Role Of Social Workers Research Articles

Burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic in caring professions: The case of social work

The relationship between burnout and telework was analysed to find out how COVID-19 affected the emotional state of social workers who teleworked during the pandemic, and to analyse the risk of burnout in the field of social services. The fieldwork was conducted on a self-selected sample of 395 social workers in Spain in 2021. The results show a lower risk related to negligent treatment and a high resilience of professionals. The findings highlight the role of social work and the need to organise social services to guarantee the quality of this service without overburdening its professionals.

Enhancing the role of social work in managing cancer risks among LGBTQ+ populations.

Enhancing the role of social work in managing cancer risks among LGBTQ+ populations.

Raciality, intersubjectivity and transgression in the Brazilian system of socio-educational services: insights for social education

Social work and social pedagogy deal with a diverse and intricate set of social realities, while facing major issues such as racism and interracial relations. In this article, we look at studies of racism in Brazil and data from research into intersubjectivity conducted in the context of Brazilian socio-educational services. We also consider the ideas of Paulo Freire and bell hooks, notably bell hooks’s conception of transgression in an engaged pedagogy and Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of the oppressed and pedagogy of hope. We present and discuss a theoretical model for addressing ethnic-racial issues and racism in educational settings, involving processes of peripherisation, exclusion, invisibilisation and elimination. We aim to offer insights into social education and social work, departing from the articulation of studies of raciality, intersubjectivity, transgression and education as a practice of freedom. These insights can inform social pedagogy and the development of effective public policies and offer a broader perspective on the role of education and social work in promoting social justice and anti-racism in diverse educational settings, such as youth justice.

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PROTEÇÃO ASSISTÊNCIA AOS CONDENADOS: DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS DO MÉTODO COM OS RECUPERANDOS

This study examines the role of social workers in the Associations for the Protection and Assistance to the Convicted (APACs), exploring the challenges and perspectives of the humane method proposed by these institutions within the Brazilian penal context. Historically, the conventional prison system in Brazil has been characterized by overcrowding, violence, and inhumane conditions, reinforcing the need for alternative methods of resocialization. APACs emerge as an innovative alternative, proposing a penal execution model centered on human dignity and the social reintegration of the convicted. The work of social workers in APACs is multifaceted, ranging from psychosocial support to the implementation of educational and professional training programs. However, these professionals face significant challenges, such as a lack of resources, institutional resistance, and the stigmatization of convicts by society. The research employs a mixed methodological approach, including a literature review and interviews with social workers in APACs, to investigate how these professionals contribute to promoting social reintegration and what innovations can be adopted to optimize their practices. The results indicate that despite the difficulties, the role of social workers is crucial to the success of the APAC method, highlighting the importance of a holistic and personalized approach that respects the dignity of the convicted and promotes effective and humane resocialization.

Enhancing the Management of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities and the Role of Social Work in Intervention Strategies

Enhancing the Management of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities and the Role of Social Work in Intervention Strategies

A review on social work and climate change: the need for a transdisciplinary approach

ABSTRACT Climate change is a global emergency due to its social and economic impacts. This comprehensive review examines how climate change affects society and emphasises the role of social work in solving this problem with a multidisciplinary approach. Despite the least responsible, marginalised groups suffer hugely from climate change impacts and the global GDP will plummet, if no action is taken to mitigate its effects causing severe economic hardship for developing nations, and marginalised communities, which already face inequalities, resource shortages, and poor governance. There is a necessity for strategies to lower vulnerable population risks, thus emphasising the role of social work in addressing the inequalities of the climate change impacts. This paper discusses how social work concepts relate to environmental challenges and how they advocate for sustainability during climate change adaptation and mitigation, and promote environmental justice. Furthermore, the review also emphasises the need for transdisciplinary action on climate change. Scopus and Google Scholar databases was used to retrieve literature, based on the review questions, 51 literature items were selected for the evaluation and case examples. The review concludes that transdisciplinary action, including social workers’ role in decision-making and implementation, can create an equitable climate change mitigation plan.

