Work Practice Research Articles

Teaching note: assessing social work students on placement: a model for professional competence

ABSTRACT This teaching note describes how the author (a practice teacher and university lecturer) retrospectively considered and applied the work of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger; with a specific focus on situtaed learning, communities of practice and pre-qualifying social work education in Northern Ireland. Through this retrospective lens, this conceptual paper presents a new, inclusive model for practice teachers (practice educators) and social work students to use in professional supervision. The Social Work Placement Professional Competence (PPC) Model is presented as a supervisory tool to guide and frame professional discussions and critical analysis of student’s practice. The model can be used to critically reflect on the development of the students’ incremental learning, knowledge base, evidence of decision-making, assessment of need and ability to effectively manage risk.

The Experiences and Challenges Of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Accessing Social Work Practices in Nigeria

LGBTQ persons (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) in several countries of the world including Nigeria have been identified to be repeatedly confronted with sexual profiling, otherwise known as stigmatization. Due to the absence of legal recognition for homosexual relationships in the Nigerian constitution, marginalized communities in this context lack the privilege of freely forming social connections with others in society, unlike their heterosexual counterparts. This paper provided a comprehensive analysis of scholarly literature investigating the experiences and challenges encountered by LGBTQ individuals in their physical and social environments. The study adopted a combination of philosophical methods. The analytical method was used to examine and define key terms; the speculative method was employed to gain insights into the challenges and experiences faced by these marginalized communities, as well as the impacts they have on them while the prescriptive method was utilized to propose strategies to address and alleviate the situation. The paper contended that the exclusion of these individuals from the nation's quota system may result in the loss of talented individuals to addiction, depression, or suicide.

Examining the relationships between religiosity and E-cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking among college students in Vietnam

ABSTRACT Alcohol and e-cigarette use are prevalent among college students in Vietnam. Due to the negative impact that both can have on health and academic performance, these trends are concerning. While previous research has supported the role that religiosity may serve as a protective factor against substance use in many studies, there continues to be limited information on the relationship between religiosity and substance use among the Vietnamese population. The current study aims to expand research findings examining the relationships between religiosity characterized by Buddhism and alcohol drinking and e-cigarette smoking among college students in Vietnam, controlling for age, sex, and peer substance use. Two binary logistic regression analyses were conducted, using a sample of 263 college students aged between 18 to 24 from a private university in a large city in the country. The findings of the study suggested that religiosity characterized by Buddhism had no deterrent impact on e-cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking among the sample, which is in contrast with the current research findings based on Judeo-Christian and Muslim religions. Possible explanations and implications for social work practice in Vietnam are discussed.

The Role of Mindfulness and Embodiment in Group-Based Trauma Treatment

Embodiment and mindfulness interventions provide a range of benefits for individuals living with trauma yet a lack of clarity surrounds their integration in group work practice. This article provides a framework for the integration of embodiment and mindfulness interventions in group settings for trauma. While such interventions can be utilised in primary trauma processing and open process group psychotherapy, this article provides particular guidance for the more general integration of these tools in structured format resourcing groups. Attention is given to the value and features of a phasic, staged integration of these interventions for specialised trauma-oriented group work. This article details how mindfulness and embodiment interventions support participants to cultivate the capacity to counter experiential avoidance and reorient attention towards the present moment, consequently increasing bodily and affective self-awareness. This serves to reduce patterns of reactivity, thereby supporting symptom stabilisation, improved reflective and mentalising ability, and cultivation of the self- and co-regulatory capacities necessary for trauma-processing group work. These interventions also possess supportive implications for the facilitator’s wellbeing, the formation and cohesiveness of the group, and, crucially, the norming process, both implicit and explicit. Attention is given also to safety considerations, including contraindications of mindfulness practices with certain trauma presentations, and the necessary screening requirements and exclusion criteria in the formation of a trauma-oriented group.

