Title 1) A grounded theory exploration of social workers’ permanency planning for looked after children in Scotland 2) Experience of childhood maltreatment and reflective function of parents: A systematic review of observational research findings Aims 1) Permanency planning refers to meeting the needs of a ‘looked after’ child by legally securing a permanent family. Delays in securing permanency are associated with adverse outcomes for children. Social workers are integral to this process and yet there is a paucity of research considering how workers make sense of this professional role. The current study aimed to develop an explanatory theory of social workers’ sense making in planning for permanency to identify issues and facilitate a discussion around the experiences and needs of this group. 2) The paper considers childhood experiences of maltreatment in relation to adult reflective function in parenting, a variable implicated in infant attachment security. A systematic review aimed to explore the current research literature examining the association between the experience of maltreatment in childhood and later reflective function in parenting. Methods 1) A qualitative grounded theory methodology (GTM) was used to analyse interviews with eight social workers who had a current permanency role (six female). 2) Following the development of a grounded theory via integration of the data with the theory of mentalization, a relevant systematic review was conducted. The current research literature was explored in relation to adults’ experiences of maltreatment in childhood and reflective function in parenting. 2 Results 1) Although participants described delays in relation to systemic pressures, as analysis of interviews unfolded theoretical sampling explored their experiences of losing and maintaining ‘focus’ on the child in permanency planning. The findings generated a theory positing that workers seek to keep a child’s ‘mentalized’ experience at the fore (to hold his ‘mind in mind’) and plan responsively to make permanency recommendations while negotiating the challenges of person-centred working within a multi-agency system. Workers were found to describe holding ‘mentalized’ interpretations of a child’s past, current, and future experiences during the processes integral to planning for permanency (assessment, early decisions, information gathering, interpretation, integration, and interaction with the wider system). Holding the child’s mind in mind also contributed to the ‘strength of evidence’ for permanency planning, and was, at the same time, vulnerable to the destabilizing effects of the emotional demands and system stressors perceived within the permanency role. Permanency planning and integration of evidence to make recommendations for permanency was responsive to the complexities of interpersonal working, hypothetical futures for the child, and to the potential impact of planning actions for future decision makers. 2) A systematic search of the literature identified seven datasets (of which nine papers) presenting analyses relating to measurement of childhood maltreatment and parents’ reflective function. Conclusions 1) The study theorised a psychological process related to holding ‘focus’ on the child in permanency and concluded with recommendations for permanency practice based on this preliminary model. These included prioritising a culture of professional empathy, training in and availability of protected reflective clinical supervision, post-adoption support for birth parents, and training in working with complex interpersonal behaviour to better facilitate effective permanency planning and improve outcomes for looked after children. 2) Although the identified studies indicated a lack of significant association between the factors, critical evaluation of conceptual, methodological and population issues indicated that the small number of reviewed studies were limited in their capacity to address the review question. After further data reduction according to study quality and separation of analyses according to conceptualisation of mentalization there remained two datasets reporting on CM and adult RF, and three reporting analyses of CM and parenting RF. Conceptual differences regarding mentalization and RF are considered in relation to emerging areas of research in this field.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur socialsekreterare konstruerar klienter med missbruksproblematik samt deras stödbehov. Syftet är även att undersöka om socialsekreterare förhåller sig olika till kvinnliga kontra manliga klienter med missbruksproblematik. För att besvara syftet är studiens fokus att klarlägga vad som påverkar socialsekreterares bedömningar samt eventuella skillnader mellan män och kvinnor. Urvalet består av åtta socialsekreterare som arbetar med bedömningar avseende stödinsatser för missbrukande kvinnor och män i Sverige. Datamaterialet har insamlats med hjälp av vinjett och semistrukturerad intervju. Resultatet visar att socialsekreterarens bedömning påverkas av manualstyrt arbete, klientens livssituation, socialsekreterarens egna värderingar samt lagar och samhälleliga normer. Resultatet visar också att när det kommer till val av insats erbjuder socialsekreteraren olika insatser utifrån om klienten är kvinna eller man. Bedömningsarbetet utgår från individuella förutsättningar, men valet av insats styrs av föreställningen om att missbrukande kvinnor och män har olika behov. För att klienter ska erbjudas rätt hjälp är det av vikt att socialsekreterare och klienter utbyter kunskaper med varandra. / The aim for this study is to examine how social workers construct clients with substance abuse problems and their support needs. The aim is also to investigate the impact of the client’s gender towards the social workers. In order to answer the aim, the study’s focus is to clarify what affects social workers assessments as well as any differences between men and women. The selection of the study consists of eight social workers who work with assessments regarding support needs for men and women with substance abuse problems in Sweden. Data has been collected using a vignette and semi-structured interview. The findings show that assessments are affected by manual work, client’s life situation, social workers own values, laws and norms of society. The findings also show that social workers offer different assistance depending on whether the client is female or male. The assessments are based on individual conditions, but the choice of assistance is determined by expectations that men and women have different needs. For clients to be offered the right help, it is important that social workers and clients exchange knowledge with each other.

