scholarly journals Fear and Uncertainty: The Surrogacy Triad’s Experience of Social Workers’ Role Ambiguity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Walker ◽  
Liezl van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Role Conflict ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Role Ambiguity ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Valuable Role

Abstract In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with surrogates and intended parents about their experience of surrogacy in New Zealand, focussing on the changes they would like to see in the regulatory framework, particularly with regards to legal parentage and the involvement of social workers in assessing intending parents’ suitability to parent. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts showed that role ambiguity and role conflict experienced by social workers have their corollary in the experience of intended parents and surrogates, where it manifests as either fear that the adoption could be declined or uncertainty about the purpose of the social worker’s involvement. Although participants recommended that their role be eliminated—along with the adoption process itself—we argue that there is a valuable role for social workers at the beginning of the process.

scholarly journals Social Workers’ Reflections on Ethics in Relation to Adoption in the UK: Everywhere but Nowhere?

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brid Featherstone ◽  
Anna Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Ethical Theories ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Empirical research with social workers exploring their understandings and use of codes or ethical theories in practice remain underdeveloped in the UK. This article, based on the British Association of Social Work commissioned Enquiry into the role of the social worker in adoption with a focus on ethics and human rights, provides an important contribution in this context. The Enquiry engaged with a range of stakeholders and explored their perspectives on the adoption process, but the primary focus of this article is on how ethics were understood and discussed by social workers. One hundred and five social workers participated in the Enquiry through questionnaires, interviews and group discussions, and a thematic analysis of their data revealed important findings. For example, the social workers made no explicit reference to codes of ethics or specific ethical theories. However, some of the themes that emerge from the analysis support discussions in what is now a substantial international literature on the importance of recognising ‘ethics work’ by social workers (Banks, 2016). Weinberg’s (2009) explorations of moral distress and ethical trespass are also important and underdeveloped concepts that resonate with themes from the Enquiry and could support more ethically enquiring cultures within organisations and more broadly.

Social Work, Inter-Disciplinary Cooperation and Self-Neglect: Exploring Logics of Appropriateness

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 664-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Mason ◽  
Tony Evans
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Social

Abstract Working in a cooperative manner with other disciplines or agencies is often cited as an essential element of social work with adults who self-neglect. Cooperative working is now a legal requirement for agencies involved in adult social care in England. However, little is known about how social workers engage cooperatively with other disciplines in practice. This study sets out to explore this issue, employing the ‘Logic of Appropriateness’ perspective to theorise the ways in which social workers talked about working with other disciplines in self-neglect casework. The article presents a qualitative study, which was undertaken through semi-structured interviews with eleven social workers in an urban, adult social care team in an English local authority. Thematic analysis was not only used to draw out four key logics used by the social workers—leadership, joint-working, conflict and proxy—but also highlighted the ways in which social workers moved between different logics when talking about inter-disciplinary cooperation and working with adults who self-neglect. The results highlight the complex dynamics of cooperation and suggest that these dynamics need to be understood in assessing the implementation of integrated policies for social care in this area.

Transnational Social Work

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
The Social ◽  
Global Nature ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Labour Market Mobility

This unique book provides an international comparison of labour markets, migrant professionals and immigration policies, and their interaction in relation to social work. Case studies based on the latest research from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia allow readers to make critical comparisons and gain understanding of the global nature of the social work profession. Detailed analysis covers the opportunities and challenges presented by labour market mobility, the implications for social justice and discussion of the experiences and perceptions of transnational social workers. Essential reading for social work educators, academics and professionals, this book will also inform the development of relevant policy, professional, and educational responses to the phenomenon of transnational social work mobility.

scholarly journals Experiences of New Zealand Haemodialysis Patients in Relation to Food and Nutrition Management: A Qualitative Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2299
Author(s):  
Rachael M. McLean ◽  
Zhengxiu Xie ◽  
Vicky Nelson ◽  
Vili Nosa ◽  
Hla Thein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Nutrition Management ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Major Disruption

People receiving haemodialysis have considerable and complex dietary and healthcare needs, including co-morbidities. A recent New Zealand study has shown that few patients on haemodialysis are able to meet nutritional requirements for haemodialysis. This study aims to describe the perspectives and experiences of dietary management among patients on haemodialysis in New Zealand. This exploratory qualitative study used in-depth semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from different ethnic groups. Forty interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was taken using thematic analysis. Forty participants were interviewed. Participants spoke of major disruption to their lives as a result of their chronic kidney disease and being on haemodialysis, including loss of employment, financial challenges, loss of independence, social isolation and increased reliance on extended family. Most had received adequate dietary information, although some felt that more culturally appropriate support would have enabled a healthier diet. These findings show that further support to make the recommended dietary changes while on haemodialysis should focus on socio-cultural factors, in addition to the information already provided.