Supporters with Vantage Position: The Role of Youth Work in the Online Lifeworld from the Perspective of Adolescents and Youth Work’s Partners

The online environment, where the boundaries between the domains of home, school, work, and leisure are blurred, poses new challenges for youth work practice. Due to limited research on this subject matter, the theoretical underpinnings of the online youth work practice are constrained. The fulfilment of youth work’s aims online, the position it can take in the online context, and its relation to its partners in the online lifeworld need a theoretical base. This paper seeks to analyse the role of youth work in the online lifeworld according to adolescents and youth work’s partners. The research was conducted in the Netherlands in collaboration with 14 youth work organisations. A qualitative research design was used: group conversations with young people and semi-structured interviews with youth work’s partners (i.e., parents, schools, informal networks, neighbourhood support teams, police, and municipal officials). The findings indicate that youth work in the online lifeworld, according to the respondents, is part of the general youth work practice, with a primary role of addressing the developmental needs of young people and creating new developmental opportunities. This role is expected to be fulfilled by engaging and connecting with young people in the online lifeworld and providing them instrumental, informational, socioemotional, and cognitive support. To do so, according to the partners, youth workers can make use of their vantage position in the online relationship with adolescents in order to access online information relevant for support and prudent prevention aimed at adolescents’ development. This vantage position may potentially encourage a collaboration between young people and partners, and between the online and offline youth work practice.

Modelling the critical challenges of quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction industry, yet still, it is unclear from existing studies about the critical challenges imposed on quality assurance (QA), particularly Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). Thus, this study aims to identify and examine the critical challenges of QA of Cb-CLSC during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe aim is achieved via an embedded mixed-method approach pragmatically involving a desk literature review and engaging 150 experts across the globe using expert surveys, and results confirmed by semi-structured interviews. The approach is based on Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) as its foundation.FindingsThe study revealed ten critical challenges of QA, with the top four including “the shortage of raw construction material (C7)”, “design changes (C6)”, “collaboration and communication difficulties (C1)” and “changes in work practices (C10)”. However, examining the interrelationships among the critical challenges using ISM confirmed C7 and C10 as the most critical challenges. The study again revealed that the critical challenges are sensitive and capable of affecting themselves due to the nature of their interrelationship based on MICMAC analysis. Hence, being consistent with why all the challenges were considered critical amid the pandemic. Sentiment analysis revealed that the critical challenges have not been entirely negative but also positive by creating three areas of opportunities for improvement: technology adoption, worker management, and work process management. However, four areas of challenges in the QA include cost, raw material, time, and work process, including inspection, testing, auditing, communication, etc.Practical implicationsThe finding provides a convenient point of reference to researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and decision-makers on formulating policies to enhance the effectiveness of construction QA during the pandemic through to the post-pandemic era.Originality/valueThe study enriches the extant literature on QA, Cb-CLSC, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the construction industry by identifying the critical challenges and examining the interrelationships among them. This provides a better understanding of how the construction QA has been affected by the pandemic and the opportunities created.

Fictional characterization through repair, membership categorization, and attribute ascription

Abstract Linguistics and discourse studies have recently started treating fictional interactions as data worth analyzing in their own right, rather than incomplete representations of naturally occurring conversations. Aligning with advances in research on the use of language in fiction, this study addresses the functions of characters’ conversational practices in fictional works from an interactional perspective. By applying conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis to a sitcom series, this study explores how characters’ repair operation, membership categorization, and attribute ascription contribute to the construction and revelation of those characters (i.e., fictional characterization). Three patterns are illustrated: (1) a character engages in implicit categorization to account for trouble after operating repair; (2) a character’s changes of turn design in multiple repair operations show the character’s orientation toward an attribute of the other character; and (3) a character gives up repair operation and shows an orientation toward other characters’ attributes through implying negative assessment of them. The findings suggest that conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis are beneficial for research on fictional characterization. This study also discusses the reflexive and mutually constitutive relationship between the interactional participants’ characters and their conversational practices.

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Safety Training Methods

Work safety is an important area of business activity, particularly in industries with the most dangerous risks, such as mining, construction and energy. The aim is to reduce the number of accidents and increase employee awareness of occupational hazards and the principles of safe working practices. One of the most important ways to increase employee awareness and consequently reduce accidents is through training. The effectiveness of training is contingent on proper planning, design and preparation. Design thinking directed towards the use of teaching methods and tools is crucial. Properly planned training is part of the sustainability of companies, which consequently results in higher work safety due to its high efficiency. This article reviews the most common training methods in the area of work safety and evaluates them qualitatively and quantitatively using SWOT and multi-criteria analyses. These analyses can provide important guidance in the selection of training methods, regardless of the business sector. Based on the results obtained, effective training methods included those involving students: active training methods with elements of discussion and gamification, augmented and virtual reality, demonstrations and simulations. However, the best training results can be achieved by combining a number of training methods, while maintaining the right balance to achieve the intended training objectives. This is particularly important in businesses with specific activities such as mining, construction or energy.

