Social Welfare Office Research Articles

사회복지전담공무원이 인식하는 공공복지서비스 질의 수준 분석

사회복지전담공무원이 인식하는 공공복지서비스 질의 수준 분석

The Death of Unemployment and the Birth of Job-Seeking in Welfare Policy: Governing a Liminal Experience

The category of ‘unemployment’ is gradually being replaced with ‘job-seeking’, in contemporary welfare policy – driven by ‘liberal’ or neo-liberal politics. Here we attempt to go beyond the ‘deprivation theory’ of unemployment, emphasising how the experience of ‘unemployment’ or ‘jobseeking’ is shaping the way it is governed – drawing on the Foucault inspired governmentality approach. Firstly, we examine the apparatus of supervision, interventions and sanctions introduced in Ireland under Pathways to Work. Secondly, we analyse a set of interviews with job seekers in 2014, specifically focusing on interactions with the social welfare office, internships, sanctions and job-seeking activities. Building on these empirical investigations we suggest that unemployment/job-seeking can be understood as an artificially produced liminality, characterised by uncertainty, self-questioning, tedious time to be filled and frantic seeking to escape to a job, and, in many cases, repeated failure.

Systematic and serendipitous discoveries: a shift in sensemaking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enrich the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon of sensemaking where a conceptual shift was provoked by a serendipitous encounter. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework consisting of three elements of reflexivity: the cognitive, the social, and the normative, all of which support the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the investigation of a serendipitous Episode that occurred in a larger research project. This Episode took place at a meeting between a social welfare officer and a psychologist in which they discussed the treatment of a psychiatric patient. When the psychologist left the meeting for a brief period, the researchers, unexpectedly, were able to interview the social welfare officer alone. Findings – This interview revealed a deviation from the institutionalized patient treatment procedure that was explained to the researchers in earlier interviews. The study shows that shifts in sensemaking are possible when researchers are open to serendipitous encounters. This shift in sensemaking in this Episode was strategic because it concerned the three most important aspects of the actor’s decision making: how to make diagnosis, treatments, and cooperate around the patient. Research limitations/implications – It is recommended that researchers use the theoretical framework of reflexivity to test their sensemaking processes as well as remain open to changes in planned, traditional methodological approaches. Originality/value – The study applies a post-hoc analysis with reflections on serendipitous events that may guide researchers when they encounter unanticipated events and make anomalous discoveries.

Survival Tactics and Strategies of Methamphetamine-Using HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men in San Diego.

In this article, two ways that HIV-positive drug users survive under the supervision of law enforcement agencies, community health organizations, and social welfare offices are differentiated. First, strategies are long-ranging and often carefully planned, and they involve conscious utilization and manipulation of bureaucratic processes. Second, tactics are short-ranging and often haphazard, and they are used to survive on daily or weekly bases, with entrenched problems and structural solutions avoided or ignored. Data from three years of ethnographic fieldwork with 14 methamphetamine-using HIV-positive men who have sex with men in San Diego, California is used to expand upon these two categories, explaining the different, often ineffectual, ways these men accessed care, services, shelter, drugs, and companionship. This article also examines the policy implications of taking in consideration these different kinds of survival methods, arguing for intensive client-specific interventions when working with long-term addicts with multiple health problems.

Seeking a role: disciplining jobseekers as actors in the labour market

Recent decades have seen the category of unemployment transformed into job-seeking. Attention has generally focused on the disciplining effects of interventions, procedures and techniques within social welfare offices, or on scrutinizing policy documents as political expressions of neo-liberalism. This article examines advice for unemployed people who are ‘seeking a role’, from the official leaflets of social welfare offices or Jobcentres, and state sponsored and associated careers websites and advice books. Such documents constitute an extension of the disciplinary apparatuses of government and particularly inculcate ‘self-discipline’ for actors in the labour market. Strikingly, these documents not only involve disciplining jobseekers to seek work, but to present themselves as an ideal candidate for any job, to become a protean thespian who can act convincingly. Jobseekers are required to manage, conceal and overcome the unpleasant economic and social consequences of unemployment and turn these negatives into a positive performance within a theatricalized labour market.

