The Ethical Conflict of Dual Obligations Amongst Social Workers: The Role of Organisational Affiliation and Seniority

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1854-1870
Author(s):  
Ester Zychlinski ◽  
Sagit Lev ◽  
Maya Kagan
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
Ethical Conflicts ◽  
The Government ◽  
Public Monitoring ◽  
Adequate Supervision

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to examine the frequency of ethical conflicts amongst social workers, deriving from dual obligations to clients and employers, as associated with their organisational affiliation and professional seniority. The sample included 723 social workers from three organisational sectors in Israel: the government sector, the third sector and the for-profit sector. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the main and interaction effects of organisational affiliation and seniority on the frequency of ethical conflicts amongst social workers. Social workers in the for-profit and third sectors experienced a significantly higher frequency of ethical conflicts than those in the government sector. In addition, social workers with moderate seniority were found to experience ethical conflicts more frequently than those with low and high seniority. These findings have an important contribution to the ongoing public debate on the privatisation of social services, by pointing to the difficulties encountered by social workers employed in partially privatised social services in meeting their obligations to clients. Better public monitoring and adequate supervision of social workers are recommended. In addition, it is suggested that partial privatisation processes be reconsidered in the case of vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals Citizens Participating in their Healthcare – Challenges for Nurses

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirkko Kouri
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Government

In Finland, health and welfare is taken care under the common health and social services system that consists of independent private, public and third sector actors. Through taxation, municipalities finance most of the healthcare and the government provides additional support. Functionality and effectiveness of the overall system is vitally important to guarantee today’s good healthcare services. For instance, in social services and healthcare, digital health supports the quality of life, care, dignity and sovereignty. The necessary technology is equally, fairly and easily accessible due to the widespread technological infrastructure. For example, in healthcare, use of technology is agreed with the citizen when preparing the healthcare service plan. The documentation of patient data is carried out virtually at all levels of care. Technology offers options that can paradoxically mean both freedom and slavery depending on how and where technology is used, and who has the right to use it. Furthermore, the digital divide has narrowed, but it still exists. Due to the ageing of people, there is a growing need for healthcare staff who are digitally knowledgeable in order to support citizens and their families in health issues. When studying different digital health related strategies from 1995 to 2020, the vital role of healthcare staff is recognised and their technological competence and skills need to be updated along with the development of technology. During the last decade, in the latest strategies, the role of the citizen as a key part of the healthcare service chain has grown significantly.  Simultaneously, the development of a digital society offers possibilities to participate and the advanced digital expertise of citizens promotes their participation in healthcare. In principle, everyone has possibilities to access health data and gather health related data via Internet databases. This article discusses the elements of citizen or patient and nurse interactions, and how and whether this challenges nurses.

Prospects for architects in the Government Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
Disha Garg ◽  
Kartik Sharma ◽  
Parul Nayar ◽  
Shubhi Goyal ◽  
Shruti S Nagdeve
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Professional Life ◽  
Thought Process ◽  
The Public ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Private Practices ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
The Government

Purpose: With the conception of one’s professional life, it is essential to understand all the possibilities and opportunities that lie before them. In the case of architecture, there exists a bias towards the private sector where newly graduate students aspire to work in private practices and possibly even envision a practice of their own at a certain point in life. While there is nothing wrong with envisioning a future in the private sector, it is also essential to be aware about the public sector and understand the opportunities it provides to be able to make an informed decision. There is a preconceived notion about the monotonous nature of government jobs and a lack of awareness about students about the opportunities in this sector. Hence, it becomes crucial to understand the numerous opportunities this sector has to offer and thus, explore the potential of architects in government organizations. Methodology: The research for this paper has been done by referring to existing literature and interviews with concerned people. With an understanding of how and why is the government sector an essential  area of research for budding architects and planners. The research was done through interviews and possible case studies was done based on review of existing literature. Main Findings: The government is one sector with tremendous possibilities in the realm of architecture but is often plagued with stereotypes and preconceptions which have emerged over the years. It is imagined to be “lazy”, “uninnovative” and “non-productive” but this sector has evolved over the recent years and is now shaping to be one of the more lucrative sectors for practice. The number of perks, benefits and a clear comparative advantage of a higher salary, added with the direct contribution towards serving the nation, the government sector clearly has an unrealised potential for architectural professionals. Implications: With younger architetcs having preconceived notions about role of architetcs in a government sector limited to unexciting set of designs without creativity, this article may help bring a fresh thought process to choose professional sector wisely.

