Social Work Welfare Research Articles

Thinking politically about social work in child protection and welfare: A radical Reappropriation of the works of Hannah Arendt

This article presents a theoretical exposition of Arendtian political philosophy for child protection and welfare social work. The aim is to better understand and inform social work in the field of child protection and welfare, whilst accounting for the political context of practice. Sustaining the exposition is the view that power-laden child protection systems are ultimately socio-political through their authority to intervene in private family life. This is partly owing to the instrumental power inherent in child protection systems to exert dominance and control over service users and social groups leading to raced, gendered and classed outcomes in child welfare. To unpack the political nature of social work in child protection and welfare, a tripartite conceptual frame of private, public and social domains is derived from Arendt’s philosophical work. This is critically applied to put forward seven propositions for how social work can develop in child protection and welfare, with respect to practice in a socio-political context. Practical implications for future social work include implementing evidence-informed advocacy efforts and conducting empirical research toward preserving balance in social work attention to public and private life.

“Suffering in silence”: How social workers in child welfare practice experience and manage burnout

Social workers in child welfare practice encounter dilemmas, tensions, contradictions, ambiguities, and ambivalence as they attempt to meet the competing demands of the Tri-sphere — the formal child welfare system, the professional theories and values guiding practice, and the child welfare service recipients. This study explored how these encounters result in worker burnout and how that is managed. The study used a constructivist grounded theory approach. Data were collected in St. John’s, NL, Canada, employing in-depth individual interviews with 18 frontline child welfare social workers. Findings reveal that child welfare social workers regularly experience varied feelings and emotions of burnout and utilize a variety of self-care strategies to manage. Recommendations include a call for child welfare agencies to provide opportunities for workers to feel heard and acknowledged about any negative feelings and emotions, strengthen positive peer supports, and promote essential self-care practices such as offering reduced membership cost for physical activities.

Exploring Burnout Prevention: Self-Care and Coping Strategies for Child Welfare Social Workers in Penang

Exploring Burnout Prevention: Self-Care and Coping Strategies for Child Welfare Social Workers in Penang

Rights-based social work as a practice. The role of child welfare social work in the repatriations of Finnish children from the camps in north-eastern Syria

ABSTRACT In this article, we present an interdisciplinary analysis that combines perspectives of law and social work on the role of child welfare social work in Finnish repatriations of children from camps in north-eastern Syria after the territorial losses of the terrorist organisation ISIS in 2019. We used qualitative data that consists of interviews of professionals, which we analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show how a rights-based approach to the issue of repatriation helped to decrease tension in a highly politicised situation, making children’s rights the starting point of the decision making process followed by a professionally led bureaucratic process in which several children were repatriated from the camps in Syria. Social workers’ decisions in individual cases both affected the legal obligations of the state to repatriate and the repatriation processes. The actions taken by the social workers emerge as practices of rights-based social work. Importantly, the role of social workers has been essential in how rights of the children were negotiated and understood in an evolving process between authorities.

The Impact of Emotional Dissonance on Turnover Intent in Child Welfare Social Work: Test of a Moderated Mediation Model

ABSTRACTHigh employee turnover represents a substantial problem in child welfare work. To prevent turnover, knowledge about risk factors, mechanisms, and conditional factors that can explain turnover and turnover intent is highly important. This study investigated a moderated mediation model with (1) emotional dissonance as a predictor of subsequent turnover intent, (2) job dissatisfaction and burnout as potential mediators, and (3) being overly nurturing as a potential moderating variable. The associations were examined using data from a two‐wave prospective questionnaire survey of 424 child welfare workers in Norway. Emotional dissonance was positively related to burnout and job dissatisfaction (cross‐sectionally) and had a significant indirect association with increased turnover intent 6 months later (prospectively) through burnout, but not job dissatisfaction. An antagonistic interaction effect of being overly nurturing was found on the association between emotional dissonance and burnout, and the indirect association with turnover intent. Specifically, having low scores on the overly nurturing trait had a protective effect on burnout and turnover intent in cases of low to moderate exposure to emotional dissonance. In cases of high emotional dissonance, all employees reported the outcomes as equally negative irrespective of their tendency to be overly nurturing. The findings highlight the importance of organizational efforts that can help child welfare workers deal with emotional demands.

