A shift in the professional roles of a social worker providing support for families at social risk: the context of systemic changes

Since 2018, social work with families at social risk in Lithuania had a fundamental change, Previously known as social risk families became cases and a new specialist – a case manager – was assigned to each family. Although the case manager coordinates the assistance to the family, the role of the social worker has remained significant in this process. The object of the study is social workers professional roles changes when providing assistance to a family at social risk. The aim of the study is to investigate the social workers professional roles changes when providing assistance to a family at social risk the context of systemic changes. Objectives: 1. To provide a theoretical interpretation of social workers professional roles changes when providing assistance to a family at social risk in the context of systemic changes; 2. To analyse and justify the methodological aspects of social workers professional roles changes when providing assistance to a family at social risk. 3. To experience the change of social workers professional roles changes when providing assistance to a family at social risk in the context of systemic change from the social workers' point of view. Key findings: before to the application of Case Management, social workers tended to take on the roles of client identifier, coordinator, data manager, assessor, administrator, liaison worker. After the application of Case Management, the roles of behaviour modifier and facilitator became particularly relevant. Before to the application of Case Management, all areas of social work were perceived as effective by the research participants. After the application of the Case Management, the areas of social work were seen as even more effective, mostly the assessment of individual family needs, effective and efficient planning of family support, effective cooperation with other institutions and professionals, and effective social work with the family. Before the application of Case Management, social workers mainly cooperated with the local community, school social pedagogues, specialists from the local municipality administration and specialists from medical institutions. After the application of Case Management, social workers' cooperation with many types of professionals has significantly decreased, social workers cooperate mainly with the care centre coordinator and the mobile team.