The movement of syringes and medication during anesthesiology delivery: An observational study in laparoscopic surgeries

The movements of syringes and medications during an anesthetic case have yet to be systematically documented. We examine how syringes and medication move through the anesthesia work area during a case. We conducted a video-based observational study of 14 laparoscopic surgeries. We defined 'syringe events' as when syringe was picked up and moved. Medications were administered to the patient in only 48 (23.6%) of the 203 medication or syringe events. On average, 14.5 syringe movements occurred in each case. We estimate approximately 4.2 syringe movements for each medication administration. When a medication was administered to the patient (either through the IV pump or the patient port), it was picked up from one of 8 locations in the work area. Our study suggests that the syringe storage locations vary and include irregular locations (e.g., patient bed or provider's pockets). Our study contributes to understanding the complexity in the anesthesia work practices.

The transformation of social work in Ukraine before and during the war

Background: This article aims to review the development of the social work profession in Ukraine and to describe the impact of social, economic and political changes on social work practices and education. Methods: A comprehensive literature review and participant observation methods informed this study. A case study of a Polish community’s response to Ukrainian war refugees illustrates how social workers might capitalize on current social structures to continue strengthening civil society in Ukraine. Findings and Discussion: Social Work, focusing on the fit between person and environment, is shaped by knowledge, culture and belief systems. Ukraine’s history and transition from communist/centralized thinking to civil society is reflected in the development of social work to date. The impact of Russian invasions has hindered and strengthened how social workers can recognize and respond to needs. Limitations include the time lag between published articles and the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine. Originality/Value: Few articles focus on social work development in Ukraine, which adds to this article’s originality and relevance.

TSIVILSK TIKHVIN BOGORODITSKY MONASTERY DURING THE TRANSFORMATION PERIOD OF THE 1860s – 1870s

Studying the history of churches and monasteries in modern conditions is of scientific and practical interest. The purpose of the study is to examine the history of transformation of the Tsivilsk Tikhvin Monastery into a women’s monastery against the background of bourgeois modernization of the Russian society, intensification of the policy and practice of Orthodox missionary work, to show the contribution of spiritual and secular persons to the revival of monastic life in Tsivilsk monastery and to assess its religious and social significance in establishing Orthodoxy among the population of Chuvashia. Materials and methods. The article is based on the analysis of literary and documentary materials. The main sources of the work were archival documents, publications of periodicals, materials of the website of the Chuvash metropolis. Theoretical generalizations and conclusions are made using the chronological, institutional and cultural-anthropological approaches. Study results. Tsivilsk Bogoroditsky Tikhvin Monastery of the Chuvash Metropolis is one of the oldest in the Middle Volga region. It was founded by Tsivilsk inhabitants in memory of the town’s miraculous deliverance in 1671 by the God’s Mother’s intercession from the devastation by S.T. Razin’s detachments. Tsivilsk monastery has gone through different times: it was on the verge of closure more than once, and was abolished during the Soviet period. In this study, based on the study of special literature and a set of sources, the author examined one of the most difficult periods in the history of the monastery. At the end of the 1860s, the monastery’s economy turned out to be in a critical condition. Neither the monastery nor the municipal authorities had the financial means and material resources to restore it. The brethren were small in number, they did not see any prospects for the change for the better, so violations to the rules of monastic life took place among them. The diocesan leadership in the person of Archbishop Anthony of Kazan (Ya.G. Amphiteatrov), having visited the monastery in 1869, made a proposal to the consistory to close it. However, in the conditions of bourgeois reforms and intensification of missionary and educational activities, closure of the monastery in the uyezd, where predominantly the Chuvash population lived, could have negative consequences for Orthodoxy establishment. At the same time, the residents of Tsivilsk and many neighboring villages did not want to lose the monastery, which had not only religious, but also symbolic significance. These circumstances, in the author’s opinion, forced to look for other solutions to its fate. The idea of converting a male monastery into a female one turned out to be promising. The events of the monastery economy’s revival are described in detail, the role of the abbess Kheruvima, the main benefactor V.N. Nikitin is shown, the progress of construction and repair works is covered, the celebrations in honor of the renovated monastery consecration are described in detail, its characteristics at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries are given. Conclusions. One of the ancient centers of Orthodoxy in the territory of Chuvashia, Tsivilsk Bogoroditsky Tikhvin Monastery became a women’s monastery as a result of transformations in 1871–1872. Preservation of the historical monastery became possible thanks to the support of the diocesan leadership, the presence of benefactors, a positive attitude of Tsivilsk residents, as well as believers of Tsivilsk and neighboring uyezds. As a result of the renovation, Tsivilsk Tikhvin Convent turned into a center of missionary educational activities in the Chuvash Region. The modern restoration of the monastery became possible due to preservation of the monastery complex, built mainly in the historical period under consideration.