Social work supervision. Toward a mindfulness perspective on trauma

The author presents selected aspects related to social work supervision: (1) draws attention to the functions of supervision resulting from the Polish legal context; (2) emphasises its importance in the development of communication competencies of social welfare workers, which it associates with the idea of broadly understood cooperation between therapeutic and assistance organisations; (3) points to the role of supervision in building helping teams of welfare partnership as well as an organisation attentive to trauma, referring to the research “Aid institutions – a perspective of attentiveness to trauma”, conducted as part of Behaviour in CRISIS LAB JU.

Leaders as the targets of workplace bullying - prevalence and outcomes

PurposeBullying of leaders is an underexplored topic in organizational research. To fill this knowledge gap, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of bullying of leaders and to examine whether holding a formal leadership position influences the relationships between exposure to bullying and the outcomes job satisfaction and depression.MethodsData from two separate surveys were employed: (1) A cross-sectional occupation specific sample comprising 678 Norwegian child welfare social workers; (2) A nationally representative probability sample of 1,608 Norwegian employees with two time-points (6 months’ time-lag).ResultsAnalyzing multiple indicators of workplace bullying, holding a formal leadership position had no impact on the initial risk of being bullied. Analyses of prospective data showed that leaders report a somewhat stronger increase in levels of bullying over time compared to non-leaders, although the effect size was small. With exception of a small buffering effect on the cross-sectional association between exposure to bullying behaviors and job satisfaction in the second sample, holding a leadership position had no effect on the strength of the association between bullying and outcomes.ConclusionThe findings show that leaders have the same risk of being bullied and are influenced by bullying in roughly the same manner as non-leaders. Organizational measures and interventions against bullying should therefore consider leaders as a risk group in line with other employees.

Commoditizing of Human Beings: An Investigation into the Implications of Kidnapping on National Security in Nigeria

Society often frowns on things considered to be odd and abomination and have shown this in the treatment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). In developing nations such as Ghana it is quite common to find disabled at street corners begging for arms. This study seeks to assess the impact of the District Assembly Common Fund (DCF) on the socio-economic lives of PWDs and recommend ways to improve the policy. Using a double bowelled technique of both qualitative and quantitative methods of studies. 100 PWDs were selected and interviewed whiles 5 employees each of the social welfare and district assembly workers were also interviewed and analysis were done using Statistical Package Service Solution. Results were generated through descriptive and analytical statistics. The findings show that education; employment and income levels were too low among PWDs to impact positively on their socio-economic status hence more needs to be done to aid in their right to socio-economic freedom. Although the mean monthly income of respondents was GHC 145.20, 56.7% earned between GHC80.00 to GHC120.00, below the national minimum wage whereas at 2014 was GHC184.80.00 per month. Mean monthly income was higher among respondents who had some level of education compared to those who weren’t. The mean amount of money received from the fund was GHC 250.00. Although the PWDs stated that the funds were inadequate they iterated that it went a long way to aid in their livelihood. About 75% indicated that majority of their income was used mostly on food with the rest used for healthcare and other activities. Challenges associated with managing the District Assembly Common Fund ranged from several dimension spanning from the irregular and untimely desperation of funds to the poor administration of the funds. More so, social workers lack proper data and control over the identification of the PWDs in itself. We also found out that some PWDs had no idea of the scheme let alone to partake in it. It is encouraged that future studies should be directed towards a well-structured system for the distribution of items to the PWDs. Keywords : Poverty, Person with Disabilities, District Assembly Common Fund, Asuogyaman DOI : 10.7176/DCS/9-1-07

