Management Of Social Services Research Articles

Investing in adult social care

British Journal of NursingVol. 32, No. 3 EditorialInvesting in adult social careIan PeateIan PeateEditor in Chief, British Journal of NursingSearch for more papers by this authorIan PeatePublished Online:10 Feb 2023https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2023.32.3.97AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. ADASS survey: People waiting for assessments, care or reviews. 4 August 2022. https://tinyurl.com/5n76nyzc (accessed 1 February 2023) Google ScholarCare Quality Commission. Access to care. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/mrx7by7c (accessed 1 February 2023) Google ScholarDepartment of Health and Social Care. Our plan for patients. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/mvvbpup8 (accessed 1 February 2023) Google ScholarFenton W, Davison S, Fleming N et al. for Skills for Care. The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England 2022. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/2p8my3bf (accessed 1 February 2023) Google ScholarRoyal College of Emergency Medicine. RCEM: How far does emergency department performance need to fall for political leaders to take meaningful action? 12 January 2023. https://tinyurl.com/y5dh74j6 (accessed 1 February 2023) Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 9 February 2023Volume 32Issue 3ISSN (print): 0966-0461ISSN (online): 2052-2819 Metrics History Published online 10 February 2023 Published in print 9 February 2023 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Abstract TP23: Depression: An Aftermath Of Stroke

Background: As the leading cause of disability, stroke compromises physical and mental health. Stroke survivors are distressed by social challenges and emotional health problems. Many stroke survivors struggle with mental health, even with symptom resolution or returning to physical baseline. The feelings of anger, frustration, fear, and hopelessness are common emotions experienced. The sudden nature of this condition brings an overwhelming strain that significantly impacts patients’ lives. Objectives: To screen for post-stroke depression (PSD) in the inpatient setting and examine the feasibility of a nurse-led structured depression screening and early referral based on severity compared to care-as-usual. Neuman’s system model and the Iowa model of evidence-practice complemented the scholarly project by looking at patients holistically with a goal of improving their outcomes. Methods: We included two groups: a care-as-usual cohort of discharged stroke patients compared to patients screened for depression within 48 hours of admission for stroke. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) instrument was used to screen stroke patients admitted to the hospital. Patients in the screening group were referred to the organization’s Center for Healthy Living, Depression Care Management, Social Services, and Behavioral Health Management prior to discharge. Descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. Results: There were 43 patients in the sample, 17 in the screening group and 26 in the care-as-usual group. Depression scores for the screening group had a mean of M = 5.7 (range 1-27). The care-as-usual group had a mean of M = 49.3 days to depression screening. Of the 43 participants, 12 (27.9%) were depressed; 7 (26.9%) in the usual care group versus 5 (29.4%) in the screening group. Conclusion: Establishing the nurse-led PSD screening protocol was feasible for identifying depression among stroke survivors within 48 hours of admission. Research is needed to establish whether the protocol can improve early referral, long-term health outcomes, and quality of care. Recognition of depression in the population of stroke patients may support patients with PSD and facilitate early management of mental health needs.

High Interest in Pursuing Trauma-Informed Care in Nursing Home Social Services Directors.

This study explored nursing home social services directors' interest in pursuing trauma-informed care (TIC) training, and individual and organizational characteristics associated with their interest. Data from the 2019 National Nursing Home Social Services Directors Survey, a national cross-sectional survey, were used. Measures sought information on participants' interest in TIC training, sociodemographic characteristics, and characteristics of employing nursing homes. Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used. Of the 924 respondents, 880 (95.2%) were included in the analysis. Most (71.7%) expressed high interest in TIC training. Younger age, fewer years of nursing home social services experience, being degreed and licensed in social work, and being a person of color were associated with greater odds of high interest in TIC training. Neither nursing home ownership nor social services staffing ratio was significantly associated with interest in TIC training. As policy requires TIC in nursing homes, these findings present a first step towards understanding implementation.

Leadership styles and qualities of the head as the main components of effective management of the social service under martial law conditions

