Social Work Expertise Research Articles

Integration of Social Education and the Labor Market through a Simulation of Professional Activity

Background/Objectives: The article discusses the convergence of social education and labor market in the social sphere. Professionalization of social work is studied all over the world. Methods: Currently, discussions are continuing in the context of possibilities for standardization of professional activity and education, as well as their relationships. The main object of the study is the profession of “a social work specialists”, the representatives of which work in the system of social protection of the population in the Russian Federation. Findings: The authors carried out an experimental study using traditional sociological methods (questionnaires, tests, expert interviews, focus groups, interviews, social design and modeling). The study was attended by representatives of regional authorities from all territorial districts of Russia, heads of social service organizations, experts in social work. Statistical and qualitative analysis of the results allows revealing the expert activity algorithm in social work in the social services system, establishing the basic elements of the professional standard: basic labor functions, labor activities, skills and the necessary knowledge to implement them. A standard of professional activity of social work specialist, who performs the basic functions of social protection of the population in this country, has been developed. The problem is solved taking into account not only current issues, but also the prospects for the development of the profession. Previously, there were no such standards in Russia. Improvements: The purpose of the article is to formulate scientifically sound approaches to the development of uniform requirements for the professional activity of specialists, the quality of social services, as well as to justify the possible next steps in the integration of the labor market and social education, introducing necessary changes in vocational education standards.

How do social work novices and experts solve professional problems? A micro-analysis of epistemic activities and the use of evidence

ABSTRACTEvidence-based practice in social work is an intensely debated topic, with many differing perspectives on how it should be done. However, we know surprisingly little about how social workers actually engage in professional problem-solving and about the knowledge base of those processes. To shed light on this topic of social work expertise, we present a novel model of scientific reasoning and argumentation and investigate how experts and novices differ in the reasoning processes they engage in as they are confronted with social work problems. Vignettes were used to capture reasoning processes, and the corresponding verbal data were then analysed. In this study, 26 probation officers and 22 social work students participated. The findings show that experts differ from novices with respect to both their knowledge bases and the epistemic activities in which they engage. Furthermore, a cluster analysis revealed three common problem-solving strategies: evidence-based solution seeking (15 experts and 15 novices), shared problem-solving (8 experts) and explanation seeking (1 expert and 7 novices). The results indicate the need to improve the practical problem-solving skills of students through situated teaching methods.

Cases as a Means of Formation of Students’ Reflexive and Analytical Experience

Background: Pedagogical press often observes a gap between the theoretical and practical components of the professional education. Theoretical skills of future social work experts finds no back up in the reflective and analytical observational experience, which partly explains their unreadiness for qualified professional reactions. Phenomenological and existential methodology laid in the basis of the educational process stimulates the development of integrated interactive multimedia educational technologies (and in particular, technologies named in contemporary educational theory and practice as 'Case-study'), aimed at forming a professional reflexive and analytical experience of the future professionals of social services and institutions, the development of their subjectivity, creative individuality, adaptive abilities, etc. Methods: During the analysis of ways of ensuring internal connection between theory and practice in the reflective and analytical activity of the future social work experts, we used the typology and modelling method ensuring the formation of taxonomic concepts of the studied objects, their characteristics, relationships, attitudes and behavioral patterns. In addition, during the development of interactive multimedia educational technology a system-structural method was used. This method allowed considering the studied phenomena as a dynamic total integrity interacting with other socio-cultural phenomena. Findings: The study has revealed the capacity of the case-study interactive educational technology in the context of reflective and analytical experience development and increase in the level of professional preparedness of students, the future social experts, to the professional problems solving; the capacity of interactive educational technology of integrated media education in terms of the reflective and analytical experience development, proficiency improvement and formation of a professional and humanistic attitude of students, the future social experts; the overall structure of the cognitive schemes of social situations and cases as a basis for the formation and development of intentional and dialogical, reflective and analytical experience of students in the educational process. Applications/Improvements: Our didactic research support (in the form of interactive technology of integrated education) improves the development of methodological and substantive bases of the educational process in the system of social and socio-pedagogical education.

LEARNING THE ROLE OF THE PEDAGOGICAL COMPETENCE OF SPECIALIST IN SOCIAL WORK IN THE PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN THE PROCESS OF PROFESSIONAL BECOMING (THE RESEARCH IS DONE ON THE DATA OF QUESTION OF EXPERTS AND STUDENTS)

Professional activity of specialist in social work of the penitentiary institution has the expressed specific conditioned by the features of sociocultural environment and specific contingent of the institution. Modern researches and practice of social work show that during professional activity those specialists are more successful who have sufficient pedagogical competence. The Article deals with the structure and maintenance of the pedagogical competence. An empirical research is devoted to learning the importance of the pedagogical competence in professional formation of specialist in social work of the penitentiary institution. The results of the question of specialists-practice and students are presented with the purpose to study the opinions concerned the necessity of the pedagogical competence of experts in social work of the penitentiary institution and possible ways to improve it. Some conclusions have done: it is necessary to find ways of forming and improving the professional competence of specialists in this field. Possible ways: teaching some disciplines, skill development.

Exploring multidisciplinary practice patterns in the management of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) across the U.S. and Canada in 2015.

368 Background: Effective treatment of MIBC requires a multidisciplinary (multiD) approach including surgical, radiation, and chemotherapeutic modalities, which are further supported by pathology, radiology, nursing, social work, nutrition, pharmacy, and psychologic expertise. As surgical and bladder preservation approaches have not been directly compared, practice patterns are heterogeneous. Our primary objective was to catalogue the different styles of multiD approaches or lack thereof in the management of MIBC. Secondary objectives were to assess physician interest, capture examples of successful approaches, and describe barriers to implementation. Methods: We conducted an international online survey regarding the type of multiD approach and available resources used by clinicians managing MIBC. We collaborated with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network and the Genitourinary Medical Oncologists of Canada to reach a wide variety of academic and community practices. Results: Of the 101 clinicians surveyed, most practiced at NCI designated comprehensive cancer centers (46%) or Canadian academic institutions (29%). The median number of cases per month was 5 (0-40).Of the different multiD styles, sequential (separate) visits on different days was the most common (60%) followed by sequential same day (41%), concurrent (one visit with all providers, 23%), and none (5%). However, most preferred a sequential same day (44%) or concurrent (28%) approach. Although most academic practices had some form of multiD approach, reported barriers for implementing the preferred strategy were lack of clinic space (63%), funding (46%), staff (46%), and time (34%). The majority felt a multiD approach enriched their practice. Conclusions: Most surveyed practitioners at academic centers integrate a multiD strategy in the management of MIBC. The major barriers are not attitudinal but rather insufficient resources and time. Thus, most physicians employ a sequential rather than a concurrent approach. Future goals include developing strategies to overcome these obstacles and integrating these results with patient preferences to optimize the management of MIBC patients.

Doctoral Study Programs in Social Work at HBCUs: Origin and Program Development

ABSTRACTFisk University began the genesis of HBCU graduate programs in 1880. During the next fifty years, several other HBCUs established graduate programs. That group included Lincoln, Howard, and Morgan State. However, only Lincoln University established a PhD program. The primary goal of this paper is to provide a historical perspective regarding the development of social work doctoral degree programs in the context of HBCU graduate degree program development. Although HBCU social work doctoral programs have only existed since 1978, they are significant and growing academic enterprises which are expanding the pool of doctoral level social work experts and professors of color. Further, these programs should be viewed contextually as producers of scholars on the larger landscape of the academy.

Teaching Social Work Practice Research to Enhance Research-Minded Expertise

ABSTRACTThe emphasis on student cognitive knowledge and expertise in social work education has been shifting more toward reflective learning that features learning networks and dialogical interaction. In the context of innovative knowledge communities for promoting social work expertise, educators have become facilitators of learning that is expanding beyond the boundaries of academia. This article features a case study of the practice research module at the University of Helsinki, Finland, which is based on a partnership with agencies and the University of Helsinki research unit of the Heikki Waris Institute. The aim is to promote new pedagogical thinking about how to explore the complexities of professional competences by actively taking into account the cultural and practical dimensions of work life. Research-minded expertise requires not only lectures or textbooks but also ongoing interaction among service organizations, service practitioners, service users, and researchers.

The role of the Court of Protection in safeguarding

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline how questions relating to capacity arise in the context of safeguarding, and when applications to the Court of Protection are required in relation to those who may lack capacity. It also seeks to provide guidance as to how applications to the Court of Protection should be made so as to ensure that they are determined effectively and in a proportionate fashion. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on the practical experience of practising barristers appearing before the Court of Protection, and on the experience of a social worker who is an MCA/DOLS lead at a London local authority. The paper proceeds by way of a review of the relevant statutory provisions, an overview of the Court of Protection and then to a practical analysis of when and how applications to the Court need to be made. Findings – When to go to the Court of Protection in the safeguarding context is poorly understood, and there has not been proper recognition of the fact that proceedings for “adult care orders” have a strong forensic analogy with applications for care orders in relation to children. It is only by recognising these forensic similarities that local authorities can properly make use of the Court of Protection in the discharge of their obligations to vulnerable adults in their area. Practical implications – The paper should lead to a recognition that there is a specialist “adult protection court” within the Court of Protection, and that applications for adult care orders to that court require specific and careful preparation and presentation. It will therefore lead to better use of the Court of Protection in the safeguarding context and – ultimately – a better balance between empowerment and protection of vulnerable adults who may lack capacity. Originality/value – The paper is original in combining both legal and social work expertise to reach practical conclusions as to why such poor use has been made of the Court of Protection in safeguarding context. Its value lies in the deployment of that expertise to suggest how better use can be made in the future.

Clinical Criteria for Physician Aid in Dying.

More than 20 years ago, even before voters in Oregon had enacted the first aid in dying (AID) statute in the United States, Timothy Quill and colleagues proposed clinical criteria AID. Their proposal was carefully considered and temperate, but there were little data on the practice of AID at the time. (With AID, a physician writes a prescription for life-ending medication for a terminally ill, mentally capacitated adult.) With the passage of time, a substantial body of data on AID has developed from the states of Oregon and Washington. For more than 17 years, physicians in Oregon have been authorized to provide a prescription for AID. Accordingly, we have updated the clinical criteria of Quill, et al., based on the many years of experience with AID. With more jurisdictions authorizing AID, it is critical that physicians can turn to reliable clinical criteria. As with any medical practice, AID must be provided in a safe and effective manner. Physicians need to know (1) how to respond to a patient's inquiry about AID, (2) how to assess patient decision making capacity, and (3) how to address a range of other issues that may arise. To ensure that physicians have the guidance they need, Compassion & Choices convened the Physician Aid-in-Dying Clinical Criteria Committee, in July 2012, to create clinical criteria for physicians who are willing to provide AID to patients who request it. The committee includes experts in medicine, law, bioethics, hospice, nursing, social work, and pharmacy. Using an iterative consensus process, the Committee drafted the criteria over a one-year period.

Social work: a “forgotten” piece of the integration jigsaw?

Purpose – The article seeks to analyse the potential contribution of social work to integration debates. Social work has tended to be seen as marginal to these discussions despite the potential of social work expertise and leadership to help forge effective approaches to joined-up care. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how social work is well positioned to help lead and support practice focused change across social care and health. It also seeks to show how professional leadership can be a powerful vehicle for changing professional and organisational cultures. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on practice and research evidence to demonstrate the proposition that social work can make a powerful contribution to debates about integration. Findings – Three things could help build the cultural capital that is a pre-requisite to building integrated and joined-up approaches. First, the author needs to invest in developing the role of social workers and GPs working together as local professional and practice leaders. Second, there is a real risk that in any discussion about professional leadership and partnership, the author eclipses the singularly critical importance of engaging and involving users and carers in non tokenistic ways. Finally, the author needs to utilise better social work’s skills and knowledge in managing risk, building resilience and promoting social inclusion. Research limitations/implications – Further evaluation and research is needed about the potential for GPs and social workers to develop joined-up approaches to care for and support older and disabled people. Practical implications – Social workers need to be provided with the tools, support and space in which to develop their practice leadership role, including but not exclusively with GPs. Originality/value – This paper does not purport to offer any specifically originally research but rather some reflections on how social work expertise might better contribute to integration debates.

Social work expertise: an overlooked opportunity for cutting-edge system design under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L. 111-148) changed the landscape of health care in the United States. Embedded in this new policy direction are incentives to create a system that treats the whole person through the integration of behavioral and physical health—including substance use treatment. Social work expertise in these areas is crucial. How these changes are implemented will be critical for ensuring a system that meets the needs of people. It is vital that social workers gain a place at the table in health care system and policy discussions to ensure that best practices for integrative care are put in place as systems are designed. Changes at the macro level have a direct impact on what happens in the world of direct practice, and there will be key opportunities for social work reflected in new roles and a greater appreciation and expansion of long-standing practice endeavors. The incentives created in the ACA, both for integration of behavioral and physical health, as well as for more coordinated systems of care emphasizing awareness of social determinants of health (SDOH), are incentives that can be directly addressed through social work practice. The law proposes that these integrated care models move beyond the current environments, such as federally qualified health centers, to become more mainstream in the health care arena. Social work expertise in SDOH, care coordination and management, motivational interviewing, mental health, community resources, and other areas will be an asset to all integrated health care settings. If we as social workers do not assert our expertise as the system is redesigned, we will lose an important opportunity to help our clients and the profession of social work.

Policies Against Poverty in Russia – A Female Responsibility

This article analyses how social policies in Russia can give poor people opportunities to improve their life situations given the persisting norms of a moral and practical female responsibility for social welfare. Women working in the social sphere have created their own support networks for helping people to take part in state programmes and to become entitled to support in one way or the other. Their agenda is clearly larger than the directives they might be subject to from above. They use relations to create resources. Analysing the agency of women who are professionally working in the social sphere supports distinguishing their potential roles of empowering the poor from their controlling roles. Empirical data are based on qualitative interviews with social work experts, social workers, social pedagogues at schools, teachers, doctor’s assistants, local politicians and deputies of commissions or local village councils in two Russian regions.

Desperately seeking a surrogate - for a patient lacking decision-making capacity.

Our hospital's policy and procedures for "Patients Without Surrogates" provides for gradated safeguards for managing patients' treatment and care when they lack decision-making capacity, have no advance directives, and no surrogate decision makers are available. The safeguards increase as clinical decisions become more significant and have greater consequences for the patient. The policy also directs social workers to engage in "rigorous efforts" to search for surrogates who can potentially provide substituted judgments for such patients. We describe and illustrate the policy, procedures, and kinds of expected rigorous efforts through our narration of an actual but disguised case for which we provided clinical ethics guidance and social work expertise. Our experience with and reflection on this case resulted in four recommendations we make for health care facilities and organizations that aim to provide quality care for their own patients without surrogates.

Social Work Expertise and Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams

Social Work Expertise and Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams

In the shadow of the ivory tower: An ethnographic study of neighborhood relations

Social workers have a historic commitment to neighborhood organizing and community planning. One place where social work expertise is needed are neighborhoods adjacent to a college or university campus. These neighborhoods are home to diverse groups of residents who share a common place, but not the same degree of attachment to that place or the same sense of community. Despite the increased interest in university-community relations, there is relatively little empirical research on intergroup relations in campus-adjacent neighborhoods. This year-long ethnographic study centered on a campus-adjacent neighborhood in a small Appalachian college town in the US that is home to a mid-size public university. The study included members of five stakeholder groups in order to understand intergroup neighborhood relations and their relationship to larger institutional dynamics. The research design included semi-structured interviews, a series of focus groups, and a small Photovoice project. Textual data were analyzed in a two-step process, first using a modified holistic method, followed by a more in-depth analysis using tabular, graphic and other tools. Findings clustered in three areas: the dynamics of intergroup relations, ghettoization and studentification (a term used in the UK) and collective efficacy. The study’s findings illustrate the importance of understanding the larger community context to make sense of intergroup relations in residential neighborhoods, particularly those dominated by large institutions. In addition, the study helps to reaffirm social work’s historic commitment to neighborhood organizing and community planning as a means of resolving neighborhood tensions.

Elder Mediation in Theory and Practice: Study Results From a National Caregiver Mediation Demonstration Project

Mediation is a process through which a third party facilitates discussion among disputing parties to help them identify interests and ideally reach an amicable solution. Elder mediation is a growing subspecialty to address conflicts involving older adults, primarily involving caregiving or finances. Mediation is theorized to empower participants but critics argue that it can exacerbate power imbalances among parties and coerce consensus. These contested claims are examined through study of a national caregiver mediation demonstration project. Study implications underscore the importance of gerontological social work expertise to ensure the empowerment of vulnerable older adults in mediation sessions.

Reflections on ‘governing the family’: the close relationship between child protection and social work in advanced Western societies – the example of England

The purpose of this article is to critically reflect on recent developments and debates about child protection policy and practice in advanced Western societies, with particular reference to England. It includes a discussion of the scandal associated with the death of ‘Baby Peter’ and the political reactions to it, together with an analysis of the Munro Review of Child Protection. In the process it considers why the profession of social work is continually subject to criticism in child protection work but, at the same time, continues to be entrusted with playing the central role in it. It is argued that a major reason for this is that social work plays a key role in ‘governing the family’ in advanced Western societies where, while it is important that children are protected from ‘significant harm’, it is also important that the privacy of the family is not seen as being undermined. Social work expertise is key to maintaining this fine balance and mediating between the various tensions involved.

What Their Terms of Living and Dying Might Be: Hospice Social Workers Discuss Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

This article presents data from a qualitative study of nine social work hospice practitioners and experts as they discuss Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (a) values regarding physician-assisted death; (b) agency policies about the option; and (c) the role of hospice social workers with physician-assisted death. Three states now allow terminally ill persons to obtain a lethal prescription if criteria are met. Two other states are actively considering and may pass similar legislation over time. Hospice social work practitioners work with patients and families as they consider this option and their voices reflect the complexities and nuances of these interactions.

Needs and preferences of breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional survey.

147 Background: The Institute of Medicine recommends development of cancer survivorship care models that are patient centered. We designed a cross-sectional survey to determine the medical and psychosocial needs and preferences of breast cancer survivors. Methods: We identified a random sample, stratified by age and chemotherapy usage, of 600 women from MN, WI, and IA, ages 18-99, within 1-5 years of diagnosis of stage 0-3 breast cancer and seen at our institution. Results: We received 329 surveys (response rate 55%). Respondents were a mean age of 58 years (range 26-89) and a mean of 3.3 years from cancer diagnosis (range 1.2-5.4). 96% were white and stage distribution was: 15% stage 0, 35% stage 1, 32% stage 2, 15% stage 3, and 3% missing. Treatment included mastectomy (60%), lumpectomy (40%), radiation (61%), chemotherapy (55%) and hormonal therapy (50%). Most common treatment-related sequelae were neuropathy (38%), chest wall or arm pain (27%), and lymphedema (26%). Over half (52%) report worry and 45% report fatigue as a problem in the past week. 74% stated that their medical needs were met, whereas 49% said their psychological and spiritual needs were met (p<0.01). 68% understood the follow-up plan after treatment was complete. Perceived barriers to follow up care were anxiety (30%) and lack of coordination (10%). When queried about post-treatment care, the following aspects were considered important (% of patients ranking ≥7 on scale 0-10: 0=not important, 10=very important): breast/chest wall exam (88%); screening for osteoporosis (71%), colorectal cancer (69%), and heart disease (65%); educational materials (64%); mammography (63%); physical therapy (61%); diet and exercise counseling (60%); and complementary/alternative medicine information (53%). Less important were psychology (44%), gynecology (43%), chaplain services (35%), support groups (32%), social work (20%), and infertility experts (4%). 60% expressed interest in attending a survivorship clinic. Conclusions: This survey provides unique data on breast cancer survivors, and efforts should be made to optimize medical and psychosocial care in line with their needs and preferences. These results will be imperative in designing a wellness and survivorship clinic.

Reconstructing social relationships in post-earthquake community: social work intervention in Qin Jian Ren Jia, Dujiangyan

Based on a study of Qin Jian Ren Jia, a community consisting of mainly temporary dwellings in Dujiangyan, this paper illustrates how social work services should be carried out to assist the rebuilding of the community after it was devastated by an earthquake. It describes first the backdrop for social work intervention, the nature of the projects delivered, and the importance of the lessons learned. It suggests that in order for any social work service to function effectively, social work must be incorporated into the government administrative structure for delivering aid to occupy a particular niche. It also proposes that for any service project to work efficiently in a disaster struck community, the project must have a long-term goal aiming at improving community management. Furthermore, it argues that group work is more conducive in rebuilding social relationships, and in turn, they will further enhance the development of social activism and positive energy for mitigating community problems. To these ends, it is most important to ensure social work services and expertise relevant to local contexts so that services rendered in rebuilding community can become professionalized, specialized and sustainable.