Concept Of Social Work Research Articles

The Christian Roots of the Philanthropic Concept of Social Work

Článek se snaží přiblížit křesťanské kořeny dnešní sociální práce. Na příkladu klasického křesťanského pojetí skutků milosrdenství ukazuje, že základem křesťanské pomoci bližnímu je správné chápání lidské osoby a jejího místa ve společnosti. Poukazuje také na podobnosti a rozdílnosti dnešní sociální práce a křesťanské charity.

How best to serve at-risk youths? A critical evaluation of Germany’s socio-educational support abroad program

As a last resort for Germany’s most at-risk youths, socio-educational support abroad has been practiced for more than 40 years. Far removed from Germany, difficult to educate youths receive social educational assistance in a variety of formats. The present article discusses this special social work concept that currently figures little in international child welfare discussions. It begins by introducing the concept of projects abroad, then moves on to present evidence of the program’s effectiveness from the client’s perspective. It will become apparent that a large gap exists between socio-educational goals and implementation, a background against which the discussion on appropriate child welfare interventions must be (re)visited.

CONCEPTUAL APPARATUS OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE FORMATION SYSTEM OF SOCIAL WORK WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN

The article actualises the problem of significant differences between researchers, in relation to understanding the basic concepts of social work, which is very important in finding directions for the formation system of social work with autistic children. The paper is aimed to analyse content of the concepts of «social work», «autistic children», «system of social work», «the formation of a system of social work». Methods used: comparison, analysis, synthesis and generalisation made to isolate and refine the conceptual framework of research, its significance and justification of study the formation of social work with autistic children. The results of the study of the conceptual analysis the formation system of social work with children-autists provide the opportunity to determine the following points: Firstly, social work with autistic children – is a specific professional activities for autistic children and their entourage, which makes it possible to participate in social life and conducting appropriate institutional changes for this at all levels of society. Secondly, the specifics of autistic children as objects of social work is that they are tightly connected with their own parents together being in the center of a crisis social situation. Accordingly, they must together receive support in seeking ways out of the state of social exclusion. Thirdly, the formulated working concept of «the formation of a system of social work with autistic children» makes it possible to determine the perspective directions of our further research of those regular relationships that provide the formation and development of systemic social work with autistic children and their social environment. First of all, it is an issue of relationship between the micro, meso- and macro levels of the social environment of the autistic child. An analysis of the ways of reproduction this relationship at different stages of the formation system of social work with autistic children creates a prospect for further research by the author.

The Public Library as a Protective Factor: An Introduction to Library Social Work

ABSTRACTLibraries from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. are now employing or housing social workers. As this practice area grows, it is reshaping the way that libraries assist their patrons. Though the work of individual library social workers vary depending on the unique needs of their patrons and communities, there are some social work concepts that remain constant across the country. Conceiving of the library as a protective factor, particularly for vulnerable patrons, can be a helpful lens through which to view the ever changing needs of individuals and communities served by public libraries. Libraries can play a crucial role in the strengthening of their communities by partnering with local service providers and by considering ways to strengthen and expand the resources they offer to patrons.

Incorporating Demoralization into Social Work Practice.

This article explores the relevance of demoralization to social work research and practice. Demoralization connects to the very core of being human. It is present in social work client groups and is an important but neglected concept in social work. Demoralization occurs when life becomes so overwhelming that daily functioning is affected and people lose all hope, agency, and the capacity to overcome their circumstances. Although a demoralized state is not recognized as a mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is often confused with psychiatric disorders and its presence can lead to clinical conditions and suicide. This article discusses demoralization and its place in social work practice, identification, and measurement, and appropriate psychosocial interventions are also explored. The article concludes that demoralization has particular relevance to contemporary social work and should be considered in social work practice and research.

Shifting the Ground in Nepali Social Work

Nepali social work has Western liberal roots and traditions that impose cultural imperialism, professional sectarianism, and political colonization. There is a mismatch between what is taught in social work education programs in Nepal and Nepali culture. Further, this borrowed social work concept is out of step with the structural problems that Nepali people face on a daily basis, such as casteism, ethnocentrism, poverty, and exclusion. In this study, being inclined to critical pedagogy and decolonization discourse, I argue that Nepali social workers should emphasize and engage in decolonizing social work practice in Nepal. It must listen to the voice of the people at the grassroots and engage in ‘people-centred development’ to address structural problems perpetuating injustice and inequality in Nepal.

