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The article explores social work practice challenges in diverse contexts, including Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Topics discussed include the role of intuition in social work practice, empowerment and human rights as they pertain to disability and homelessness, and the significance of self-care for social workers' well-being and professional satisfaction.

It is important to consider the mental health of social work students to promote their wellbeing and to ensure they are prepared for the potential stressors of practice. This cross-sectional survey of social work students (n = 240), the first of its kind on the island of Ireland, provides findings on mental health and a range of associated issues which can help to improve student welfare; the content of social work courses; social work practice; and so, outcomes for service users. The article discusses implications for the delivery of social work education internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a poverty awareness project which was conducted by participants and staff based in an organisation for women affected by addiction and poverty. Through the application of material ethnography methods, this initiative led to the creation of a set of artefacts which culminated in the exhibition titled, Object Poverty. This article traces the history of this initiative and its effectiveness in building poverty awareness within and external to the host organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the various topics within the issue, including the use by social workers of internal conversations with service users in their work, the intersubjective-creative process, and parent-child reconciliation in neglectful or abusive parenting.

An editorial is presented on discovery of a new and highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19. Topics include illustrating examples of the increased bureaucratisation of practice in child protection services; and having abusive nature of human trafficking showing exploitation and coercion being at the affront to humanity and survivors experiencing severe emotional pain and distress.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including the use of a narrative therapeutic approach; challenging behaviour of a traumatised child; and child communicates trauma.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including risks associated with the use of social media by children and young people; explore the views of social workers employed in child and adolescent mental health services.

While social workers continue to recognise the centrality of relationship in social work practice they are now trying to build and mediate relationships with service users in a context fundamentally changed by technology. The paper suggests that different modes of electronic communication are not simply add-ons to society but are altering the social texture of society including the ways that people relate and interact with others. The relationship base of social work is not immune or dislocated from the explosion of social media and electronic communication which is occurring in the wider society and, therefore, attention needs to be paid to the impact of these new technologies on the way in which social work is practised. Using qualitative research with early career stage social workers in Ireland this paper aims to contribute to knowledge on this emerging dimension of social work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including human services; virtual community; and information technology.

This article reports on findings from a study with recently qualified social workers on the use of social media in their practice. The findings reported here are drawn from a broader study on the use of electronic communications conducted with both newly qualified teachers and social workers. The focus group data reported here provide an insight into the practice realities associated with the use of social media by clients and social workers. The qualitative methodology employed helps to reveal the richness and complexity of technology use in practice. This rich picture reveals multi-directional surveillance, by clients and social workers, facilitated by social media. This includes surveillance by clients taking videos of meetings without consent. The article also highlights situations when social workers themselves consider it acceptable to gather information on clients through social media. The research identifies a range of ethical issues for social workers to navigate and highlights their need for support and guidance in the form of standards, codes, and education and training. The surveillance lens illuminates the ethical dilemmas being faced with reference to concepts such as power, privacy and consent as well as the broader debate of care and control in social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to articles published within the issue is presented, including one on discretionary spaces available to child protection social workers, another which explored policies on residential and foster care from the perspective of institutionalisation, and a study which identified the factors that influence the work carried out by police officers and social workers.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including racism and white privilege within therapeutic relationships; anti-racism movement in the U.S.; and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

This article explores the psychodynamics of relationship-based practice from the perspective of young people in residential care. This research involved qualitative semi-structured interviews with 10 care leavers, aged 18-24 years, who had been in residential care in Ireland. Drawing selectively from that research, this article reports their views and experiences of key-working and how relationship-based practice acted as a reparative method within their experiences of care and aftercare. Similar to previous research, this study underscores the necessity to ensure that children in care are cared for and supported by a trusted adult. In addition, based on this study, the role of a key worker appears capable of providing this ideal type of supportive relationship. It also highlights the importance of the care system working to provide consistency and support for the young people and confirms the importance of relationships with trusted adults, such as key workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on themes of connection and identity with contributions from authors in the Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, Canada, and the US. Topics include immediate social identity and relationships being threatened and strained through social isolation; and having the valuable role to play in understanding and preventing both psychological and physical violence.

An editorial is presented on the psychodynamic processes surrounding change in a variety of contexts, not necessarily Covid-specific types of change. The article discusses that the authors provide important insights into the ways in which social workers use reflective practice to manage the emotional and stress-inducing elements of their work; and the authors consider how the suppression of emotions on the part of the social worker is a coping strategy.

This article examines a participatory educational group approach to involving service users in a social work education programme. In particular it focuses on the skills and values that informed the lecturer's management of this group process and the relevance of the International Association for Social Work with Groups Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups to the purpose of the group as well as to how this group was facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]