노인맞춤돌봄서비스 현장에서 ICT 활용과 사회복지 종사자의 전문가 윤리 기반 실천경험 연구

The use of science and technology and ethical considerations have recently been applied to the field of social welfare, and professional ethics for social welfare workers is emerging as a major task. In order to actively reflect these changes of the times, the ‘Korean Code of Ethics for Social Workers’ was revised in 2023 to strengthen the scientific and technological ethical standards of social workers. This study explored the meaning and limitations of social worker professional ethics for dedicated social workers who provide ICT services, focusing on customized care services for the elderly. In addition, directions for the use of science and technology and the professional development of social workers were proposed. To conduct this research In-depth interviews were conducted with five social workers working in customized care services for the elderly and analyzed using a qualitative case study method. As a result of the study, it was analyzed that 1) “Recognition of the need for training related to the use of ICT care devices and insufficient ethics education system”, 2) “Ethical issues that prevent workers from developing expertise and expanding services related to the use of ICT”, 3) “Ethical issues due to the structure of ICT safety support services that require sacrifices of workers”, 4) “Ethical issues due to personal information protection infringement and absence of alternative services that occur when responding to safety support”, 5) “Providing ICT devices with low technological acceptability to clients It was analyzed as an “ethical problem that arises from its use.”Based on the results of this study, policy and practical approaches and alternatives were presented to improve social welfare expertise related to the use of science and technology.

ISLAMIC THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION IN TRAUMA RECOVERY OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT THE TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION UNIT OF THE ACEH WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION AREA (UPTD PPA)

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="388"><p class="TableParagraph"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> Abstract </span></em></strong><strong><em></em></strong></p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="388"><p class="TableParagraph"><em>This research aims to find out how Islamic therapeutic communication is implemented in recovering from trauma from victims of sexual violence at the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA). This paper uses the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) approach. This research uses qualitative methods with descriptive data analysis. Data was obtained through interviews, document study, and observation. The research informants were the Head of the UPTD PPA, Head of the Administration Subdivision, Head of the Case Follow-up Section, Head of the Reception and Clarification Section, Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, Psychological and Legal Counselors, Social Welfare Workers and Foster Mothers. The research results show the implementation of Islamic therapeutic communication in three stages: 1) Islamic Therapeutic Communication in the Orientation or Introduction Phase, 2) Therapeutic Communication in the Working Phase, and 3) Islamic Therapeutic Communication in the Termination Phase which is carried out by service officers at UPTD PPA with good speech, an attitude full of gentleness, adjusting the language and content of the conversation, conveying information about the real situation about the victim's problem, even though it does not completely heal the trauma, it has an effect on self-acceptance, communication skills, and motivation so that the victim gets closer and closer. repent to Allah. Islamic therapeutic communication that is applied prioritizes empathy and building rapport.</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table>

Analysis of web design visual element attention based on user educational background

The evolution of Internet technology has led to an increase in online users. This study focuses on the pivotal role of visual elements in web content conveyance and their impact on user browsing behavior. Therefore, the use of visual elements in web design based on big data has aroused widespread concern among web designers, they apply visual elements to their web design works to make the web more attractive. This study examines the composition and distribution characteristics of key visual elements identified through user behavior data in a big data environment and discusses the use of visual elements in web design in the era of network economy. In addition, this paper issued 200 questionnaires to investigate the degree of attention to visual elements in web pages for users of different occupations and different educational backgrounds. Our survey indicated that visual elements captured the attention of 41% of corporate employees, whereas a mere 1% of social welfare workers focused on web content; 36% of undergraduates pay attention to visual elements of web pages, but only 5% and 4% of postgraduates and doctoral degrees and above. Therefore, the visual elements of the designed web page need to conform to the user's cultural background and professional background.

Prevalence of work-related physical and psychosocial risks factors: a cross-sectional study of social welfare workers in Brazil

Prevalence of work-related physical and psychosocial risks factors: a cross-sectional study of social welfare workers in Brazil

장기요양기관 사회복지직의 임금공정성 인식 영향요인

The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting perceived fairness of wages among social workers in long-term care institutions and to determine what could positively affect perceived fairness of wages of these workers. The 2017 social welfare workers' remuneration levels and working environment survey data conducted by the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs were used for analysis. Study subjects were 1,441 social workers in long-term care institutions. This study was conducted by dividing subjects into three categories: personal characteristics, work environment characteristics, and organizational characteristics. The analysis method used was the rank regression analysis. Results of analysis showed that, in terms of personal characteristics, age and education level were statistically significant in the perception of fairness of wages. In terms of work environment characteristics, working hours, number of overtime hours, level of dangerous experiences (such as violence, job satisfaction, satisfaction with promotion opportunities, and satisfaction with welfare) were statistically related to perceived fairness of wages. In terms of organizational characteristics, the type of organization and monthly salary showed associations with perceived fairness of wages. Based on results of this research, this study recommends that policy interventions should comprehensively take into account characteristics of the work environment, such as promotion opportunities that are useful for positively evaluating the value of work, strengthening staff welfare, preparing measures to prevent violent experiences, and increasing total wages to reduce turnover and stabilize retention of social workers working in long-term care institutions.

