Experiences Of Social Workers Research Articles

High stress, high demand and high pressure: Experiences of social work and human services agencies during Melbourne's COVID‐19 lockdowns

High stress, high demand and high pressure: Experiences of social work and human services agencies during Melbourne's COVID‐19 lockdowns

Reflections from members of a collaborative social work practitioner–academic research team investigating the career progression experiences of black social workers

This article shares the reflections of members of a collaborative practitioner–academic research team in social work. The team investigated the career progression experiences of black social workers working in statutory social work services in South-East London. Our intention in this article is to share our experience of researching a subject that holds emotional and political resonance. We do so by offering individual perspectives from different team members on how their project involvement affected them both personally and professionally. We also discuss some of the general themes identified in our reflections. These include practitioners growing in research confidence, the need to create a safe emotional space for stories of researcher discomfort and uncertainty to be heard, the effects of undertaking research on professional social work identity, and curiosity about whether our research endeavours can change social work career progression policies and practices for black social work colleagues. We caution that a safe emotional container is required when researching personally and professionally sensitive, subjects such as racism and discrimination in social work. We hope that our article inspires social work practitioners to become involved in research activities.

Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Pediatric Emergency Room Social Workers: A Toolkit for New Graduates

AbstractSecondary traumatic stress (STS), the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another, is a significant concern for many social workers, particularly those in high-stress and trauma-exposed environments such as emergency rooms or psychiatric hospitals. Newly graduated social workers are especially susceptible to STS due to their limited experience and exposure to the emotional distress of clients. Yet, limited studies have focused on newly graduated social workers and STS. This study is twofold: (1) it attempts to provide insight into the experiences of pediatric emergency room social workers (PERSW) with STS, and (2) to explicate the utility of the findings in practical strategies to assist newly graduated and current social workers entering high-stressful work environments. A thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews were used with twenty-three pediatric emergency room social workers with at least one year of experience. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) the trauma of the job, (2) the effects of STS, and (3) coping strategies for STS. The findings underscore the need for a specialized toolkit for new graduates in pediatric emergency social work, offering resources and strategies tailored to the unique challenges of this field.

The benefit, harm, and complication of humor in social work: A qualitative inquiry

Summary The use of humor in social work is an underrecognized and underexplored area of practice despite its potential to heal, harm, and complicate communication. To date, very minimal scholarship has been published on humor in social work. Therefore, this qualitative study sought to examine how social workers use, perceive, and experience humor. Data were gathered from 22 participants who identified as social workers via an online survey. Data also included learning artifacts (e.g., discussion board posts, humor therapy treatment plans) from 19 graduate-level social work students who completed a humor in social work course in the northeast region of the United States. Both datasets were analyzed thematically. Findings Participants perceived social workers as using humor in clearly distinct ways, as a tool to promote generative growth, and as a weapon to harm already marginalized populations. In total, participant responses highlight the complexities of humor, including its subjective and dynamic nature, which can lead to multiple and sometimes conflicting experiences. Applications The findings suggest that social workers view humor positively, yet they engage in its use without adequate training, strategy, and reflection, sometimes violating professional ethics. Results further indicate that social workers will continue to employ humor in their professional work to the benefit and detriment of those around them. To support reflective and informed practice, additional research is needed on the use and misuse of humor in social work.

Swedish school counsellors − demographics, professional practices, educational background and working life history

ABSTRACT This article presents findings from a survey conducted on all school counsellors in Sweden. The focus of the article is on Swedish school counsellors’ demographics, professional practice, educational background, working life history and professional autonomy. The survey was web-based and contained 91 questions of both quantitative and qualitative nature. The results show that Swedish school counsellors are predominantly experienced female social workers with academic education in social work and several years’ experience of social work in areas other than school. Employment as a school counsellor is not an entry-level job. The professional practice of Swedish school counsellors predominately focus on remedial work with individual students. Their professional practice focus to a lesser extent on preventive and health promoting work despite the prominent position that preventive and health promoting work are given in the Swedish school act and in the national guidelines. The professional focus of Swedish school counsellors raises questions whether the emphasis on individual remedial work is to be interpreted as a lack of organizational awareness and resources, or if it is an expression of a professional ‘heritage’ from school counsellors prior experience of professional social work within other welfare areas were remedial work are custom. We argue that the focus on remedial work makes it valid to describe the character of Swedish school counsellors’ professional practice as a reflection of Swedish social services in general.