Social Work as The Safety Net of the Albanian Society in Transition

Social work has little tradition as an academic discipline or as a profession in Albania despite the high need for well-trained social workers. Social work in Albania had practically not existed in the past, neither before the WWII nor during socialist regime. It was the deep political and economic changes of the post socialist phase and the support of government and non-government stakeholders, like the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Emigration and Ex- Persecuted People as well as the Grand Valley University, Michigan, which paved the way for the establishment from scratch of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Tirana in 1992. Two other schools of Social Work were also established in two public universities, one at the University of Shkodra (2005) and another at the Elbasan University (2004). The Albania’s adherence to the Bologna Declaration brought a new reform, initiated in 2005, in which the Departments of Social Work were actively involved and played a critical role to adjust the curricula according to the EU standards.
 However, social work is neither a straight forward academic discipline nor a clear-cut profession. Social work is both, above all it is the safety net of society. The concept of social work derives from the needs of society, which in the end turns towards social mobilization, participation and inclusion. The global definition of social work, set out by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and approved by its general assembly in 2014, defines Social Work as follows:
 “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing”. (http://www.communitycare.co.uk/what-is-the-role-of-social-workers).
 Besides the overall social structure of the society and the legacy from the past, Social Work can’t be developed outside the context of education system in one side and social protection and care system on the other. Hence, this paper brings in some information, which by describing the status of Social Work Education in Albania, tries to further explore its multi-faceted dependency on system of policies and social legacy from the past, alike.
 Keywords: Social Work, Social-Exclusion, Social inclusion

Developmental Social Work for Promoting the Socioeconomic Participation of Persons with Disabilities: An Application of the Capability Approach

The promotion of the socioeconomic participation of persons with disabilities is an important concept of developmental social work in community-based rehabilitation (CBR). This approach can be used to tackle poverty and inequalities, and to foster inclusion and empowerment. However, since discussions in the literature on common frameworks for developmental social workers in CBR appear inadequate, this review article aims to develop a practical framework that promotes the socioeconomic participation of persons with disabilities by applying the capability approach. First, the concept of socioeconomic participation and some of its dimensions are discussed and analytically framed using the capability approach. Following this, the practical framework for developmental social work is laid out. It is suggested that developmental social workers consider the complex dynamics between capabilities, functionings, resources, conversion factors, and other factors, with an emphasis on the social dimensions of practice. Thereafter, some theoretical and practical challenges and recommendations are identified.

Developmental Social Work for Promoting the Socioeconomic Participation of Persons with Disabilities: An Application of the Capability Approach

The promotion of the socioeconomic participation of persons with disabilities is an important concept of developmental social work in community-based rehabilitation (CBR). This approach can be used to tackle poverty and inequalities, and to foster inclusion and empowerment. However, since discussions in the literature on common frameworks for developmental social workers in CBR appear inadequate, this review article aims to develop a practical framework that promotes the socioeconomic participation of persons with disabilities by applying the capability approach. First, the concept of socioeconomic participation and some of its dimensions are discussed and analytically framed using the capability approach. Following this, the practical framework for developmental social work is laid out. It is suggested that developmental social workers consider the complex dynamics between capabilities, functionings, resources, conversion factors, and other factors, with an emphasis on the social dimensions of practice. Thereafter, some theoretical and practical challenges and recommendations are identified.

Disciplining the risky subject: a discourse analysis of the concept of resilience in social work literature

Summary The concept of resilience has become an established, taken-for-granted concept in social work. This poststructuralist discourse analysis of randomly sampled social work articles on resilience examines the discursive mechanisms through which the concept of resilience has been constructed in particular ways and considers the political effects of such usage. Findings The study of resilience is always a post facto analysis; markers of resilience are predetermined by dominant ideas of the normal and the normative subject. Systemic risk factors such as poverty and inequality are acknowledged to be productive of subjects in need of resilience. Yet, those structures are relegated to the margins of the manuscript and elided in favor of individualized analysis and intervention; the identified locus of risk and the targeted site of interventions are entirely at odds. Resilience, thus, serves as a designation for risky subjects’ capacity to accommodate—not actively change—their social/political environments, including their interactions with social work and social workers. It functions as a technology of the neoliberal self that allows social workers to construct and manage subjects capable of self-management and productive self-sufficiency. Application The resilience enterprise thus short-circuits social work’s aims for social justice. Examination of the discourse of resilience for their implications for practice, education, and research is a political imperative for social work and is necessary to open up new sightlines of possibility for a reenergized, more complex social work praxis. Suggestions for future directions are included.

