Social Work Practice Research Articles

The streetlight effect: shining a light on assessment of social work students’ capability through practice educator use of direct observation

ABSTRACT Direct observation is a method used as part of an assessment of proficiency for pre-qualifying social work practice placements which are an essential part of social work programmes overseen by universities at undergraduate (BASW) and postgraduate level (MSW) in England. Observing practice, which is a part of the process of assessment using the Professional Capabilities Framework domains (TCSW, 2012) has become pivotal for students in their preparation to appreciate the extent of skills and knowledge required to become a social worker. This research offers perspectives from practice educators on their experiences of the observation of practice looking at how it is currently used and its effectiveness at assessing student’s social work practice. Focus groups were held with practice educators to examine the direct observation in more depth. The findings illustrated its vital role in confirming practice abilities and how it was considered to reveal aspects of practice which can only be seen by observing in a real context. It deepened our understanding of how the observation in itself is emotive for both educators and students. It offered new perspectives on its role for dual reflexivity and potential areas for enhancement (Ruch, 2015).

Community needs assessment for social service delivery in Chengdu, China

ABSTRACT This study explores the community needs assessment of social service delivery in Chengdu, China. Using a qualitative approach to explore needs assessments, the authors conducted in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions with community members and social workers. The authors identified various needs for residences, and these include issues related to welfare for senior citizens, service delivery, the social service speciality, health and medical services, children, environmental degradation, and concerns relating to the problems faced by ethnic minorities. The findings provide insights to the Chinese government to strengthen community social work practice development and enhance community service delivery in Chengdu, China.

Virtual Photovoice and Social Work: Unveiling CRT and LatCrit Insights into Latinx Communities in the Southwest During COVID-19

ABSTRACT The paper explores the intersection of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latinx Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) within Latinx communities, focusing on Photovoice as a method to understand systemic inequalities and power dynamics. Drawing on Freire’s concept of critical consciousness, CRT and LatCrit frameworks delve into institutional racism and intersecting forms of oppression experienced by Latinx communities. The study adapted the use of Photovoice to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to authentically capture community narratives. Through the Your Family, Your Neighborhood (YFYN) intervention, Photovoice sessions engage Latinx families in documenting neighborhood strengths and challenges. Virtual adaptation enabled inclusivity and participation despite geographical barriers. Thematic analysis of participant-generated photos and narratives reveals community strengths in resilience, faith, and recreational spaces in response to challenges such as environmental hazards and inadequate infrastructure. This paper also highlights the role of social work in integrating culturally relevant methodologies to better understand and address Latinx experiences. By leveraging digital technologies, remote Photovoice projects uphold principles of participation and empowerment, contributing to nuanced understandings of Latinx realities within the U.S. socio-cultural landscape and offering valuable insights for social work practice and advocacy.

Book Review: Police Social Work: Social Work Practice in Law Enforcement Agencies

Book Review: Police Social Work: Social Work Practice in Law Enforcement Agencies

Social Work in Mainland China: Past, Present, and Future

Since the reform and opening-up in 1978, China has made great progress in the reconstruction and development of social work profession. From a historical perspective, this article first describes China’s distinct approach to social work development over the past century. It then introduces the four main social work service delivery models now often adopted in China, including the university-community partnership model, the organizationally embedded service model, services provided by the local semiprofessional social workers, and the social work practice research model. Finally, the future directions for China’s social work development from a “big social work” perspective are discussed.

“Everybody has a Body, so we Need to Talk About Sexual Well-Being”: Young Disabled People’s Suggestions for Sex-Positive Social Work Practice

“Everybody has a Body, so we Need to Talk About Sexual Well-Being”: Young Disabled People’s Suggestions for Sex-Positive Social Work Practice

Socioeconomic, health status and hospitalization aspects of adult patients referred to the social service of a tertiary hospital