Enabling Emergency Department Staff to Support Domestic Violence Victims of Strangulation

ABSTRACT The study reported here investigated what enables emergency department (ED) staff to support domestic violence victim-survivors of strangulation, which poses potentially life-threatening medical and psychosocial risks. Informed by Appreciative Inquiry, interviews were conducted with twelve staff from eight emergency departments in New South Wales, Australia. Doctors, nurses, and social workers with experience in supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence-related strangulation were interviewed. De-identified transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Themes identified from the data were the importance of recognising strangulation injuries, that understanding experiences of violence improves ED staff’s responses to victim-survivors of strangulation, the value of social work in multidisciplinary response, and that informal support sustains staff in this work. These themes highlight the need for emergency department staff education in identifying and responding to domestic violence and strangulation, which enables informed responses, positive patient engagement, and effective multidisciplinary care. IMPLICATIONS Multidisciplinary care for health and safety assessments are essential for domestic violence victim-survivors of strangulation presenting to emergency departments. 24-hour access to social workers in emergency departments facilitates safety planning and may mitigate the risks of escalating violence. Strangulation and domestic violence education is essential for emergency department staff. There is an evident need for increased social work roles in EDs, especially in rural hospitals, to support victim-survivors and to apply a social work approach to train ED staff to respond appropriately. Formalising supportive structures through enhancing social work and domestic violence education in emergency departments whilst encouraging informal support networks for staff may enhance safety for victims-survivors and maximise staff emotional wellbeing.

Exploring the ripple effect: learner psycho-social challenges, teacher emotional fatigue, and the role of school social work in South Africa—an interview-based qualitative study using Bronfenbrenner's framework

Guided by Bronfenbrenner's (1994) ecological systems theory Bronfenbrenner (Int Encycl Educ,3(2):37–43) , this study highlights the interplay between learner psycho-social challenges and teacher emotional fatigue, which affect classroom dynamics, and the critical role of systemic support—the role of school social workers (SSWs)—in South Africa. Using an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 primary school teachers and 13 SSWs from various provinces. Our participants' diverse backgrounds and experiences provided comprehensive insights. Findings highlight the need for a holistic approach to addressing learner psycho-social challenges, emphasising comprehensive support systems for teachers, including training and early intervention. Additionally, the integration of full-time SSWs and the active involvement of psychologists, families, and communities is crucial. Insights can inform educational policies and practices, enhancing teachers' and learners' well-being and effectiveness.

The Critical Role of Social Work in Addressing the Global Burden of Gastric Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults.

The Critical Role of Social Work in Addressing the Global Burden of Gastric Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Experiences of rural poverty in Stratford district, Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative study with implications for rural social work

INTRODUCTION: People experiencing poverty who live in rural communities may have complex needs as rurality exacerbates their issues. Isolation, stigma, transport difficulties and a lack of services contribute to the challenges experienced by people living in rural communities who experience poverty. For social workers, responses need to be creative and flexible to counter the lack of services or people being unable to access services due to distance and/or a lack of transport. METHODS: I conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 28 participants. Participants self-identified as experiencing poverty and ranged in age from teenagers to over 65s. Transcripts were analysed using applied thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Four themes were identified: stigma, isolation, transportation and access to services. Issues in these areas exacerbated participants’ experience of poverty. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study suggest that there is a significant advocacy role for social workers in rural communities regarding access to services and service development, transportation and challenging stigma to improve the lives of people living in rural communities who experience poverty. Further investigation is suggested to explore specific groups experiencing poverty in rural communities, particularly Māori, and to consider other marginalised identity groups and different geographical areas.

Analyzing the roles, workflows, and communication dynamics of social workers within interprofessional care teams

ABSTRACT Social workers frequent interprofessional healthcare teams, but few studies examine the day-to-day experiences of these providers on interprofessional teams. Our study utilized semi-structured interviews with 54 medical social workers practicing on interprofessional healthcare teams. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the day-to-day functions of these social workers. The analysis resulted in three primary themes: 1) Social Workers’ Self-Perceptions of their Roles within Interprofessional Teams, 2) Social Workers Shifting Roles on Interprofessional Teams, and 3) Interprofessional Team Dynamics that Impact the Role of a Social Worker. Social workers perceived their primary roles as contributing a unique systems approach to interprofessional healthcare teams while emphasizing patient self-determination. These self-perceptions influenced their shifting roles on interprofessional healthcare teams (e.g. clinician, case manager, bridge builder). In addition to individual self-perceptions, the healthcare system infrastructure influenced social work roles. For example, social workers in outpatient settings more frequently assumed the role of a mental health practitioner compared to those in inpatient settings. Last, there was variation in interprofessional communication and workflow assignment based on the healthcare infrastructure. Future research should examine the education and training efforts of social workers and other allied health professions for interprofessional healthcare teams.

