Experiences Of Social Workers Research Articles

ТЕОРЕТИКО-МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВАНИЯ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ СОЦИАЛЬНОГО КАПИТАЛА КАК РЕСУРСА ТРУДОУСТРОЙСТВА ВЫПУСКНИКОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ БЕСШОВНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ

The article analyzes the main approaches to the study of social capital as an employment resource. The object of the study is social capital as a social resource for graduate employment in a seamless education environment. The subject of the study is the impact of the social capital of university graduates on their employment. In the course of the research, sociological methods were used, in particular, questionnaires. According to the respondents who participated in them, the main parameters of social capital that affect employment after graduation include: the presence of a higher education diploma, the personal qualities of a graduate, the presence of social ties and work experience. The results of the study showed that graduates take into account the influence of social capital parameters on employment after graduation, but not all form their social capital in the learning process. This problem, as the study showed, can be solved by using seamless education. The study scientifically proves that seamless education allows to eliminate the boundaries between formal and non-formal education and create a continuous learning environment, which, in turn, is a key element in the formation of social capital and can be considered as an effective resource for graduate employment.

Social services in Italy tested by the Pandemic: New challenges and scenarios

In the 2-year period 2020–2021, the serious economic and social costs of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the already numerous structural issues of the national social system and raised new ones. In response to a significant increase in material needs but also a wide and diverse range of non-material needs (amplified by difficult situations such as a lack of self-sufficiency, loneliness, distance learning and problematic family settings), there is now an urgent need for innovation in social interventions by combining a bottom-up approach with direction from central authorities. This paper offers an interpretation of the pandemic’s impact on social services in Tuscany (Italy) by analysing the experiences of social workers and managers (22 in-depth interviews and two focus groups). The need created by the pandemic phase to reorganize the times and methods of social work has highlighted two distinct but closely interrelated perspectives: individually, the issue of redefining professional identities and self-representation; and collectively, the challenge of reorganizing social intervention with new methods and priorities, considering new healthcare measures for the containment of Covid-19. These two processes join the pre-existing ones of externalization and precarization. Against this backdrop, the essay examines two main research questions: first, how and in which ways communication time, relationship time and their ‘rhythms’ have changed during social intervention; and second, what impact containment measures and management of the epidemiological emergency had on professional practices.

Social workers and safeguarding adult reviews (SARs)– an exploration of the stories that are told and the narratives that they hold

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to explore the contribution of safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) to the contemporary stories of what social work practice is and what social workers should do. Evidence of this contribution is sought by analysis of SARs as publicly available documents capturing contemporary social work alongside considering social worker’s views of these reports.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents two components of the wider research study as follows: documentary analysis exploring discussions of social work practice held within a sample of SARs xD;xA; and analysis of focus groups and semi-structured interviews established to explore the knowledge, experience and views of front-line social workers in relation to SARs.FindingsIt is suggested that social workers locate the value of SARs within the arena of learning and development often celebrating the SAR processes in bringing agencies together more so than the actual report. This paper argues that SARs hold considerable power in their ability to present a narrative about contemporary social work in England, and that social workers themselves can be wary of this power.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by the scope of the data which includes a sample of SARs from one geographical area and data collected from social workers who volunteered to participate.Practical implicationsThis paper draws on the evidence gathered and presents some recommendations to support the potential for SARs to positively enhance social work identity and practice.Social implicationsThis paper explores the stories about social work that are found within a sample of SARs and seeks to explore how these stories fit with the stories that social workers themselves share about SARs.Originality/valueThere has been considerable research interest in SARs; however, to date there has not been a research exploration of the impact of SARs on professional social work and front-line social workers in practice. This paper presents early findings and analysis from research in progress as part of a Doctorate of Social Work Study at University of East London who provided ethical approval and supervisory support.

Reflection for well-being: the reflective practice experiences of social workers employed in global development

ABSTRACT Reflective practice is an important and influential component of social work and is often perceived as a contributing factor to professional development, experiential learning, and practice growth. However, the relationship between reflective practice and practitioner self-care, resiliency, and well-being is not commonly discussed. Furthermore, reflective practice is also not often examined within international domains of social work practice, and how practitioners who are working abroad and away from their home communities utilize reflective practice. This doctoral research project sought to explore the impact of reflective practice on workers who were practicing social work in a global development capacity. These workers crossed international borders as they practiced in foreign contexts. A meaningful discovery was how reflective practice was discussed as a conduit for self-care as practitioners worked in challenging and complex conditions that often lacked formal supervision and support. Participants spoke of how they coped with challenges by engaging in reflective practice.

