‘My Contributions Made a Significant Difference’: Young Carers’ Reflections on Their Participation in Social Work Admissions

Author(s):  
Andrea Newman ◽  
Bridgit Carey ◽  
Malcolm Kinney

Abstract Whilst the participation of service users and carers (SUCs) in Social Work admissions (SWAs) has significantly developed over the past decades, concerns have been raised about the tokenistic nature of SUC involvement (Barnes, D., Carpenter, J. and Bailey, D. (2000) ‘Partnerships with service users in interprofessinal education for community mental health: A case study’, Journal of Interprofessional Care, 14(2), pp. 189–200) particularly in relation to young people (YP). Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in partnership with Barnardo’s Action with Young Carers Liverpool have (BAWYC) worked to develop meaningful participation for YP in SWA. In this article, we discuss our approach to YPs’ participation, exploring their experiences of involvement. Using a co-production approach, drawing on participatory action research methodology, we utilise in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of young carers (YCs) to ask questions about the nature of YPs’ participation including: How meaningful they consider their involvement; what are the outcomes and benefits and what are the continuing barriers? Adopting a reflective thematic analysis, research findings indicate that YCs feel valued and respected in their SWA role, and surprised at the level of involvement and decision making ascribed to them. They report personal development and feelings of self-worth and increased confidence, helping them to consider their own futures in a more aspirational way.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 832-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yean Wang ◽  
Ziyu Liu ◽  
Dongping Qiao ◽  
Huan Zhang

Objective:The main purpose is to empirically investigate the outcomes of a Western-style Master of Social Work program that was designed by School of Social Work, University of Southern California and contextually implemented in School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University.Method:A three-wave panel study was used and a focus group discussion was conducted to evaluate the program.Results:Students reported a significant improvement in professional competence and satisfaction and a moderate decline in professional commitment after classroom training. However, after field training, there was almost no significant difference in professional competence and satisfaction, but there was a decline in professional commitment.Conclusions:The results come down to gaps between organizational development and students’ personal development, between education and practice, and between students’ expectation and reality. This study highlights the importance to fill in the gaps and sheds light on the way to indigenize social work education in China.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitza Davidovitch ◽  
Roman Yavich

In recent years the research literature has explored technological developments in varied areas that measure change. The current study focuses on the smart board, and its purpose is to examine its effect on the school system. The study was conducted via a questionnaire completed by 130 respondents (boys and girls) in the fifth and sixth grades of two elementary schools in Jerusalem—Efrata and Tali Gilo. Smart boards were introduced in these two schools in recent years.We hypothesized that smart boards improve teaching, based on the teaching measures developed by Nira Hativa of Tel Aviv University: order and organization, level of clarity, interest, and general level of satisfaction. The study’s significant finding is that the greatest improvement since the introduction of smart boards is in the variable of clarity, and a significant difference was found in the favor of sixth grade students. Additionally, a significant difference was found in the variable of interest, in favor of the girls. All four variables appear to be interrelated, and each contributes to the student’s success and to improving the student’s learning process.The research findings illuminate the contribution of technology to teaching, through a case study of smart boards, in the dimension of clarity, found by the study to be a significant criterion of good teaching. Examination of the various technological tools in light of their contribution to the research-proven dimensions of outstanding teaching might enhance the pedagogical contribution of technological developments to teaching.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 718-718
Author(s):  
Nancy Kusmaul ◽  
Todd Becker

Abstract Most adults have experienced traumatic events (SAMHSA, 2017). Late-life traumas may compound upon trauma histories (Maschi, et al., 2013), accentuating the risks confronting older adults. Per CMS’ updated Requirements for Participation, nursing homes (NHs) must implement trauma-informed care (TIC) approaches, effective November 2019. Many NHs do not staff Masters of Social Work (MSWs), despite their expertise in providing mental health care. Notwithstanding, employed MSWs feel unprepared to help their NHs implement TIC. This presentation discusses findings from a national survey of NH social service directors (N = 932). Results showed 71% (n = 650) reported moderate to strong interest in TIC training. A Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed a statistically significant difference in TIC training interest χ2(1) = 43.690, p < .001, such that MSWs reported higher interest (M = 486.47) than non-MSWs (M = 375.23). There was no difference between those with and without a Bachelor of Social Work.