Utilizing social media for social work: insights from clients in online youth services

ABSTRACT This study explored and conceptualised service users’ experiences in online outreach projects supported by the Hong Kong SAR government. Fifteen active users were interviewed. The study used thematic analysis to explore service users’ experiences that might not have been possible without technology. Participant utterances were non-mutually-exclusively tagged with a specific theme. Each utterance reflected an aspect of user experience which combined a technical component with a service-need component. Six themes were identified, including: (i) Personalised newsfeeds help identify service information and news, (ii) Online status indicators improve service accessibility, (iii) Online communications enable a disinhibition effect, (iv) Asynchronous communications facilitate continual feedback loops, (v) Incomplete communicative modalities may cause misunderstanding and (vi) Asynchronous communication may disrupt conversations. The findings reveal that there are middle-level concepts between broad social work concepts and ever-changing technology. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Disclosure and assessment in child abuse and maltreatment cases: young people’s and social work professionals’ perspectives

ABSTRACTThis paper explores young people’s stories of receiving (or not receiving) help for abuse and maltreatment as children. Furthermore, it explores what social work professionals’ say they do, and which knowledge and approaches they emphasise when assisting abused and maltreated children or young people and their parents. The findings show the young people tend to focus on professionals’ ability to talk to them, listen and take them seriously, although they may be ambivalent about disclosing violence. Whereas caseworkers tend to focus mainly on identifying and disclosing abuse through standardised approaches and procedures. Taking these empirical findings into consideration, this paper aims to discuss possible implications embedded in different approaches in child abuse and maltreatment cases within the context of Norwegian child welfare services. Applying the social work concept of person-in-situation as the theoretical lens, this analysis sheds light on the mutual interdependency of the individual and context, and the complexities in each individual child abuse case. Discussing how child welfare workers may enquire about and grasp the complexities in child abuse and maltreatment cases, the paper contributes to the debate on professional discretion in light of the increasing trend to standardise investigative procedures in child welfare services.

From emotionality to the cultivation of employability: An ethnography of change in social work expertise following the spread of quantification in a social enterprise

How do members of a profession, initially reluctant to use quantification, finally accept it and change their expertise accordingly? This paper examines the processes by which a group of social workers in a social enterprise came to adhere to the claimed benefits of quantitative templates in framing the social problems of individuals and ways of addressing them. We also reflect on consequences ensuing from this important shift in social work expertise. We build our insights from an ethnographic study conducted in a social enterprise in France, where the management had recently been taken over by social entrepreneurs. The latter were especially concerned in rendering their organization’s social workers more focused on strengthening the employability of beneficiaries, particularly through the compulsory use of quantified grids of evaluation. Our analysis brings to light the strategic initiatives and main conditions of possibility that collectively played a role in strengthening social worker receptivity towards quantification and in modifying the nature of their expertise. Specifically, we found that the core of social work expertise was altered in three main ways: strengthening of emotional boundaries between expert and beneficiary; downplaying the victimhood (of beneficiaries) as a key referent; and development of a breach in the claim of exclusivity in the relationship between social worker and beneficiary. This shift in expertise has deep consequences on the kind of person social work aims to produce; the emphasis is now on the development of individuals capable of being employed in the labor market. For now, at least in the social enterprise we studied, the economic conception of social work increasingly prevails over the traditional, emotionally and psychologically-based template.

Evidence-Based Clinical Social Work: Subject Matter and Perspectives

Clinical social work has established itself as a health-specific profession in Germany over the past 15 years. It refers to a bio-psycho-social health understanding and is particularly focused on hard-to-reach client groups. The concept of evidence-based practice is often criticized and rejected by parts of the profession and discipline of social work. The concepts of evidence-based medicine and clinical social work are associated with positive outcomes for clinical practice and professional development.

Social Case Work Practices As A Strategy For Patients Welfare In Public Hospitals of Karachi: A Description Of Experience

This study is divided into five sections and covers a brief overview of the clinical practices of Social Case Work as a strategy for patient’s welfare in the Public Hospitals of Karachi. In section one, the concept of Social Case Work in Pakistani pedagogical scenario and Social Case Work’s contribution to the current health care system is discussed. The second section of the study covers the review of the literature. The succeeding section, i.e. section III stated the methodology adopted to derive the results of the study. The results of this study, based on the analysis ended by applying the proposed methodology have been argued in section IV. In the concluding section, conclusions and recommendations were presented. In this exploratory research study, the qualitative methods have employed to understand the reasons which are responsible for de-value of Social Case Work Practices in the public hospitals in Karachi.