Who Did What to Whom and How: A Scoping Review of Interventions to Promote Children's Self‐Efficacy in Mainland China

ABSTRACTSelf‐efficacy refers to an individual's judgement, belief and perception of their capability to accomplish specific tasks, which is crucial for children's mental well‐being. The primary objective of this scoping review was to systematically examine intervention studies aimed at enhancing children's self‐efficacy in Mainland China, intending to inform social work practices in child services. We conducted a comprehensive search of articles in Web of Science and CNKI to review empirical intervention studies published before March 2022 in either Chinese or English. The selection criteria included all empirical intervention studies focused on improving self‐efficacy in children in Mainland China. A total of 17 studies were identified and included in the review. Among these, six studies focused on general self‐efficacy, while the remaining 11 examined domain‐specific self‐efficacy. Seven studies provided compensatory interventions to children facing adversity, five studies implemented preventive services, and another five offered developmental services to children in regular circumstances. Fourteen programmes exclusively served children, while three studies involved parents. Notably, most of the included interventions were facilitated by research teams from universities, with only one led by a social work department. Education modalities and comprehensive interventions were commonly used and found to be effective. The current state of intervention studies underscores the need for programmes that utilize effective strategies and approaches to enhance children's self‐efficacy. Social workers are encouraged to play both direct and indirect roles in services aimed at improving children's self‐efficacy.

Institutional work within the boundaries of multi-stakeholder initiatives: The relational agency of implementing partners and women cotton-pickers in practice change

In Pakistan, cotton is picked by women who witness first-hand the social and environmental challenges of the global textile industry, which the BCI, a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI), aims to mitigate. Scholars have yet to investigate the ability of MSIs to achieve change as experienced by the cotton-pickers themselves. This article offers an original perspective on how relational agency is exerted between an MSI, implementing partners and cotton-pickers, through the mutually interacting work of creating boundaries around an institutional space. This helps explain how, in an otherwise highly restrictive context, women’s agency is leveraged. Based on 40 qualitative interviews with the BCI cotton-pickers and their implementing partners, the study finds that, through institutional work, cotton-pickers have upgraded their working practices. However, the MSI’s impact depends on its ability to maintain its boundary and corresponding practices. By implication, the women’s poverty continues to be a highly significant limitation on the improvements to their lives.

Cross-border workers - navigating the challenges of social security coordination rules in the era of telework in the European Union

In 1 2020, there were 1.7 million cross-border workers in the European Union, creating difficulties in determining the applicable legislation for social security matters. The reason for this complexity is that even in cross-border activities, the legislation of only one Member State is applicable according to the Coordination Regulation 883/2004. This article examines the evolving landscape of social security coordination in the European Union. It explores the interplay between the European principle of free movement of workers and the complexities arising from various national social security systems, combined with the increase in telework. The article outlines the foundational legal frameworks underpinning social security within the European Union, including the Coordination Regulation EC 883/2004, and discusses primarily the challenges in applying these rules to cross-border teleworkers. It further analyses the implications of the new Multilateral Framework Agreement, providing a nuanced understanding of its role in offering simplified procedures and legal certainty for habitual cross-border teleworkers. The article also highlights the Agreement's limitations, including its restricted scope and the persisting administrative burdens. The discussion extends to the broader context of ongoing legislative efforts and the need for more flexible and modern social security coordination rules in the European Union. The article aims to shed light on the critical issues surrounding social security coordination in an era of evolving work practices.

Innovative Green Social Work Practices for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development

This study explores innovative practices in social work methodologies aimed at environmental protection and promoting sustainable development. In the face of an escalating environmental crisis, this approach integrates the principles of ecological preservation and social equity to address complex global challenges. This paper also underscores the role of green social work in promoting environmental preservation, fostering sustainable progress, and enhancing community welfare. It examines a range of creative initiatives, including grassroots efforts, policy reform advocacy, educational outreach, and the establishment of collaborative partnerships, illustrating the significant contribution of social work to ecological sustainability. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges faced in implementing these initiatives and the importance of active community participation. In conclusion, it calls for a collective effort from social workers, policymakers, environmental advocates, and the broader community to tap into the transformative potential of green social work, guiding us towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Key words: Environment protection, Sustainability, Green Social Work, Practices.