Social Work Graduates as Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) in Türkiye: An Intersectional Analysis

This research investigates the experiences of social work graduates as youth who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) by employing an intersectional perspective. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 social work graduates who are unemployed for at least a year. The findings encompass three key themes: being NEET, the reasons for being NEET, and solutions proposed by social work graduates as NEET. The findings evaluate the shared experiences among participants while endeavoring to elucidate how these experiences diverge concerning various social categories. From an intersectional perspective, the results expose disparities in the NEET experience, considering factors such as gender, marital status, being a parent, class, social capital, geographical location, and societal perceptions. The research is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge concerning educated NEETs and the unique strength of it lies in the absence of previous investigations pertaining to NEETs as social work graduates. It is advised that individual and structural factors should be considered in analyzing the experience of being NEET and that micro, meso, and macro social work interventions should be developed in terms of these factors. Furthermore, future research endeavors can focus on evaluating the efficacy of interventions and conducting comprehensive mixed-method studies.

Shared Trauma: An evolutionary model concept analysis in light of COVID-19.

Shared trauma (ST) is a term historically applied to social work experiences, but other healthcare professionals (HCP) also experience ST. With the occurrence of COVID-19, ST has impacted HCP globally and has led to new discoveries and more questions regarding its scope, impact and duration. This article aims to explore the concept of ST applied to nurses in light of COVID-19 using the Rogers and Knafl Evolutionary Model for Concept Analysis. Further examination and evolution of 'shared trauma', particularly during COVID-19, has led to the development of an adapted model to explore the implications of ST on health-related outcomes for nurses.

Difficult but achievable: medical social workers’ experiences transiting older adults from hospital care to nursing home in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Very few literatures have focused on transition of older adults from hospitals to nursing homes in African region. As a first step, this study explored the experience of medical social worker when transiting older adult from the hospital to nursing home in southwestern region of Nigeria. A descriptive qualitative approach collected through a semi-structured interview among 16 medical social workers showed that there is limited availability of nursing home facilities in Nigeria. Additionally, bureaucratic and administrative hurdles often added to the complexities of facilitating seamless transitions into nursing care homes. Cultural beliefs and family dynamics exert a substantial influence on the decision-making process, making the task of medical social workers even more intricate. There is a need for a greater support from policymakers and healthcare authorities to address the challenges facing Nigerian medical social workers. Hence, to better understand and address these experiences, the healthcare system can better equip medical social workers to navigate the transitions effectively and ensure the well-being of older adults during this crucial phase of their lives is adequately supported.

“Just Did The Best That I Could Do”: CPS Social Workers’ Perceptions of Self-Efficacy in Legal Aspects

AbstractChild protective services (CPS) social workers assess safety and risk needs during abuse and neglect investigations to determine if legal interventions are needed. However, only 60% of abuse and neglect cases have safety and risk assessed during the investigatory process in North Carolina. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of self-efficacy among rural North Carolina CPS social workers in child abuse and neglect investigations. Understanding CPS social workers’ perceptions of self-efficacy and factors that may influence their self-efficacy is vital to improving job satisfaction, retention, and the legal and investigative processes relating to child abuse and neglect. A purposive sampling approach was used to recruit nine CPS social workers in rural counties in North Carolina. Through a process of open, axial, and selective coding, we conclude that a CPS social worker’s self-efficacy is impacted by factors relating to leadership and legal teams, longevity, previous social work experience, and paperwork and caseload demands.

Protecting vulnerability. An international comparison of social workers as street-level bureaucrats during the COVID-19 lockdown