How Do Child Welfare Social Workers Assess the Leadership of Their First-line Managers? A 15-Year Perspective

Abstract The study aimed to investigate how child welfare social workers assessed the leadership of their first-line managers over a period of fifteen years and to examine whether the assessments have changed over time. More specifically, the analysis focused on the extent to which social workers perceive the leadership of their first-line managers to be empowering, supportive and fair. Data were collected in the years 2003 (n = 293), 2014 (n = 300) and 2018 (n = 309) using the same questionnaire, mainly based on QPS Nordic, which was distributed to social workers working with investigations of children and youth. The results show that the social workers assessed all measured aspects of their first-line managers’ leadership as better in 2014 compared to 2003 and significantly better in 2018 compared to 2003. In light of previous studies showing that child welfare managers experience less optimal conditions for their leadership, the results are surprising. How is it possible that the first-line managers, despite their own descriptions of a more difficult leadership situation, are seen as more supportive, empowering and fair in their leadership from the social workers’ perspective? Possible explanations for the social workers’ better assessments over the years, such as specialisation, are discussed.

Social work in an assembly line? The development of specialisation in child welfare and further internal division of work between 2003 and 2018

ABSTRACT Organisational specialisation characterises present social work in Sweden as internationally. Specialisation is often expected to lead to higher professional expertise. This study provides an overview of the development of specialisation and workforce characteristics in child welfare based on survey data collected in 2003, 2014 and 2018. The aim was to describe the development of specialisation and discuss the conditions for professional expertise in child welfare work. The results indicate that child welfare work is increasingly work task specialised. Social workers reported performing fewer tasks in 2014 and 2018 compared to 2003. This could be understood mainly as a form of statutory specialisation, indicating a shift in the professional role. Also, with the tendency to divide the work into only one or two phases of the process, child welfare work today almost resembles work at an assembly line. Compared with 2003, the statutory child welfare social workers surveyed in 2014 and 2018 were also significantly younger and less experienced. Since decision-making in child protection is a highly complex and challenging task, a question is if the development may be a survival strategy of the organisations rather than an opportunity for developing expertise.

NON-CASH FOOD ASSISTANCE (BPNT) DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY BY DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE WORKERS IN TERNATE CITY

Non-cash food assistance (BPNT) is a government program in the form of food assistance provided monthly to beneficiary families (KPM) accompanied by District Social Welfare Workers. The BPNT program has reached 514 districts and cities in Indonesia, one of which is in Ternate City. The data analysis method used in this study is qualitative descriptive. Descriptive qualitative is a method used to explore findings in the field. The results showed 3,504 Beneficiary Families (KPM) for the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) spread across 78 urban villages in 8 sub-districts for Ternate City. The results indicators of the BPNT program have helped KPM reduce daily expenses so that the income obtained can be used to meet other needs. With the increasing number of needs that KPM can meet, it is indirectly a sign of increasing their social welfare. Therefore, the BPNT program can be said to have a major impact on poverty alleviation efforts in the city of Ternate.

Recomposition of work and attitudes of family assistants within Covid-19 in Poland: A pilot study

Abstract This article presents reflections on the consequence of remote work in social welfare professions in the case of family assistants. Web surveys focused on changes that came with the pandemic crisis in social welfare programs, such as family assistants. The article presents conclusions from the pilot web survey study among family assistants in June 2020 using the Survey Monkey online web survey questionnaire. Family assistants of Lower Silesia (part of the region in Poland) represent a category of professions in the social welfare system in Poland. They are employed in social welfare centers and work in the local community. The assistant has different tasks and eligibility than social workers. The family assistant knows the background of family problems, and, with them, he composes a working plan for better-functioning families. Personal contact with families before the epidemiological crisis has been replaced by remote work, replaced by changed tools, indirect contact with clients, and changing attitudes among workers. All changes have led to a transformation of daily work and organization in the workplace.

