistently demonstrated high rates of in-person violence towards social workers, and particularly social workers engaged in challenging areas of practice such as child welfare. More recently, research has focused on the cyberworld as a new avenue for abuse against workers. Employing an online survey, this research sought to compare the experiences and effects of in-person violence and cyberviolence among child welfare workers in Canada; and to better understand the influences of organizational factors on levels of distress experienced by workers. Respondents reported high levels of exposure to in-person violence, as well as high levels of abuse and threats through digital means. Among various forms of in-person violence, threats were associated with the highest level of traumatic stress symptoms. Other factors that were associated with traumatic stress were perceptions of organizational support and experiences of burnout, particularly emotional exhaustion, which was the best predictor of traumatic stress scores related to both in-person and cyberviolence. Given that cyberviolence is a new area of study, further research is necessary to more fully understand the ability of the workplace environment to mitigate harmful aspects of this recent form of workplace violence.