Employment opportunities in home science education

Home science is a unique discipline with a blend of science and art which gives a variety of skills to the youths such as cooking, catering, processing, stitching, decoration, boutique, fashion designing, day care and health care. It also provides social and cultural values with the communication and human research development. The present study mainly focused on an overview, emerging employment opportunities and major institution of home science education in the country. In India, home science education is in its emerging stage of development, so home science graduates and post graduates have ample employment opportunities not in private sector but also in co-operative, government and semi government sector along with entrepreneurship opportunities. Home science professionals have a lot of employment opportunities in private sector (cooking, fashion designer, housekeeping, dietitians), NGOs (social welfare officer, food analysts, research officer, fashion designer) government sector (scientists, professors, research assistant) and self-employment sector (boutique, cloths designing, grooming centre, hobby centre, child care, catering and health care). Thus, home science is an emerging academic discipline which has ample opportunities of employment and entrepreneurship development in academic as well as in corporate sector.

PENGARUH PELATIHAN TERHADAP TINGKAT PRODUKTIVITAS PEGAWAI PADA KANTOR SOSIAL, TENAGA KERJA DAN TRANSMIGRASI KABUPATEN SIDRAP

This study aims to determine the rare - rare development management personnel Do Social Welfare Office and Transmigration. Sidrap and the effect of training on productivity pegawaidengan method used was to determine the effect on employee training in increasing employee performance, we used quantitative analysis to the analysis of correlation coefficients. Discussion The results of the analysis Analysis of the effect of training on productivity improvement work resulted in figure 3.57 , which means that if the number of employees Sosila Office . Manpower and Transmigration who follow the training at the level of or to any person , the labor productivity will increase by 3.57 % .While analisisi results showed the correlation of 0.98 , which means it has a strong and positive relationship and the same direction, so that one of the variables up and down will be followed by an increase and a decrease in other variables .

Early childhood development: the role of community based childcare centres in Malawi.

BackgroundSomatic changes including growth and development of the brain of a human being occur very early in life. Programmes that enhance early childhood development (ECD) therefore should be part of the national agenda. Cognizant of this fact, the Malawi Government together with development partners facilitated the establishment of community-based child care centres (CBCCs) which are owned and managed by community members. This study was aimed at understanding how CBCCs operated and their core functions.MethodsUsing information from databases kept by the District Social Welfare Officers from all the 28 districts in Malawi, coupled with snowballing, all functioning CBCCs were enumerated. A questionnaire was administered to the head of the CBCC or a care giver. Highly trained Research Assistants also carried our observations of the structures around the centres and the activities that actually happened. Data was analysed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences.ResultsCommunities provide structures, support for care givers, food, utensils, labour and play materials for the children in CBCCs. The first ECD centre was established in 1966 but the real surge in establishing these happened towards the end of the 1990s and by 2007 there were 5,665 CBCCs in Malawi caring for 407,468 children aged between 3 and 5 years. CBCCs were established to provide pre-primary school learning, and in some cases provide special care to orphans and other vulnerable.ConclusionsDespite the fact that most CBCC premises and structures fell short of the standards laid down by the CBCC profile, the activities and services provided were mostly to the book. Children were provided with nutritious foods and subjected to play that stimulated their cognitive and mental development. Despite the fact that some members of the community do not realize the value of the CBCCs, the existence of these institutions is an opportunity for the community to take care of their children communally, a task that has become imperative as a result of the upsurge in the number of orphans as a result of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The study recommends that Malawi should take investments in ECD programmes as a priority.

Developmental Experiences of OVC in Child-Headed Households and the Impact on Cognition and Learning

In this phenomenological descriptive case study the researchers investigated the ecological encounters of orphaned and vulnerable Children (OVC) in child-headed households (CHHs) and the impact on cognition and learning. The qualitative enquiry is based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. The triangulated data was collected through participant observations, open-ended questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. The purposefully selected participants comprised 20 double orphans and vulnerable children, four headmasters, eight teachers, one education officer and one social welfare officer, comprising a total sample of 34. Tesch’s qualitative model of data analysis was used to group the findings into themes, each differentiating into sub-categories. The findings revealed most OVC to suffer from loneliness, feelings of inferiority, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of concentration in class and heightened negativity that militates against effective assimilation and accommodation of learning materials within their ecological environment. The situation was exacerbated by poverty, need deprivation and overwhelming household and parenting responsibilities. As such, most of the children’s voiced responses expressed great despondence. Orphanhood was found to be a psychological deterrent to cognition and learning. The local community, education administrators, policy makers, children’s rights advocates together with the children’s representatives need to map out life-lines to promote the cognitive learning of double OVC residing in CHHs. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n3p312