Research capacity and culture in an Australian metropolitan public mental health service: scoping the skills and experience of social workers and occupational therapists

BackgroundInvestment in a clinical research culture appears to be associated with benefits for consumers, staff, and overall organisational performance. The validated 55-item Research Capacity and Culture (RCC) tool was developed specifically to gauge the research capacity and culture of health professionals and workplace settings within which they work. Results of some individual studies suggest that professional discipline and workplace setting may impact RCC results however it has never been used in a dedicated public mental health setting. Therefore, this study will explore the research capacity and culture of allied mental health clinicians (Part 1). Another aim is to explore potential connections between workplace settings, locations and disciplines based on published RCC-based data to help signpost potential impediments to service improvements (Part 2).MethodsPart 1: An RCC-based online survey canvased Australian Social Workers and Occupational Therapists (n = 59) based in a metropolitan public mental health service. Non-parametric analyses explored links between research-related experience and participant characteristics.Part 2: Comparative analyses explored the potential influence of workplace settings and professional disciplines on published RCC results.ResultsPart 1: Overall, the research capacity and experiences of mental health Social Workers and Occupational Therapists seemed modest. Discipline was statistically associated with level of research-activity experience, weighted towards occupational therapy; demographic characteristics were not. Only two items in the RCC were rated high; many more items were rated low.Part 2: Published studies exploration found no link between RCC ratings and workplace location, setting, or professional discipline. Sampling biases and use of modified, non-validated RCC versions likely impacted the results.ConclusionsAllied mental health clinicians may not be sufficiently experienced, knowledgeable, or confident with a range of research-related activities given the emphasis on workforce research capability in policy and practice nowadays. This may be commonplace across health-based organisations. We recommend the systematic implementation of research training programs in (mental) health services, and a ‘whole-of-service levels’ approach be used i.e., transform policy, culture and leadership as well as provide practical resources with individual training. Potential benefits include a positive impact on organisation functioning, clinicians’ confidence and practice, and improved consumer outcomes.

“Band-Aids on Bullet Holes”: Experiences of pediatric hospital social workers after 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has continued to bring devastation to children and families, even 1 year into the pandemic. The rise of the Black Lives Matter movement has also led to renewed attention to systemic racism in the United States and awareness of how the pandemic has further exacerbated health inequities that disproportionately affect communities of color. Pediatric hospital social workers have played a key role since the beginning of the pandemic in responding to the resulting behavioral health crisis and helping to address social disparities. There is a need to understand how the roles and experiences of pediatric social workers have evolved during the first year of the pandemic. In this qualitative study, a series of practice-setting based focus groups were conducted with social workers to capture (a) what has changed or stayed the same since the beginning of COVID-19, (b) thoughts and experiences on diversity, equity, and inclusion with particular attention to race and racism, and (c) perspectives about the long-term implications of COVID-19 on the profession of social work. The Framework Method was used to analyze data, from which six superordinate themes emerged: burnout/coping; the impact of patient acuity; awareness of racial inequity in patient care; awareness of social determinants of health; social worker inclusion in hospital decision-making and policy reform; and grief/racial inequity. An overview of what has stayed the same, what has changed, and what the future may hold for pediatric hospital social workers is reviewed.

‘People Here Are Their Own Gods’: The Migration of South African Social Workers to England

Abstract The migration of social workers has become an established trend internationally. Existing research largely ignored the impact of culture on this migration. The study presented here focused on the experiences of social workers who were trained in South Africa and migrated to England. South African-trained social workers had to adjust to significant cultural differences, ranging from the place of religion, the characteristics of the family and parenting, forms of interpersonal communication and what is considered polite and impolite behaviour. Whilst these issues have a wide societal impact, they also shape the daily reality of practising social workers. Implications for practice are discussed, and pre-migration education about the host country’s structures, a systemic induction process, mentorship and supervision with an emphasis on culture, is recommended.

Exploring the COVID-19 Practice Experiences of Social Workers Working in Long Term Care

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in multiple public health protocols that shaped the service delivery system supporting older adults, their family caregivers and their formal care providers. In this qualitative study, sixteen social workers employed in long term care facilities in a western province of Canada shared their perspectives about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their practice early in the pandemic. Participants responded to nine open-ended online survey questions about their practice and experiences. Four themes were identified: (1) a changing and demanding work environment, (2) witnessing transitions in residents’ quality of life, (3) impacts on relationships and work climate, and (4) personal impacts on social workers. Recommendations for enhancing capacity in the system were identified. Implications of findings illuminate a need for proactive preparedness approaches in order for social workers to address emergent and changing needs of residents and their families during a pandemic.