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to record and analyze socioeconomic, demographic and health profiles of adult patients referred to the Social Service of a tertiary Hospital, as well as to present additional hospitalization conditions.MethodsA retrospective hospital archive study containing all patients referred to the Social Service during a four-year period was conducted.ResultsThe study consisted of 350 patients (168 males) with mean age 70.1 years. Most of the patients were of Greek origin and singles or divorced. 184 patients (52.6%) were retired. The participants’ average income ranged between 500 and 1000 euro/month. Most of the patients were insured by the Government (public health insurance) and were hospitalized in Pathology and Covid Clinics, with a mean hospitalization level of 17.6 days. The main reasons for referral were admission to an Aged Care Unit and the need to investigate network support. The most frequently recorded diagnosis was Covid-19, while 103 (29.4%) patients had a mental illness problem. The analysis of associations between demographic characteristics with health dimensions showed significant differences.ConclusionsChanges in socioeconomic conditions have an impact on outpatient and inpatient care as well as on Greek social work practice and pose enormous challenges to social work professionals.

Achievements and Barriers in Hospice and Palliative Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Study

Achievements and Barriers in Hospice and Palliative Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Study

The figure of transformation and its effects on the professional spatial practices in the field of youth welfare

ABSTRACT Socio-pedagogical spaces such as youth centres or residential group homes are always located in specific places and are established to meet specific local and national needs. Accordingly, the professionals working there are confronted with external demands from both their immediate environment as well as those stemming from professional or social transformations. Drawing on case studies from the research project, ‘Places of Social Pedagogy in society – practices of relationing and (re)shaping’, this article examines how Swiss social workers change and justify their spatial practices in response to transformations in the field of youth welfare. Applying – and relating to each other – both spatial theory and an ethnographic approach to professional practices, this article presents empirical findings on how transformations and the socio-pedagogical places where social work takes place affect to each other. Moreover, it draws on these examples to explore how spatial theory positions social workers as professional space-shapers. This offers potential für reflection both for social work practice and for the debate on spatial theory.

Doing “ethics work” in practice: An analysis of care managers’ collegial discussions concerning reluctant clients

Few studies have explored the moral and ethical dimensions of how, in practice, social workers talk about and handle cases as part of their daily work. At the same time, identifying and examining the ethical dimensions of actual social work practice can be challenging because ethics is often hidden within the complex particularities of daily work. This article applies and develops Sarah Banks’ conceptualisation of “ethics work” to examine how care managers in Sweden are “doing ethics”, while seeking and providing collegial support and guidance on how to deal with the wishes of adult (potential) service users who are reluctant to accept support – or whose wishes in the matter are difficult to determine. The study is based on an analysis of 14 audio-recorded case conferences. With the help of Banks’ conceptualisation, the analysis makes visible how the case discussions in question encompass a complex “doing of ethics”, by means of which the welfare of individuals is balanced against care managers’ legal duty to adhere, without exception, to the principle of self-determination. The findings suggest that further research that applies and develops Banks’ conceptualisation of ethics work by examining “actual” social work practice in situ, while recognising the particularities of the social and societal context in which this work is taking place, could provide new knowledge and understanding about both the specific and common challenges that social workers face in different parts of the world. It could also make the ethical dimensions of social work practice more widely recognised and valued.

The Fashioning of the Homo Economicus (Economic Citizen): Reflections on Migration and Integration

ABSTRACT This paper critically explores what is meant by integration and the expectations that come with it, and how the ‘right’ kind of economic citizen (homo economicus – defined as the subject of neoliberalism) gets produced through social work practice with immigrants. Specifically, this paper engages in critical reflection on a participant's narrative that is derived from a larger study by probing the expansion of immigrant selection in Canada, the policy of multiculturalism as Canada's most recognized policy as it pertains to integration, and how they coalesce and shape settlement work with immigrants. This paper concludes with a discussion on how to begin to address concerns that surround social work practice with immigrants by way of (a) critical interrogation of neoliberal discourse especially how the interlocking architecture of individualism and capitalism have developed to shape how social workers are positioned and newcomers are constructed (i.e. made into a neoliberal subject); (b) how this could promote the discourse of integration through practice that is embued in discourses of pathology; and (c) how to incorporate social work interventions that are policy related and situated at a macro-systems level.