No description available.

The relationship between alcohol or drug use and subjective well‑being among master of social work students and practitioners was examined. Subjective well‑being measures included core, life satisfaction, affect, eudaimonia and domain evaluation. Frequency of alcohol, tobacco, cannabinoids and psychotropic drug use was collected. There were modest to moderate negative correlations between alcohol and life satisfaction and eudaimonia. There were moderate negative correlations between psychotropic medication and life satisfaction, eudaimonia and domain. There was a modest negative correlation between tobacco and life satisfaction and a strong negative correlation between tobacco and eudaimonia. There were no significant correlations with cannabinoids in any subjective well‑being measure. Together, these findings suggest that alcohol or drug use has little effect on subjective well‑being.

Human trafficking of adolescents is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States and adolescents (ages12-18) are at a high risk for being the victims of human trafficking and being sexually exploited during the process of human trafficking. Social workers are ones of the human services practitioners who often encounter potential or actual victims of human trafficking in their social work practice. Thus, it is very important for social workers to be able to identify, intervene, and advocate for this population. The purpose of this study was to examine social workers’ knowledge about human trafficking and their awareness to identify human trafficking of young women and adolescents in the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside. The study utilized a survey questionnaire design with the use of online software, Qualtrics. Data were collected from 30 social workers who belonged to the National Association of Social Workers, Region F. Participants were asked of their knowledge and awareness about human trafficking and some demographic variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Participants in the study indicated various levels of knowledge regarding human trafficking, with 80% of the participants identifying forced labor or forced prostitution as a major part of human trafficking. Just over half of participants (53.3%) indicated that young children were not the most trafficked persons in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The study also found that there was an ethnicity difference in the level of knowledge about human trafficking. White participants were likely to have more knowledge about human trafficking than those of other ethnicities. In order to have better understanding of this crime, and to be better able to detect, and identify these victims, the findings of the study suggest that social workers need to increase their knowledge about human trafficking, as well as their skills to better build rapport, and trust. Another recommendation is that more training, and advanced comprehensive education should be provided to social workers to increase their knowledge, awareness about human trafficking, competence, and effectiveness.

This thesis attempted to examine the effects of on-call work schedules on professional social workers. This was achieved through the use of a demographic survey and qualitative face-to-face and phone interviews. A total of 15 interview questions were explored, the subjects included: the impacts of on-call work on psychological, physiological, emotional well-being and work family balance of professional social workers. Participants were recruited using availability sampling and the sample size consisted of nine participants. The nine interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The researcher identified common themes related to on-call work schedules. Results found that participants suffered familial disruption as well as impacts on their well-being and support system. There was also a lack of access to patient information and similar difficulties experienced by participants while on-call. Participants also provided suggestions in order to improve on-call experiences. It is recommended that similar studies be conducted on a larger sample size to insure generalizability and a greater understanding of the impacts on-call work has on the social work profession.

