Search

Purpose: The Theory Evaluation Scale (TES) is a psychometric tool for analyzing theoretical frameworks that guide practice. Its flexibility assumption contends that a single rater or a panel of experts can evaluate a given theory and the two sets of scores will be comparable. This study tests this assumption, using a popular practice model in social work: the Strengths Perspective (SP). Method: A panel of 50 social work faculty and administrators from five English-speaking countries used the TES to determine the theoretical quality of the SP. Their scores were first analyzed through common measures of central tendency and then compared to findings in an existing evaluation for the same theory. Results: The analysis yielded excellent overall TES scores for the SP (mean = 32.03, median = 33.00, mode = 36). These results reflect the 35 overall score that the theory received in Joseph et al.'s (2022) evaluation. Conclusion: Therefore, besides showing an excellent overall quality for the SP, these results support the flexibility assumption of the TES. These findings bear major implications for social work theory, practice, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of social work podcasts has grown rapidly in recent years, and the regulator of social workers in England, Social Work England, suggests that podcasts can and should be used as a valid form of continuing professional development for social workers. Within this context, this article reports on research involving semi-structured interviews with twelve independent social work podcasters based in England. The research found that participants were positive about the potential of podcasts as continuing professional development for social workers, highlighting opportunities around flexibility, dialogue and engaging with current topics. However, participants also noted challenges around quality assurance, and voice and representation. Significantly, participants described their desires to have a broader social impact through their podcasts, but for most this was something that they did not feel they were yet achieving to the extent they would like. It is suggested that in contrast to the frequent characterisation of podcasters as an aspirational labour force seeking future monetisation, independent social work podcasters could be better understood in relation to aspirational impact, or a desire to grow their podcasts, audiences and influence in order to have a future positive impact on the profession of social work, and society in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between burnout and telework was analysed to find out how COVID-19 affected the emotional state of social workers who teleworked during the pandemic, and to analyse the risk of burnout in the field of social services. The fieldwork was conducted on a self-selected sample of 395 social workers in Spain in 2021. The results show a lower risk related to negligent treatment and a high resilience of professionals. The findings highlight the role of social work and the need to organise social services to guarantee the quality of this service without overburdening its professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has identified challenges associated with the implementation of competency-based social work field education in Vietnam. However, there is limited information available from intern supervisors, who have unique perspectives at the crux of social work training and service delivery. An exploratory phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore their experiences and perceptions through online interviews. Four categories were identified: diverse implementation of a common framework, rudimentary expectations and activities, challenges to implementation, and opportunities for improvement. These findings suggest that a multidimensional approach is needed, including improved collaborations between field agencies and universities to empower students, intern supervisors, and faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the perceptions of early-career social workers on their academic preparation for their social work employment in the context of the challenging road and ambitious comeback of social work in post-communist Romania. Results showed respondents felt ill-prepared in their transition from education to their employment and received limited resources from employers to support the application of knowledge and skills learnt at university to the realities of daily professional practice. A multi-pronged approach is needed to educate new social workers at both university and employer levels with the goal of providing quality social services to clients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic ageing implies increased care needs, in which social workers play a key role. However, knowledge about their practice is limited and fragmented. This mixed-methods systematic review integrates evidence from 19 studies published between 2000 and 2022 on the roles of long-term care social workers in Europe and North America. The findings reveal that service and case management, direct support, personalisation of care and community engagement are leading roles. Limitations with implications for practice are also detected, such as lack of specialisation, paperwork burden, and work overload, which should be overcome to maximise social work's contribution to care quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an e-learning training module for improving children's social workers' knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Methods: A pragmatic randomized, CONSORT-compliant controlled trial to compare an intervention group (N = 304) with a business-as-usual comparison group (N = 310). After attrition, the analysis included 188 (intervention) and 278 (comparison) participants. The main outcome measures were the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and a perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge measure, controlling for several covariates. Results: A significant effect of intervention on both outcome measures, using several rigorous analysis approaches and missing data imputation methods. Participants who undertook the training decreased their heteronormative attitudes and beliefs and increased their perceived LGBTQ+ knowledge compared to business as usual. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an e-learning training intervention in improving knowledge of, and attitudes toward, LGBTQ+ young people. Implications for research, practice, and policy are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily reminders of life's fragility can lead to moral, emotional, and psychological distress. Establishing clear boundaries between work and non-work environments is a suggested approach to mitigate these adverse effects. Drawing on van Gennep's work on rites of passage, this paper explores the rituals and strategies employed by professionals dedicated to the dying/deceased to transition between their work and home environments. Through a qualitative interpretive phenomenological analysis of 23 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Israeli hospice social workers and undertakers, two main strategies emerged as "rites of passage": Physical Purification and Escapism. However, participants noted that these rituals were not always foolproof, with instances of "leakage" where elements from the realm of death and dying carried over into their personal lives. The study suggests that engaging in idiosyncratic rituals plays a crucial role in facilitating the reintegration of professionals involved in the care of the dead and dying, offering a means of expressing and containing challenging emotions and providing structure during the transitional phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences have been found in the experiences and needs of individuals involved in the criminal legal system, underscoring the importance of interventions tailored to address the needs of system-involved women. Despite this recognition, there remains a gap in understanding how to effectively implement interventions for women with mental illnesses—a population that is increasingly prevalent within correctional facilities. This qualitative study examined facilitator experiences delivering a cognitive behavioral intervention to incarcerated women with mental illnesses. Qualitative open coding techniques were used to analyze facilitator notes from each session to learn more about the challenges facilitators experienced and the strategies they used to address them. Teaching interpersonal conflict skills was identified as the primary challenge facilitators faced throughout intervention delivery. Two aspects of teaching interpersonal conflict skills were found to be particularly difficult: how facilitators worked with participants to identify interpersonal conflicts, and how facilitators fostered discussions of conflict during intervention sessions. This study provides initial insights into the complexities inherent in delivering interventions to system-involved women with mental illnesses. Our results highlight the need for future research and interventions that address dynamics at the intersection of interpersonal conflict, gender, and mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on Lewin's three-stage change theory (i.e. unfreezing, changing, and refreezing), this study explored social workers' experience with organizational changes in human service organizations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using secondary data from a cross-sectional survey (June–August 2020). Responses for 2447 participants (78.5%) who answered the open-ended question, "How have services, functions or operations changed in response to COVID-19?" were thematically coded. Four overarching themes were identified and discussed: (1) changes to organization capacity; (2) technology/infrastructure and workers arrangements; (3) workplace safety; and (4) impact on clients and workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing and responding to risks to children's safety is a primary concern of the child protection system (CPS), and decision-support tools have been developed to assist child welfare workers (CWW). Yet, a limited understanding of CWWs' decision-making experiences impedes our efforts to effectively support them. This qualitative study examines the unique characteristics of decision-making in CPS through focus groups involving CWWs from an agency in California. Five themes emerged: CWWs' responsibilities, decision-making characteristics, domain-specific complexities, and CWWs' perspectives on fairness in decision-making. The findings highlight the need to incorporate CWWs' experiences and insights in developing future decision-support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies show insufficient practices regarding children's participation in child welfare cases. This article is based on document analysis of 216 child welfare records from four Norwegian Child Welfare Services. Our study aims to investigate whether varying degrees and forms of participation are found in different phases of child welfare work: investigation, supportive measures, and in care. With whom the child talks, the topic, and the phase of the process are crucial for whether participation is documented. Individual conversations with the child welfare worker regarding child welfare topics enhance the probability of the child's views being documented in their records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of mental health challenges among adolescents warrants innovative school-based approaches that support students' mental health literacy (MHL). Purpose: In this qualitative case study, we interrogated the experiences of three eighth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teachers and two of their school's social support staff as they conceptualized, developed, and delivered a novel MHL unit of study within their existing curricular framework. In doing so, we sought to better understand the experiences of these school professionals to inform future iterations of the unit. Methods: We explicated focus group data to identify themes that emerged regarding participant goals, experiences, and outcomes as they related to unit planning, delivery, and recommendations. Results: Generally, practitioners advocated for increased collaboration with each other to overcome professional apprehension and streamline efforts, a need for such a curriculum to enhance student wellbeing, and having access to more school-provided resources. Discussion: Themes are contextualized within the current landscape of school MHL programming, and suggestions are highlighted to advance this ELA curriculum-based work. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health Educators' expertise can supplement the ELA curriculum with targeted MHL lessons for students, alleviating teacher role confusion and advancing the goals of the unit by providing psychoeducation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Migrants and refugees belong to the most marginalized groups in the world. Barriers related to the determinants of health can often preclude access to basic human rights, and have a negative impact on health. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to properly interface with people with different perceptions of health and disease and how to design programs based on available resources. Aim: To explore the experience of socio-health workers who work in the context of a reception project in Italy related to taking care of the health needs of a migrant population in a multicultural context. Methods: This research was a qualitative phenomenological study with an interpretive approach adhering to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. The conversations were audio-recorded, transcribed, and read in depth. Reflexive analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Sixteen health and social workers were interviewed. Three main themes were extracted: (1) nature of needs and their facets; (2) interconnection between skills and in relationships; (3) struggles against shortages. The results highlight the participants' attribution of meaning to the needs and requirements of migrants, their experience in the relationship with the team and the migrants, and the difficulties in carrying out their role. Discussion: What the study found underscores the importance of