Work Practice Research Articles

Experiences of families bereaved by opioid-related death

ABSTRACT Family members bereaved by a drug-related death are underserved. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people bereaved by a close family member’s opioid-related death. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in four areas: emotional responses (e.g. anticipatory grief), communication about the death (i.e. open or closed), supports (e.g. social or formal), and advice for others who lost a family member to opioid-related death. Findings highlight the need to support and reduce stigma toward people who use drugs and their families. This study guides social work practice by identifying the needs of families bereaved by opioid-related death.

Kelios pastabos iš valdovo kanceliarijos darbo praktikų jos laikino valdytojo Ivano Hornostajaus laikais 1540–1546 metais (Lietuvos Metrikos knygų Nr. 24, 28 ir 231 (12-osios TBK) duomenimis)

This article presents an analysis of three Lithuanian Metrica books, formed in around 1540–1544, namely – books No. 24, 28 and Court Case Book No. 12, looking at their purpose and interrelativity, and the value of their information as historical sources. The author of this article found some source-research related confusion in these books, due to which historians studying this period may inadvertently incorporate a degree of undesirable errors in their work. The above-mentioned books of the Lithuanian Metrica were formed at a time when the state treasurer and grand ducal chancellery clerk Ivan Hornostay was serving as the head of the chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania following the death of Chancellor Albertas Goštautas (December, 1539).In presenting the work practices executed by the chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1540–1544, the analysis of the interrelation of Lithuanian Metrica books No. 24, 28 and Court Case Book No. 12 and the “movement” of the documents they contained allowed me to arrive at several observations. The chancellery’s work practices were found to indicate the considered redaction of texts, whereby seeking to give them the attributes of an official document, changes and additions to the regular formulated language would be made. Hornostay is deemed the most important official-bureaucrat in this activity, having direct control over the clerks in the chancellery of King and Grand Duke Sigismund the Old and indirectly – of his wife, Queen Bona, and son Sigismund Augustus, as official documents issued in the ruler’s name could only be stamped and entered into the chartulary (chartularium) kept by Marcin Tur with Hornostay’s knowledge. The noticeably significant impact of Hornostay on the ruler made it possible to influence the latter’s official decisions regarding various matters in the internal life of the state. Hornostay was the most important chancellery official not only in 1540–1544 as the executor of the chancellor’s office, but earlier as well. The bureaucratic purpose of these three analysed books of the Lithuanian Metrica may be explained differently than by grouping them into Books of Inscriptions (No. 24 and 28) and a Court Case Book (Court Case Book No. 12), as the modern period historiographic scheme of 1887 devised by Stanisław Ptaszycki dictates. Rather, we should consider Lithuanian Metrica Book No. 24 as the chartulary Book of Inscriptions containing the ruler’s official documents, whereas Book No. 28 and Court Case Book No. 12 were formed from series of clerks’ files, in which the majority of documents were not yet officially authorised – these were drafts, concepts (minutes), preliminary papers, court case protocols, the ruler’s provisional resolutions and alike. In both of the latter books of the Lithuanian Metrica we find the drafts of documents of various content, even though court case documents dominate in one book, while the other had mostly grants (endowments), records of provenance, and alike. This kind of record-keeping was found to lack consistency in the manner that documents were ordered, the documents themselves having been entered haphazardly.This research of three books of the Lithuanian Metrica by no means explains all of the aspects of the activities of the chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from that time, but only accounts for several years after the death of Albertas Goštautas. These aspects are related to the same changes to document content that were made during the progression from a draft to its official version.