The article is devoted to the review and analysis of the types of management styles and qualities of the head of the social service. The importance of studying changes in the system of relations «The head – The subordinate» is justified in view of certain problems and difficulties in the work of social services under martial law conditions in Ukraine. The article uses methods of analysis and generalization to clarify the definition of the term “leadership styles” as well as groups important personal and professional qualities of the head. The empirical basis of the article is results of in-depth interviews conducted with the heads of social services, public organizations and charitable foundations, implemented within the scientific theme «Actual directions of management of social services» of the Department of Sociology of Management and Social Work of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. According to the results of the research, several groups of qualities of the head (professional, leadership, personal and communicative) were formed by author, which are relevant for the realization of managerial influence under conditions of stable situation and during the period of martial law in the country. Based on the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different management styles, the author concluded that it is necessary to situationally apply a set of techniques and methods of management which inherent in democratic and directive styles in war conditions. The results of empirical research have proved that in the conditions of threats and risks, limited recourses, high workload on employees, the role of the complex of leadership qualities of the head is significantly increased. A head-leader must be able to not only to organize work activities and regulate formal labor relations, but also to inspire employees, encourage them to achieve goals and maintain positive social and psychological atmosphere in the organization. Personal characteristics of the manager, such as empathy, humanity and attention to subordinates, have become important for the moral and psychological support of service personnel in wartime, when, in addition to difficulties arising in the labor process, there is a real threat to safety and life.

Professional burnout of social work experts under the conditions of the marital law

The article examines one of the acute problems in the activities of social work specialists - the syndrome of professional burnout. Attention is focused on determining its negative consequences for the personality of the specialist, organization and clients of social work. The increase in the manifestations of burnout under the influence of a complex of external factors is substantiated (a large flow of new obligations, information and action algorithms that change, an increase in the number of clients, work under constant stress and fear for one's own life and the lives of loved ones, etc.). Based on the analysis of the results of the empirical research (structured interviews conducted with heads of social services, public organizations and charitable foundations within the scientific topic of the Department of Sociology of Management and Social Work of Kharkiv National University named after V. N. Karazin «Actual directions of management of social services»), the characteristics of the manifestations of the syndrome of professional burnout of social workers during the period of martial law in Ukraine are determined: 1) increased workload on employees, 2) psychological overload, 3) increased stress due to military actions, 4) decreased motivation. The authors of the article consider the methods and programs of prevention and overcoming the negative consequences of the syndrome of professional burnout of specialists as a component of the organization's management and the manager's managerial task. Common practices for preventing emotional burnout in organizations are analyzed: supervision, self-management skills, stress resistance and recovery after psychological shocks, etc. By applying the method of content analysis of the materials of the public organizations sites, programs and projects aimed at providing assistance to specialists in social work were characterized. The article concludes about the need to develop own special programs in organizations and use external resources to provide the necessary support, training and preservation of the health and emotional balance of specialists, which should remain a priority task for the manager.

DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL SERVICES: OVERLOOKED LEADERSHIP NEEDS AT SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES (SNFS)

Abstract Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) provide ongoing care to the elderly and chronically ill. To maximize the quality of this care, SNF staff must be trained to respond to patient care crises and communicate across departments. Although researchers have studied the leadership styles, strategies, and interactions of facility administrators and nursing directors, little was known about the leadership styles and strategies employed by the directors of social services (DSSs). The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore how DSSs influenced leadership policies, prepared subordinates for crisis intervention and management, perceived that social workers influenced patient care decisions, and believed that communication amongst SNF staff about patient care could be improved. The conceptual framework was based on the multilevel leadership model construct, the situational leadership model construct, and the complex adaptive leadership model construct. Participants included a purposive sample of 10 DSSs working in a large, corporate SNFs in Virginia. Data were collected via in-person, semi structured interviews consisting of open-ended questions. Data were analyzed via Hycner's phenomenological approach. Findings from this investigation helped clarify roles and responsibilities of DSSs, thereby improving the leadership they provide to subordinate social workers. Findings may be used to improve communication across professionals within SNFs and their roles in patient care decisions.

A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK INCREASES FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Abstract This mixed-methods presentation will examine the role of social services directors in supporting the family members of nursing home residents. A logistic, hierarchical regression (n= 924) found a positive association between the social services director having a degree in social work and strong agreement with "family members regularly engage the expertise of the social services department." A qualitative analysis of written-in comments to the question, “What do you like about your job?” identified 234 comments that described directors’ view of the importance of working with and supporting families. A content analysis revealed that two types of support are provided to families, instrumental and emotional. Instrumental support includes connection to resources for adjustment, financial needs, and discharge planning. Emotional support includes activities such as helping people through transitions, and coping with grief and loss. Appropriately trained social services directors can offer different types of support and be valued resources for families.