Social media participatory CPD for nursing revalidation, professional development and beyond

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (13) ◽  
pp. 870-877
Author(s):  
Calvin Moorley ◽  
Theresa Chinn
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Design Data ◽  
The Social ◽  
Reflective Design ◽  
Professional Requirements ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Media Applications

Background: In 2016 the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK introduced revalidation, which is the process nurses are required to follow to renew their registration. This provides an opportunity for nurses to shape, develop and evolve social media to meet their professional requirements. Aims: to examine different ways nurses can use social media tools for continuous professional development (CPD) and revalidation. Methods: using a qualitative reflective design, data were gathered from content on the @WeNurses platform and activities organised with other leading health organisations in England. These data were analysed using the social media relationship triangle developed by the authors with a thematic analysis approach. Findings: analysis revealed that social media was used in six categories: publishing, sharing, messaging, discussing, collaborating, and networking. Organised social media events such as: blogs, tweetchats, Twitter storms, webinars, infographics, podcasts, videos and virtual book clubs can support nurses with revalidation and professional development. Conclusion: Through using a participatory CPD approach and embracing professional social media applications nurses have moved social media from the concept of a revolution to an evolution.

Reconfiguring professional autonomy? The case of social work in the UK

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chandler ◽  
Elisabeth Berg ◽  
Marion Ellison ◽  
Jim Barry
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Professional Autonomy ◽  
The Third ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk

This chapter discusses the contemporary position of social work in the United Kingdom, and in particular the challenges to what is seen as a managerial-technicist version of social work. The chapter begins with focus on the situation from the 1990s to the present day in which this version of social work takes root and flourishes. The discussion then concentrates on three different routes away from a managerial-technicist social work: the first, reconfiguring professional practice in the direction of evaluation in practice, the second ‘reclaiming social work’ on the Hackney relationship-based model and the third ‘reclaiming social work’ in a more radical, highly politicised way. Special attention is devoted to a discussion about how much autonomy the social workers have in different models, but also what kind of autonomy and for what purpose.

scholarly journals The Use of Metaphor as an Important Tool for Understanding Oppression

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Hillock
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Written Assignments ◽  
Systems Of Domination

Using an anti-oppressive practice (AOP) theoretical framework and an exploratory qualitative research design, featuring semi-structured interviews and written assignments, a group of ten social workers were asked to describe their understandings of the concept of oppression. The study found that, in the case of these particular social workers, they used metaphor as a key conceptualization process to more vividly describe and understand the concept of oppression within their social work practice. This article analyzes eight categories of metaphor themes the participants used to explain their understanding of oppression: (a) pressure; (b) earth; (c) quest; (d) nature of society;  (e) seeing; (f) building; (g) dancing; and (h) water. The research findings are intended to open up dialogue and thinking about the concept of oppression, increase our knowledge base and understandings of oppression within social work practice, and assist the social work profession to build a stronger conceptual framework for understanding and naming oppression with the end goal of assisting social workers to better respond to and resist systems of domination.

scholarly journals Enhancing Year 7 and Year 8 Boys' Motivation in Narrative Writing Through Peer Collaboration and a Drama Strategy: a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Karen Coulton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Thought Processes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Intermediate School ◽  
The Social ◽  
Drama Intervention ◽  
Motivation And Learning

<p>International and New Zealand research continues to show that there is concern about boys being less successful than girls in writing at all levels of the school. This study examines to what extent year 7 and year 8 boys are motivated to advance their writing when they collaborate with a peer and choose to use a drama strategy. A qualitative approach was taken to explore the insiders‟ view of writing from eight year 7 and year 8 boys in an intermediate school in New Zealand. Data gathered were from semi-structured interviews, in class observations and samples of writing. Sociocultural theory was used to inform the investigation of the social and cultural influences on the boys‟ learning about writing. The findings illustrate that the drama intervention was successful as the boys were motivated to write through their social interaction of role- playing characters from a choice of topics represented in their everyday lives. The boys revealed their metacognitive knowledge by showing their awareness of their thought processes about writing and how to use this knowledge to develop their writing abilities. The study makes recommendations for teachers, including the need for teachers to recognise the boys‟ position of authority over their knowledge, which is essential for their motivation and learning to write successfully.</p>

scholarly journals Living a good life from the perspectives of the Chinese migrants in Scotland

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Caroline Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Chinese Migrants ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk

The 2011 Census shows 34,000 Chinese people living in Scotland, making Chinese the second largest minority group residing in Scotland. Among them, the asylum and refugee population continue to be largely invisible in the service delivery in Glasgow, which has been the only dispersal area in Scotland since 1999. Remarkably little research has been carried out on the UK Chinese migrant community in the literature, and this study proposed to fill the gap of finding out the wellbeing of this population. The researcher investigated the factors contributing to the wellbeing of twenty-five Chinese migrants, who are either asylum seekers or refugees in Glasgow as the first stage of a wellbeing study, adopting the concepts from the Wellbeing in Developing Countries framework (White, 2008). The Indicators of Integration (Strang & Ager 2008) and the Social Capital Theory (Putnam 1995) were used as reference points to explore the understanding of well-being and social connections. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to find out the core constructs of wellbeing from the Chinese peoples perspectives and thematic analysis was used in data analysis. The top five themes that emerged were childrens education, employment and financial independence, health care, freedom of speech and association, and support from own ethnic group.

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