Whiting & Birch (E-Journals)
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Neglect of normative principles by social work practitioners: Recommendations for social work education
Get PDFTwo hundred and four German social work practitioners were reviewed to what extent they neglect ethical and normative principles in their daily professional social work practice. The principles have been derived from the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), and the German Professional Association for Social Work (DBSH). Different from expectations, factor analyses led to a classification of these neglects into three areas: the neglect of goals of the profession (e.g., improving social work's public image), of guidelines for dealing with clients (e.g., not favoring one client over another), and regarding general regulations of careful work (e.g., documenting one's daily actions). Item analyses and scale formations for these three domains are described. In addition, correlation analyses with eight validity variables document convergent, discriminant and criterion validity of the elaborated scales. Finally, the meaning of the three dimensions and the consequences for educating ethical principles in social work are discussed. In addition, suggestions are given to improve the assessment instrument in further research
Tensions in managing the online network development of autoethnographers: A four-way dialogue
Get PDFAlthough literature exists on the methodological development of autoethnographers in the classroom context, little has been written about achieving such development in online networks of dispersed individuals, and the social psychological difficulties between senior members of such networks that might ensue. This conversational autoethnography developed after Alec Grant, the first author, angrily withdrew by email from the South Coast Autoethnography Network (SCAN). Since its inception in 2013, the hub, or centre of operating activity of SCAN has historically been mostly shared between a small number of academics working in, or associated with, Sussex University and the University of Brighton in the south coast of England. With around 65 participants, SCAN aims to facilitate the development of autoethnographers, with many of its members inexperienced in the approach to differing degrees. In their conversational exchange, the authors explore, respond to, and try to make sense of and resolve, the tensions that developed in the group before and after Alec’s withdrawal from it. The authors believe that this article captures many of the interpersonal difficulties that might inevitably arise between senior members, in autoethnographic networks internationally. They therefore hope that it will serve as a useful resource for individual readers and network groups
Autoethnography and social work: Strange bedfellows or complementary partners?
Get PDFAbstract: Despite autoethnography’s congruence with social work’s values and aims, such as its focus on social justice and marginalized lives, there has been a dearth of publications using autoethnography in social work journals and books. Possible reasons for this situation include the dominance of conventional research, institutional barriers, and the challenges of conducting an autoethnographic study such as writing in a more reflexive, literary, and narrative style. I describe the strengths of autoethnography in relation to social work research, practice, and education, using examples from my early experiences with autoethnography and my later use of autoethnography as an approach to educational enrichment. Although autoethnography has much to offer social work and should assume a more prominent position as an approach to inquiry and professional development, I question whether this will occur without changes to current academic, institutional, and philosophical views. Nevertheless, focusing attention on autoethnography as in this special issue seems like a promising development
Victim–Survivor–Warrior–Healer: An autoethnographic account of a male childhood sexual violence survivor’s activist journey
Get PDFIt has been argued that stories inform our perceptions of reality and social change is driven by stories (Sarbin, 1986; Bochner, 2012; Frank, 2011/2013). Sexual violence is a complex cultural challenge for societies (Rape Crisis, 2020). Individual survivor identity is formed in that complexity and personal posttraumatic growth (PTG) can be forged in such challenges (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Activism is one way the survivor can help forge social change both for themselves and the ‘community of interest’ they belong to (Raskovic, 2020; Herman, 1992). This article uses autoethnography to explore one male survivor’s story of childhood sexual violence and his 22-year journey of activism. It adopts a novel approach weaving metaphors taken from episodes of the long-running British television series Doctor Who. It attempts to link social action to PTG in its reflections on meaning and redemption beyond shame via activism and lived experience witnessing (Bruner, 2002). The power of lived experience can powerfully bring the ‘unspeakable’ to society’s conscious awareness (Herman, 1992; Balfour, 2013). By sharing the raw reality of victim blaming when challenging the status quo. The reality of political and professional agents’ resistance to change is evidenced. It uses psychological and other theories, aiming to weave them through the story and illuminate one activist’s journey. Its limitation is its just one story, However, within that lies an authentic strength. It does not claim to be objective. Instead, it knits both the subjective and objective together to allow you to experience something as old as humans, a real story told in a new form (Gottschall, 2012)