Social Work's Role in Sustainable Agriculture: Driving Economic Self-Sufficiency and Social Integration

In the context of the social challenges of the global space for implementing projects to promote sustainable agriculture in rural areas, agriculture represents significant potential due to its multifunctionality (economic, social, ecological). In the context of agricultural projects - farms - this type of assistance can increase the labour market potential of disadvantaged populations. This is mainly through employment or social activation activities, which help improve the quality of life of socially disadvantaged people, their economic self-sufficiency, and their integration into society. In the context of sustainable development, agricultural projects play an essential role in maintaining social stability and reliability at the macro level. This paper aims to highlight the importance of social work and its position in projects promoting sustainable development. On the one hand, social work represents the position of a "transfer mechanism" between the management of economic and ecological processes with an agricultural orientation and the disadvantaged clients of social projects on the other hand. Keywords: sustainable agriculture, disadvantaged groups, client-family, human capital development, global space

Social workers’ core components for mitigating problematic school absenteeism: the case of school social teams in Sweden

ABSTRACT Problematic school absenteeism is increasing in most advanced welfare countries. As school success is a well-established factor for improving children’s social, mental, and physical development, it represents a fundamental challenge for welfare states. To counteract this development, a variety of different methods and interprofessional collaborations have been developed recently. Despite this, there is little research to date on the roles social workers adopt in mitigating problematic absenteeism. This article presents a study that explored the roles of social workers in a newly developed and rapidly spreading Swedish method, School Social Teams. This study aimed to explore the roles adopted by school social workers in these teams and the core components associated with decreased problematic school absenteeism. The study found empirical evidence for three roles and six associated core components: the mediator (creating a communicative space and fostering an understanding of underlying problems); the advocate (establishing a student perspective and advocate at meetings); and the available adult (being available and having endurance). Compared with the existing literature, the mediator and advocate are more theoretically anchored in the literature, whereas the available adult role are related to stronger evidence for mitigating problematic school absenteeism. One conclusion is the importance of deliberate choices of various roles associated with school social work roles as its core components are related to different outcomes.

Refocusing social work education on community work in Hong Kong: an urgent call

Abstract A dominant discourse in social work literature and textbooks is that community workers should take a proactive stance to pressure government officials to reform policy. Without any mission to downplay the political role of social work in the first place, the author of this paper argues that activist discourses from the 1970s are too old to inform contemporary struggles. In light of the neo-liberal, neo-managerial, post-colonial, and pan-political realities, antagonistic relationships between stakeholders in the community, politicians, opinion leaders, and the establishment have ushered in new-look community work in Hong Kong. Social work education on community development should undergo a transformation to help social work students reposition themselves in these chaotic times.

Ending child marriages through young people’s movement building: the case of community champions in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe

Despite efforts made to promote gender equality in all spheres of life, women, especially young girls below the age of 18 years from marginalised African communities continue to face a plethora of challenges such as harmful practises and negative gender stereotypes which hinder them from realising their full potential. Included in these harmful practises is the abhorrent act of child sexual exploitation in the name of child marriages. There are several initiatives by different actors to end child marriages and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Africa Trust (SAT), Zimbabwe is one Civil Society Organisation (CSO) that has made significant strides in contributing towards ending child sexual exploitation. The organisation works to empower adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to define their needs and undertakes various forms of advocacy including awareness raising and direct advocacy with key decision-makers. Interventions contribute to reducing self-stigma that disempowers adolescents and young people from realising their full potential. This article discusses an intervention that SAT has spearheaded in a bid to contribute to the end of child sexual exploitation and the role social workers can play to work with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as SAT in ending child marriages. How to reference using ASWNet style: Mushunje, M., Ismail-Mauto, H. & Mazhambe R. (2024). Ending child marriages through young people’s movement building: the case of community champions in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 14(4), 207-216. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i4.4 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Emotions and the Social Bond in Situations of Poverty

