Whiting & Birch (E-Journals)
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Systematic and just: The use of a systematic review methodology in social work research
Get PDFThis discussion paper is based on my experiences with the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) on a 12 day placement as part of the Research Development Initiative 4 (RDI4) program. Claims and counter claims are made about the appropriateness of a systematic review methodology in social work. These debates pivot around understandings of knowledge creation, function and ownership in social work and what constitutes evidence. This paper considers the contribution systematic review methodology can make to social work research. The SCIE systematic review is considered within the context of broader review types such as literature and narrative reviews. The review methodology developed by SCIE is promoted because of its explicit inclusion of service user and carer evidence. Systematic review methodology also offers social work researchers the opportunity to scrutinise their searching technique and process. A detailed examination of some obstacles in searching highlights the potential for error and bias. Frequently these are introduced unintentionally through a less than rigorous search of literature. It is hoped that an awareness of the pitfalls of literature searching will lead to greater transparency about claims made based on ‘available knowledge’. Social work has a specific contribution to make to the systematic review methodology as we pioneer ways of including service users and carer experience and knowledge. Systematic reviews are an appropriate methodology for social work and present an opportunity for the profession to raise the profile of alternative but reliable sources of evidence
Social support and intimate partner violence among women with HIV/AIDS
No full textThis study examines the relationships between Social Support and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among women living with HIV/AIDS. During the fall of 2011, women living with HIV/AIDS and receiving services from AIDS Outreach Center located in the southwestern part of the United States were recruited to participate in a study through the purposive sampling method. They were asked to complete surveys about their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, the level of IPV experienced, and their level of social support. Sixty-four women completed the Revised Conflict Tactic Scale (Straus et al., 1996), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and a HIV/AIDS Questionnaire. The majority (51.6%) of the research participants were African-Americans with a mean age of 46 years. Many women in the study were separated/divorced (34.4%); 29.7 % were married and 12.5% were cohabiting. Social support (β = -.206, p<.05) significantly predicted severity of emotional violence experienced by women living with HIV/AIDS.. This research emphasizes on the importance of teaching social work students about the co-occurrence of IPV and HIV/AIDS
Sustaining a good model of practice education in challenging times
Get PDFThe Bacon Report (2001) recommended an increase in the numbers of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists in Ireland. As a result four new programmes were introduced in 2003. These new programmes, along with the existing programmes, resulted in a significant increase in placement requirements, against a backdrop of public service reform and a challenging economic environment. A National Steering Group for Practice Education was established to oversee the development and implementation of a national model of practice education. Three key principles underpinned the development and implementation of this model i.e., the use of an organisational development approach, promotion of an interprofessional approach, and innovative models for delivering practice education. First, the use of an organisational development approach involved key stakeholders in all aspects of the process, thus promoting ownership and collaborative problem-solving.Second, the use of an interprofessional approach promoted collaborative working and the achievement of quality outcomes within relatively short time-frames. Third, the exploration of innovative models of placement delivery has been helpful in relation to increasing placement capacity. As well as benefitting students, some of these models have been positive for patients. The learning from these experiences may be useful for other health and social care professions
Strengths-based group supervision with social work students
Get PDFThis paper integrates the theoretical models of the strengths perspective with narrative theory and reflective practice, while incorporating the concepts of parallel process and the Socratic method into the group supervision of social work students. With the strengths perspective as a unifying model in social work today, it is suggested that this model also can reflect the supervisory parallel process. Thus, just as we strive to work with clients in a cooperative partnership that emphasizes their strengths and abilities, empowerment, resilience, and diversity, so, too, we need to bring these concepts into the supervisee-supervisor relationship
Professional sexual abuse in mental health services: Capturing practitioner views of a contemporary corruption of care
