scholarly journals Construction of Reflexivity in Social Workers Working with Vulnerable Children in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Kateřina Glumbíková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Situational Analysis ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Social Risks ◽  
The Impact

Social work in the Czech Republic is confronted with the impact of global neoliberalism, which is manifested by privatisation of social services, individualisation of social risks and economisation. Reflexivity of social workers working with vulnerable children and their families has the potential to lead to a higher quality of social work, strengthening of social workers' identity, and empowering social workers to promote changes in everyday practice. Meeting this potential requires an understanding of constructing reflexivity by social workers, which is the objective of this paper. We used a qualitative research strategy, particularly group and individual interviews with social workers and their analysis using current approaches to grounded theory. Concerning data analysis, we found out that constructing reflexivity (nature and subject of reflexion) derives from the perceived roles of social workers (social worker as an ununderstood artist, social worker a as mediator between social and individual, social workers as an agent of a (society) change, social workers as an agent of normalisation and reflexive professional). The acquired data, within the situational analysis, was inserted into a position map on the scale of holistic and technical reflection. The conclusion discusses the implication for practice and education in social work.

scholarly journals Impact Evaluation of the Provision of Social Housing on the Use of Social Services by Homeless People in the Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10184
Author(s):  
Katerina Glumbikova ◽  
Pavel Rusnok ◽  
Marek Mikulec
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Research Survey ◽  
The Impact

The Czech Republic has recently experienced a growing number of homeless people, which leads to the need to evaluate the impact of social housing on the living conditions of its users. At present, there is no existing law on social housing in the Czech Republic and the agenda of assistance to the homeless is thus carried out mainly by social services. For these reasons, the paper intends to evaluate the impact of social housing on the homeless in the Czech Republic in a specific area of the use of social services. Based on a quantitative research survey of 147 social housing dwellers after moving in and after 12 months, the impact of social housing on the use of social services was determined, which was put into context with the trend of using social work services in social housing. Research results show that the provision of social housing leads to an overall decrease of the social work utilization and (possible) increase in client self-sufficiency, which can result in strong economic impacts of social housing in the form of savings on social work provision.

scholarly journals Possibilities of using virtual space as a resource for implementation of social initiatives

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-60
Author(s):  
V. V. Kostina
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Social Risks ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Initiatives ◽  
The Impact

Background: The publication highlights the features of experimental research on the use of cyberspace as a resource for training future social workers to implement social initiatives on a voluntary basis during the risks associated with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Possibilities of using virtual space in the social sphere are analyzed. Purpose: To determine the possibilities of using cyberspace for the implementation of social initiatives and training of social workers in the context of the spread of social risks. Materials and Methods: The study used methods of observation and oral questioning of higher education students, as well as content analysis of the activity of users of virtual space. Results: Important components of the professional characteristics of a modern social worker who provides social services in the context of the spread of social risks in modern society are identified. Emphasis is placed on the content characteristics of the created virtual space and the possibilities of its application in the social and educational activities of a social worker with various vulnerable groups (orphans and children deprived of parental care, people with special educational needs, single elderly and senior citizens, also young people in conflict with the law, families in difficult life circumstances, etc.). The need to take into account when creating an adaptive professional-oriented space features of different age and social characteristics of both recipients of social services and their providers significantly increases its socio-cultural capabilities and contributes to the preservation and strengthening (social, psychological and spiritual) components of the health of all actors who interact in this space. Conclusions: Provided are the results of the study of the impact of cyberspace on motivation of the interest of future specialists in the social field to carry out the relevant professional activity, as well as opportunities to ensure the development of their professional competence in this area of professional activity.

scholarly journals METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK MANAGEMENT IN THE ACTIVITIES OF A SOCIAL WORKER

2021 ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Maryna Lekholetova
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Management

The article presents an analysis of different approaches of domestic scientists to the interpretation of the concept of «social work management». The author surveys the features of management as an object of governance in the activities of a social worker. Features include the social nature of management information; the need for motivation methods that effectively influences and motivates professionals to better results in social work; availability of social workers' professional competence; the presence of problems with forecasting the results of management in the social sphere; the importance of current and final management results. The author proves the necessity of social workers' self-management skills (time management, motivation, stress resistance and recuperation, development of emotional intelligence) for the effective performance of management tasks in professional activities.  The article highlights the principles that should be followed in solving organizational and managerial tasks in social work management (purposefulness, ability of realization, adaptability, efficiency). The researcher presents the structure of social work management methods in the study (economic, administrative, social counselling, psychological and pedagogical influence, social influence). Research characterizes the methods of social work management while working with recipients of social services (methods of individual social work, methods of group social work, methods of community work, methods of social service design).