Saúde mental em Portugal, constrangimentos e desafios para o Serviço Social

Social Work in mental health implies an articulation of health with the social aspects and people’s and communities’ lives, in the dimensions of interaction and sociability. That is why the concept of Social Determinants of Mental Health contributes to base intervention. The concept of Multidimensional Social Work encompasses multiple aspects, and the issue of the identity of Social Work in technological society brings to light two tendencies, the positivist and the humanist. Social Work falls into the field of Human Rights, both civil, social and economic rights, redistribution and social justice, as well as cultural rights, identity and recognition, central to people with mental health problems. The role of social workers in mental health is part of the context of government policies, in which the intervention of Social Work will be analyzed, as well as the constraints that neoliberal health policies pose to the profession.

Thinking and acting globally and locally: Developing transnational social work practices in Belgium

AbstractIn societies characterized by globalization and increasing mobility, social workers are more often confronted with transmigrants: people who move multiple times, combine complex migration trajectories, and whose social lives are shaped in various sites. The growing complexity of these mobile clients’ needs calls for a paradigm shift in social work. Social workers can no longer suffice with locally grounded, one-nation state solutions to their transnational clients’ problems, but will need to cross borders both literally and figuratively. Concepts of international and transnational social work have been formulated to reflect the challenges posed by globalization and increasing mobility, remain however still underdeveloped, and the concrete shapes transnational social work practice remain as yet under-researched. Based on a qualitative research on social work with transmigrants, this paper describes emerging practices of transnational social work in Belgium. We argue that transnational social work i...

Application of salutogenic concept in social work with diabetic patients

ABSTRACTIn the context of salutogenesis, coping with diabetes is perceived as a dynamic process of changes in all aspects of biopsychosocial model of health/disease. Understanding of salutoprotective factors allows for estimation of client’s extent of vulnerability and ability to cope with the disease. The objective of the study is to assess selected salutoprotective factors in diabetic clients (SOC-type hardiness, well-being—subjective feelings and states scale [SUPOS], perceived social support scale [PSSS]). Low values of SOC, PSSS, and SUPOS suggest an increased need in psychosocial care. The possibility to strengthen an individual’s hardiness and to influence perceived social support adverts to the irreplaceable role of social workers at counseling and educational levels as well as that of a form of social support.

The fall and rise of ‘use of self’? An exploration of the positioning of use of self in social work education

‘Use of self’ was a central concept in social work in the middle of the twentieth century. Since then its emphasis in social work education has declined as more managerial, procedural and task-focused approaches have prevailed. A review of the degree and postgraduate diploma in social work in Scotland, initiated in 2014, incorporated a comparative content analysis of past and present UK National Occupational Standards (NOS) for social work. The analysis revealed many shifts in thinking and practice, including increased emphasis on ‘use of self’ in the 2013 Standards. This paper reports on this finding in the context of the fluctuating positioning of use of self in social work education, and the potential impact of these changes on qualified practice. It concludes that the changing standards reflect increasing interest in social workers’ ability to draw reflectively on ‘self’ in their day to day practice. Some of the drivers and challenges for a renewed focus on relationship-based practice and use of self are identified, as well as the opportunities presented by this review of the degree for evaluating the impact of changing educational policy on day to day social work practice.

Atención a las personas con discapacidad en la región de Piura.

El artículo recoge el camino recorrido por un proyecto de cooperación sobre las personas con discapacidad en la región de Piura. Se presenta haciendo referencia a dos movimientos físicos, el de rotación y el de traslación, como figuras de referencia que nos sirven para enmarcar todas aquellas acciones que se llevaron a cabo, antes, durante y después de la estancia. La principal razón para emprender el proyecto era la motivación existente que brinda la propia concepción del trabajo social como disciplina comprometida con la realidad de aquellas personas menos favorecidas socialmente. El proyecto aquí expuesto responde a la inquietud de visibilizar a un colectivo oculto en la realidad estudiada, las personas con discapacidad, con el anhelo de que acciones como estas ayuden a que se emprendan más dentro y fuera del territorio que favorezcan su desarrollo y bienestar.