scholarly journals Reflections from the end of the Earth: Social work planning, preparation and intervention with evacuees on haemodialysis treatment following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-115
Author(s):  
Anna C. Stewardson ◽  
Nicolette Crump
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Stress Isolation ◽  
Civil Defence ◽  
Haemodialysis Treatment

The February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch caused damage to infrastructure which made it impossible for people with end stage renal failure to have haemodialysis treatment in Christchurch for an undetermined period. Guided by the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan (Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, 2009) and the National Health Emergency Plan (Ministry of Health, 2008), the National Emergency Response Team decided to transfer dialysis-dependent people out of Christchurch to the Northern District Health Board.This article discusses the links between social work and emergency preparedness and emergency responsiveness and the role of social workers before and immediately after disasters. It will provide a practitioner’s view of the planning, preparation and social work intervention to support identified acute psychosocial needs for the group of haemodialysis patients evacuated from Christchurch to Whangarei following this earthquake, with particular focus on emotional and psychological stress, isolation and financial resources.The evacuated Christchurch patients expressed feeling as if they were being sent to ‘the end of the earth’. This article will reflect on issues of resilience, group dynamics, the role of social workers with evacuees, managing media and community boundaries, and social worker’s self care.

scholarly journals The 2019 National Nursing Home Social Services Directors Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 717-718
Author(s):  
Mercedes Bern-Klug ◽  
Robin Bonifas
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Psychosocial Issues ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Federal Guidelines

Abstract Psychosocial and emotional needs of nursing home (NH) residents can take the back seat to physical needs in NHs that do not employ staff with the appropriate educational and experience level to anticipate, identify and address these important issues. When present, professional licensed social workers can enhance the NH’s ability to address psychosocial issues. However, federal guidelines do not require licensed social workers in NHs, nor does it collect data that would reveal the extent to which licensed social workers are present. With financial support from the RRF Foundation for Aging the NNHSSD Study was undertaken in 2019 to build understanding of departmental staffing characteristics and involvement of the department in key activities and processes. The 924 respondents from around the country also answered questions about training needs, barriers to addressing resident needs, compensation, and job satisfaction. Findings reveal that about half of the nation’s NH social services directors have earned a bachelors or master’s degree in social work, and about half are licensed (although not all degreed social workers are licensed and not all licensed social workers have earned a social work degree). Half of all social services departments employ only one staff member, one-third have two staff members, and 9% have three staff. About 90% report enjoying their job, with over half reporting they are thriving (not just surviving) in their job. Respondents provided feedback that can be used to strengthen the role of the department and its ability to identity and address resident psychosocial needs.

scholarly journals Emotional intelligence as a part of critical reflection in social work practice and research

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110247
Author(s):  
Mari D Herland
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Social workers often experience higher levels of burnout compared with other healthcare professionals. The capacity to manage one’s own emotional reactions efficiently, frequently in complex care settings, is central to the role of social workers. This article highlights the complexity of emotions in social work research and practice by exploring the perspective of emotional intelligence. The article is both theoretical and empirical, based on reflections from a qualitative longitudinal study interviewing fathers with behavioural and criminal backgrounds, all in their 40 s. The analysis contains an exploration of the researcher position that illuminates the reflective, emotional aspects that took place within this interview process. Three overall themes emerged – first: Recognising emotional complexity; second: Reflecting on emotional themes; and third: Exploring my own prejudices and preconceptions. The findings apply to both theoretical and practical social work, addressing the need to understand emotions as a central part of critical reflection and reflexivity. The argument is that emotions have the potential to expand awareness of one’s own preconceptions, related to normative societal views. This form of analytical awareness entails identifying and paying attention to one’s own, sometimes embodied, emotional triggers.

scholarly journals The pas de trois of disability, dance and social work: dance/movement therapy as point of access for recreational dance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geneviève Elitha Margaret Roots
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenology ◽  
Movement Therapy ◽  
Logic Model ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Dance Movement Therapy ◽  
Dance Movement ◽  
Therapeutic Practice

Individuals with disabilities are left out of recreational programs at a much higher rate than individuals with no disabilities. Seeking to rid barriers created by inaccessible recreational dance spaces, dance/movement therapy (DMT) offers a potential solution. This research explores how DMT can inspire a model for accessible recreational dance spaces for individuals with varying abilities, how this therapeutic practice can translate into a recreational dance atmosphere, and the role of social workers herein. The research takes the form of a content analysis via hermeneutic phenomenology of a six-week DMT-inspired pilot program developed by the researcher, and is informed by critical disability and structural social work theories. Findings highlight the parallels between DMT and recreational dance, making possible their fusion to create a space for ‘everyone and anyone’, and emphasize a social work presence. A logic model resulted, guiding how accessible recreational dance programs may be designed, based on DMT.