PurposeThe purpose of this article’s research was threefold. Firstly, it aimed to investigate how social services professionals coped during the pandemic period by comparing their involvement in five different national contexts. Secondly, it analysed how these professionals have performed their duties according to the street-level bureaucracy theory. Finally, the third question examines social workers' strategies to guide their professional role when they may have had more discretion in their actions. The research also examined whether discretion has increased during this phase and, if so, how it has been exercised.Design/methodology/approachThis article is based on the findings of the project called “Theory and Practice of Social Work in the World in Times of Pandemic”, which was funded by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). The project involved 11 universities across five countries in Europe and Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain and Sweden. The research was conducted over 24 months to analyse the practices and measures taken to protect vulnerable people by adapting social services during the extraordinary period of the pandemic. In addition, the research explored how the awareness of emergency arose among social workers and how it influenced the services delivered from the perspective of the street-level bureaucracy theory. In different countries, the level of resourcefulness of services has varied based on their recognition of the severity of the pandemic and the impact of the government’s narratives. In some cases, these narratives have been conspiratorial or even anti-scientific. Additionally, there has been a reduction in the distance between professionals and clients, increased inequalities in access to services and a positive reassessment of the potential of new professional tools, such as digital social work, in establishing a trusting relationship.FindingsAs revealed in the interviews, the elements shaping this high degree of discretion among social workers can be classified into three levels: macro- and micro- (Saruis, 2015) plus a meso-level. Each level has four significant aspects. At the macro-level, these are legislation, public information, large associationism and integration of the social services-health system. At the meso-level, these are interpretations of role performance by managers technical equipment, self-organization and community action. The micro-level pertains to personal and family situations, emotions, ethics and social workers' direct relationships with those in charge.Research limitations/implicationsThis study investigated how social workers responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. The data gathered sheds light on their understanding of the situation, as well as the differences in experiences across the five countries studied. However, it is essential to note that the findings may not apply to all situations or countries. Nevertheless, this research serves as a stepping stone for future studies to delve deeper into the results and explore them in greater detail .Practical implicationsThe study highlights the crucial role of social workers as street-level workers in managing, negotiating and creating meaning in the interaction between professionals and the people they serve. This is especially relevant in Latin America. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of social workers as policy actors and the political nature of social work practice. The findings also underscore the importance of effective communication and collaboration between social workers, their teams and the organizations they work for. The sources cited in the study are Barberis and Boccagni (2014) and Cuadra and Staaf (2014). The research has also underscored the potential of social service workers to build networks and cooperate. Such networking can play a vital role in implementing their acquired knowledge. The study has, therefore, emphasized the importance of social workers being an integral part of the societies they serve. They need to continuously enhance their communication skills, using all the necessary tools to gain a comprehensive and updated understanding of the evolving needs of their clients. Integrating digital social work as a mode of service provision has emerged as a crucial aspect, especially in the three European countries observed. This approach has demonstrated its potential and is expected to continue being a part of services to some extent, even after the return to normalcy. However, it is essential to ensure that the accessibility and proximity of services are not compromised in any way.Social implicationsAn unexpected result was observed during the research: the pandemic circumstances have led to valuable reflections. These reflections can help in rethinking and recreating social services. Social workers have been given a unique opportunity to return to the essence of their profession and develop less bureaucratic and more humane ways of working. This experience has also enabled them to recover a closer relationship with the people they serve. To sum up, this study emphasizes that social workers, when given more leeway in their work, rely on cultivating and upholding relationships with other professionals, organizations and stakeholders to stay connected with the community they serve. This is crucial for ensuring the delivery of effective and sustainable social services.Originality/valueThe research employed a thematic analysis approach (Bazeley, 2007) to identify themes related to the concept of consciousness as derived from the field experiences of social workers. Additionally, an in-case and cross-case analysis method (Fereday and Muir-Cochrane, 2006) was used to connect themes related to individual experiences with those gathered from the overall experiences.

Exploring Social Work professionals' Experiences of the Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self-Care Programme: A Focus Group Study.

The evidence for the potential of mindfulness-based programmes to support improved social work practice and self-care is growing. The aim of this focus group study was to explore social workers' (n = 13) experiences of the Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-care programme (MBSWSC). Thematic analysis highlighted two superordinate themes: benefits to direct social work practice and coping with the social work role. Four subordinate themes highlighted the different social work practice components that were enhanced through MBSWSC participation: social work assessment, service user engagement and team working, working to social work values, and social work skills. Three subordinate themes identified improvements in individual processes which supported enhanced stress coping: moving from avoidant to approach coping, improved boundaries, increased emotional awareness and reduced negative thinking. Our findings indicate that the MBSWSC programme can have a multi-faceted positive effect on social work practice, and on social work professional's capacity to cope with their role.

A Birthmother’s Counter-Story of Racism and Oppression in Children’s Social Work: Carving an Afro-Centric Space for Sawubona in Euro-Centric Social Work Education, Practice, and the Safeguarding System

Abstract In this article, I ask ‘What are the specific challenges and controversies that birth mothers of ethnic minorities (EM) experience in the safeguarding context’? The aim is to examine safeguarding practices and ascertain how power, racism and gender oppression are understood and experienced by mothers of EMs in social work. The literature highlighted complexities and ethical concerns regarding child protection services with EMs in England. Undertaking qualitative research, a case study approach was used, and purposive sampling was applied to recruit and interview six mothers of EM backgrounds. This article provides an empowering space for Miriam, an Asian mum recounting her lived experiences of statutory social work. Critical theory, critical race theory and intersectionality were the theoretical frameworks, and a framework approach was utilised for data analysis. Key findings revealed the insidious nature of racism, oppression and White dominance, constructing devastating, adversarial work practices that oppressed, excluded, and deprived Miriam. There was an urgent need for change. Drawing on my African heritage, I theorise that the Afro-centric philosophy of Sawubona could make a profound contribution to British social work. Elucidating, ‘I see the whole of you’, the Sawubona practice model illustrates social work values of equality, empathy, dignity, tolerance and respect.