Helping Orphaned and Vulnerable Children to Manage Cognition and Learning Crises through Policy: The Case of Zimbabwe

This qualitative enquiry tried to find out ways in which policy could further assist orphans and vulnerable children to manage their cognition and learning crises. It is based on the policy issues of the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP, 2006-2010), the National Action Plan for Orphan and Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVC 2006-2010), the Zimbabwe Education Act (Chapter 25:04) and the Zimbabwe Millennium Development Goals (2004). The triangulated data were collected through participant observations, open-ended questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions held at four secondary schools. The purposefully selected participants comprised 20 double orphans and vulnerable children, four headmasters, eight teachers, one Education Officer and one Social Welfare Officer, making a total sample of 34. The findings confirmed that even though some OVC reported occasional receipt of aid through donors and the government’s facilities such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), not all OVC were lucky enough to remain beneficiaries up to the end of their secondary schooling. Orphanhood was found to be a psychological deterrent to cognition and learning. Therefore the local community, education administrators, policy makers, and children’s rights advocates together with the children’s representatives should map out life lines ideal for enhancing the cognitive learning of double OVC residing in CHHs. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n1p439

Correlates of mental health in Japanese caseworkers employed at social welfare offices

Correlates of mental health in Japanese caseworkers employed at social welfare offices

사회복지공무원의 복지의식이 직무가치관과 직무효과성에 미치는 영향

본 연구의 목적은 공공복지서비스 전달체계 내의 핵심역량이라 할 수 있는 사회복지공무원들의 복지의식이 직무가치관과 직무효과성에 미치는 영향력을 실증적으로 규명하는데 있다. 본 연구가 갖는 함의는 첫째, 사회복지공무원의 복지의식수준을 실증적으로 밝혀내었다는 점에서 의의를 갖는다. 둘째, 사회복지공무원의 복지의식이 직무가 치관과 직무효과성에 미치는 영향을 규명함으로써 사회복지공무원의 복지의식 제고의 필요성, 복지정책과 제도의 바람직한 운용을 위한 접근방향과 대안개발에 구체적인 이론적 근거를 제공하였다는 점이다. 셋째, 사회복지공무원의 복지의식을 높이기 위해서는 복지정책이 평등화 효과를 높이고 무임승차나 근로의욕 저해를 최소화하는 방향에서 수립되고 운영되어야 한다는 정책적 함의를 찾을 수 있다. 넷째, 복지관련 업무경력이 낮을수록 낮은 복지가치관과 직무가치관, 직무효과성을 보인다는 사실을 통해 사회복지공무원의 업무체계 개선의 필요성을 제시하였다. 이상의 연구결과에 의거하여 사회복지공무원의 복지의식에 대한 연구의 활성화, 사회복지공무원 대상 복지정책, 제도, 가치 등에 대한 정기적인 교육의 필요성, 사회적 형평성과 평등화를 제고하는 방향에서의 복지정책의 결정을 통한 사회복지공무원의 긍정적인 복지의식과 직무성과 제고 필요성, 사회복지공무원의 업무체계 개선의 필요성 등을 제안하였다. The objective of this study is to empirically examine the effect that social welfare officials' awareness of welfare, who play the core role in delivering public welfare service, has on their sense of duty value and duty efficiency. The implications this study suggests are as follows; First, this study has a meaning in that it empirically proved the social welfare officials' awareness level of welfare. Second, this study provided the specific theoretical basis for the approaches and alternatives for the need to improve social welfare officials' awareness of welfare and operate the desirable welfare policy and system, by examining the effect that social welfare officials' awareness of welfare has on their sense of duty value and duty efficiency. Third, we can find the political implication from this study that welfare policy should be established and operated toward the direction of enhancing equalization effect of welfare system, and minimizing free ride or hampering the will to work, if we intend to improve social welfare officials' awareness of welfare. Fourth, this study presented the need to improve the work system of social welfare officials, through the fact that the shorter their work period is, the lower sense of welfare, duty value and duty efficiency they have. Based on the study results above, we suggest the activation of studies on social welfare officials' awareness of welfare, the need to regularly educate social welfare officials about welfare policy, system and value, the need to improve social welfare officials' positive awareness of welfare and their duty performance through deciding welfare policy toward the direction of enhancing social equality and equalization, and the need to improve social welfare officials' work system.