designing interventions that consider the unique perceptions and experiences of professionals who engage with migrants in daily practice. The complex health needs, experiences, and different cultural representations of health and illness must be read and approached with a culturally competent vision. Conclusion: The study reveals how much the strengths of taking care of migrants' health lie in the ability to interconnect various competencies. This study gives elements for professionals and health organizations to understand the complexity of caring for the migrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we sought to understand the contexts, experiences, and needs among a sample of U.S. secondary education stakeholders to inform both a theoretical framework and policy contexts underpinning college and career readiness (CCR). Results confirmed a theoretically constructed framework of academic and non-academic CCR skills, with participants offering descriptions that validated and extended the framework. In addition, participants provided critical understandings of educational contexts in which CCR occurs, with both policy constraints and facilitative influences described. Participants identified strategies, policies, and practices to support student readiness for college and career outcomes. Finally, we provide study limitations and implications for research, policy, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spirituality discourse within social work has been developing for several decades, albeit more in the USA than in the states of the EU. Europe or the countries of the EU were characterised as an exceptional case because of their secularity. Social work in Europe is also typically secular. Nevertheless, the spirituality discourse within social work is slowly developing also in Europe. In social services, chaplains, pastoral workers and assistants, and similar professions are often more responsible for spiritual care than social workers. Should social workers approach spiritual issues from the client's point of view or from a theological stance or rather just from the social work perspective? What reasons and arguments can we formulate and express? This text will discuss both these questions and their context as well as the possible answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work practitioners, including both current Master of Social Work (MSW) students and MSWs experienced in clinical practice, possess significant potential as clinical researchers. Merging clinical practice and research not only bolsters the foundation for evidence-based interventions but also advances social work's scientific standing. Over time, discussions have underscored social work's promise to enrich the practice evidence-base through rigorous research. This article serves as a practical guide, offering clear direction toward research career paths. Recommendations are provided for MSW students, encouraging them to engage in research and learning opportunities that enhance their education. For MSW graduates, the focus shifts to building networks, active program participation, and considering PhD programs that build on clinical foundations. By delineating a roadmap for both MSW students and graduates, this article may open the door for more clinically-focused MSWs to consider a research career path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over half of all social work educators in the United States are adjunct or part-time instructors. Social workers who take on adjunct teaching roles value the experience, which offers personal and professional rewards. As administrators in social work programs, both authors have hired and trained social workers to serve as adjuncts in bachelor's and master's social work programs in different geographical areas of the U.S. However, in these roles, we have noted that many social workers interested in becoming adjunct instructors often do not know how to start the process or what is needed. This article aims to provide practical information for social work practitioners about how to become and serve as adjunct instructors for a social work education program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holistic approaches, such as the Biopsychosocial model, have become mainstream frameworks for organizing mental health services in recent decades. However, little research has explored how frontline social workers embrace and synthesize the different dimensions within this holistic approach. This paper uses semi-structured interviews to investigate diverse conceptualizations of mental health issues among frontline social workers. Fourteen social workers from Hong Kong and twelve from Sydney were interviewed. Three prevalent positions were identified: prioritizing chemical imbalance, questioning the concept of illness, and refusing a fixed understanding of mental health issues. The analysis also reveals how these understandings influence frontline social work practice, uncovers broader socio-cultural influences through s cross-cultural lens, and highlights implications for social work education for navigating the inclusivity of holistic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) in the Southeast region implemented the Social Workers as Lead Community Care Coordinators (SWLCCC) program to prevent delays in care coordination for veterans admitted to community hospitals. This study examines community hospital care coordinators' perceptions and satisfaction levels with the SWLCCC program. An explanatory sequential mixed method research design was used. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive analysis and chi-square test of association and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results showed that care coordination assistance has improved since the veteran-centered social work-led program was implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work assessments are ubiquitous in daily practice, containing justifications for interventions and decisions. This article seeks to bring to the fore the extensive influence of the social work team in shaping the document and the resulting decisions. Assessments are not solely the work of the allocated social worker, supported person, and linked professionals; rather, they also represent collective actions involving multiple authors within the social work team. Drawing upon ethnographic data from a local authority adult social work team in Scotland between December 2019 and January 2021, this article explores the social life of the social work assessment. The findings outline the following themes: 1) team engineering; 2) the reader; 3) writing and rewriting; and 4) story building. The article builds a nuanced understanding of social work assessment work and provides new insight into the level and significance of team interactions within the assessment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the Joint Universities Social Work Association Conference (JUSWAC), a national conference that brings together practitioners, educators, students and academics, held at Kingston University in London, England in June 2024. He talks about the 2024 conference theme, the issue of inequality for social workers, and concerns about professionalization, particularly in the Global North.

Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in the UK and the USA. This article reviews research about how child neglect is perceived by social workers. We conducted a systematic review and identified fifty relevant studies, using a range of methodologies, published since the 1989 Children Act. The themes were identified iteratively and synthesised using a narrative method. The review found that despite evidence that neglect is associated with several adverse outcomes, neglect is a lower priority for social work intervention compared to other forms of maltreatment. This is particularly true for emotional neglect and neglect of older children. The review found that social workers conceptualise poverty and neglect as being distinctly different and try to address poverty through practical, non-punitive interventions. However, assessments could better recognise how deprivation exacerbates other risk factors for neglect. The review found a lack of knowledge about perceptions of neglect in adolescents and children with a disability and about the threshold for intervention when neglect is cumulative. Practice may be improved by better recognising and addressing the societal context to neglect allegations and the risk of long-term harm. Achieving this may have resource and training implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals experiencing housing instability face significant health inequities. Addressing housing instability requires an understanding of the factors that contribute to these inequities—a responsibility that has been assumed by community-based organizations. Interviewing individuals from 3 Canadian provinces, the present study aimed to examine the perspectives of individuals from front-line services of the social determinants of health (SDoH) needs of individuals experiencing housing instability. Methods: As part of a larger knowledge translation study, we conducted 8 semi-structured interviews with individuals from front-line services (eg, shelter workers and shelter mental health nurses) in Canada (Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta) and used thematic analysis to identify predominant unmet SDoH needs. Results: Individuals from front-line services discussed the roles of many SDoH that may perpetuate housing instability in their clients. These included: (1) limited social supports; (2) poor access to health services; (3) poor opportunities for income and employment; (4) lack of transportation; (5) gender-based discrimination; (6) race-based discrimination; and (7) limited access to education and limited literacy skills. Conclusion: This study reveals how front-line service providers observe SDoH factors contributing to housing instability and create barriers to accessing support services. They advocate for a multi-system approach to addressing intersecting SDoH factors to validate clients' experiences and help them achieve stable housing. Additionally, more research and consultation with front-line providers are necessary to understand and overcome systemic barriers to stable housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work in the German rehabilitation sector is practiced with great variation and its interventions lack research evidence. The SWIMMER project aims to develop a program theory of social work in rehabilitation to explain this variation and to discuss possible conditions. The dealing with ethical dilemmas by social workers is one possible influence and the focus of this paper. The social workers' practice was analyzed using the triple mandate, a German-Swiss concept that describes three possible, sometimes simultaneous directives without a concrete call to action from society, the client or the profession. This qualitative, case-comparative research project collected data from interviews with social workers and managers, participant observation and counseling sessions in ten German rehabilitation facilities. Social workers were confronted with all three mandates. They prioritized either the societal mandate or the client mandate. A consequence for social work practice was the limitation of options under social law (mandate by society). Social workers relied on their professional experience to reflect on the mandates. They used a variety of strategies when faced with conflicting mandates. The research project has succeeded in systematizing the orientations of social workers in goal conflicts. Further investigation on this topic on a broader basis would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : Despite the increasing number of elder abuse and self-neglect (EASN) cases, many older adults are reluctant to engage with formal support services, such as Adult Protective Services (APS). This study examined the use of motivational interviewing (MI) by advocates, as a component of a larger EASN intervention, RISE (Repair Harm, Inspire Change, Support Connection, Empower Choice), implemented in partnership with APS. Advocates applied MI as part of RISE to help clients explore and resolve ambivalence around pursuing change and ultimately enhance service engagement. Methods: This study conducted qualitative interviews and a focus group with all RISE advocates (n = 4) to understand how MI is applied in the context of an EASN intervention with older adult clients. A descriptive phenomenological approach involving two independent assessors was used to code verbatim transcripts into themes. Results: Three domains were identified: (1) therapeutic relationship, which describes the importance of foundational relationship building in MI to support older adults who have experienced EASN; (2) techniques, which refers to MI strategies advocates apply and adapt in the context of EASN intervention; and (3) implementation challenges, which reflects the difficulties advocates encounter when using MI in cases of EASN. Conclusions: The experiences of advocates suggest MI is a beneficial and amenable approach to help older adults who have experienced EASN navigate issues of ambivalence and explore their motivation for change. This study represents the first in-depth exploration of MI in the context of EASN intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a socio-technical approach, we examined Finnish social welfare professionals' (n = 990) perceptions of the effects of digitalization on their work and how these are associated with factors related to work and client information system usage using mixed graphical modelling. Overall, perceptions were predominantly positive. Digitally replaced services were most common in the non-public sector. Higher client information system ratings were associated with perceptions of more active client roles, supportive decision support systems and faster service processes. The relationship between various factors and perceived effects of digitalization appears complex and should be considered during the digital transformation of social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese community-service social workers face work alienation due to role stress. This study highlights the impact of government resources on a role stress–professional efficacy–work alienation research model. Paradoxically, state