Radical Hope

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Krumer-Nevo
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Impact

This book describes the new Poverty-Aware Paradigm (PAP), which was developed in Israel through intense involvement with the field of social work in various initiatives. The paradigm was adopted in 2014 by the Israeli Ministry of Welfare and Social Services as a leading paradigm for social workers in social services departments. The book draws from the rich experience of the implementation of the PAP in practice and connects examples of practice to theoretical ideas from radical/critical social work, critical poverty knowledge, and psychoanalysis. The PAP addresses poverty as a violation of human rights and emphasizes people’s ongoing efforts to resist poverty. In order to recognize these sometimes minor acts of resistance and advance their impact, social workers should establish close relationship with service users and stand by them. The book proposes combining relationship-based practice and rights-based practice as a means of bridging the gap between the emotional and material needs of service users. In addition to introducing the main concepts of the PAP, the book also contributes to the debate between conservative and cultural theories of poverty and structural theories, emphasizing the impact of a critical framework on this debate. The book consists of four parts. The first, “Transformation”, addresses the transformational nature of the paradigm. The second, “Recognition”, is based on current psychoanalytic developments and “translates” them into social work practice in order to deepen our understanding of relationship-based practice. The third, “Rights”, describes rights-based practice. The fourth, “Solidarity”, presents various ways in which solidarity might shape social workers’ practice. The book seeks to reaffirm social work’s core commitment to combating poverty and furthering social justice and to offer a solid theoretical conceptualization that is also eminently practical.

scholarly journals SOCIAL WORK IN THE SYSTEM OF ASSISTANCE TO THE PERSONS WITH ADDICTIVE EATING BEHAVIOR

2021 ◽  
pp. 216-220
Author(s):  
Maryna Lapina ◽  
Yelyzaveta Boiko
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Special Functions ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Professional Activity

The article is devoted to the topical problem of psychosocial assistance to people with addictive eating behavior, which is common among teenagers and young people, leads to tragic consequences, but still lacks a sufficient scientific basis and a comprehensive solution. The purpose of the study is to determine the place of social work and the content of the social workers’ activity in the system of assistance to persons with addictive eating behavior. Theoretical analysis of research of the food deviations problem, the concrete definition of terms «dysfunctional eating», «eating disorders», content and comparative analysis of professional functions of social workers in the context of helping people with addictive eating behavior are used as methods to achieve the goal of the research. It is determined that the professional activity of a social worker with persons with dysfunctional and disordered eating takes place in medical institutions, social services and secondary schools. The most common task of social work with persons with food addictions is the prevention. Special functions of a social worker in an inpatient (medical) institution are administrative and organizational work with eating disorders patient. Educational, social support and rehabilitation function are predominant in the activities of a social worker in social institutions. Instead, the specialist carries out for the most part diagnostics and monitoring, formation of eating habits, socio-pedagogical support of young people with dysfunctional eating in educational institutions. The leading role of a social worker at all stages of intervention and the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the prevention, correction and rehabilitation of people with addictive eating behavior are identified.

scholarly journals Knowledge Management and the Sustainable Development of Social Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Colnar ◽  
Vlado Dimovski ◽  
David Bogataj
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
The Social

The growing shortage of skilled social workers, accompanied by an ageing population and the increasing number of fragile, elderly individuals that require social services, poses a serious challenge for our society. The magnitude of this problem is seen in the various predictions hypothesizing that, globally, there is likely to be a shortfall of millions of social workers for the successful provision of social services. To make matters worse, there are not enough social work students to fill that void, whereas the existing employee turnover is another serious concern for the social work field. Policy makers in many countries do not yet understand the pattern of growing needs and have no tool to forecast the future increase in educational requirements for creating a pool of adequately skilled social workers. In addition to this, understanding the patterns of workforce entrance and exit for social workers and the dynamics of transition becomes important for national policy and decision makers. In our paper, we build on current research about knowledge management in social work settings to demonstrate that knowledge management can have a positive impact in helping to fulfil the important role of social work in any ageing society. With our research, we contribute to the underdeveloped literature about knowledge management in the public sector and especially in social work settings and to the knowledge-based view of the organization. We present a multiple decrement model of social workers’ entrance and transition from social work student and social worker trainee to fully productive social worker, to their exit, whether by changed profession, retirement or death. We argue that the availability of social workers in a national economy depends on the development and operationalization of appropriate policies, where knowledge management can be influential. Our model allows measuring the quality of the national policy system related to the social work profession, something which has not been achieved yet, and shows how knowledge management solutions can positively influence the whole field of social work. We apply an objective measuring tool, grounded in an already developed actuarial–mathematical method. Our case relies on the collection and analysis of relevant data found in publicly available statistical reports for Slovenia. Existing data enables us to provide assumptions on how to better forecast the transition of social workers.

scholarly journals Ethical Issues of Professional Communication and Activities of Social Workers in Work with a Family of Military Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (6 (344)) ◽  
pp. 130-139
Author(s):  
Iryna Trubavina ◽  
◽  
Svitlana Boyko ◽  
Oleg Nikonenko ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Military Conflict ◽  
The Family

The relevance of the article lies in the fact that for the first time the question was raised about the ethics of social work with the families of military personnel during a military conflict and a pandemic, the extreme conditions of existence of mankind, the humanitarian crisis. The following ethical issues of social work with families of military personnel are the main ones in the article: how to provide social services, by what criteria, on the basis of what rules in conditions of limited resources? The authors show the peculiarities of the family as a client of social workers and the need for special ethics with it, reveal the modern social problems of the families of military personnel. The article reveals the essence of ethics of behavior and communication of social workers with families. The authors define the characteristics of the family of a serviceman, prove the lack of training of social workers to work in war and pandemic conditions, its previous focus on work in peaceful conditions. The authors describe the experiencе, which allowed them to formulate the purpose of the study – to determine the essence of the ethics of behavior and communication of social workers in working with families of military personnel. The article reveals the concept of professional ethics of a social worker who works with a family, the components of ethics and features in working with families of military personnel through: values – of various types and levels, moral norms and their types, ethical principles, moral qualities of a social worker. The article shows the prospects for further research as the development of a code of ethics for social workers in war conditions.

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