Double Orphanhood: A Psychosocial Barrier to Assimilation of Learning Schemes in Child-Headed Households

‘Orphanhood’ is among the many undesirable phenomena within developing countries which seem to be precipitated by escalating parental deaths mostly rooted in the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and poverty. This case study investigated double orphanhood and its effects on the cognition and learning of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) living within child-headed households (CHHs) in Zimbabwe. The qualitative enquiry is hinged on constructivist views in Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. The triangulated data was collected through participant observations, an open-ended questionnaire, interviews, and focus group discussions held at four secondary schools. The purposefully selected participants comprised 20 double orphans and vulnerable children, four headmasters, eight teachers, one Education Officer and one Social Welfare officer, making a total sample of 34. The findings revealed that though most OVC try to remain resilient within their orphanhood predicament, they continue to suffer loneliness, inferiority complex, stresses, anxieties, low self-esteem, lack of concentration in class and more negativity that militates against effective assimilation and accommodation of learning materials within their environment. The phenomenon affected both sexes and was exacerbated by poverty, need deprivation and overwhelming household and parenting responsibilities. Older OVC were contemplating dropping out of school in order to work, earn and look after their siblings. Even though some OVC reported occasional receipt of aid through donors and the government’s facilities such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), not all OVC were lucky enough to remain beneficiaries up to the end of their secondary schooling. Orphanhood was found to be a psychological deterrent to cognition and learning. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p499

Analysis of Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare Development Microfinancing Program and its Impact on the Lives of Beneficiaries

This descriptive study explored the micro-financing program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Cagayan de Oro City. The study pursued the following objectives: 1) to measure the level of adequacy and effectiveness of the implementations of microfinance program, 2) to determine its impact on the lives of the beneficiaries, and 3) to determine the significant relationship between the implementation of the program and its impact on the quality of life of the beneficiaries. The respondents were the 164 beneficiaries of six villages in the city. Standardized questionnaire, supplemented with FGD’s, was the main tool in data gathering. Results show that the beneficiaries’ quality of social, economic, political, and spiritual life significantly improved due to the adequacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the microfinancing program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office of the City. Data gathered were processed using the weighted mean and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. In conclusion, small loans used for backyard business generate income, thereby having the potential to reduce poverty; financial gain improves health and self-confidence; and microfinancing helps individual cope with unemployment.  Keywords - Finance, microfinancing program, social welfare development, descriptive design, Philippines. Â

Development Transformation Experienced by Marginalized Beneficiaries of a Government Sponsored Microfinance Program

A microfinance program involves livelihood access through borrowed capital to capacitate women in marginalized communities to improve their quality of life. The study elicited the perceptions of beneficiaries on the transformation in their lives as a result of their availment of microfinance program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Butuan City. The study utilized descriptive method adopting qualitative research technique by means of focused group discussion, personal interview and on-site observations. The study revealed that technology acquisition was the most appreciated area of development because it enabled them to start their projects efficiently and handle them effectively as compared to doing things by their common sense. They realized the need to pay their loan on time for use by others rather than delving on dole- out-mentality. They understood that aving money in the bank is a form of investment rather than hiding it in any part of their house with no future benefit. They learned how to absorb instruction, clarify matters and comply with the needed output. The study concludes that the beneficiaries affirmed the tangible benefits translated to development of their greater capacity to access capital, utilize the same productively and support their socio-economic needs.