support may escalate role stress, thus hindering professional development and causing work alienation in this state-dominated profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2016 Alberta wildfires resulted in widespread destruction of property and displacement of residents. Research aimed to identify the roles and responsibilities of social work practitioners and human service professionals in long-term disaster recovery. This article presents the findings from interviews, focus groups, and a survey with a total of 140 participants in Alberta, Canada. Implications for disaster social work planning, and response and recovery efforts in Canada and internationally, will inform the development of programs and policies to support and make visible the contribution of social workers and human service professionals in long-term disaster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates factors related to the decision to (a) arrest or (b) mediate in domestic violence (DV) situations—nonmutually exclusive but highly differing decisions chosen a priori as being outcomes of interest. The sample included three types of professionals handling domestic violence cases in China: (a) Women's Federation (WF), (b) police, and (c) judicial personnel. The participants (n = 817) responded to a vignette describing a DV incident. Logistic regression revealed that legal, organizational, and attitudinal factors were associated with decision-making and varied by group. The findings suggest training and detailed instructions on handling DV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research-supported family programmes are proven to be effective in reducing dysfunctional behaviours in youth. A fundamental role is played by professionals with high competence levels and a positive attitude to evidence-based practice (EBP). The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of prior training for the facilitators of the PCF-AFECT, in order to ascertain whether it led to improvements in their competence levels and whether favourable attitudes to evidence-based practice were associated with higher competence levels. Method: A quantitative method was used, with a sample of professionals from Spain (N = 150). Results: Results showed that the training was effective in the case of four categories of professional competencies. Favourable attitudes to EBP were associated with clusters of professionals with higher competencies. Discussion: Both findings contribute scientifically to the identification of the core components or gold standards of training that are needed for the facilitators of research-supported family programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated risk factors for food insecurity among older adults, while also altering how government agencies and social service organizations could serve this population given their disproportionate vulnerability to the virus. The current study sought to understand social service providers' perspectives about how low-income community-dwelling older adults' access to food and related resources changed during the COVID pandemic. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with 22 social service providers from Oregon-based public and private social service agencies. Responses indicated that changes to older adults' food access during the pandemic stemmed from increases in public benefit amounts and social distancing guidelines. Participants indicated that temporary increases in SNAP allotments supported older adults' food security. Additionally, social distancing guidelines disrupted usual ways of procuring food, such as going to grocery stores, obtaining food with the assistance of family or neighbors, receiving deliveries from social programs, and visiting congregate meal sites. Food assistance programs changed their operations to reduce in-person interaction and increase the use of technology. When investigating older adults' food access, future research should consider adults' experiences of and barriers to SNAP receipt, social support from social networks and safety net programs, and technology access and knowledge. Key Points: Social service providers offer a unique perspective on older adults' food access. Interviews with providers documented older adult food access during COVID. Expanded federal assistance and social distancing shaped seniors' food access. Food access may vary by program eligibility, social support, and technology access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article reports on the findings from a national evaluation of a specialist, Irish, social work service for Traveller families and communities. It begins with an historical overview of the service which was established in the 1960s but which has evolved and developed over the past few decades at a time of changing patterns of Traveller lives and social and economic conditions. It was also a period when the role of social work was changing, most notably with the introduction of state regulation of the profession. The article then critically analyses national and international literature on the role of social workers with Travellers. It then describes the mixed research method used to evaluate the service. Findings: The findings highlight various, sometimes competing perspectives on the social work role, drawn from administrative data, a survey of social workers interviews with social workers and Traveller representatives. These include views about how the social work role was viewed by social workers and Traveller representatives, informed by theories on anti-oppressive practice, systems approaches and forms of advocacy. Applications: The article concludes with a discussion of ways in which the lessons learned from the evaluation can be used to further develop the social work service in ways that can enhance the lives of Travellers, through forms of continuous professional development and the created of a national policy and practice framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study sought to investigate the experiences and adaptations of social workers during the transition from face-to-face to online interventions amid the initial wave of COVID-19 in Israel. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 social workers who had exclusively delivered face-to-face treatment before. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interviews. Findings: Data analysis revealed five primary themes concerning the transition from face-to-face face-to-face to online interventions, highlighting the challenges faced by social workers during this shift. The adjustment process was swift and often involuntary. It initiated with a shock stage, marked by difficulties in accepting the new reality due to uncertainties related to technical aspects, technological means, and social workers' attitudes toward the transition. The process concluded with social workers accepting the new reality, discovering new meanings, and gaining insights into themselves, the method, and the process. Applications: Integrating the online method into the training processes of social workers could have mitigated most challenges encountered during the transition between treatment methods. Shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards the online method result from practical experience and serve as the foundation for its application in professional work, enabling the realization of its benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article reports on research exploring the perspectives of Australian social work and human service professionals about environmental practice. An online survey consisting of quantitative and qualitative questions was conducted, recruiting 303 participants from the human services sector. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS and qualitative data analyzed thematically using NVivo. Findings: Overall, results indicated that participants strongly supported an environmental focus in human services at personal and professional levels of practice. However, while participants expressed values supporting environmental practice, its implementation was less frequently reported. The adverse impacts of climate change were reported as strongly impacting the well-being of service users, and a general lack of support from employing organizations to facilitate environmental practice was evident. Despite a strong belief in the value of Australian First Nations knowledges, limited engagement with Australian First Nations peoples was practiced. Applications: Implications suggest the need to examine the practical realities of environmental practice including the disconnect between values and action. Given that participants reported adverse impacts of climate change on people and communities, but faced significant challenges implementing environmental action, the need to disrupt barriers caused by the dominant neoliberal discourse is critical. Likewise, disrupting the prevailing colonialist discourse by working alongside First Nations peoples to decolonize society and the profession is essential for enacting principles of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major criminal, social and public health problem. As one effort to prevent IPV and intimate partner homicide, several countries have adopted legislation requiring professionals to disclose IPV to the authorities (commonly referred to as mandatory reporting). The child welfare service (CWS) is centrally positioned for detecting, reporting and preventing IPV, but there is limited empirical knowledge concerning how the service handles IPV cases or of social workers' awareness of mandatory reporting of IPV. Using qualitative interviews, we explore how CWS workers in Norway describe their discretionary space and mandatory obligations towards adults subjected to IPV. Our findings indicate an inexpedient interplay between understandings of professional mandate and individual responsibility and local routines and organisation and insufficient knowledge about IPV and mandatory reporting. We suggest that a reframing of CWS workers' understanding of their discretionary space is needed to ensure that their individual responsibility towards adults subjected to IPV is understood as part of their mandate. This reframing presupposes structural efforts, such as formal training. We propose further investigations concerning how local organisation and routines either facilitate or interfere with systematic and thorough handling of IPV in families with which the municipal CWS meets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding more about the discharge of care orders is vital—whether a care order remains in place has significant implications for children and their families and for local authorities. While there has been comprehensive research about the process and outcomes of care proceedings, much less is known about the discharge of care orders—particularly how, why and when care orders are ended and the differences between applications that are granted and those that are not. The present study combined data from an anonymized administrative data on discharge applications, a detailed analysis of children's e‐records and qualitative interviews with family justice professionals to create the first detailed profile of discharge applications across England and Wales. This paper reports, for the first time, the number of discharge applications and outcomes across England and Wales, highlighting regional as well as between‐country variation. Drawing on data from children's e‐records and interviews with professionals, highlighting how and why local authorities are more likely to submit discharge applications, and to have applications granted, than parents. Recommendations are made for how to adapt professional practice and policy around discharge applications to better meet the needs of children and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies suggest a widespread notion among social workers that children should be involved in child protection processes. Nevertheless, children are found to be unsatisfied with the degree to which they feel involved and heard in those processes. This study explored social workers' reasons to exclude children from conversations about contact visits. It applied a social constructivist approach, in which the dominant understandings of children—'child constructions'—in the social workers' responses were identified and then used to discuss the concepts of 'participation' and 'conversation'. Findings reveal that social workers' reasons to exclude children from conversations about contact visits align with prevailing notions of children as rights holders, as vulnerable and as mentally immature. This study suggests that broadening the concept of conversations could provide social workers with the latitude to explore innovative approaches to conversing with children. Furthermore, conversations about contact visits should be performed to be as a tool that empowers children to influence and make meaning of their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child and family social workers routinely make professional judgements involving significant legal and moral questions (e.g. whether a child has been abused) and more 'everyday' issues (e.g. will the child be re‐referred again if we close the case now?) Yet the world is capricious, and we rarely know with certainty what is going to happen in future or the likely impact of our different choices. Given the consequences of their judgements and decisions, it is imperative that social workers are provided with the best possible support. This paper reports a proof‐of‐concept study of a set of interventions to improve the judgemental accuracy of social workers: (i) a survey to identify respondents with above‐average existing abilities, (ii) training sessions on cognitive debiasing and (iii) structured group working and (iv) three methods for aggregating individual judgements. Findings indicate that it is possible to measure the accuracy of social work judgements in relation to case‐study materials and retrospective questions, while the feedback about the training was largely positive. Any future studies should aim to recruit a more diverse set of respondents, test judgemental accuracy in relation to prospective judgements and explore what types of questions would be most helpful for real‐world decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong have a hierarchical staffing