사회복지종사자의 클라이언트 폭력 경험 실태조사

The purpose of this study is to prepare basic data for social welfare workers in Y to present safety protection support system and protection measures for social welfare workers. This study identifies the actual status of the violence experience of clients, violence risk, risk coping, management system, emotional labor, and mental health of social workers, and a survey was conducted on 730 social workers in Y. The survey was conducted for a total of 2 weeks from November 11 to 22, 2019. As for the contents of the study, a survey was conducted to understand the general characteristics of social welfare workers in Y city, the client experience violence of social welfare workers, the awareness of safety from the risk of violence, crisis response, institutional management system, emotional labor and mental health status. The differences between groups were analyzed through descriptive statistics and t-test by group using SPSS/WIN 25.0. The results are as follows. Females were the highest at 79%, with 34.3% in their 50s, and the majority was in their 40s or older. As for occupations, 48.8% of social workers and 50.8% of care giver were found to have a large number of multiple responses to both occupations. Regarding the violence experience of social workers, verbal violence was the most common at 56%, followed by physical violence at 42%, economic violence at 34%, and sexual violence at 24%. More than half of the respondents answered that they were unsafe from physical violence such as verbal violence, injuries, etc. The institutional management system for social welfare workers' crisis response was also found to be weak. The emotional labor of social workers was high at 3.54 out of 5, and mental health was low at 2.81 out of 5. In particular, it was found that the emotional labor of social workers at leisure facilities for the elderly was large, and those of public institutions were found to be prone to mental health when determined by the type of facility. In conclusion, the level of knowledge about crisis response was low in the risk response and management system of social workers, and the management system of the institution was not equipped in most areas, which improvement seemed needed. Thus, safety protection education is needed to improve the crisis response ability of social workers against client violence, as well as the programs to strengthen the capabilities of social workers according to various social welfare sites.

Social workers with criminal convictions navigating the social work profession

INTRODUCTION: The social work profession in Aotearoa New Zealand has become increasingly regulated culminating in mandatory registration under the auspices of the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB), which took effect in February 2021. There has been considerable debate about the benefits and risks to social work from mandatory registration, particularly concerning whether someone is a fit and proper person to practise social work. This article presents voices largely absent from the debate, exploring the experiences of social workers with criminal convictions navigating the social work profession. METHODS: The research presented is drawn from an MSW study where 11 social workers with one or more criminal convictions were interviewed. As part of the study, participants were asked about mandatory registration and their experiences with registering. Interpretive phenomenological analysis methodology framed the entire study, including data analysis. FINDINGS: Most participants viewed mandatory registration positively, but many expressed frustration about the lack of transparency and clarity from the SWRB regarding the registration process for people with criminal convictions. The SWRB’s practices and powers were also questioned, including over-ruling the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 (CSA, 2004). CONCLUSIONS: It is apparent that the decision-making leading to mandatory registration did not include the voices of social workers with criminal convictions or advocacy on their behalf. Participants highlight many challenges such people face in gaining employment within social work. These challenges could be mitigated by SWRB reforming its current approach to the CSA (2004) and providing increased clarity and transparency for those with criminal convictions.

Engineers and Social Responsibility: Influence of Social Work Experience, Hope and Empathic Concern on Social Entrepreneurship Intentions among Graduate Students

The synergy of technology-based innovative solutions and Social Entrepreneurship carries an immense potential to provide solutions for numerous environmental, social, and economic issues faced by an emerging economy like India. For an engineering professional, a commitment to society is regarded as integral and can be thought of as being impelled by involvement in various social causes. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the influence of the Social Work Experience of engineering students on Empathic Concern and the newly identified construct, Hope. Additionally, the effect of Empathic Concern and Hope on Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Social Entrepreneurship Intention (SEI) is examined. Through a questionnaire survey of undergraduate students from 49 engineering and technical institutions across the country, 243 responses were collected. The research employed the Partial Least Squares Approach to Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. This study found that students’ involvement and experience in social activities significantly influenced both Empathic Concern and Hope. Empathic Concern and Hope, the newly introduced antecedent, significantly influenced Social Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy. In line with the previous studies, self-efficacy positively and significantly influenced SEI. The establishment of Hope as an antecedent to study SEI is particularly novel and contributes to future Social Entrepreneurship research. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on SEI of engineering students in an emerging nation where studies are particularly scarce, and techno-Social Entrepreneurship may be the ray of hope to address social, environmental, and economic concerns.

Emergency Department Clinician Experience with Embedded Palliative Care.