NURSING HOME SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORS' ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Abstract While most of the nursing home literature focuses on residents and nurses, there is a growing literature on social services staff and family members of nursing home residents. Social services staff include social workers as well as non-social workers with responsibility for assessing and care planning for resident psychosocial issues, as well as a host of other responsibilities including working with families. This symposium presents findings from the National Nursing Home Social Services Directors Survey (NNHSSDS), a cross-sectional (2019) nationally representative study (n=924) that collected data on social services staff characteristics, departmental role responsibilities, and training needs. In this session three papers developed from these data are presented to document the extent to which social services staff are involved with family members, their interest in receiving training on how they can support other staff in understanding resident abuse and exploitation (at the hands of family, fellow residents, or staff), and neglect. As demanding as the social services role is, many holding the position of social services director report they are thriving (not just surviving) in the role. A final paper describes which variables help to distinguish those who report they are thriving versus those who do not. Implications to be discussed include what administrators could do to make the social services director’s job more attractive. The RRF Foundation for Aging provided data collection support for the NNHSSDS.

ELDER ABUSE TRAINING NEEDS AMONG NURSING HOME SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORS

Abstract This study aims to identify elder abuse training needs among social services directors. Using nationally representative data from the 2019 National Nursing Home Social Services Directors Survey, we found that approximately three-quarters of directors reported either a moderate or strong interest in receiving training in the following areas: (1) the types of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation by staff, residents, family and/or other visitors…; (2) establishing trust with a resident and/or family member who feels mistreated by the nursing home or a staff member…; and (3) interacting with visitors whose behaviors are perceived as threatening to residents or staff. Hierarchical logistic regressions found significant associations between strong interest in each training topic and facility, department, and director characteristics. Additional training may enhance directors’ skills in explaining basic information about elder abuse and supporting other staff with strategies to address elder abuse and difficult interpersonal dynamics among staff, residents, families, and visitors.

‘Lifestyle drift’ in disaster risk reduction practices magnifies inequities for high-risk populations

High-risk populations are at disproportionate risk when disasters occur because of the vulnerable social circumstances and settings in which they live. Emergency Managers (EMs) and Emergency Social Services Directors (ESSDs) work to support individual and community resilience in all phases of the disaster management cycle. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the current practices and challenges experienced by EMs and ESSDs in Canada, in supporting community resilience and high-risk populations in the context of disaster risk reduction (DRR). EMs and ESSDs (n ​= ​21) from six Canadian provinces were interviewed. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified and a model was developed to show how the themes interconnect. The themes included: 1) Individual level interventions magnify inequities and lead to ‘lifestyle drift’, 2) Resilience can be supported upstream by addressing social vulnerabilities, and 3) Inclusive engagement empowers high-risk populations but is challenging to implement. ‘Lifestyle Drift’ permeates DRR practices and has unique implications for high-risk populations, whose basic needs are already challenged. Both top-down and bottom-up interventions can reduce the demands placed on emergency services in the hours after a disaster. However, bottom-up interventions, such as a ‘whole community’ approach are more likely to foster asset literacy, adaptive capacity, and social justice —and ultimately support resilience of high-risk populations.

Current problems and opportunities for development of the social work profession and education in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT The article presents research on challenges and problems of social work profession and education in Bulgaria. The purpose is to establish the impact of policies and legislation on their current condition and the opportunities for changes and development. The methodology includes content analysis and online interview for the study of respondents’ opinion on reforms in social work profession and education. The results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of content and empirical data confirm the accepted purpose. They reveal that the challenges and problems in the current situation are the result of deficits in legislation, policies, and practices in the management and provision of social services and neglect by the authorities of the need to introduce regulations and standards in the social work profession and social work education. This leads to the formation and dynamism of a tendency to blur the boundaries of social work and its gradual deprofessionalization. The analysis of results presents need for reforms in areas regulations of social work profession and education, quality of professional resources, comparability of social work qualification with European Union countries, and integration of neoliberal, market and humanistic concepts in social services.

Social Services Management in the Context of Ethnic Roma Issues in the Czech Republic with a Focus on Education for Roma Children

According to qualified estimates by sociologists, the Czech national census and governmental bodies in the EU, as many as 350,000 ethnic Roma people live in the Czech Republic. Yet, only a fraction of the Roma population has received higher education and are achieving careers within and not alongside the majority society. Some believe that a more inclusive and integrative approach in education will facilitate long-term community work and better removal of prejudices. This represents quite a force that could appreciably affect the political landscape. Unfortunately, we run into the disunity of the Roma people among themselves, which brings more challenges to the forefront rather than solutions to the current status quo. This should change in the future. The current government concept for this purpose supports the development of Roma culture and education. This overview study should bring more arguments to the table regarding the need for Czech Romani/Roma intervention in education and social affairs. This overview article gives an insight into current Czech Roma/Romani education and social service-related issues.