structure. Professional social workers, who performed as mid‐level employees, work with frontline support workers to deliver services to clients. Methods: This qualitative study explored social workers' experiences of working with support workers through in‐depth interviews with 13 participants. Findings: The study revealed that social workers perceived a significant variation between themselves and support workers in terms of working motivation, values and attitudes towards clients with intellectual disabilities. Despite the hierarchical relationships, social workers and support workers share the power of service decision‐making. Social workers used firm and gentle approaches to facilitate changes in practices to uphold service values. These findings were compared with Western literature on this topic, indicating similarities and differences. Conclusion: The organisations need to facilitate an effective collaboration between social workers and support workers to enhance the quality of services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores discretion in social work with persons with disabilities. By drawing on a narrative social work approach, the study acknowledges narratives crucial for conducting social work. The research question was as follows: How do persons with disabilities as clients and social workers as professionals consider discretion and its consequences? The data consisted of clients' and social workers' written accounts about discretion and were analysed by deploying narrative inquiry with small stories approach. The grand narrative was about getting adequate services through appropriate discretion. Three small stories about everyday life, in/equality and the economy were told against the grand narrative. The study argues that discretion in social work with persons with disabilities is constructed through the available narrative resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 outbreak produced an unprecedented crisis in care sectors. Nursing home workers, healthcare, social care, and clinical social workers (HSCW) often took the burden of managing the crisis in their facilities, risking increased stress, trauma, and burnout. As a response to this issue, increased interest in self-care in health and social work literature could be observed. Yet, the concept of self-care is problematic, as it focuses attention on the individual responsibility to care for oneself, regardless of organisational and structural factors and obstacles. The article provides a critical literature review, focused on risk factors and psychological consequences of the pandemic in health and social care and clinical social work, and on the proposed response, namely, self-care. The aim of the article is to systematise knowledge about approaches to self-care in these sectors and to critically review those approaches. Critiques of self-care are considered, including those informed by Foucauldian perspective of governmentality and responsibilization. The concept of community care is introduced as an implication and an answer to these critiques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

The entry into professional life is a critical stage in the professional identity development of social workers; it is a particularly sensitive milestone for Arab novice social workers in Israel. Novice social workers must deal with the gap between the universal, predominantly individualistic social work approaches taught in Israeli educational establishments, and the collectivistic values, which they encounter in social work practice within the Arab community. In addition, they encounter the practical and culturally-sensitive knowledge of experienced social workers in welfare offices in Israel. This gap is intensified due to novice workers' unresolved identity conflict as members of an indigenous minority, experienced during and since their academic socialization. Despite these critical issues, the challenge has rarely received scholarly attention. This article presents findings from a qualitative study that has examined the conflicting experiences of Arab novice social workers Vis-à-vis their professional identity development and incorporation into Israeli welfare bureaus. It is based on thirty in-depth retrospective interviews with Arab social workers with at least ten years of experience in the field of family and child welfare. Findings are analyzed from a critical multicultural perspective on social work. They show that integration of Arab novice social workers into the Israeli welfare offices is characterized by ongoing tensions and inner conflicts. Findings raise awareness of the need to implement critical multicultural programs in social work education which emphasize cultural sensitivity in order to support Arab novice social worker's professional identity formation and incorporation into social work practice in the Israeli welfare bureaus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: English social work policies and regulatory bodies propel critical reflection as a professional requirement and a worthwhile activity. The purpose of this paper is to report on the current international and UK evidence that informs the understanding and use of critical reflection and associated terms – reflection, reflective practice and reflective supervision – in one-to-one practitioner supervision in local authority children and families social work in England. Design/methodology/approach: A review of the evidence was undertaken using documentary policy analysis and a scholastic literature review to examine the history and current knowledge available as of December 2022. Findings: The historical policy and professional context of critical reflection in one-to-one supervision in England is discussed. The current evidence review identified three themes – the role of critical reflection in models of supervision, the influences of national, organisational and professional cultures and the supervisor practitioner relationship. The nuanced nature of the presence of critical reflection in supervision and a lack of clarity when theorising and describing critical reflection has implications for policy, supervisory practice and research design. Originality/value: Critical reflection in one-to-one social work supervision is under researched. This review draws on the evidence from international research and local policy to offer an understanding of the complexity of theorising, practicing and researching critical reflection in one-to-one supervision in local authority children and families social work in England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic thrust the world's population into a crisis. Social workers and other professionals working with youth have been front-line witnesses to the accentuated negative impact of this public health emergency on youth and their families as well as to the creative adaptive strategies of youth and their families. Purpose: Because youth workers are often the first to identify and respond to the needs and desires of children and youth, it is critical to better understand the ways in which youth workers adapted, coped, and intervened within the context of this global health, social, and economic crisis. Youth workers