Background: While the benefits of embedding palliative care (PC) clinicians into the emergency department (ED) are now more widely appreciated, only a handful of programs have been reported in the literature. None has previously evaluated the attitudes and experiences of the multidisciplinary ED team with such an intervention. Objectives: We evaluated the experience of ED attendings, residents, nurses, social workers, and chaplains with an embedded PC clinician in the ED. Design/Subjects: We embedded PC clinicians into an urban, academic ED in the United States and surveyed 142 ED clinicians about their experiences. We analyzed survey results using descriptive analysis for closed-ended responses and thematic analyses for open-ended responses. Measurements/Results: One hundred six of 141 clinicians responded (75% response rate). Quantitative analysis found that 99% of participants found the program valuable. Benefits of embedded PC included changing patients' management or care trajectory, freeing up ED providers for other tasks, contributing to provider education, helping providers feel more supported during their shifts, and adding to providers' skill sets and confidence in practicing primary PC. Most participants reported minimal barriers to engaging with PC. The qualitative analysis identified program approval, desire for expansion/continuation of the program, and ongoing education of ED staff. Important themes for future programs include staff education, PC proactivity, importance of adapting to the needs of the ED, and education regarding PC consultation criteria. Conclusions: ED clinicians' attitudes toward embedded PC reflected overall approval, with underlying themes of providers feeling more supported during their shifts, improved resource management, the perception of better patient care, and nursing empowerment.

시민사회단체 사회복지사의 입법 운동 경험에 관한 질적사례연구

The purpose of this study is to suggest ways to improve social welfare practice by in-depth exploration of the experiences of social workers in civil society organizations in the welfare policy legislative movement. The participants of this study were 6 social workers who belonged to civil society organizations and have been active in the welfare policy legislative movement for more than 3 years, and data collection was conducted through individual in-depth interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the qualitative case study method. As a result of the study, 11 central themes and 4 categories were analyzed: 'Pursuit of structural change in society', 'Collective approach and response for social change', 'Multidimensional and strategic political action', and 'Building a foundation for lasting social change'. . Based on the research results, suggestions for improvement of social welfare practices were suggested.

“Unprecedented Times:” Experiences of Social Work and Public Health Professionals during Times of Public Crises

ABSTRACT Social workers and public health professionals in the U.S. were profoundly impacted by COVID-19, systemic racism, and the 2020 U.S. presidential election. This study examined their external job support, burnout, and job satisfaction in the context of these circumstances. The findings suggest respondents, who had graduate degrees in social work or public health, overemphasized their job satisfaction and underemphasized their burnout. While social work and public health professionals felt satisfied with their labor, not acknowledging burnout limits the amount of support they may access to effectively continue the work. Interestingly, participants who had more administrative functions reported higher job satisfaction scores and lower burnout scores. Traditionally, those in administrative positions have more control over their schedule and work responsibilities. Findings suggest that more training, opportunities for self-care, and discussions about safety and systemic racism are needed in the workplace for social workers and public health professionals.

From Moral Distress to Mutual Recognition: Diaries Kept by French Care Professionals During the Covid Crisis

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the experiences of social care workers during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. The method involved analyzing diaries kept by 65 professionals in 8 French regions during the first lockdown in France in the spring of 2020. As a form of non-binding, narrative expression, keeping diaries breaks with traditional models of reporting common in social care structures and allowed professionals to reflect on the experience as it was lived. In the diaries, professionals explored how the crisis disrupted and challenged their personal and professional values but also allowed innovation in care practices for vulnerable populations that will continue beyond the pandemic period. Five care values were put to forefront by professionals: (1) spontaneity/flexibility; (2) respect for persons; (3) team reflexivity; (4) innovation; (5) solidarity. Mobilizing philosopher Paul Ricoeur’s ideas on recognition, Payet and Laforgue’s analysis of weak actors, as well as research on moral distress, we discuss how these values were tested during the crisis and what effect they had on professionals’ and users’ vulnerabilities. We will also elaborate the interest of keeping account of social care work through narrative methods.

The development of a professional capabilities framework for social work in Aotearoa New Zealand

Introduction: This research brief discusses methods used to co-produce a professional capabilities framework as the final part of a larger programme of research on enhancing the professional capabilities of newly qualified social workers.
 Methods: This phase of the research programme began with a literature scan of five social work professional capability frameworks then used this information, along with data from earlier parts of the study, to engage a range of key stakeholders in co-production workshops using a structured, participatory, World Café approach.
 Findings: Analysis of the data from the co-production workshops identified seven core values that underpinned capable social work practice in Aotearoa. It also identified ten core capabilities with a clear professional practice focus that were strongly supported by workshop participants.
 Implications: Professional capabilities frameworks can guide and inform learning experiences of social workers at all levels of practice. The data collected during this phase of the project informed further development of the ten capabilities using a staged approach to practice development at three levels.