“Without Losing What We Know”: Dissenting social work in the context of epochal crises

INTRODUCTION: This article builds on Fraser’s (2021, 2019) argument that the overlapping crises of social reproduction, climate, economy, and public health have resulted in a splintering of the hegemony of dominant groups. This generates a “wilding of the public sphere” in which groups urgently seek counter-hegemonic storylines and alternative solutions to interwoven crises (Fraser, 2021, n.p.). This article further theorises consent and dissent in social work practice and workplaces. METHODS: Data were collected using qualitative interviews and a convenience sample of ten executive directors and managers of social services in a large city in Canada. Data were analysed using a constant comparison method involving multiple readings of the field notes and transcripts, until patterns and themes could be discerned. FINDINGS: The article analyses three themes, namely, dissent as: 1) working on the edges of the state; 2) working on decolonisation including what it means to be a settler; and 3) critical reflection. The themes are then discussed together under a final interwoven theme that is argued to reflect new hegemonies, in particular political world-making, building new emancipatory knowledges, theory, practice and hegemonies. CONCLUSION: Social-justice-engaged practices can emerge within systems hostile to social solidarity, suggesting that dissent is resilient to neoliberalism though it may sometimes operate quietly and at the level of individual practice. This resistance and the nascent, shared, dissenting narratives can contribute to the de-legitimatisation of oppressive social structures as social workers search for, and build, more emancipatory approaches.

Mental health care for older adults: recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research.

The world's population is aging, bringing about an ever-greater burden of mental disorders in older adults. Given multimorbidities, the mental health care of these people and their family caregivers is labor-intensive. At the same time, ageism is a big problem for older people, with and without mental disorders. Positive elements of aging, such as resilience, wisdom and prosocial behaviors, need to be highlighted and promoted, both to combat stigma and to help protect and improve mental health in older adults. The positive psychiatry of aging is not an oxymoron, but a scientific construct strongly informed by research evidence. We champion a broader concept of geriatric psychiatry - one that encompasses health as well as illness. In the present paper, we address these issues in the context of four disorders that are the greatest source of years lived with disability: neurocognitive disorders, major depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. We emphasize the need for implementation of multidisciplinary team care, with comprehensive assessment, clinical management, intensive outreach, and coordination of mental, physical and social health services. We also underscore the need for further research into moderators and mediators of treatment response variability. Because optimal care of older adults with mental disorders is both patient-focused and family-centered, we call for further research into enhancing the well-being of family caregivers. To optimize both the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy, further attention to metabolic, cardiovascular and neurological tolerability is much needed, together with further development and testing of medications that reduce the risk for suicide. At the same time, we also address positive aging and normal cognitive aging, both as an antidote to ageism and as a catalyst for change in the way we think about aging per se and late-life mental disorders more specifically. It is in this context that we provide directions for future clinical care and research.

Changing English Local Authority Duties by the Adoption of Easements in the COVID-19 Pandemic; Findings from an Interview-Based Study

AbstractThis article reports findings from a study on the effect of the adjustments or ‘easements’ that were made to the 2014 Care Act when measures to manage the impact of COVID-19 were introduced in England in 2020. Only eight local authorities (LAs) implemented the changes permitted. The experiences of five are explored in this article. Data were collected in 2021 through interviews with Directors of Adult Social Services and other senior managers in these LAs and analysed using a thematic approach. Participants referred to the challenges under which they were working pre-pandemic, including resource pressures and problems recruiting and retaining staff. Despite the conditions attached to adopting easements these LAs had done so because of the uncertainties they were facing. All ceased to use them within a short time because they could manage without them. They had been shocked by the concerted opposition to easements and the time necessitated in responding to this. They contrasted their experiences with the apparent ease with which NHS colleagues had been able to change their practices. The experiences of these LAs may contribute to planning for the continuity of social care in any future emergency.

Pelaksanaan Pendamping Desa Menurut Permendes

Village assistants are tasked with increasing community empowerment in a village, to assist the work of village assistants located at the sub-district level, it is necessary to have local village assistants (PLD) based directly in the village. Then the Regulation of the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Number 19 of 2020. This research is an empirical normative research, with data collection carried out by observation and interviews. To ensure the acquisition data, the credibility test, transferability test, depandibility test and confirmability test were carried out, then analyzed using inductive qualitative methods. Implementation of Village Minister Regulation No. 19 of 2020 article 10 paragraph 3 has not been effective because there are still many people who consider village assistants to be irresponsible after construction without any steps to take care of them. A review of siyasa fiqh on the implementation of the Village Minister Regulation No. 19 of 2020 article 10 paragraph 3 regarding the duties of village assistants can be seen from the side of the dusturiyah siyasa, namely the leader should oblige the community to obey and obey the rules that have been set. Factors inhibiting the implementation of the Minister of Village Regulation No. 19 of 2020 article 10 paragraph 3 is the knowledge of village assistants about their duties and responsibilities and many people do not want to know about the duties of village assistants. Factors supporting the implementation of the Minister of Village Regulation No. 19 of 2020 article 10 paragraph 3, among others are: 1) Management of basic social services, utilization of natural resources and appropriate technology, development of village infrastructure, and empowerment of rural communities. 2) Increasing the capacity of the Village Government or village community institutions in the development and empowerment of rural communities. 3) Organizing village community groups. 4) Capacity building for village community empowerment cadres and the creation of new cadres. 5) Assisting villages and communities in the participatory development of rural areas. 6) Coordination of facilitation at the sub-district level and reporting facilities on the implementation of mentoring.