Green Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy And Its Outcomes: The Mediating Role Of The Attitude Towards Entrepreneurship

The objective of this research is to investigate the correlation between green entrepreneurial self-efficacy (GESE) and its outcomes, which include innovative work behavior (IWB) and entrepreneurial intention (EI). Specifically, the study will focus on the meditating effect of attitude towards entrepreneurship (ATE) using the framework of theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data was collected from 307 employees working in SMEs related to the textile industry in Pakistan. M+ is used to test the research model. The research findings indicated that individuals' belief in their ability to succeed as green entrepreneurs had a beneficial effect on their inclination to engage in creative work practices and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Moreover, the attitude towards entrepreneurship served as a mediator in the connection between green entrepreneurial self-efficacy and its resulting effects, namely creative work behavior and entrepreneurial intention. Green entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to successfully engage in environmentally sustainable entrepreneurial activities. This study suggests that green entrepreneurial self-efficacy can be an effective tool for managers to induce entrepreneurial intention and innovative work behavior. This research added to green self-efficacy, innovation, and entrepreneurial literature and provided understandings into how managers could enhance the green entrepreneurial self-efficacy of employees to boost innovative work behavior and entrepreneurial intention.

Biomedical Engineering Research Based on Computer Propagation Technology: Treatment of neurodigestive diseases

With the support of the Institute of Cancer Hospital of Chifeng University, Sarkov and Markov Memorial Health Informatics Laboratory designed a new working concept of innovative Nursing by using neural network and Brain–computer interface technology. The research team proposed a direct connection between human or animal brain (or brain cell culture) and external equipment. In the case of one-way Brain–computer interface, the computer may accept commands from the brain. Using this point to detect the emotion of patients after surgery and carry out necessary gourds, a two-way information exchange method and model of two-way Brain–computer interface are also proposed. The potential non-invasive Brain–computer interface designed by us has been deeply studied, mainly because of its good time resolution, ease of use, portability and relatively low price. Especially in the specific application and working practice of EEG (Electroencephalography), our achievements directly meet the application of clinical institutions.

“I Do What I Do to Drive Change”: The Social-Symbolic Work of Sustainable Fashion Influencers

This paper aims to study how sustainable fashion influencers (SFIs) conduct social-symbolic work in their efforts to purposefully transform their followers’ fashion consumption patterns. We conducted a netnographic study of the Finnish SFI scene, including observations of the SFIs’ social media content and complementary in-depth interviews with a subset of SFIs. We identified three types of social-symbolic work conducted by the SFIs: identity work (narrating, reflecting and balancing), community work (tightening, expanding and magnetizing) and practice work (shaping meanings, competences, and materials). Most of the SFIs studied were micro-influencers in Finland. The paper contributes to research on sustainable fashion by highlighting the role of SFIs as drivers of institutional and cultural change, the role of social media in this pursuit, and the way sustainable fashion consumption is interlinked with digital life.

Labour Market Preferences of Retrenched Australian Auto Industry Workers for Job Quality and Meaningful Work*

This study uses stated preference experiments to examine labour market preferences of 309 workers retrenched by the Australian automotive industry for non‐pecuniary job attributes denoting job quality and meaningfulness. We find that autonomy and employer reputation for good work policies and practices are the two most important non‐pecuniary job attributes, with compensating wage differentials of roughly $5 per hour for greater autonomy and better employer reputation. Job security and skill utilisation are also important, but less so, with compensating wage differentials between $1 and $3 per hour for greater security and fewer training requirements. Workers' strongest preference is not for a particular type of work, but rather for a particular type of employer, suggesting that labour market policy might pay more attention to regulating the quality of workplaces.

Examining Work Practices in the ICT Sector: Reinforcing Frameworks for Intellectual Property, Ethics and Privacy By IJISRT

The safety of people's data is crucial given the rise in the use of digital gadgets. The paper examines a business case study that mostly provides information and communication technology services to Australian enterprises. By examining Australian laws and norms pertaining to intellectual property, ethics, and privacy in the ICT sector, the analysis aims to find any gaps in the work practices. Relevant questions are formulated to identify particular problems with current work practices in order to facilitate the study. This will enable the ICT industry to identify any weaknesses and help improve the laws and policies relating to privacy, ethics, and intellectual property.