How do international practicums prepare practitioners for social work practice? A qualitative study

ABSTRACT Globalization has created a need and opportunity for social work education to prepare practitioners for social work in cross-cultural settings. Semester long international practicum and study abroad opportunities are a response to this need. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of social workers who studied abroad in order to understand how these past experiences have impacted their current social work practice. Findings suggest that international practicums can be valuable preparation for social work practice in diverse cross-cultural settings. This study revealed the following outcomes: 1) a focus on relationship building over theoretical applications, 2) a more subjective view of culture, 3) development of cultural humility, 4) new understandings of privilege, power and oppression, and 5) the application of anti-oppressive practice perspectives. The learning that takes place through international practicum experiences goes beyond the practicum and is part of the overall experience of living, learning and practicing abroad and is supported by good supervision and support to allow participants to process their learning experiences and apply them to social work practice.

“We Are All Just Walking Each Other Home”: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Rural Hospice Social Workers in “Companioning” the Dying

Social workers play a critical role on the hospice team including assessing risk and safety, advocacy, grief counseling, referral and connection to resources and providing guidance through advance care planning and advance directives. However, the voice of the rural hospice social worker is often absent from research. To address this gap in the literature, this study aimed to explore lived experiences of rural hospice social workers to better understand their role and challenges. Non-experimental qualitative research design was used for this study. Data was collected through in-depth qualitative interviews. A total of 19 rural hospice social workers participated in the study. We used a phenomenological approach focusing on the common lived experiences of rural hospice social workers and thus interviews were unstructured. Field notes and data were collected until data saturation was achieved. Five main themes were identified: (1) meaning of hospice social work, (2) role of hospice social workers, (3) vulnerability and realness, (4) self-care, and (5) rural culture. Based on these findings, we identified recommendations for hospice social work practice, research and policy, in general, as well as for rural hospice social work specifically. Future research could explore lived experiences of hospice professionals or of the dying and could also explore social worker experience of resource barriers.

Social work in the community in the conditions of war

During the war, professional social work expands the directions, methods and forms of work, which, on the one hand, are based on many years of experience, including international one, and on the other hand – the phenomenon of Ukrainian social work is formed on the basis of moral duty, mutual support, devotion of every citizen in combination with the professional activities of social workers. It has been established that the main method of social work is the community work. An important feature of social work in the community is the spontaneous combination of charity of ordinary citizens as a moral duty and the desire to do good to the others with the professional activities of social workers. From the point of view of phenomenological approach this experience is formed on the basis of Ukrainian traditions, gained in times of crisis through critical thinking, emergency decisions, based on human-centeredness, enthusiasm, charity, indifference and patriotism. It has been determined that social work in the community during the war is carried out at four levels: social work at the level of local governments, social work at the level of the territorial community, social work at the level of social institutions and social work at the level of community residents. Public volunteer organizations are the partners of territorial communities. According to the Law of Ukraine “On Social Services”, the non-governmental sector is among the providers of social services. And in such a difficult time for the country, volunteers are a separate regiment of charity: they collect and provide clothing, medicines, food for vulnerable groups of population; organize and settle refugees; provide assistance to the soldiers and their families; help the affected persons; provide the front with everything necessary: deliver the masking nets, food, military clothing, medicines, equipment, etc. The Ukrainian experience of social work shows that the citizens, who self-organize in communities and keep morale high by their faith and justice, constitute a separate subject of assistance in wartime.

Thirty Years of the Polish Association of the Social Work Schools

The existence of an institutional and organizational space in which researchers, teachers of social work schools and social workers carry out research and education is an important condition for shaping the identity of social work. Such a specific space has been created for over thirty years by the Polish Association of Social Work Schools . The discussion on the role of the Association in the promotion of research and academic standards of education for social work – is a personal reflection of the author on the contribution of the organization in creating a symbolic and real space for the development of social work as a professional activity and discipline, as well as the exchange of ideas and theoretical and practical experience of social work in Poland. Not without significance is the contribution of PSSPS in creating scientific and didactic cooperation on an international basis. In the article, the author tries to recreate certain events from the past of PSSPS, as well as the spaces of experience of the community of Members, by participating in annual conventions, which, according to R. Koselleck, become a modernized past, creating the present and determining the future of the Association.