The Translation of Recovery-Oriented Social Work Practice in Child and Youth Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Abstract Recovery-oriented practice has become taken for granted and seen as the most ideal way of working for social workers alongside other allied health practitioners in the mental health field. Recovery-oriented practice is defined as a person-centred and strengths-based approach, providing interventions, as well as facilitating environmental and multidisciplinary resources to support the individual’s independence. The applicability of recovery in a child and youth mental health (CYMH) context, however, continues to be questioned. Although some research has explored what recovery means for young people, there is scant literature that examines how recovery-oriented practice is enacted when working with children and their families. This scoping review, guided by the Arksey and O’Malley’s framework explores how recovery is conceptualised and translated into practice with children aged two to twelve years who have identified ‘mental health concerns’ and their families. Qualitative and grey literature from the last twenty years was thematically analysed. The findings highlight the primacy placed on global recovery-oriented principles and expose the superficial articulation of the application of recovery-oriented practice with children. Findings underscore the need to critically investigate how social workers enact recovery approaches when working in a clinical CYMH setting, dominated by the medical model which prioritises evidence-based intervention and marginalises children’s knowledge.

An Investigative Study to Examine Impact of Digitalisation on Manufacturing Supply Chains

This study delves into how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Malaysian glove industry's supply chain and triggered the adoption of digitalization to enhance supply chain performance (SCP). Through surveys and interviews, it was discovered that the pandemic negatively affected business performance but prompted increased digitalization adoption. Commonly utilized digital solutions include Big Data Analytics (BDA), Internet of Things (IoT), and Cloud Computing (CC), while less commonly adopted solutions include Augmented Reality (AR) and Additive Manufacturing (AM). The research underscores a positive link between digitalization and SCP, stressing the significance of digital capabilities in sustaining supply chain resilience and responsiveness. However, challenges such as cultural shifts in work practices and investment apprehensions impede digitalization endeavors. The study provides insights for industry practitioners on harnessing digitalization to alleviate supply chain disruptions and offers recommendations for effective digitalization strategies.

Blockchain to blockchange? NFTs and DIY entrepreneurship in music production

Recently, developments in blockchain technology have shaken up the creative industries. Especially in the visual arts, NFT trade gained traction. Yet, musicians have also experimented with implementing blockchain technology. Most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales of NFTs were thought to compensate for some of the income loss caused by restrictions on live music. This paper explores why musicians engaged with blockchain technology, specifically by selling their music as NFTs, and how they perceive this affected their income, work practices and business models. Building upon 14 interviews with musicians who have sold their songs as NFTs, we highlight two main motivations for selling music NFTs: commercial autonomy from gatekeepers and platforms, and artistic autonomy. Financial gains were less prevalent and often remained obscured in respondents’ discourses. Above all, this research shows that pursuing autonomy and authenticity remains key for musicians, regardless of their appetite for new financial-technological innovations.

Pandemic Stress and Cyberbullying Among Adolescents During China's Outbreak of Omicron: Examining the Roles of Perceived Safety and Family Cohesion.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed risks to the psychosocial development of children and adolescents in the digital age. Under such a background, this study aims to examine the effects of pandemic stress on cyberbullying perpetration and victimization among Chinese adolescents, and to explore the mediator of perceived safety and the moderator of family cohesion underlying this association, during China's outbreak of Omicron. A sample of 822 adolescents was obtained from Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, China, based on a multistage cluster random sampling method. The results showed that pandemic stress was positively associated with cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Moreover, pandemic stress negatively predicted perceived safety, which in turn, increased the probability of cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Furthermore, family cohesion moderated the effects of pandemic stress on cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. This study contributes to practical implications for policy making and social work practices regarding how to protect adolescents from cyberbullying during the pandemic.

Best management practices for integrating refugee employees

AbstractThe number of international refugees in developed countries continues to increase due to various factors, including war, poverty, poor economic conditions, and environmental disasters. While prior research has focused on the challenges faced by refugees in finding work, prior research has neglected the organisational perspective. Therefore, our research question is: Which HR and management practices are viewed by refugees and organisational leaders as being most effective for the workplace integration of refugee employees? To address this research question, we conducted an exploratory semi‐structured interview study, drawing on quality of work life research. We conducted 37 semi‐structured interviews with refugees and people seeking asylum, as well as 35 interviews with managers who supervise refugees (including managers who develop employment programs and provide employment assistance for refugees). Based on the interview findings, we identify best HR practices and management strategies for integrating refugee employees in the workplace. Our interview findings and best HR practices for integrating refugee employees are summarised through the following five overall themes, each with additional sub‐dimensions: (1) workforce planning, (2) training and development, (3) inclusive work practices, (4) meaningful work, and (5) well‐being‐focused management. Our interview findings have important practical implications for organisations, managers, and policymakers who are working to advance the integration of refugees and people seeking asylum in the workforce.