The specialization/collaboration paradox: Investigating specialization within child welfare as a barrier to collaboration

Abstract Existing research highlights the trend of organizing social services into specialized units, addressing specific areas such as child welfare. Further specialization within child welfare extends to target groups (youth vs child) and work task dimensions. The literature remains inconclusive about whether specialization enhances or hinders social work practice. Potential drawbacks of specialization, like gaps between services and a lack of a holistic view, are assumed to increase the need for collaboration. However, specialization might impede collaboration due to profession-specific tensions, such as differing cultures or turf issues. Empirical findings suggest challenges in collaboration both within and between specialized organizations. This study explores how various specializations in child welfare relate to social workers’ perceptions of collaboration within their workgroup, between different social service units, and with external organizations, considering factors like work demand, time spent with clients, and work experience. Analysing survey data from 2003 to 2018 with 895 social workers in Stockholm County, the present study uses generalized estimating equations to address clustering within organizations. The findings indicate a potential positive association between target group specialization and perceived collaboration functionality within the workgroup and with external organizations, challenging assumptions that specialization hinders collaboration and suggesting that target group specialization could facilitate collaboration.

The Generalist Social Work Practice to Empower Micro Informal Enterprises of Utilizing legalization Policy

The Generalist Social Work Practice to Empower Micro Informal Enterprises of Utilizing legalization Policy

Problem Mapping: Implications for Social Work Education and Practice

ABSTRACT Social work education plays a significant role in training students to work for the mission of enhancing human well-being and meeting the needs of the people. However, the complex social problems of the contemporary world and reducing funding to nonprofits are posing challenges, even for trained social work professionals. Realizing the need to adopt innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial ways of problem-solving, social entrepreneurship (SE)/intrapreneurship and social innovation (SI) have widely gained attention within social work education. The contextual and comprehensive understanding of the social problem and identification of the specific problem to solve (opportunity identification) is a prerequisite for practicing SE/SI for social workers. In this context, the present conceptual paper introduces the approach of “Problem Mapping” and the “Problem Map” tool by citing the SE cases from India. Lastly, pedagogical changes in the social work curriculum are suggested to incorporate this learning, considering its importance for the social workers.

A study of the motives of perpetrators of sexual violence against children (Case study of 5 perpetrators ff sexual violence in the special institution for children class I Medan)

Purpose: To determine out the motives of perpetrators of sexual violence against children in the immediate environment and how the modus operandi carried out by the perpetrators. Research Methodology: This type of research is qualitative with a case study approach to 5 perpetrators of sexual violence against children in LPKA Class I Medan. Results: The results of the study indicate that there is superior position and interior between the perpetrator and the victim, where the perpetrator feel more more powerful than victim so that triggering the occurrence of sexual violence. The existence of motive in the past past (because motive) such as the existence of experience bad experience in the past past that causing a sense of resentment and all informants lack get early socialization from their families in the past especially in understanding religion. Motives in the present (in order to motive), namely reasons that delivered by the perpetrator such as discommunication family, promiscuity and frequent watching movies which influence perpetrators commit violence sexual violence. Modus modus operandi in this research is that opportunity becomes one of the one of the factors that can trigger the occurrence of sexual violence sexual violence. Limitations: This research limits the scope of the study to only look at perpetrators based on the motives and modus operandi that led to the occurrence of sexual violence against children and how the background of the perpetrators of child sexual sexual violence against children. Contribution: It is expected to contribute to the development of science in the Department of Social Welfare sociology for social welfare, family sociology for social welfare and social work practice. Adding information about the motives of perpetrators of sexual violence that occur in children and with this research, it is hoped that families can be careful in protecting their children. besides that, it also provides input to related parties, especially the medan city government, class I special child development institutions and the office of women and children empowerment.