Women's management in local government: The effects of substantive representation on welfare service efficiency

AbstractSpanish legislation on gender quotas in electoral candidate lists implies the effective incorporation of women into politics. This measure has created interest in the impact of this law on public service management (substantive representation), especially welfare services. This is due to the influence these services have on work‐life balance. Hence, the objective of this research is to determine the impact of women politicians on the efficiency of municipal welfare services. We estimate efficiency levels in public social service management using non‐parametric techniques over the last three local government legislatures in Spain. We then use truncated regression models to estimate the impact of women's substantive representation on these efficiency levels. The results confirm that more women in local government and female leadership in the opposition result in better levels of efficiency through reduced spending. In contrast, female leadership in the government and many women in the opposition reduce efficiency by supporting spending without increasing welfare services.

Knowledge Management for Integrated Health and Social Care – The Case of Keusote in Finland

Knowledge management is expected to contribute to the management of health and social services as the challenges of the present and future are addressed. It is expected that organizations working in the field can be developed, thereby deriving efficiency benefits as well as promoting the effectiveness of services through knowledge management. However, despite the increasing interest in knowledge management as an organizational practice, there is a lack of evidence and practices showing how an effective knowledge management system should be designed, implemented, and promoted in health and social care organization. The integration of highly specialized and professionalized organizational cultures and traditions constitutes a complex context for managing knowledge. The purpose of this article is to identify development needs related to knowledge management systems in integrated health and social care and based on a case study suggest KM initiatives for responding these needs. The found key factors for knowledge management relate to strategic orientation, careful analysis of the organization’s knowledge and expertise, and an ability to harness these in a cross-administrative, multi-professional and strategy-oriented way. The qualitative analysis is based on the strategic documentation, the results of an external evaluation of the case organization’s knowledge management practices, and notes and other documentation of internal development workshops carried out in the case organization.

Cost-effectiveness calculators on health and social services planning and evaluation: an explorative interview study of key informants

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the views of key experts on developing and using cost-effectiveness calculators to plan and evaluate health and wellbeing promotion interventions in health and social services. Data for this qualitative interview study were collected from 14 Finnish experts in health and wellbeing coordination, health and social service management and research and health economics in spring 2021. A semi-structured interview method with thematic analysis was used. The experts said that there is a need for cost-effectiveness evaluation tools that support local evidence-based decision-making. This would enable organizations to plan and allocate scarce resources for interventions that promote equitable and effective health and wellbeing. However, practical tools and calculators that enable users to make decisions based on the best available evidence are not widely used. Local decision-makers, researchers and service providers all need to be involved in agreeing goals and selecting the right target groups and measures. They also need to make decisions about the best available data sources and how to use calculators to define and evaluate outcomes. Cost-effectiveness calculators are needed for local evidence-based decision-making, so that municipalities can allocate scarce resources to effective services that increase the wellbeing and equality of residents. This requires key stakeholders to work together to plan, develop and evaluate comprehensive, easy-to-use cost-effectiveness calculators.

Looking beyond parity: Gender wage gaps and the leadership labyrinth in the Canadian healthcare management workforce.

It is important for health organizations to monitor progress toward gender equity and inclusion goals among health human resources. Within the Canadian healthcare management workforce, however, recent investigations are lacking. This study examines gender differences in composition and compensation among health leadership in Canada using national census data. Findings show that although women represent over half (57%) of senior managers in health and social services, the pipeline from middle management (72%) suggests persistent career barriers disproportionately affect women. Women health and social care managers' earnings averaged $0.83-.89 for every dollar that a man earned. The gender wage gap remained statistically significant, with women health managers earning 12-20% less than men, after adjusting for age, education and other characteristics. Dynamic decomposition analyses highlighted that most of the gender wage gap could not be explained within the available data-a finding attributable, at least in part, to (unmeasured and unmeasurable) gender discrimination.