Although the relationship between emotions and poverty has been recognized by social scientists, it received little attention as a lens through which to observe, interpret, and deal with this issue. To fill this gap, we conducted a qualitative, exploratory, and preliminary analysis of the content of forty interviews with parents living in economic poverty as part of the Research Project of National Interest (PRIN) "Constructions of Parenthood on Uncertain Ground. What Role for Social Work" sought to investigate whether and how the emotional dimension intervenes in poverty, as well as the role it may play in the processes of entering or departing this reality. It was revealed that impoverished individuals experience a wide spectrum of emotions, which contribute to a more complete and multifaceted picture of people in poverty, with more positive features than negative ones. Moreover, the study revealed that poor people experienced a wide range of happy emotions that are not typically associated with poverty. This article focuses on three of these positive feelings - gratitude, solidarity, and pride - and discusses how they grow in the interaction between individuals who live in poverty and those who do not, as well as how they contribute to the strengthening of social cohesion and bonds. This thought appears to be valuable in terms of the positive implications it may have for knowledge and the development of policies targeted at combating poverty. In fact, the analysis confirms that the sociology of emotions is a viable approach to understanding the conditions of individuals living in poverty and opening up new avenues for future research. Furthermore, it helps to overcome preconceptions and stereotypes that still surround poor people, as well as the ideological assumptions about poverty that underpin many contemporary European poverty policies, putting social cohesiveness at danger.

Re-Designing Social Worker Role During World Inflation Spillovers

Inflation affects vulnerable groups more, governments and NGOs used to support them via social welfare system, where social workers did case studies and ensured fairness. However, with inflation; governments fail to keep up with it, the role of social workers will be more essential and complex. More people will need social workers to be proactive, where there is more need for services and social protection. Methodology is to re-evaluate the criteria of social worker's role to foresight demands and recommend an international governing guidance. Implication shows the need for re-evaluating to help stabilise families during inflation. A framework is proposed to utilise welfare to support vulnerable groups and social workers' roles, preparing them for crises such as inflation and having future foresight in social problems.

Interprofessional Education Integration in Lehman College’s Undergraduate Social Work Program: A Case Study of Transformative Implementation and Student-Centered Impact

Background:This case study explores the dynamic inclusion of interprofessional education (IPE) in Lehman College Undergraduate Social Work Program, a Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Bronx.Objectives:We aim to contextualize the case within social work’s historical engagement in healthcare and evolving interprofessional practices, with an emphasis on the role of social work in healthcare.Methods:A comprehensive literature review was conducted to connect theoretical foundations to practical implementation, highlighting IPE’s significance as a student-centered pedagogy and its potential impact on patient care. The narrative details the transition from individual classroom use to widespread adoption in the practicum seminars in the undergraduate program.Results:The program demonstrates a proactive response to healthcare changes, underscoring a commitment to comprehensive education.Conclusion:This case study makes Lehman College’s program a valuable resource for educators, practitioners, and policymakers by showcasing its effective incorporation of IPE, ultimately enhancing patient care through improved interprofessional collaboration.

The role of social workers in road traffic accident prevention communication for secondary school students in Danang City

Based on the analysis of the current status of road traffic accidents in Danang city and secondary schools in the area, the author analyzes the role of social workers in road traffic accident prevention communication for secondary school students. Most secondary school students are aware of the role of social workers in communication to prevent road traffic accidents and have made suggestions to improve the effectiveness of social work communication in preventing road traffic accidents for secondary school students in the study area.

The Role of Social Workers at the Social Department of Kendari City in Psychosocial Recovery of Child Victims of Sexual Violence

This study aims to understand and find out the role of workers in psychosocial assistance for children victims of sexual violence at the Kendari City Social Departement. Qualitative descriptive methods are used to describe social situations related to the role and stages of mentoring. The research informants were selected through purposive sampling, including social workers, psychologists, victims' children, and parents. The data in this study was obtained through interviews, observations and documentation studies, the data obtained was then analyzed qualitatively with an interactive model consisting of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show that the psychological rehabilitation of child victims of sexual abuse involves several important phases. Educational programs on recovery and mental health help children understand and manage the psychological impact of experienced violence. Social support from family, friends, and the community is also crucial in the healing process, making children feel welcome and supported. Social workers act as mediators, educators, and motivators in this process. They help children cope with the adverse effects of their experiences, establish safe communication, and formulate effective recovery plans. In addition, social workers provide information to the community about the psychological impact of sexual violence and help children learn good coping mechanisms. This psychosocial support typically results in a noticeable improvement in the physical and mental health of the victim's children, allowing them to recover from trauma, improve mental health, and rebuild positive social relationships.