VOICES OF RESILIENCE: REFLECTIONS OF UKRAINIAN SOCIAL WORKERS IN TIMES OF WAR

This article focuses on the challenges and adaptations faced by social workers in Ukraine in response to the full-scale Russian invasion that began in February 2022. Employing a narrative research design, the article analyzes semi-structured interviews with 12 social workers from various regions of Ukraine, conducted during February-March 2024. These interviews aimed to collect in-depth personal recollections and experiences related to the impact of the war on social work practice. From the analysis of the gathered information, three key themes were identified: (1) reactions to the onset of the full-scale invasion and actions of social workers; (2) the manifestation of resilience by social institution workers in wartime; (3) lessons and prospects. The interviews revealed that, in wartime conditions, social workers face unprecedented difficulties, including the loss of documents by clients during evacuation, an increase in the number of vulnerable individuals, and risks to their own lives and health. Despite this, they demonstrate remarkable dedication to their mission, adapting to changing circumstances and continuing to provide essential support and assistance. The article examines how the military conflict affects the practice of social work, highlighting innovative approaches and adaptation strategies. Special attention is given to the need for developing standardized procedures for crisis situations, the importance of international cooperation and experience exchange, and the role of technology in supporting effective social work. Given the overall situation, the article offers recommendations for the further development and strengthening of the social work system in Ukraine. In particular, it emphasizes the necessity of preparing social workers for wartime conditions, including training in self-help and self-recovery techniques, engaging communities in mutual support, and the importance of optimistic hope and faith in the future as critical components of resilience.

SOCIAL POLICY REGARDING VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATION GROUPS

The article analyzes the issue of migration as a complex social phenomenon. International population migration in the conditions of growing globalization occupies an important place in the development of modern society and, accordingly, affects young people who, for various reasons, decided to study abroad (in Slovakia). The article reflects knowledge at the theoretical and empirical levels. One of the main tasks of modern higher education is the modernization and efficiency of the professional mobility of future specialists. Student migration is considered as educational migration. We point out that the Slovak Republic is one of the most economically successful countries in Central-Eastern Europe. Economic reforms and accession to the EU, combined with significant inflows of foreign direct investment, have led to sustained economic growth and job creation. Economic development and demographic changes have also created an additional need for skilled labor. At the same time, greater integration into the EU, open borders and a common educational space led to the migration of Slovak students to the neighboring Czech Republic and other EU countries. As a result, Slovakia gradually began to ease migration restrictions and allowed an increasing number of third-country nationals to enter the territory of the Slovak Republic. The integration policy of Slovakia is consistent with the migration policy, and among its priorities is the effective integration of foreigners in the labor market. The purpose of the article is to analyze Ukrainian student migration in Slovakia, focusing on the analysis of personal and social benefits. We analyze the issue of academic mobility as an integral component of the European educational space, which also undoubtedly has a positive effect on the national education system and the national economy. We highlight the issue of effective ethnic-national policy formation, development of theory and practice of social work with ethnic groups, find out directions and forms of social service work with migrants. In the empirical part, we present a quantitative study at all stages of the research process. The content of the study is to find out the reasons that motivate future Ukrainian students to migrate to Slovakia, as well as to find out how the initial decision about migration and arrival to Slovakia takes place. Part of the quantitative research is the analysis of the personal and social benefits of the migration of Ukrainian students to Slovakia.