Team Managers in Local Social Service Departments in Israel as Bottom-Up Social Policy-Makers

2021 ◽  
pp. 324-345
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Services ◽  
Service Departments ◽  
New Policies

Following on Felice Perlmutter's work on the managerial role of social workers in social services, this article contributes to the still limited knowledge on the role of social workers in middle-management positions in formulating new policies `on the ground`. The study expands knowledge about policies determined by team managers in local social service departments in Israel. It occurs in the nexus between street-level bureaucracy, professionalism and managerial positions. Semi-structured interviews with 28 team managers revealed that they formulated `new` policies with regard to the provision of psychosocial services and material assistance (who gets what, when and how). This occurs when they resist official policy, when it is vague or non-existent. Most of their policy decisions are not documented and draw upon consultations with colleagues and superiors though not with clients. The team managers perceive these policies as a means for achieving balance between clients' well-being and budgetary constraints. Yet their decisions lack transparency, are decided upon without public discourse and may lead to greater inequity between clients

Global Citizens: Campaigning for Environmental Solutions

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Rose ◽  
Peter Melchett
Keyword(s):  
Energy Resource ◽  
Electricity Demand ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
Pressure Groups ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Fisheries Policy ◽  
The Government

This chapter deals with three linked issues. First, the nature of modern campaigning, with particular reference to the work of Greenpeace and the solutions they offer. Second, the role of Greenpeace and other nongovernmental organizations from the not-for-profit sector. Third, the challenge and opportunities created by ‘globalization’ and what this means for global governance from an environmental point of view. For some years Greenpeace has argued that ‘solutions’ have moved to centre stage in the work of pressure groups, as they used to be known. The formative role of environmental campaigning organizations was to draw attention to problems, but by the 1990s, finding and demonstrating solutions, and getting them applied, became much more important (see Yearley, this volume). This has proved a long and hard road. Indeed, the gap between what can be done and what is being done has, if anything, widened. This is mainly because the technical potential has improved while, in Britain at least, implementation has moved much more slowly. It was once famously said of an incompetent British government that this is an island built on coal and surrounded by fish, but still it manages to run out of both. Similar things could be said today. The government has patently failed to protect fish stocks but that can be conveniently blamed on the EU Common Fisheries Policy. But no such excuse will wash on energy. Britain’s wave energy resource is more than 70 times the UK electricity demand. Britain’s wind resource is also vast. Offshore wind could meet Britain’s entire electricity demand three times over. Against this, the government’s unattained target of 10 per cent for renewable electricity is simply pathetic. Contrast Britain with Denmark, which is phasing out fossil fuel use in electricity generation and is on course for generating 50 per cent of its electricity from wind alone by 2030. Little wonder Denmark is reaping the benefits in terms of engineering jobs in wind turbines, an industry in which it is world leader. The story in Germany and the Netherlands is similar: yet Britain is far, far windier.

What is active in the active exercising of rights?

Radical Hope ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 151-168
Author(s):  
Michal Krumer-Nevo
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services

This chapter is the first of the book’s third part, titled “Rights”. Thinking about rights-based practice as a necessary complement to relationship-based practice is an organizing principle of the PAP. This chapter serves as a theoretical and conceptual introduction to the discussion on rights. In addition, it describes the guidelines of the new role of rights-exercising social workers, which was adopted by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services. In line with the PAP’s commitment to seeing the emotional and the material worlds as interconnected, this chapter explains how a rights-based practice can become therapeutic.

Funding higher education through waqf: a lesson from Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Asmak Ab Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Academic Activities ◽  
Higher Educational ◽  
The Government