A study of social welfare officials' recognition about improving 'National Basic Livelihood Security Program'

A study of social welfare officials' recognition about improving 'National Basic Livelihood Security Program'

The impact of CPR and AED training on healthcare professionals' self-perceived attitudes to performing resuscitation

BackgroundHealthcare professionals have shown concern about performing mouth-to-mouth ventilation due to the risks to themselves with the procedure. However, little is known about healthcare professionals' fears and attitudes to start CPR and the impact of training.ObjectiveTo examine whether there were any changes in the attitudes among healthcare professionals to performing CPR from before to after training.MethodsHealthcare professionals from two Swedish hospitals were asked to answer a questionnaire before and after training. The questions were relating to physical and mental discomfort and attitudes to CPR. Statistical analysis used was generalized McNemar's test.ResultsOverall, there was significant improvement in 10 of 11 items, reflecting various aspects of attitudes to CPR.All groups of health care professionals (physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, and "others" = physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social welfare officers, psychologists, biomedical analysts) felt more secure in CPR knowledge after education. In other aspects, such as anxiety prior to a possible cardiac arrest, only nurses and assistant nurses improved.The concern about being infected, when performing mouth to mouth ventilation, was reduced with the most marked reduction in physicians (75%; P < 0.001).ConclusionIn this hospital-based setting, we found a positive outcome of education and training in CPR concerning healthcare professionals' attitudes to perform CPR. They felt more secure in their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In some aspects of attitudes to resuscitation nurses and assistant nurses appeared to be the groups that were most markedly influenced. The concern of being infected by a disease was low.

Governance and implementation of sports safety practices by municipal offices in Swedish communities

The objective of this study was to explore whether all-purpose health or safety promotion programmes and sports safety policies affect sports safety practices in local communities. Case study research methods were used to compare sports safety activities among offices in 73 Swedish municipalities; 28 with ongoing health or safety promotion programmes and 45 controls. The offices in municipalities with the WHO Healthy Cities (HC) or Safe Communities programmes were more likely to perform frequent inspections of sports facilities, and offices in the WHO HC programme were more likely to involve sports clubs in inspections. More than every second, property management office and environmental protection office conducted sports safety inspections compared with less than one in four planning offices and social welfare offices. It is concluded that all-purpose health and safety promotion programmes can reach out to have an effect on sports safety practices in local communities. These safety practices also reflect administrative work routines and managerial traditions.

The bureaucracy's voices in Norwegen client interviews

This article concerns a sociological study of face-to-face interaction taking place in social welfare offices in Norway. Qualitative data from interpreted dialogues between Norwegian social workers and their clients from minority groups of refugees and immigrants, bureaucratic voices and discourses are examined. For the social worker, face-to-face interaction is a matter of a professional performance characterized by an ambiguity between impartiality on the one hand and participatory involvement and understanding on the other. Power and control prevails significantly within the interactions as they strive to perform communicative actions between equals. Through some specific examples from my own observational studies, I have attempted to describe issues that can illustrate how the bureaucratic voice and prevalent discourses can be expressed in a variety of ways. For the social worker, it is a matter of a professional performance which is characterized by impartiality, counselling, objective verbal actions, the exercise of discretion, information distribution, etc.

Distúrbios osteomusculares relacionados ao trabalho: o perfil dos trabalhadores em benefício previdenciário em Diamantina (MG, Brasil)

O objetivo foi identificar o perfil de trabalhadores que receberam benefício temporário ou permanente por DORT entre 2002 e 2005 na Agência de Previdência Social (APS) Diamantina e comparar a prevalência dessa população. A amostra foi obtida através de bancos de dados contendo variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. O perfil foi semelhante ao longo dos anos. As características mais prevalentes foram trabalhadores residentes em Diamantina, entre 40 e 59 anos, nível de escolaridade no ensino fundamental, sem diferenças quanto ao gênero. A maioria estava empregado no setor de serviços, com renda abaixo de um salário mínimo. O benefício mais concedido foi auxílio-doença previdenciário. O diagnóstico mais comum foi Dorsalgia, com tempo médio do benefício de 10 meses. Observou-se tendência crescente de acometimento por DORT e evolução dos afastamentos para aposentadoria por invalidez ao longo dos anos. O presente estudo possibilitou conhecer o perfil do trabalhador afastado por DORT nessa APS. Observou-se tendência de crescimento dos índices de afastamento refletindo a tendência mundial. Assim, sugere-se implementação de políticas de prevenção, promoção e reabilitação da saúde desta população.