From the table to the sofa: The remote work revolution in a context of crises and its consequences on work attitudes and behaviors

AbstractIn recent years educational professionals experienced a sudden shift to online work requiring them to adapt rapidly to the new digital landscape. This shift has raised concerns about employees’ health issues and the role of organizational support, as they can have a profound effect on employees’ attitudes to work. However, despite their importance, there is a dearth of empirical evidence to ascertain whether or to what extent they impact educational professionals’ job satisfaction, work engagement and turnover intention. This paper aims to address this deficit. A sample of 288 remote working education professionals in Brazil was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques. We found that health complaints and organizational support have distinct effects on education professionals’ job satisfaction, engagement and turnover intention. In addition, our results reveal that job satisfaction and engagement have an impact on turnover intention. The results emphasize the importance of providing adequate support to education professionals who work remotely to cultivate a healthier and more productive work environment. These findings contribute valuable insights that may assist organizations in enabling effective remote work practices and ensure a positive work experience for education professionals.

Practice of work of a nurse in organizing care for patients with diabetes mellitus: training programs «from innovation to quality of life» in the conditions of the Union State

Help and treatment of children and adolescents with diabetes is an important part of the health care system. A socially oriented state is obliged to provide this category of patients with the development and application of the latest methods in the field of preventive diabetology and medical demography, and is obliged to form and educate the correct behavior of children and adolescents, which must be implemented in the family, school, and educational organizations. Of great importance is the use of standards/algorithms for specialized medical care for patients with diabetes, educational programs designed not only to provide knowledge about the disease, but also to teach patients the skills of self-monitoring of the disease, the principles of independent decision-making on treatment and prevention. The article outlines the modern principles of organizing work in “Health Schools” and “Schools of Diabetes Mellitus”, educational programs used by medical workers, and the achieved results of activities in the field of preventing exacerbations of diabetes mellitus in parallel mode both in Russia and Belarus.

Teaching Note—The Dynamic Duo: Use of Standardized Clients Across the Social Work Practice and Field Curricula

ABSTRACT This reflection from one department of social work showcases the use of simulation as an integrated tool of practice-based education and assessment for social work education within generalist and specialized practice classes. We show several ways we are using simulation as both a learning and assessment tool for social work practice skills. This includes in-class simulations using paid standardized patient as clients, the use of objective standard clinical examination as an assessment tool in the standardized patient suite within the university, the use of field instructors as feedback mechanisms for standardized patient experiences, and translating and linking student skills in the classroom to real-world field experiences. Challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities for future exploration are discussed.

Manajemen praktek kerja lapangan pada program keahlian teknik komputer dan jaringan di SMK Prima Sejahtera Kotamobagu

The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the management of Field Work Practice (PKL) Computer and Network Engineering Expertise Program at SMK Prima Sejahtera Kotamobagu, in terms of Planning, Implementation and Evaluation. This research is a type of qualitative research with research procedures that produce descriptive data. The methods used by researchers to collect data are observation, interviews and documentation studies. The subjects of this research are the Principal, Deputy for Public Relations, Head of the Computer and Network Engineering Department (TKJ), Supervising Teacher. After the data is collected, the data is analyzed including data reduction, and conclusion drawing. Based on the results of the study, it shows that the PKL planning stage includes: 1) PKL committee formation and coordination, 2) Industry mapping, 3) Administrative preparation (such as: making submission letters and submission procedures, making submission and withdrawal letters, making PKL activity schedules), 4) Determination of PKL place, 5) Debriefing. The stages of implementation activities: 1) Delivery of PKL students, 2) PKL implementation process in the Business World / Industrial World (DUDI), 3) PKL program monitoring, 4) Journal preparation of daily PKL activities, and 5) Withdrawal of PKL students. The PKL evaluation stage includes: 1) Completion of the journal which is carried out after the pick-up of students, 2) PKL assessment based on the results of coordination by industry and school supervisors and based on the results of reports/journals.