play a central role in the lives of children and youth. Their perspective is key to recognizing both practice innovation and organizational impediments. Method: 31 youth workers in mental health, housing, primary care, and child protection participated in focus groups discussing the impact of the pandemic during waves 1 and 2 on the youth and families they work with and, consequently, on their own practice. Results: include two central domains that organize findings around adapting professional practice to crisis situations: (1) the first-person experience of working with youth during the pandemic; (2) the changing needs and risks faced by youth and their families. Discussion: These domains include discussions around participant emotions and feelings of isolation, helplessness, and fear as well as adaptability. The article concludes with recommendations to support youth workers and adapt organizational structures to help protect youth from increased risk and vulnerability during a pandemic or other crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black boys and young men come into consistent contact with the carceral state and its systems of control. In this study, I define the normalcy of carcerality as the everydayness of carceral power and control enacted on the bodies of Black children, specifically Black boys and young men. The racialized, gendered, and socioeconomic schemas of urban landscapes like Los Angeles bring young people into consistent contact with law enforcement and carceral logics rooted in punishment, control, and disposability – which is the way that communities can be punished and discarded if they do not fit within the neoliberal economy. For Black boys, the normalcy of carcerality is rooted in the omnipresence of the schemas of discipline they experience and the material and emotional impact that carcerality plays in their everyday life. Drawing upon interviews from 22 Black male youth activists, 19 interviews with youth workers who engage Black male youth, and 10 years of field notes as a community organizer working with four community-based organizations in Los Angeles, this study focuses on the carceral experiences that Black male youth activists who are working to change their relationships with state institutions through collective organizing and resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social workers working with foster youth aging out of placement often experience barriers in referring such youth to housing, mental health, and other services. This qualitative research study explored service barriers social workers encountered while working with their foster clients aging out of placement in the US Virgin Islands. Data collection consisted of narrative interviews with social workers from a single government agency. Social workers (n = 6) from the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, discussed the challenges they encountered while working with their foster clients aging out of placement. Participants identified the following barriers to services: lack of family support/community involvement, lack of housing, youths' lack of intellectual capacity/independent living skills, lack of training/employment opportunities for youth, services not suited for adolescents, and lack of funding. These findings may inform targets for future intervention and influence the foster care system to provide more supportive resources to social workers and clients. Practitioners and policymakers should consider implementing further practices that promote positive development for these youth and reduce the number of adolescents aging out of the foster care system without supportive resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the correlations between social workers' levels of religiosity and their professional attitudes toward discussing sexual health. The focus was particularly on the potential mediating role of their attitudes to heteronormative beliefs. A random sample of 150 social workers from Israel (Jewish [63.3 percent], Palestinian-Arab [36 percent], and those who self-identified as "other" [0.7 percent]) completed a self-administered questionnaire. The findings revealed significant correlations among professional attitudes toward discussing sexual health, attitudes toward heteronormativity, and degree of religiosity. Social workers with higher levels of religiosity exhibited higher levels of heteronormative beliefs, which, in turn, influenced their professional attitudes toward discussing sexual health. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of challenging heteronormative perspectives for all social welfare service users. Social work must establish culturally sensitive training to challenge the hegemony of heteronormative perspectives while connecting to religious and conservative values and perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anxiety and depression in older adults (60+ years of age) are under‐diagnosed and under‐treated. Older adults are less likely to seek help for these problems due to a lack of awareness, difficulty accessing health care due to availability or disability and fear of loss of independence. Existing points of contact between older adults and non‐traditional services, for example, the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), could provide opportunities to support help‐seeking for mental ill‐health. The FRS conduct Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) with older adults and are well positioned to provide health‐related support. This study examines a range of perspectives on the potential role of the FRS in the identification of, and signposting for, anxiety and depression in older adults. Methods: This was a qualitative study carried out using mixed methods in West Midlands, UK. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with older adults and health and social care providers (practitioners, managers, commissioners) to explore the acceptability of the FRS expanding its role to detect and signpost for anxiety and depression in older adults. Observations examined delivery of existing HFSVs to older adults. Data were combined and analysed using a reflexive thematic approach. Results: Eighteen health and social care providers and 8 older adults were interviewed; 10 HFSVs were observed. Two overarching themes were identified: (1) Potential role for the FRS and (2) Operationalising identification of mental health problems by FRS. Interviews and observations demonstrated how HFSVs offer a suitable opportunity to start conversations about mental health. All interview participants felt that although the FRS would be well placed to deliver an intervention, they would require training, support and a referral pathway co‐produced with and supported by health and social care partners. Conclusion: A whole‐system approach is needed if the FRS are to expand HFSVs to identify mental health problems in older adults and provide signposting to appropriate services. Patient or Public Contribution: J.S. is a public co‐investigator. A Patient Advisory Group contributed to the initial funding application, design and conduct of the study, including data analysis and advice on dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]