Author(s):  
Charlotte Bailey ◽  
Debbie Plath ◽  
Alankaar Sharma

Abstract The international policy trend towards personalised budgets, which is designed to offer people with disabilities purchasing power to choose services that suit them, is exemplified in the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This article examines how the ‘purchasing power’ afforded to service users through individualised budgets impacts on social work practice and the choice and self-determination of NDIS service users. Social workers’ views were sought on the alignment between the NDIS principles of choice and control and social work principles of participation and self-determination and how their social work practice has changed in order to facilitate client access to supports through NDIS budgets and meaningful participation in decision-making. A survey was completed by forty-five social workers, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five of these participants. The findings identify how social workers have responded to the shortfalls of the NDIS by the following: interpreting information for clients; assisting service users to navigate complex service provision systems; supporting clients through goal setting, decision-making and implementation of action plans; and adopting case management approaches. The incorporation of social work services into the NDIS service model is proposed in order to facilitate meaningful choice and self-determination associated with purchasing power.


Author(s):  
Liz Beddoe ◽  
Allen Bartley

This chapter summarises the recurring themes and lessons from the preceding substantive chapters and reflects upon their implications. It draws together the different issues, laws and culture in social work across the five countries examined, and compares the country-specific challenges raised in the chapters. The editors make recommendations for how the social work profession can take a more active role in the transition of Transnational Social Workers, and highlight good practice in preceding chapters. Finally, they comment on the need for more research in the area, including with service users.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Hillock

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 2168
Author(s):  
Duygu Harmandar Demirel ◽  
Emrah Serdar ◽  
Mehmet Demirel

The aim of this study is to determine the anxiety levels of the students studying in the teaching departments and to examine these according to different variables. The sample of the study consisted of 400 non-random sampling methods and 400 prospective teachers who were studying at Dumlupinar University. The personal information form created by the researchers and the data related to the pre-service teachers' concerns about the teaching profession were provided by Caba and Yalçınalp (2009). In the research findings: “Gender”, “Age”, “Satisfaction Status”, “Class”, “Faculty” and “Sports Making Status” showed a significant difference in “OAST” total scores (p <0.05). As a result, it can be concluded that the vocational anxiety levels of the teacher candidates studying in different departments differ according to some variables.Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetBu araştırma ile öğretmenlik bölümlerinde okuyan öğrencilerinin mesleğe yönelik kaygı düzeylerini belirlemek ve bunu farklı değişkenlere göre incelemektir. Araştırmanın örneklemini seçkisiz olmayan örnekleme yöntemlerinden uygun örnekleme yoluyla seçilen ve Dumlupınar Üniversitesinde öğrenim görmekte olan 400 öğretmen adayı oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmada oluşturulan demografik bilgi formu ve öğretmen adaylarının öğretmenlik mesleğine yönelik kaygılarına ilişkin veriler Cabı ve Yalçınalp (2009) tarafından geliştirilen Öğretmen Adaylarına Yönelik Mesleki Kaygı Ölçeği (ÖAYMK) ile sağlanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde; betimsel istatistik yöntemler, Man Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis testlerinden faydalanılmıştır. Araştırma bulgularında: “Cinsiyet”, “Yaş”, “Okuduğu Bölümden Memnun Olma Durumu”, “Sınıf”, “Fakülte” ve “Spor Yapma Durumu” göre “ÖAYMK” toplam puanlarında manidar farklılık bulunmuştur. Araştırmaya gore, öğretmen adaylarının meslekleri ile ilgili kaygı seviyelerinin değişkenlere göre farklılaştığı sonucuna varılabilir.


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