The high turnover rate of child welfare social workers has been a chronic issue that society has yet to mitigate. To understand this problem, the researchers looked at contributing factors in comparison to the factors that promote job longevity. The researchers reviewed the multidimensional theory of burnout, to explore the ongoing issue of high turnover rates. Also, organizational support theory was examined to determine if support from organizations contributed to job longevity. The post-positivist approach was used to gather qualitative data from this study as to the potential factors promoting job longevity through individual interviews with seasoned child welfare social workers. The study participants identified potential barriers in the workplace, the skills needed for professional development, and the benefit of having a support system to effectively do their job. In addition, the study participants demonstrated a strong sense of self-awareness and utilization of internal traits that promoted job longevity. It was discovered that child welfare social workers who possess emotional intelligence had the ability to cope with stress better, had less health issues, and were more likely to promote to higher level positions. By understanding the factors that contribute to job longevity, child welfare agencies can implement measures to promote job retention. Furthermore, when agencies invest in child welfare social workers by providing them support, it is reflected in the quality of their work and client engagement.

Mental health professionals have an important role to play in assessing and addressing the needs of their clients, including those with severe mental illness. Research, however, has demonstrated a reluctance toward discussing sexual health topics with severely mentally ill clients. The purpose of this study was to explore social work practitioners’ attitudes and preparedness toward addressing the sexual health need of clients who are mentally challenged to a great extent. Under the qualitative research paradigm, this study sampled 8 licensed clinical social workers who currently work in the United States. Thematic analysis of interview data generated four major themes. First, social workers harbor positive attitudes toward mental health; second, social work practitioners perceived themselves as prepared to address sexual health concerns with clients; third, sexual health discussions with severely mentally ill clients should be a part of the solution, not of the problem; and fourth, empowerment of clients and normalization of mental health are ways to combat discomfort toward discussing sexual health issues with clients. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

The majority of youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood aspire to achieve a higher education, yet they often face barriers and lack a support system. In the United States, only 50% of foster youth graduate from high school. About 13% of foster youth enter college and only 3% graduate. The purpose of this study is to assess foster youths’ perceptions on the social worker’s role when pursuing higher education. The literature suggests that child welfare agencies have developed a variety of programs for foster youth and for their social workers aimed at improving foster youth’s educational outcomes. Yet, the gap between foster youth’s aspirations and achievements persists. This study used a qualitative design as well as a purposive sampling method. We interviewed 15 foster youth, ages 18-25 from a foster youth program at a four-year university. We asked about their experiences in preparing and pursuing a higher education, particularly their perceptions of their social workers’ roles in these experiences. Our findings suggest that social workers’ encouragement, communication about higher education information, and communication about financial aid are all important to foster youth. Our participants recommended a variety of suggestions around ways social workers could facilitate foster youth’s access to higher education. Participants shared a range of experiences with social workers related to encouragement and information about college; some received a great deal of information and support, while others did not. Participants recommended social workers provide a checklist to discuss the steps required to attend college, encouragement, information about college and financial aid, trainings for social workers to learn more about college resources and share with foster youth, more one-one time to discuss educational options, and social workers to discuss college with foster youth at an early age. Our findings suggest encouragement and information about higher education and financial aid are highly important and youth do not receive these consistently from social workers. Understanding the role social workers played in the lives of foster youth can help provide more insight into what services can be enhanced or implemented to better prepare foster youth for higher education.

In child welfare agencies, the Structured Decision-Making (SDM) Safety and Risk Assessment tools are utilized to support social workers in assessing families and make informed decisions while investigating child abuse and neglect. In the past, numerous studies have evaluated the strengths and weaknesses the SDM safety and risk assessment tools; however, studies have neglected social workers’ perspectives on using the tools during their investigations. Using a quantitative approach, this study examines social workers’ perceptions on the usefulness of the SDM safety and risk assessment tools during their investigations. IS social work participants from one California county agency completed an online questionnaire using Qualtrics software. The data was analyzed using statistical tests including frequencies, independent samples t-tests, and ANOVA. In order to compare groups of participants’ perceptions of the SDM safety and risk tool, we created a composite score to reflect participants’ overall perceptions of the tool. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in social workers’ perceptions about the tool based on participants’ work experiences (more or less than 5-years’ experience) or by participants’ job titles (social worker III, IV, and V). Because these findings cannot be generalized to social workers in other counties, future research should survey social workers from various counties in California to obtain more generalizable results.