Bringing Self-Determination Theory to the Forefront: Examining How Human Resource Practices Motivate Employees of All Ages to Succeed

AbstractSelf-determination theory (SDT) is widely used in human resource (HR) practice studies to explain how HR practices impact work outcomes. However, there is little empirical evidence establishing the complete SDT mediational process in the HR domain, which entails basic psychological needs and motivation acting as mediators of relations between HR practices and work outcomes. The present study addresses this issue with a mixed methods approach. Using an item classification task with subject matter experts (N = 48), HR practices were classified as autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supportive. Based on this scheme, we tested an SDT-based conceptual model in a three-wave sample of working adults (N = 818). Results from Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (MSEM) support the hypothesized model: basic psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation mediate the relationship between HR practice perceptions and work outcomes (performance, thriving, affective organizational commitment, and turnover intentions). Autonomy-supportive practices had a positive effect on autonomy need satisfaction, while competence-supportive practices had positive associations with all three basic psychological needs. Counterintuitively, relatedness-supportive practices had negative effects on autonomy and competence need satisfaction, and the relationship between relatedness-supportive practices and autonomy need satisfaction was moderated by chronological age. We discuss our findings in the context of prominent HR studies that utilize SDT and offer a supplemental age-inclusive HR practice scheme for HR managers interested in understanding the benefits of supporting basic psychological needs from both a motivation and workforce retention standpoint.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY AND EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND FLOURISHING

The objective of this research is to investigate the complex relationships that exist between psychological safety, employee motivation, and flourishing in organizational settings. Specifically, the study will concentrate on developing creative work environments and analyzing the roles played by transformational and transactional leadership styles. The understanding of psychological safety as a fundamental component of an atmosphere where taking interpersonal risks is encouraged and enables staff members to freely interact, make suggestions, and work together without fear of consequences is at the heart of the inquiry. Based on positive psychology frameworks and self-determination theory, the study clarifies the several motivating factors—like relatedness, competence, and autonomy—that lead to employee thriving. It seeks to understand how these motivational elements, along with psychological safety, foster an atmosphere that is favorable to creativity and invention. The study explores the complex interrelationships between transactional and transformational leadership philosophies and how each influences psychological safety and encourages workers to come up with new ideas. The primary goal of the inquiry is to clarify how these leadership philosophies affect the individual and group creativity of employees. Through an analysis of the complex relationships between psychological safety, employee motivation, and leadership styles, the thesis seeks to provide practitioners and organizational leaders with practical advice. It is crucial to comprehend how these elements combine to influence creative work practices and inventive behaviors in today's dynamic and competitive environment, where innovation is essential to long-term success. Keywords: Innovative work behavior, Employee creativity, Transformational leadership style and Transactional leadership style.

Non-standard Working Practices and Nurses’ Job Performance: Experience from Public Hospitals in Tanzania

Non-standard working practices are common among nurses because they spend more time directly caring for patients than other healthcare professionals. Thus, nurses’ performance is impacted by how work is organized, whereas various component of the working practice may lead to a decrease in performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of non-standard working practices on performance of nurses in public hospitals in Tanzania. Specifically, the study focused on assessing the influence of schedule variation, schedule uncertainty, and schedule intensity on performance of nurses in Tanzanian public hospitals. The study adopted descriptive survey research design using qualitative and quantitative methods. Stratified random sampling technique was used, whereas a sample size of 381 nurses was randomly chosen from a target population of 404. Quantitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis technique whereas qualitative data were analyzed by the use of multiple linear regression, one-way Analysis of Variance, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation. Qualitative data were entered, coded and analyzed using summative content analysis and presented in percentages, in tables, figures and charts. Correlation analysis was used to test the direction of relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. Multiple regressions were used to test whether schedule variation, schedule uncertainty, and schedule intensity had any influence on nurses’ performance. The study established that schedule variation, schedule uncertainty, and schedule intensity contributed negatively to nurses’ performance. Furthermore, the study approved all three study hypothesis as it was found that all schedule variation, schedule uncertainty and schedule intensity had significant statistical influence on job performance of nurses. The study concluded that exposure to non-standard working practices were common among nurses in public hospitals in Tanzania. Further, the study concluded that nurses in the study area were more affected by schedule variation and schedule uncertainty. The study recommended the adoption of strategies aimed at minimizing the effects non-standard schedules to promote nurses’ performance.

A longitudinal study combining the Double Diamond framework and Behavior Change Wheel to co-create a sedentary behavior intervention in police control rooms.