Gender employment contradictions in Israeli nonprofit organizations providing social care

PurposeThis article asks how gender, ethnicity and other identities intersect and shape the employment experiences of social workers. During recent decades, governments have contracted social care to for-profit and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) globally as a part of the adaption of the neoliberal approach. Most employees in these organizations are women. However, there is a lack of knowledge about women working in social service NPOs and their unique working environments.Design/methodology/approachThis article explores the experiences of women employed as social workers in social care NPOs in Israel regarding intersectionality. 27 in-depth interviews were conducted with women social workers working in social service NPOs. Participants reflected diversity in ethnicity, religion and full-time and part-time jobs. Thematic analysis was used.FindingsThe findings shed light on: (1) the contradiction social workers experienced between the stated values of the social care NPO and those values’ conduct, (2) intersectional discrimination among social workers from vulnerable populations and (3) the lack of gender-aware policies.Social implicationsThe need to raise awareness of the social care sector and governments to those contradictions and to promote diversity through gender-aware policies and practices.Originality/valueThe article suggests a conceptualization describing gender employment contradictions in social care NPOs, discusses how the angle of intersectionality expands the understanding of the complexities and pressures exerted on social workers from minority groups and emphasizes the need for social care NPOs to acknowledge and deal with these contradictions.

War refugees from Ukraine in Poland: the welfare system in the face of New social challenges

ABSTRACT The article describes the experiences of social workers in Poland supporting refugees from Ukraine who came to Poland after the outbreak of the war in February 2022. Social work is a profession that supports vulnerable people in need, including those experiencing war. A social worker is a professional who “can help translate policy into workable projects, help design and evaluate direct services and projects, and work towards community capacity building”.The influx of refugees from the Ukraine war has created unprecedented challenges for social workers. This research was conducted between 6 and 20 July 2022 using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) technique in six voivodships in Poland among social workers employed in local social welfare institutions where most war refugees were given shelter. Most respondents were satisfied with the help provided to refugees in their municipalities. Grassroots initiatives for refugees were particularly appreciated. Most social welfare institutions for refugees from Ukraine offered social counselling as well as material and financial assistance. Integration and social activation services were provided much less frequently. The research shows the scope of cross-sectoral cooperation. The key partners helping refugees from Ukraine, in addition to schools, were ordinary citizens, creating various informal insurance groups.

장애인주간보호시설 사회복지사의 상담 경험에 대한 질적 연구

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the meaning and phenomenon of the counseling experience of social workers who practice counseling at a daycare facility for people with disabilities in Busan, and presents the es-sence of their meanings.
 Methods Using Giorgi's phenomenological research method, in-depth interviews were conducted with six social workers with more than three years of experience in daycare facilities for people with disabilities in Area P. Data from the interviews were analyzed. This study followed the following steps: reading the description with the over-all context in mind, distinguishing meaning units while focusing on the study phenomenon, converting the mean-ing units into counseling psychology terms, and integrating the converted meaning units into a general structural description of the study phenomenon.
 Results As a result of the analysis, 26 meanings were derived, and their relationships were identified into nine themes and grouped under three topics. Focusing on the core themes, the social workers of the daycare facilities for people with disabilities “faced actual difficulties and counseling environment of people with disabilities and their caregivers, which is different from the counseling for people without disabilities.” They were “struggling for the change and growth of people with disabilities even in exhausting situations.” Because of this, they were aware of the need to “recognize the poor counseling environment for people with disabilities and take measures to im-prove it.”
 Conclusions Based on the findings of this study that investigated the counseling experience of social workers in daycare facilities for people with disabilities in Busan, the significance and limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions for follow-up research were presented.

Practitioners' capacity-building for parent empowerment: A pilot non-randomized controlled trial.