Get PDFThis paper focuses on practitioner views of professional sexual abuse in mental health services in the UK. In spite of high profile cases, and changes to the law and regulation of mental health professionals in recent years, it remains a significant problem. It also presents particular challenges for colleagues and managers of services when incidents are reported or come to light through everyday practice. To date it has received little attention in research other than from within psychological therapies. This study seeks to provide a counter balance to those approaches by taking a social inequalities perspective and focusing on systemic and institutional dimensions. It draws comparisons with Wardaugh and Wilding’s (1993) theory of the ‘corruption of care’ and argues that even when mental health care is provided in the community it can still become corrupted. The paper presents the findings of a small scale study of practitioner perspectives on the subject. The findings tentatively suggest that the problem is endemic but hidden by ineffective management responses. It argues for new approaches to selection, training and support for professionals that include counter intuitive approaches to policing colleagues and institutional cultures
Evaluation of the involvement of service users in post-qualifying social work education: Expected and unexpected results
Get PDFThere is a long policy and tradition of service users being involved in the education of social work students and post-qualifying candidates, and they are recognised as educators in their own right, however there appears to have been limited measurement of the impact of service user educator involvement in post-qualifying education on practice, and ultimately on outcomes for end service users. A collaborative partnership between service user educators, practitioners and academics carried out research in this area in four local authorities in the English East Midlands (Equally Experienced Research Group, 2011); whilst it was found that direct service user educator input had a positive impact on candidates’ practice, some unexpected and somewhat surprising responses arose. Interviews with candidates’ line managers identified that there appeared to be significantly less active evaluation of outcomes for service users than we had assumed would be the case.This paper initially sets the context for considering these responses by outlining the research undertaken, and considering how post-qualifying education as a whole might be evaluated as making a difference to practice. The second part of the paper looks at wider issues of evaluating practice and organisational service delivery. Methods used for measuring service user outcomes will be considered, alongside consideration of the active participation of service users in developing individual practice and agency service provision
Reviews
Get PDFReviews of:Learning in the Round: Concepts and contexts in work-based learning by Patrick Smith and Chris Kemp with Teresa Moore and Roger Dalrymple. Cambridge: Cambridge Academic, 2013, ISBN 9781903499757andSocial Work Education and Practice: Scholarship and innovations in the Asia Pacific. Edited by Bala Raju Nikku and Zulkarnain Ahmad Hatta. Brisbane, Australia: Primrose Hall. ISBN 978130477913
Learning to work collaboratively to improve the quality of care for individuals, families and communities: The practice educator’s role
Get PDFThis article explores some of the issues that face the practice educator in providing and facilitating inter professional learning opportunities for their student during a practice placement experience. A brief overview of IPE is provided to show how it provides a platform for learning for effective collaborative practice Issues highlighted and discussed include: the unique factors which have to be taken into account when facilitating learning of mixed professional groups; the enhanced and additional skills needed by teachers and facilitators; the challenges of finding appropriate interprofessional learning opportunities in limited and diverse practice settings; the preparation, strategies and changes which are needed to support practice educators in their interprofessional teaching role.For the purpose of this article the role of the practice educator refers to a formal role in which the qualified health professional has formal responsibilities for facilitating the learning of pre-registration trainees
In safe hands: Empowering young people with disabilities who receive assistance with intimate personal care
Get PDFThis article explores the potential for social workers to engage in empowering relationships with young people whose disabilities necessitate that they receive help with certain physical functions, some of which would be termed both personal and intimate. We look firstly at different perspectives within social work on empowerment and what social workers can do to support service users gain more control over their lives. Drawing on the findings of a study by Muldoon (2012), we explore the application of these empowerment concepts into the working relationships that social workers develop with young people who require daily assistance with intimate personal care, and through this exploration we draw attention to the importance of understanding empowerment as a micro-level as well as the more often discussed macro-level action in social work
Confinement, community, citizenship
Get PDFThis article applies the social model of disability (Oliver 1996) and the theory of social role valorisation (Wolfensberger 1998a) to the life experiences as told in the words of a man who experienced being institutionalised at 17 years of age. A focussed conversation (Stanfield 2000) was used to support the man to retell some of the challenges, achievements and satisfactions he wished to share. This story outlines how he utilised his experiences to transform his life and advocate for people with learning disabilities to be treated fairly. Today he is a member on a number of Boards, striving to ensure that people with learning disabilities receive the service and support they desire