Police work can be sedentary and stressful, negatively impacting health and wellbeing. In a novel co-creation approach, we used the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) and Double Diamond (DD) design framework to guide the collaborative design and development of a sedentary behavior intervention in the control rooms of two British police forces. Multiple stakeholders participated in four phases of research. In Phase 1, a literature review, focus groups (n=20) and interviews (n=10) were conducted to 'discover' the relationship between physical activity and wellbeing in the police. In Phase 2, a steering group consolidated Phase 1 findings to 'define' a specific behavior for intervention. Phases 3 and 4 'developed' the intervention across six workshops with control room workers and six steering group workshops. The co-creation process identified contextual sedentary behavior as the target behavior, driven by behavioral regulation, social influence and social norms. The sedentary behavior intervention targeted these drivers and aimed to engage control room workers in short bursts of physical activity throughout their shifts. Key intervention features targeted involvement of staff in decision-making and embedding physical activity into work practices. The BCW and DD can be combined to co-create evidence-based and participant-informed interventions and translate science into action.

LGBTQ+ People’s Perceptions of Interactions with Outgroup Members: Implications for Social Work Education and Practice

  Engaging respectfully with individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, genderqueer, or gender-nonconforming (LGBTQ+) is an ethical imperative. To help social workers fulfill this obligation, this study explored the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people regarding their interactions with people outside the LGBTQ+ community, and what LGBTQ+ people desire for future interactions. Narrative interviews were conducted with 11 LGBTQ+ social work graduate students and alumni to explore (a) their self-reported experiences engaging in one-on-one and small group interactions with outgroup members throughout their lives and (b) the meaning they gleaned from their life experiences across various domains (e.g., work, family, education) that might improve future interactions. Analysis produced six storylines that can be summarized as (1) unbalanced depictions of difference, (2) avoiding interactions, (3) managing positive treatment of an identity, (4) restricting certain perspectives, (5) focusing on differences, and (6) the importance of seeing humanity. The findings suggest several strategies for interacting with LGBTQ+ people in a more culturally sensitive way including discussing the LGBTQ+ community in a nuanced manner (as opposed to monolithically) and considering the level of attention paid to individuals’ sexual orientation and gender identity.

Reflecting on Reflection in Clinical Social Work: Unsettling a Key Social Work Strategy

Abstract This study calls into question some of assumptions within social work education and practice regarding the transformational potential of reflection-on-practice. Participants (n = 34) in this simulation-based study each engaged in two clinically focused simulations, each followed by an interview which included observing segments of their video-recorded simulations. The objectives of this study are to make some sense of the misalignments between participants’ post-simulation reflections of their practice behaviours, and the practice behaviours observed by the research team, and later by participants themselves. Findings illustrate that: (i) how clients and the session are understood in the moment can be different than how they are understood post-client engagement; (ii) reflections of practice behaviours can be tied to how individuals want to be, which are not necessarily aligned with how they are in the moment; and (iii) reflections are intertwined with awareness of oneself. These results identify some of the limitations of individualised reflective activities, and demonstrate the powerful potential of collective reflection on recordings of simulations to challenge memory distortions, retrospective biases and to promote greater accountability to ourselves as social workers, and to those we work with.

Kesiapan Kerja Setelah Melaksanakan Praktek Kerja Industri Siswa Kelas XII SMK Negeri 2 Solok

This research aims to determine the impact of industrial work practices on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. This study falls under quantitative research, with the research subjects being 26 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. Data collection was done through questionnaires and documentation. The questionnaire was used to measure variables related to industrial work practices, student readiness, and the location of industrial work practice. Data analysis was conducted using data analysis tests for normality, homogeneity, and the F-test. The questionnaire results indicate an influence on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering, with an average questionnaire score of 178, a maximum score of 218, a minimum score of 117, and a standard deviation of 23.681. The normality test yielded a sig(2-tailed) value of 0.894 > 0.05, the homogeneity test had a sig value of 0.758 > 0.05, and the F-test had a sig value of 0.013 < 0.05. Based on the data analysis results, it can be concluded that there is an impact after conducting industrial work practice on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering.