Social Work Interview Research Articles

Evaluating shortlisting methods for admission into the social work degree: personal statement versus psychological test

ABSTRACT Oversubscribed social work (SW) courses and a workforce review in Northern Ireland prompted a review of admissions, to ensure recruitment of applicants with strong core values. Concerns regarding authorship, plagiarism and reliability of personal statements, and calls for values-based recruitment underpinned this research. This study evaluates psychometric properties of an SW specific personal statement (PS) and a values-based psychological screening tool, Social Work Match (SWM). Social Work students (n = 112), who commenced the 3-year undergraduate route (UGR) or the 2-year relevant graduate route (RGR) were invited to participate. Their PS scores and SWM scores permitted investigation of scoring outcomes and psychometric properties. Statistical analysis was conducted using Minitab 17. Forty-nine participants (5 male, 44 female) completed SWM on two occasions (October 2020 and January 2021). Findings provide practical, theoretical, statistical, and qualitative reasons for concluding that the PS has substantial limitations as a measure of suitability. It does not compare well with international test standards for psychometric tests. In contrast, SWM is a valid and reliable measure with good discriminatory power, standardized administration and consistent marking. SWM is a viable alternative to the PS for assessing suitability/shortlisting applicants for social work interviews.

“No One Told Me”

Libraries are being called upon to assist with a variety of social problems including everything from housing and food insecurity to disaster recovery. In response, some public libraries have called on social workers to help. These developments beg the question of whether information professionals are being prepared for the realities of public library careers. This presentation reports findings from a series of 28 interviews with public librarians and branch managers to explore their views on how library and information science programs can ensure that students are prepared to respond to their community’s social service needs. Findings reveal that the inclusion of social work interview skills, de-escalation training, knowledge of social service resources, and instruction on how to collaborate with and supervise social workers would better prepare students for the realities of working in public libraries.

Human–Animal Relationships and Social Work: Opportunities Beyond the Veterinary Environment

A species-spanning approach that incorporates clients’ relationships with their companion animals into family genograms, schools of social work curricula, continuing education, interviews, assessments, and interventions offers increased career opportunities, professional and personal growth and development, and a more comprehensive resolution of clients’ issues, social justice concerns, and the prevention of family violence. This article identifies six reasons why social workers should be cognizant of human–animal relationships and introduces nine ways, with action steps, in which social workers can include these relationships into training and practice outside the more developed field of veterinary social work. These venues include: agencies working in child protection and child sexual abuse; children’s advocacy centers and courthouse facility dogs; animal shelters; domestic violence shelters; public policy advocacy; clinical practice; agencies working with older and disabled populations; veterinary sentinels for intimate partner violence; and pet support services for homeless populations. Such attention to the human–animal bond can utilize social workers’ problem-solving skills to improve delivery of services, identify clients’ risk and resiliency factors, enhance social and environmental justice, expand academic inquiry, and increase attention to all of the vulnerable members of families and communities.

Leveraging integrative research for inclusive innovation: urine diversion and re-use in agriculture

This report describes the evolution of a qualitative research design used in a study that integrated academic and non-academic expertise and involved multiple stakeholders concerned with the diversion of human urine from the waste stream for its re-use in agriculture. The study took place in two regions of the U.S., New England and the Upper Midwest (most specifically Vermont and Michigan) and suggests the importance of ethnographic perspectives in a participatory action research framework going forward. This manuscript presents a novel mix of researchers, from a grassroots organization to R1 University teams, and explores the perspectives of a wide range of research participants with whom we conferred to understand whether and how fertilizers made from nutrients recovered from diverted urine might be accepted, adapted, and scaled in agricultural use. Our manuscript thus articulates new territory for such interpretive social science work (focus groups, interviews and participant observations) neither within basic ethnographic research, nor within the kind of “rapid ethnography” widely used in business, engineering and international development fields. We describe how our research process entailed the modifications of our methods, and we consider the overlapping and sometimes opposed knowledges and attitudes of multiple stakeholders who are crucial to the uptake and scale of such new technologies for closing loops in our waste and water processing infrastructures and our food production systems. To best leverage these diverse knowledges, we suggest incremental steps for teams like ours towards an inclusive research process.

Integrating strength-based social work interview and eco-justice ethical approach in assessing living conditions for migrant women and families in Africa

Integrating strength-based social work interview and eco-justice ethical approach in assessing living conditions for migrant women and families in Africa

A Journal of Family Social Work interview with Ann Hartman, DSW

Judith Siegel, PhD, LCSWAnn Hartman, DSWI am Judy Siegel, the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Family Social Work, published by Routledge. It’s my pleasure today to be interviewing Dr. Ann Hartman...

WHEN IS THE TIME RIGHT TO MOVE INTO A CARE HOME?

Deciding if and when to move to a care home is a difficult decision for people with dementia, their carers, and the professionals who support them, but there is currently limited evidence to help them to make this decision. Factors leading to the decision to move, the decision-making process, and the timing of the move are complex, and much remains unclear. The study aims to identify factors and drivers when deciding if and when a person with dementia should move to a care home; and to identify if there is an ‘optimal’ or best time for the move. Using a phenomenological approach, qualitative interviews were undertaken with four groups: social workers, people with dementia, family carers, and care home managers. Data from the social work interviews are reported and discussed in this present paper. Participants were asked about the reasons for moves, factors affecting these decisions, and the timings of the move to a care home. All interviews were analysed using the principles of thematic analysis. Emerging findings from the social worker interviews indicate that risks and safety are major factors when considering where the person with dementia should live. Much importance is placed on the wishes of the person with dementia and minimising distress. Timing of the move depends on the person with dementia's care needs, housing preferences, and mental capacity. The moving-in process is predominately left to family carers, care home managers and their staff. Deciding when a person with dementia should move to a care home is difficult, especially in the context of policy rhetoric (that a person should remain in their own home for as long as possible), and social care funding cuts. Study findings will be used to develop specific factsheets to inform and help people with dementia, family carers and professionals with this decision.

A Journal of Family Social Work interview with Froma Walsh, MSW, PhD

Judith Siegel, PhD, LCSW Froma Walsh, MSW, PhDJudith Siegel:I am Judy Siegel. I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Family Social Work that is published by Routledge. Today I have the pleasure...

Social Work Education and the Marketisation of UK Universities

Social work practice and university provision of social work education in the UK have come under considerable public scrutiny during the past decade. Questions have been raised in the media, professional discourse and government inquires as to whether universities are delivering consistently high standards of graduates into the profession. During the same period structural changes to the provision and funding of universities in the UK have transformed higher education. The rapid expansion of the sector alongside the introduction of fees-based funding has resulted in a ‘market’ in higher education. Students are now consumers, with greater numbers of universities competing for their custom. However, as the sector continues to expand a growing body of critical literature is emerging raising doubts as to the efficacy of this newly marketised university structure. This research therefore asks how marketisation is influencing social work education in UK universities. Although it is acknowledged that there has been an expansion of alternative routes to qualification, this research is exclusively focussed on university provision. Using a dual-stranded study involving a national sample of social work academics, questionnaire and interview data is analysed to present emerging themes based on the expressed views and reported experiences of those working directly within the sector. The study highlights a level of concern regarding the changing academic relationship with students and particularly the role of the National Student Survey (NSS). It raises questions in relation to standards of admissions, teaching and assessment in some institutions. Findings indicate that academics are very aware of the influence of a market-culture within universities but that experiences differ across the sector. There is evidence that consistency of standards may be compromised in some instances but that social work academics feel unable to speak out about this topic whilst working in this highly competitive and uncertain environment. Conclusions have a transformative focus pointing to a need for open, critical and reflective discourse to assist the development of future practice, policy and regulation in this area with the ultimate aim of improving standards of higher education. The study may therefore be of interest to those working in other disciplines, particularly comparable professional courses such as teaching and nursing.

Animating social work research findings: a case study of research dissemination to benefit marginalized young people

Findings in social work research are often disseminated in a manner that excludes the subjects of that research. In the SHINE for Kids – MyLifeNow research collaboration between a social work researcher, a communication design researcher and communication design students, research findings were animated in a variety of styles for distribution by the charitable organization. SHINE for Kids is a non-profit organization that assists and advocates for children with parents in prison. Transcripts of social work interviews with the children were modified into screenplays to be animated by communication design students. The animated documentary has advantages over the expository documentary mode, including protecting the identity of the subject and creating an affective video that constitutes a dual-process model of entertainment providing for a more socially connected pleasure.

A Journal of Family Social Work interview with Virginia Goldner, PhD

Judith Siegel, PhD, LCSW Virginia Goldner, PhDJudith:This is Judy Siegel. I am the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Family Social Work, published by Routledge. It’s my pleasure today to be intervi...

A Journal of Family Social Work interview with Nancy Boyd-Webb, DSW, LICSW, BCD, RPT-S

Judith Siegel, PhD, MSWNancy Boyd-Webb, DSW,LICSW, BCD, RPT-SJudith:I’m Judy Siegel, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Family Social Work published by Routledge. This interview is going to be a...

Sociological Evaluation and Analysis of the Social Issue of Divorce and Addiction among Families of Iranian Martyrs Case Study: Province of Guillan

Family is the first social institute and sociologists consider its advent concurrent with arising of individual ownership. From ancient time, the institute of family was the first and most important social platform for socialization of individuals and learning social teachings, values and norms. This structure is a remnant of centuries ago and has continuously had various functions which has led to its strengthening and sustenance and has given it a “holy” appearance and function. In this paper, we will sociologically evaluate and analyze the social issue of divorce and addiction. For the purpose of data collection, in this study a researcher prepared questionnaire, study of social work files and interview were used. Additionally, in this research descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS statistical software. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4S2p169

Towards an Interactional Map of the Supervision Session: An Exploration of Supervisees and Supervisors Experiences

This article examines the inner workings of the supervision session through the descriptions provided by supervisees and supervisors of their sessions. The aims of this paper are: (1) to explore the supervision session from both sides of the interaction; (2) to propose an interactional map of the supervision session; and (3) to provide supervisors with a practical checklist for the interactional process of the session. Thirty-four participants were interviewed regarding their experience of a recent supervision session and their experiences of sessions generally. These experiences were thematically analysed. Results show that supervisees and supervisors proceed through particular stages and phases in their supervision sessions and there is a ritual to the session. The session process mirrored the social work interview and involved discussion and problem-solving. Variations to the process were made to accommodate individual and cultural differences. The implications of the results are: (1) an interactional map of the stages and phases of the supervision session; (2) practical guidance for supervisees and supervisors on navigating their way through sessions; and (3) a working framework through which supervisees and supervisors can evaluate their sessions. The article concludes with a practical checklist for supervisors to use within their sessions.

Parental resistance and social worker skills: towards a theory of motivational social work

ABSTRACTParental resistance is a ubiquitous feature of child and family social work, yet there has been limited research or theoretical work directed at the issue. This paper identifies social and individual reasons why parents may be resistant. Five principle causes of parental resistance are discussed, namely social structure and disadvantage, the context of child protection work, parental resistance to change, denial or minimization of abuse or neglect and the behaviour of the social worker. It is argued that motivational interviewing (MI) provides particularly useful skills and concepts for firstly reducing the social worker contribution to resistance and secondly minimizing the resistance related to other reasons for resistance. Key adaptations required in the strategic aims of MI if it is to be used in child protection work are identified and discussed, the most important of which is maintaining a focus on the child's welfare and safety. It is concluded that MI offers an opportunity to improve practice by increasing parental engagement and to make a contribution to social work theory by combining an attention to both broader social structure and the micro‐skills required in social work interviews.

Exploring social workers’ personal domains in rural practice

• Summary: This article is grounded on Cheers, Darracott, and Lonne’s (2007) framework for conceptualizing the factors that influence rural social care practitioners in their work. Focusing on the ‘personal domain’ we report results of qualitative interviews with 22 social workers who were part of a larger sample of 82 Australian rural social practitioners. As part of the larger study, practitioners were asked how they defined social care, whether they practised it and if so how, factors influencing their practice, and the information bases they used. • Findings: Analysis of the social work interviews identified that the personal domain had considerable influence on their day-to-day practice. Five themes emerged describing the personal domain: ‘life experiences’, ‘beliefs and values’, ‘ideas and theories’, ‘personal relationships’, and ‘personal characteristics’. We call for further research to conceptualize the domain more clearly, identify factors within it, and investigate how they influence practice, with special focus on how social workers’ personal moral-ethical frameworks influence their practice decisions. • Application: Opening space to explore the personal domain challenges social work practitioners and students to critically reflect on how their life experiences, beliefs and values, ideas and theories and personal relationships and characteristics influence their practice. It also provides practitioners, employers, and professional organizations with knowledge they need to help social workers cope with the demands of practice.

Using the Strengths Perspective in the Social Work Interview With Young Adults Who Have Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse

Social work has a long history of problematizing and pathologizing clients, including young adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Traditional approaches in social work have focused on working with clients to overcome obstacles, solve problems that stand in their way, and connect clients with resources that they do not possess. Strengths-focused social work interviewing offers an opportunity to reframe the experiences of young adults who have experienced CSA. While there is a gap in the literature on strengths-focused work with young adults who have experienced CSA, we propose that the strengths-focused interview offers an effective shift in thinking for social workers through the use of environmental support, exception, and possibility questions. We conclude that the profession best serves clients when we discover and use strengths, assets, and resources, rather than focusing on problems.

Qualifying the Qualitative Social Work Interview

As a methodological proposal, this article proposes an approach to interview analysis that connects the content of interview data with (1) the immediate context of the interview, (2) the way context emerges and changes during an interview, (3) the relationship between the interviewee, the interviewer, and other less immediate parties who elicit and evaluate what said, and (4) the cultural conventions that shape what counts as a meaningful speech in the first place. The article continues on to delineate the importance of accounting for (5) the relationship of the interview to previous occasions of speaking, and (6) the relevant stakes of speaking and interests of speakers. The potential import of each principle is illustrated in reference to methodological challenges encountered during an ethnographic study of an intensive outpatient drug treatment program, a multi-method evaluation of the same program, and relevant practice experiences. In conclusion, the paper discusses how to make the most of data collected in ‘interview intensive’ (Padgett, 2008) qualitative social work research.

Routine assessment of social difficulties in cancer patients: are we opening Pandora’s box?

Living with cancer impacts on the social aspects of the lives of the patient and their families, causing problems that can remain undetected. The Social Difficulties Inventory (SDI) has been shown as an effective screening tool, but concerns exist that detecting more problems may increase the workload for clinic staff and related services. The aim of this analysis is to assess the level of unmet need for social difficulties and to identify any potential increase in required interventions that may occur as a result of detailed assessment. A previous cross-sectional interview study was conducted to establish the clinical utility of the SDI. Adult patients were recruited from oncology, haematology and chest medicine clinics. They completed the SDI and a semi-structured interview by a social worker, who was blind to the SDI results. With participant agreement, interventions were made for the detected problems. This paper reports on a secondary descriptive analysis of intervention data, which was performed to examine the details of the interventions and referral patterns. No intervention was necessary for 108 (59%) of patients, 42 (23%) received information, 33 (15%) were referred to another service and five (3%) received both information and a referral. Most information was provided about holiday insurance. The majority of referrals were made to Social Work (55% of all referrals) with the main reason being related to benefits or finances. Increased referral rate was observed following a social work interview, when comparing with local audit data. However, the majority of needs could be met by increasing accessibility of information.

Relation of the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status to Measures of Daily Functioning in Dementia

In the present study were examined relations of scores on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (Randolph, 1998) with measures of daily functioning in a sample with dementia. Participants (N=66) with various forms of dementia were seen at a dementia diagnostic clinic. All participants were administered the battery as part of a larger battery of neuropsychological measures. The participants' functional status was assessed by their primary caregivers, who completed the Physical Self-maintenance Scale and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (Lawton & Brody, 1969) as part of a social work interview. Analysis indicated that the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, particularly the Attention, Visuospatial/Constructional, and Immediate Memory indices, strongly correlated with measures of daily functioning. These results were supported by multiple regression analyses showing the RBANS Attention and Immediate Memory indices as significant predictors of functional abilities. One may conclude the RBANS should be favorably considered in understanding the functional problems of probable dementing patients.