Search

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article analyzes the characteristics of psychosocial factors that affect social service professionals in their workplaces. Engagement, passion for work, organizational commitment, structural empowerment and burnout are examined, factors that, according to the literature, are closely related to outcomes for social services professionals. These psychosocial variables and their relationships are analyzed using a sample of 501 Spanish professionals through a quantitative research. Information that addressed the study objectives was collected via a questionnaire that was administered individually, voluntarily, and anonymously. The data were analyzed using Stata software and by calculating descriptive statistics and performing bivariate correlations, t-tests for independent samples, and ANOVAS. The obtained data allowed us to establish a psychosocial profile of professionals in which medium–high scores were notable for most of the positive psychosocial variables analyzed. In contrast, lower scores for variables related to negative aspects are observed, such as burnout and obsessive passion, which could indicate an opportunity to develop strategies to enhance these positive aspects. For future research, regression analysis could be considered to calculate the predictive value of some psychosocial variables over others as well as their mediating or moderating roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family institution is a key aspect of the welfare regimes of southern Europe, a crisis-affected situation in which social workers play an important role. This paper analyzes the statements of social workers regarding professional intervention and the families with whom they work within the Spanish context, which involves a strong economic crisis and the reduction of public policies. A relational and qualitative study was conducted of 15 professional perceptions of cutbacks, family demands, the profiles of the user families, and the privatization of social services. In addition, proposals for improvement and challenges are analyzed. The main results involve the relationships among dwindling resources, increasing family demands and family dependence on the system, the disadvantages of privatization, excessive bureaucratization, and adverse labor conditions. The main conclusions include the inadequacy of public policies to meet the needs of at-risk families in a crisis context. About future, the research on professional decision making and professional intervention models will be studied in greater depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now that the European Space for Higher Education has granted full presence to social work in Spanish Universities, it becomes necessary to develop a series of strategies that allow its consolidation and equivalence with other Social Sciences. Although scientific publications count among the most adequate ways to achieve this purpose, there is no Spanish journal of social work in the main international databases. This article analyses the Spanish journals of social work published in Spain. It examines their characteristics, their place in the global system of knowledge and offers strategies for their improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines social services delivery in Andalusia, Spain, to determine the degree of cultural adaptation of its workers, given the important migratory flows taking place in the region during recent years. This study investigates the main characteristics of those workers with a high level of intercultural sensitivity (IS) and their cultural competences. The survey included 298 professionals with a validated IS scale along with questions related to the degree of intercultural contact and competence. A series of scales for the IS levels was created, and correlation analyses were carried out depending on the variables used. Results revealed high levels of self-attributed cultural competence and training as well as low levels of awareness and motivation for intercultural encounters. Theoretical knowledge appeared to be the only aspect in correlation with all dimensions of IS. Important deficits have been also observed when examining the type and intensity of contact among professionals and people of foreign origin. This highlights the need to transform knowledge in culturally adapted responses. Future research is necessary to deepen knowledge on how these aspects affect professional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects part of the results obtained from a wider research project aimed at the elaboration of a “Map of Good Intercultural Practices” in several areas of social intervention in Andalusia, Spain. It also reports the results obtained from the analysis portion related to the participating projects within the social services. Intercultural assessment was conducted at the level of institutional intervention through a 32-item questionnaire that was sent to 139 intercultural project-leading institutions measuring intercultural sensitivity. A definition of the fundamental concepts of “interculturality” and “good practice” is given to support the foundations of “good intercultural practice” (GIP). Such definitions help in the design and validation of a GIP Scale that was used in the analysis of 60 social services projects with an intercultural component. The results obtained underline the relevance of aspects such as intercultural empathy and show significant differences between the social services and other intervention sectors. Future research is proposed that studies GIP scale in other intervention sectors such as the private and public sector. Also, the transferability of the instruments and methodology used makes it possible that the research presented in this article is conducted in other geographical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)