UiS Open Journals (Univ. of Stavanger)
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The construction of a ‘traumatized’ refugee child in need of safety in Norwegian kindergartens
Get PDFThis paper explores how kindergarten teachers relate to the concept of safety in the integration of refugee children. My research findings reveal that the concept of safety, or trygghet in Norwegian, is understood as emotional support and comfort accorded to children. The notion of trygghet emerges as an important value-laden concept that shapes and largely influences teachers’ everyday work, and how they relate to children and their parents. The idea of safety is traceable within an institutional discourse mediated by social technology, such as the International Child Development Programme and the Resource Centre for Violence and Trauma programmes, which have their roots in psy-discourses. My findings indicate that the construction of a potentially ‘traumatized’ refugee child is interconnected with the assumed need for safety. When using this discourse in their daily work, the kindergarten staff contribute to constructing and reproducing a specific category that I refer to as the ‘traumatized’ refugee child in need of safety. This standardized understanding risks categorizing refugee children, and highlights how professionals can get caught up in dominant discourses that universalize their routine practices
Ethical challenges in gerontological social work in Finland during the Covid-19 pandemic
Get PDFOur study focused on identifying the ethical challenges employees of gerontological social work have faced during Covid-19 pandemic. The ethical guidelines, based on international ethical principles of social work (IFSW), play a key part in Finnish social work. Still, even in normal times social workers face situations in which they are forced to work against professional ethical principles. Covid-19 pandemic changed the working conditions of social work dramatically and employees of gerontological social work have been in the front line working with elderly, who are vulnerable to the virus but also to the social repercussions of the pandemic. This qualitative interview study, based on 14 semi-structured interviews of employees of gerontological social work from different parts of Finland, was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021. Data was analyzed by using qualitative content analysis. The results showed that the employees’ biggest ethical challenge was related to the shutting down of elderly people’s services and the reduced possibilities to meet their clients. The participants described feeling helpless because they could not respond to their clients’ needs. Also, the unclear instructions given on how to respond to the threat of Covid-19 were making ethical practices difficult. In addition, the participants were worried about the increased loneliness and depression of their clients and were anxious on how to respond to the growing service needs of elderly with very limited resources. As times were rough, the participants would have needed of their colleagues’ support, which they now lacked because of remote working. They also described the lack of acknowledgement by their employers
\u27 Maybe I can go back to school in a few weeks\u27: Children’s experiences of everyday life during COVID-19 lockdown in Norway
No full textThis study explores everyday life from the perspective of children during school lockdown in Norway. The outbreak of Covid-19 greatly impacts societies on all levels. Studies have revealed a drastic change in children’s routines through home-schooling and reduced access to physical activities, as well as increase in contact with parents with subsequent potential friction or positive interactions. Children’s own perspective of their experiences during Covid-19 restrictions, nevertheless, appear to be scarce. This study provides a unique insight into ten children’s experiences through examination of their diary entries during lockdown. Our theoretical approach is based Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of child development, and protective factors and risk factors in child development. Our findings indicate that children’s everyday life experiences during Covid-19 lockdown can be sorted into three different arenas: The home and family life, The school and learning activities, and The social and digital interaction with friends. These three arenas represent important micro-systems in the children’s lives. However, the shutting down of school and society has disrupted the overall ecological systems surrounding the children, increasing the potential weight of risk factors such as loneliness and stress. All arenas and system levels moved inside the children’s primary micro-arena; their homes and family life. Further, all forms of social interaction, both at school, among friends and in family life seem to depend on digital platforms, as the children respond to the new situation by using digital meeting places. Utilizing Bronfenbrenner’s systematic approach, the digital arena appears to manifest a new khrono-system in the children’s lives. The digital screens being what binds all eco-systems together. An important question for further studies is what consequences this has for the future development of childhood, and how do the children cope with this kind of disruption of their everyday lives
Special Issue on Social Work in the Time of COVID-19: Focus on Impacts on Clients and Consequences for Practice and Profession
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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social work client base
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has rampaged through the daily life of individuals, increasing existing vulnerabilities and bringing about new ones. Social service workers act in close proximity and connection with these vulnerable groups, and measures taken to decrease the COVID-19 contamination rate — such as working from home, reducing social contacts and most of all lockdowns — negatively affect the core tasks of social service workers. Consequently, these professionals have had to find other ways to reach out to clients. This may potentially change the type of clients who have been reached and prioritized during the pandemic. Moreover, the profile of clients may have changed due to the pandemic. With this study, we address three research questions: (1) Which clients were prioritized by social service workers?, (2) Which clients were not able to be reached by social service workers?; and (3) Do social service workers expect a new vulnerable client base to emerge as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic?
To help answer these questions, we used data from the Social Work COVID-19 Survey, obtained from 2,815 social service workers and collected in April and May 2020 during the first Belgian lockdown. The results indicate that urgent cases in need of essential, vital care were prioritized, with social service workers relying more on their gut instincts than on the customary procedures. Second, clients who could not be reached were those with limited access to modern communications, or with lower levels of digital skills. This often coincides with more vulnerable groups (such as people with mental health issues, financial issues, a small social network, the homeless and the elderly). Third, with regard to possible new clients, social service workers anticipate a ‘less standard’ and ‘more temporary’ client base, with more ‘middle-class families’ who have become vulnerable due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, social service workers expect the pressure in the private life of individuals to increase, and have observed several mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic
When crisis strikes: - Changes in work and professional identity among social workers in Norwegian Child Welfare Protection services during COVID-19
Get PDFWhen the COVID-19 pandemic reached Norway in March 2020, comprehensive action was taken by the government, leading to the lockdown of welfare institutions, schools and kindergartens, and strict restrictions on physical meetings. This had severe consequences for Child Welfare Protection services (CWP). The restrictions stopped child welfare protection home visits and professionals in other welfare institutions, which usually observe children and notify child welfare protection services, were no longer able to identify children at risk. This article, drawing on interviews with 10 social workers, explores their experience during COVID-19. Applying Lipsky’s concept of street-level bureaucrats and theories of professional identity, the article documents how COVID-19 not only restricted, but also modified social workers jobs, and led to self-reflection on their professional identity. In turn, the findings suggest the potential for beneficial changes in practices in the aftermath of COVID-19