The development of ethical skills for students of social work at Spanish universities

ABSTRACT This article presents the results from a study that analyzed the length, content, and emphasis of ethics education taught in Social Work degrees at Spanish universities. The universities that offer this degree were identified (37), and the ethics courses in these course programs were analyzed using the corresponding course guides (27) and the specific skills identified in those course guides (175). Our results identified 14 specific skills. From a content analysis, it is evident that the ethics education that future social workers receive appears to be inadequate with respect to the challenges they will face in different areas of intervention and professional work. Ethics courses currently taught at Spanish universities seems inadequate to provide sufficient abilities and professional skills for the ethical practice of Social Work. This study identified the contribution of ethics education to the field of Social Work in the current context of complexity and superdiversity.

Resilience enhancement in social work practice anti-oppressive social work skills and techniques

Resilience enhancement in social work practice anti-oppressive social work skills and techniques

Critical report writing as a link between social work theory, ethics, and practice: a reflexive analysis of two Italian cases

ABSTRACT There is increasing attention to writing in the social work debate. However, in social work practice writing is often perceived as a bureaucratic burden that distracts from the ‘real work,’ and even social work education has dedicated little attention to the matter. This paper argues that critical report writing can play a crucial role in linking the theoretical and ethical dimensions of social work with its practical domain. According to a constructionist perspective, written texts both reflect and shape reality through the performative power of language. This makes writing a privileged tool for reflexively linking theory and practice, for supporting alternative discourses about situations and people’s stories, and, thus, for shaping reality. Based on the author’s experience as both a practitioner and a lecturer in Italy, this article reflects on the implementation of critical report writing in social work practice and education. By analyzing two experiences that involved both service users and social work students, the findings highlight the potential and challenges of critical writing underlining the importance of writing as an element of professional identity that needs to be nurtured and addressed more consistently in social work education.

Professional Self-Care in Social Work Practice: A New Conceptual Framework.

Social work practitioners have experienced increased rates of burnout, fatigue, and occupational stress. To combat deteriorating mental health, the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics has called for a renewed focus on self-care practice. Yet, self-care education often fails to consider how to integrate practices into the workplace, especially with constrained resources and increasing caseloads. The purpose of this study was to examine healthcare social workers' perceptions of self-care in the workplace. Semistructured virtual interviews were conducted with healthcare social workers (N = 43) across the state of Texas. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and redacted to protect participant confidentiality. Through content analysis, the research team analyzed transcripts by selecting meaningful units of text to create codes and categories. Themes were then developed, and the research team refined codes, discussed inconsistencies, and reached consensus. Findings demonstrate self-care in the workplace includes (a) individual strategies, identified by strong and trustworthy peer support systems and boundary management; (b) intrapersonal strategies, identified by formal supervision and advocacy and activism; and (c) institutional strategies, identified by ethical workplace cultures that invest in mental health and explicitly value social work. These data inform a framework to adapt self-care from an individual necessity to a shared responsibility among organizational leadership.

Social work practice and outcomes in rehabilitation: a scoping review.

Social work is a long-established profession in health care and rehabilitation. Reviewing the evidence on effects of social work interventions shows inconsistencies, with several studies indicating positive, negative, or no significant effect at all. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to provide an international overview of the research on social work practice in rehabilitation. Two research questions about the activities performed by social workers in rehabilitation settings and the reported outcomes to evaluate social work interventions were guiding the analysis. A scoping review was conducted in order to identify these activities and reported outcomes. The literature search was carried out in two databases (PubMed, SocINDEX). Additionally, the authors searched manually for literature in rehabilitation science and social work journals. Inclusion criteria encompassed the involvement of social workers and a description of their activities. The context in which social work's practice had to take place was a rehabilitation setting. A total of 2,681 records could be identified by searching the databases, journals, proceedings and reference lists. 66 sources met the predefined inclusion criteria. A majority of the identified activities that social workers perform are case related. Topics that may occur in these case encounters are the social environment of the patient, financial/social security, work-related issues and others. Of particular note are activities such as assessment, counseling and education. When applying the ICF framework, the outcomes are distributed across almost all components with an emphasis on Participation. This review demonstrates that social work has a vital role in the interprofessional rehabilitation team on an international level. However, there is still a need for more research about the effectiveness of social work interventions. We identified internationally common social work core activities/issues and derived a proposal for specific outcomes for future evaluation research.