Although research has increasingly recognized that parents benefit from parent empowerment programs, studies on the outcomes of the capacity-building of practitioners of such programs are generally lacking. Using the results of a non-randomized controlled trial, this study examined the possible outcomes of a related capacity-building program. A total of 56 practitioners were recruited from 10 social service agencies in Hong Kong to participate. Most of them were females with more than 10 years of social work experience. Of these, 28 participated in a 15-session capacity-building program on parent empowerment (serving as the experimental group), while the others did not participate in the capacity-building program (serving as the control group). MANCOVAs were performed to identify any differences between the two groups at different time points. The post-test assessment showed that the level of attitudes around parent empowerment of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group with a large effect size, but no difference was found in their self-perceived competence. Furthermore, the follow-up test revealed that the level of self-perceived competence of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, with a large effect size. A serial mediation of the levels of favorable attitudes at the post-test and follow-up test on the association between the capacity-building program and self-perceived competence at the follow-up test was also found. This study can contribute to the limited body of knowledge on how to equip practitioners with the professional attitudes and skills to implement parent empowerment programs.

Can You Hear Us? The Parent Consultation for the Review of Children’s Social Care in Northern Ireland Carried Out on Behalf of Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) 2022–23

ABSTRACT This paper draws upon evidence captured from a parent consultation exercise conducted by Helen Dunn (author) and Paula Keenan on behalf of Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) for the Department of Health as part of the Review of Children’s Social Care led by Professor Ray Jones during 2022–23. CiNI is the regional umbrella organisation for the children’s sector in Northern Ireland. This paper will be of interest to those who are keen to hear parents and carers views and their experiences of Social Work and Social Care in Northern Ireland. The Review also engaged Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) a charity for children and young people with a lived experience of care in Northern Ireland. They formed an Experts by Experience Reference Group of young people who were currently in or had experience of the care system.

COVID-19: Experiences of Social Workers Supporting Older Adults With Dementia in Nigeria.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous public health protocols were instituted by government agencies to safeguard individuals with dementia, their family caregivers, and formal care providers. While these preventive measures were implemented with good intentions, they inadvertently imposed significant challenges on medical social workers in Nigeria. This paper explored the experiences of medical social workers caring for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Twenty-six medical social workers from 6 government hospitals in Southwestern Nigeria participated in an in-depth interview. The research reveals 3 pivotal aspects: Firstly, the escalating demands within the work environment, where medical social workers grapple with the intricate task of conveying sensitive information about dementia diagnosis and COVID-19 prevention protocol, managing expectations regarding dementia diagnoses, and navigating resource constraints for individuals with dementia during the pandemic. Secondly, discernible impacts on the work climate and interprofessional relationships shed light on the challenges these professionals face in collaborating with other healthcare providers. Lastly, the reverberations on social workers' personal lives underscore the pandemic's toll on their well-being. Thus, the findings underscore the need for proactive measures to equip medical social workers to face the distinctive challenges in dementia care during future pandemics. Recognizing the potential resurgence of global health crises, the research highlights the need for strategic preparedness to mitigate the impact of future pandemics on the well-being of individuals with dementia and the professionals dedicated to their care.

EXPERIENCES OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN WORKING WITH HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH

This article uses role theory as a lens to explain the experiences of social workers working within healthcare multidisciplinary teams, which are characterised by interprofessional dominance and subordination. A qualitative case study design was used to explore and describe the experiences of social workers in working with other healthcare practitioners in multidisciplinary teams. A purposeful sampling technique was used to select sixteen participants from a particular health district. Data were collected through interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Professional power dynamics, a sense of agency with a need for collaborative contribution, and a lack of understanding of the social work profession are three themes that summarise the findings. The article concludes that the ineffective management of multidisciplinary themes creates a barrier to different professionals’ ability to communicate, work and learn together. The article recommends preparatory training for multidisciplinary team members and the need for a structured framework for interprofessional engagement. Keywords: collaboration, healthcare, healthcare practitioner, multidisciplinary team, social worker, teamwork

An ecosocial work model for social work education in Africa

There is a growing call for social work to contribute to the international movement towards sustainability to address the interconnected multiple ecological, social, and economic crises created by the global capitalist hegemony. This call is important for African social work given vulnerable people in Africa are primary victims of unsustainability. In this paper, we propose a model of an ecosocial work course for African undergraduate social work education. This proposal is based on our earlier review of the Bachelor of Social Work curricula of 12 universities in four African countries to determine the extent to which ecosocial content were addressed. Our review indicated the absence of an ecosocial approach in the curricula. To fill this gap, we then designed a model of an ecosocial work course based on our international experience in social work, our ongoing studies on sustainability, and relevant literature regarding Africa. We hope this model will be adopted by social work programmes in different African universities and used to shape social work students who will deal with the interconnected multiple crises in their practice. We also hope that this proposal will help African social work play a crucial role in the sustainable development of the continent. How to reference using ASWNet style: Tadesse M. E. and Obeng J. K. (2022). An ecosocial work model for social work education in Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 57-69. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.2 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net