The Role of a Social Worker in Children Dragged Into Crime According to the Turkish Penalty System in the Digital World

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-38
Author(s):  
Fahri Özsungur
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Judicial Control ◽  
Digital World ◽  
The Social ◽  
Penalty System ◽  
And Training

Social work plays an important role in managing the process of planning, supervising, and ensuring the sustainability of protective and supportive measures applied to children who are dragged into crime and in need of protection in order to prevent incompatibilities that may arise in society. Social workers are actors in the field in the execution of the process. In this chapter, these practitioners who have made significant contributions to social work by giving reports and opinions about the measures taken by the courts about the children dragged into crime, determining the criminal tendencies of the children and the necessary precautions and training, are examined closely in the context of the Turkish legal system. The chapter includes the issues of judicial control, protective and supportive measures, preparation of a plan for the implementation of cautionary decisions, confidentiality, the role of the social worker and the social worker board for children who are dragged into crime and in need of protection.

How to increase the role of social workers in suicide preventive interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-195
Author(s):  
Joshua Levine ◽  
Leo Sher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Suicide Risk Factors ◽  
Suicidal Patients

AbstractObjective:Suicide is a serious public health issue that affects individuals, families and societies all over the world. International studies provide consistent evidence that the presence of psychiatrists in a region is associated with lesser suicide rates. However, many psychiatric patients including suicidal patients do not have access to psychiatrists. This indicates that mental health and non-mental health social workers need to be involved in suicide prevention efforts. This paper is the first comprehensive work that discusses how to increase the role of social workers in the area of suicide prevention.Methods:A review of the relevant literature.Results:Increasing the role of social workers in suicide prevention efforts may reduce suicide risk in groups and people at elevated risk for suicide, as well as the general population.Conclusion:Recommendations are provided for how the social work profession can improve upon suicide prevention while incorporating universal, selective and indicated suicide preventive interventions. Social work research efforts should focus on how to increase the role of social workers in suicide prevention and the management of suicidal patients. Social work education programmes should modify their curricula and increase their attention on suicide prevention. Mental health social workers need to educate the patient and their family on suicide risk factors. Furthermore, mental health and non-mental health social workers need to educate the general public on suicide risk factors.

Narrative resistance in social work research and practice: Counter-storying in the pursuit of social justice

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne McKenzie-Mohr ◽  
Michelle N Lafrance
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Counter Narratives ◽  
Practical Guidance

In this article, we propose ‘narrative resistance’ as a potent and useful concept for both social work research and practice. A concept that attends to power and oppression, narrative resistance provides a platform for tangible applications to support people’s efforts to resist harmful storyings of their lives. The aim of this article is to provide practical guidance for how social workers can attend to and support people’s acts of narrative resistance. This is achieved by introducing the functions of narrative in people’s lives and its inextricable links to power; discussing ‘master narratives’ and their potential for harm; and exploring narrative resistance by articulating the role of ‘counter narratives’ as a means to ‘talk back’ to injurious master narratives. The remainder of the article outlines considerations, skills and tools required to enhance counter-storying efforts in the service of emancipatory change. We spotlight examples of narrative resistance in the literature to illustrate the pragmatic mobilization of this work.

Virtual Communities of Practice

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Pender Greene
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice

Sociologists and social workers have long been invested in understanding the role of communities in shaping identities and influencing behavior; however, the study of virtual communities is still new despite the dramatic ways in which online social networks have replaced traditional, geographically bound conceptions of community. The present article briefly reviews some of the early theories of community that have influenced practically all scholars studying computer-mediated virtual communities. The focus then shifts toward an analysis of early, important theorists focusing on virtual communities. The article concludes by examining contemporary research and practices utilizing virtual communities in social work, with a particular emphasis on ways to integrate virtual communities into professional practice.

Rural Social Work in Australia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Alston
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Rural Social Work ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas ◽  
Sparse Population

This article examines the role of social workers in rural and remote areas of Australia. The uniqueness of Australia’s landscape, its vast distances, and sparse population base, create unique issues relating to service delivery in general and social work in particular. High levels of poverty, poorer health, lower socio-economic status, and an aging population base typify Australia’s remote areas. Despite these factors, inland regions of the country are subject to economic rationalist policies that make service access problematic. It is in these regions that rural and remote social workers practice. The article outlines the personal, practical, and professional challenges facing social workers and notes the unique opportunities available to workers who choose to live and work in these regions.

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