사회복지종사자의 처우에 관한 인식조사 연구

In this study, as the demand for social welfare services increases, the number of social welfare workers is increasing in quantity, and the poor treatment of social welfare workers is continuously pointed out. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to establish basic data and set policy directions for improving treatment through a survey on the perception of treatment of social welfare workers. As a result of the study, 55.2% of respondents were not satisfied with the level of remuneration compared to the intensity of work, and 61.1% of respondents were not satisfied with the level of satisfaction compared to workers in similar occupations. In addition, to improve the remuneration system, compliance with the government's remuneration guidelines, overtime work allowance, and the introduction of the child school expenses system were found to be high. As a policy measure for this, a single wage system should be introduced to improve the remuneration of social welfare workers, and support for welfare programs should be expanded. In addition, unification of policies is required to improve the treatment of social welfare workers, and expansion of emotional support programs is required to restore trust among social welfare workers.

사회복지사법 제정과 사회복지종사자 처우에 관한 연구 - 관련 조례 제정과 사회복지종사자 보수를 중심으로 -

The contents of this study are as follows. First, the Act on the Improvement of the Treatment and Status of Social Workers, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Act")As of March 6, 2023, 239 local governments out of a total of 243 local governments enacted ordinances, and only four local governments did not enact ordinances, reaching 98.3%.
 Second, the annual growth rate of social welfare workers was compared and analyzed to determine how the legislation affected the remuneration level of social welfare workers, and as a result, the annual increase rate was 3.73% for three years from 2012 to 2014, and for six years from 2015 to 2020, the average annual increase rate was 6.08%, an increase of 36.5%. This will require various analyses, including the overall perception of labor in society and the increase in earned income of the entire nation, but some can be judged to be effective in enacting laws. In addition, as a result of examining the remuneration level data for social welfare workers compared to the ordinance-making ratio by metropolitan and provincial governments, the highest remuneration level was assumed to be 100 in 2014 and the lowest remuneration level was 75.5%, in 2017, the ratio increased to 83.2%, and in 2020, it was found that the ratio increased to 85.5%. As such, it can be seen that local governments have improved their awareness of the enactment of ordinances, and as a result of these efforts, it was judged that the remuneration level of social welfare workers could gradually increase.
 As a result of regression analysis between the three-year ordinance-making ratio and the annual total salary of social workers in 2014, 2017, and 2020, the regression model was (the annual total salary) = 24,622,425(KRW) + 68,969(KRW)×(ordinance-making ratio)i where i = 1.2...45, and the annual total salary increased by 1% to an average of 68,969 Korean currency, won.
 And the explanatory power(R-square=.352) was analyzed as 35.2%.
 In conclusion, it can be seen that the law enacted in March 2011 influenced the enactment and revision of ordinances by local governments and contributed to the improvement of the remuneration level of social welfare workers.

Implementation Of Staple Food Program For Beneficiary Families In Sawah Kulon Village Pasawahan District Purwakarta Regency

This research is entitled "Implementation of the Staple Food Program for Beneficiary Families (KPM) in Sawah Kulon Village, Pasawahan District, Purwakarta Regency". which have been determined and implementation itself refers to various program implementation actions that have been prepared to achieve the planned program objectives. The Indonesian government is conducting business through social assistance programs that aim to reduce the level of poverty that occurs in Indonesia, one of which is with the assistance of the Basic Food Program, the basic food program is food social assistance that is distributed in non-cash form from the government to KPM every month via electronic money which is used only for buy groceries. The research method used is a qualitative approach method with informant selection techniques using purposive sampling. Data collection techniques in this study used techniques, namely: (1) Interview (2) Observation (3) Documentation Study. The number of informants in this study was divided into three parts, namely the main informants who were beneficiaries of eight families, the key informants, namely the Pasawahan District Social Welfare Workers and additional informants, namely the Village Secretary. The results of the study showed that the implementation of the basic food program went well, no serious obstacles were found and had a positive impact on beneficiary families.