The social worker as the Good Samaritan: When my heart did the thinking
Get PDFProfessionally a social worker has to pay attention to both the society’s values and to a client’s personal values. However, a social worker’s personal values are not the least of importance and can’t be ignored. Where could a sharp line be drawn between professional and private values and acting? The problem of decision-making has been pondered over since ancient times when Socrates contended that ‘everyone desires the good.’ Could it then be that for some the profession becomes a calling? This paper uses a collaborative autoethnographic approach with the narrative told by the first author, a female Swedish social worker. The story is about her meeting with a male drug addict living on the streets of London and about the decision she made. As it turned out, her decision would have consequences far beyond her and his imagination. The Introduction was written by the second author in order to provide the scientific framework embedding the first author’s story. Finally, the Discussion was written mutually as an intervie
Using Self-Evaluations to Explore HBCU Social Work Statistics Students Perceptions of Academic Preparation and Performance
Get PDFEvaluation is an essential component in social work education. Student evaluations are a useful method to assess student and instructor performance. The study aimed to examine the perceptions of social work students’ views on their preparation and performance in a social work statistics course. The study consisted of 113 social work students admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work program at a small HBCU located in a rural community. In this study, a quantitative, descriptive research design was used along with a self-administered student evaluation, and SPSS to describe and analyze social work students’ perceptions of their performance and preparation. The results concluded the majority of students (72%) did not meet with their instructor to seek assistance outside of the classroom setting. Approximately, 80% of the students also reported not attending academic tutoring services, however, 58% indicated the need for improvement in their grades. To conclude, the findings of the study demonstrated that student evaluations can be used as an effective method to provide essential feedback to instructors
Services Responding to Domestic Violence Survivors’ Needs: A Study of Pennsylvania Providers’ Perspective
Get PDFThis research examined domestic violence services and programs provided in rural and urban Pennsylvania. It identified the potential gaps in services and assessed programs adequacies from the perspective of program leaders. The study examined the needs and characteristics of both agencies and their clients. In addition, barriers to effective delivery of domestic violence services in Pennsylvania was examined.
A Structured questionnaire was used as a primary method of data collection and explored answers for research question on the challenges and opportunities Domestic Violence agencies’ leaderships experiences in providing services. Sampling frame included 60 service providers from Pennsylvania, of which 45 agencies serving the survivors of Domestic Violence participated. Funding for this research was provided by a University grant and the partnership with Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence provided technical assistance and access to agencies. The agency leaders who agreed to participate were contacted and both in person and telephonic interviews were conducted. The interview lasted for about 45 -60 minutes.
The study found that there is a wide consensus among leaders that transportation and transitional housing services are inadequate in their program service areas while services like crisis hotline, general advocacy and case management are exceptional.
Over 50% of the agencies did not comment on the adequacies of the services such as Job Coaching, Immigrations services, Divorce/Custody representation, and Criminal Court representation.
The results have several policy implications regarding federal and state government programs, specifically considerations to fund transportation, transitional housing and legal advocacy services
The professional Quality of Life and its Relation to Self-Care in Mediation Professionals
Get PDFWhen people or groups in conflict initiate a mediation process to try to reach an agreement, painful and distressing feelings emerge. Mediation professionals facilitate and promote understanding despite the suffering that arises along the way. Previous research has confirmed the impact of professional quality of life and self-care on successful task performance. This research is a pioneering study in the occupational field of mediation. The purpose of this study was to analyse the efficacy of personal and professional self-care practices in relation to the quality of professional life of Spanish mediators. Mediators presented moderately high levels of compassion satisfaction but also had moderately high levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. Self-care positively correlated with compassion satisfaction and negatively with burnout and compassion fatigue. Positive associations were found between self-care and professional quality of life. Such a finding can help create personal and professional self-care practices to improve the lives of professionals