Purpose This paper aims to study waqf practice in Pakistan with regard to its utilisation in funding for higher educational institutions (HEIs) and investigates waqf raising, waqf management and waqf income utilisation. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on the views of 11 participants who are actively involved in the waqf, its raising, management and income utilisation, and is divided into three subcategories: personnel of higher educational waqf institution, personnel of waqf regulatory bodies and Shari’ah and legal experts as well as archival records, documents and library sources. Findings In Pakistan, both public and private awqaf are existing, but the role of private awqaf is greater in higher education funding. However, due to lack of legal supervision private awqaf is considered as a part of the not-for-profit sector and legitimately registered as a society, foundation, trust or a private limited company. Waqf in Pakistan is more focusing on internal financial sources and waqf income. In terms of waqf management, they have firm guidelines for investing in real estate, the Islamic financial sector and various halal businesses. Waqf uses the income for developmental and operational expenditure, and supports academic activities for students and staff. Waqfs are also supporting some other HEIs and research agencies. Thus, it can be revealed that a waqf can cater a sufficient amount for funding higher educational institutions. Research limitations/implications In Pakistan, both public and private awqaf are equally serving society in different sectors, but the role of private awqaf is much greater in funding higher education. Nevertheless, the government treats private awqaf as a part of not-for-profit sector in the absence of a specific legal framework and registers such organisations as society, foundation, trust or private limited company. The waqf in Pakistan mostly relies on internal financial resources and income from waqf assets. As the waqf managers have over the time evolved firm guidelines for investment in real estate, Islamic financial sector and various other halal businesses, and utilisation of waqf income on developmental and operational expenditures, academic activities of students and educational staff, other HEIs and research agencies, it can be proved that the waqf can potentially generate sufficient amount for funding HEIs. Practical implications The study presents the waqf as a social finance institution and the best alternative fiscal instrument for funding works of public good, including higher education, with the help of three selected waqf cases. Hence, the paper’s findings offer some generalisations, both for the ummah at large and Pakistan. Social implications The paper makes several policy recommendations for policymakers, legislators and academicians, especially the government. As an Islamic social finance institution, the waqf can help finance higher education anywhere around the world in view of the fact that most countries grapple with huge fiscal deficits and are hence financially constrained to meet growing needs of HEIs. Originality/value The study confirms that the waqf can be an alternative source for funding higher education institutions whether it is managed by the government or is privately controlled.

The Social and Political Dimensions of Co-operative Enterprises

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor A. Pestoff
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Political Role ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Industrial Age ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Post Industrial

The role of co-operatives as providers of goods and services, as in the industrial age, more recently became overshadowed by their potential as providers of social services. In the post-industrial or service society, co-operatives are found in a growing number of countries. Co-operative enterprises have a unique capacity to mobilize social capital and provide relational goods that neither public nor private for-profit providers demonstrate. This brings co-operative enterprises full-circle in terms of their historical political role as democratic pioneers, since they can now also contribute to reducing the growing democratic deficit. This chapter explores the political and social dimensions of co-operative enterprises that pursue multiple goals. It also introduces a dynamic model of co-operative development that can be fruitfully employed for analysing the social and political dilemmas faced by co-operative enterprises.

scholarly journals Does sector matter for the quality of care services? A secondary analysis of social care services regulated by the Care Inspectorate in Scotland

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e022975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Malthe Bach-Mortensen ◽  
Paul Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Better Than

ObjectivesSocial services are increasingly commissioned to third and for-profit sector providers, but little is known about whether and how these changes influence quality indicators. We assessed quality-related outcomes across for-profit, public and third sector organisations delivering social care services.DesignA secondary analysis was conducted on publically available data collected by the independent regulator of social care organisations in Scotland. All outcomes are reported as predicted probabilities derived from multivariate logistic regression coefficients. Generalised ordered logit models are utilised for the quality domains and the risk assessment score and logistic regression for whether complaints or requirements were issued to organisations.SettingOrganisations inspected by the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.Population13 310 social care organisations (eg, nursing homes and day care organisations).Primary outcomesThe quality and risk domains collected by the Care Inspectorate and complaints and requirements issued to organisations within the last 3 years.ResultsControlling for multiple factors, we find that public and third sector providers performed consistently and statistically significantly better than for-profit organisations on most outcomes. For example, for-profit services were the most likely to be rated as high and medium risk (6.9% and 13.2%, respectively), and the least likely to be classified as low risk (79.9%). Public providers had the highest probability of being categorised as low risk (91.1%), and the lowest probability of having their services classified as medium (6.9%) and high risk (2%), followed by third sector providers (86%, 8.5% and 4.5%, respectively). Public providers performed better than third sector providers in some outcomes, but differences were relatively low and inconsistent.ConclusionPublic and third sector providers were rated considerably higher than their for-profit counterparts on most observed outcomes. Regulators might use this information to consider how social care providers across sector are incentivised to manage their resources.

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