Sveriges socialtjänst har i dagsläget hög arbetsbelastning och personalomsättning. Detta påverkar direkt instansens anställda och organisationernas klienter. Anställda förklarar att den rådande situationen inom socialtjänsten försvårar möjligheten att utföra ett professionellt arbete. Nyutexaminerade verksamma inom socialtjänsten får bristande introduktion på arbetsplatserna som följd av socialtjänstens arbetsvillkor och -miljö. De upplever sig som “inkastade” och ensamma i arbetet. Tidigare forskning visar att nyutexaminerade och socionomstudenter identifierat en kunskapslucka i de praktiska färdigheterna inom socialt arbete och önskar att utbildningen givit dem mer av detta. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om socionomstudenter som genomfört sin VFU inom socialtjänsten upplever att de via grundutbildningen fått tillräckliga verktyg för att handskas med det avstånd som ofta råder mellan de kunskaper som lärs ut om vad som är välfungerande socialt arbete och de arbetsvillkor de möter på arbetsplatsen. Studien är kvalitativ där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med fyra respondenter och två informanter. Datamaterialet har analyserats utifrån tematisk analys och genom de teoretiska utgångspunkterna “learning by doing” och krav-kontrollmodellen. Resultatet indikerar att respondenterna har en generell kunskap om det sociala arbetet och dess insatser samt att socialtjänstens rådande situation kan begränsa möjligheten till att utföra ett välfungerande socialt arbete / Sweden's social services currently have a high workload and staff turnover. This affects agency employees and clients. Employees explain that the current situation makes it difficult to perform professional work. New graduates working in social services receive a poor introduction to the workplace due to working conditions and -environment. They feel 'thrown in' and single-handed at work. Previous research shows that new graduates and social work students identified a knowledge gap in practical skills and desired more practical elements in the education. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether social work students who have completed their internship in social services feel that they have received sufficient tools through the basic education to deal with the distance that often exists between the educated knowledge about well-functioning social work and the working conditions they encounter in the workplace. The study is qualitative, with semi-structured interviews conducted with four respondents and two informants. The materials were analyzed through thematic analysis and the theoretical starting points "learning by doing" and job strain model. The results indicate that the respondents have general knowledge of social work and inputs. Current situation of social services can limit the possibility of performing well functioning social work

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates education strategies for field instructors working with undergraduate social work students. Social work students at the University of Stellenbosch receive practical experience and education at welfare institutions as part of their formal education. During this practice education period students are guided and educated by field instructors. Practice education of undergraduate social work students is a demanding responsibility to field instructors and knowledge and skills are required to complete the task successfully. During the practice education period, field instructors are still confronted with their own work pressure and environmental demands in practice, along with the practice education of undergraduate social work students. The basic premise for this research is focused on the importance of the role of field instructors during the field practice period, as well as the importance of continuous education to these field instructors. This research report includes 'n thorough literature study that refers to the knowledge and skills that are required of field instructors for practice eduaction of students. The partnership between the educational institution and practice education agency are discussed and the roles, tasks and expectations of the partners are described in the chapters. Both parties are responsible for the education of field instructors and several educational strategies are examined. As a conclusion, educational strategies for field instructors are discussed and recommendations are made. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the theoretical part of the research. An explorary study was used to obtain the information from respondants. The findings and results of the research are analized and compared with the literature and some recommendations are made. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for the education of field instructors concerned with the education of undergraduate social work students. Field instructors contribute to the education of professional social workers and all parties involved in the education process should bare a responsibilty to participate in field instructors' education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Maatskaplikewerk-studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch word as deel van hul formele opleiding blootgestel aan praktiese ondervinding en -onderrig by welsynsinstansies. Gedurende hierdie praktykonderrigplasing ontvang studente leiding en onderrig van praktykopleiers. Praktykonderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente stel hoë eise aan praktykopleiers en verg kennis en vaardighede om die taak suksesvol uit te voer. Tydens die praktykonderrigperiode word praktykopleiers steeds gekonfronteer met die eise van die werks- en omgewingsdruk in die praktyk, tesame met die praktykonderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die noodsaaklikheid van praktykopleiers se rol tydens die praktykonderrigperiode van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente, sowel as die belangrikheid van voortgesette opleiding aan hierdie praktykopleiers. Ten einde opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers daar te stel, fokus die literatuurstudie op 'n bespreking van die kennis en vaardighede waaroor praktykopleiers moet beskik vir praktykonderrig aan studente. Die vennootskap tussen die opleidingsinstansie en praktykonderrigsinstansie word volledig bespreek en rolle, funksies en verwagtinge van die vennote word aangedui. Beide partye dra 'n verantwoordelikheid teenoor die opleiding van praktykopleiers en moontlike opleidingsmetodes word ondersoek. Ter samevatting word opleidingsstrategieë vir praktykopleiers bespreek en aanbevelings word gemaak. Die teoretiese deel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur 'n ontleding en bespreking van die resultate van die ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie is benut en beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om die inligting van respondente te bekom. Die bevindinge en resultate van die ondersoek is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur en sekere aanbevelings is gemaak. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan as riglyn gebruik word vir die opleiding van praktykopleiers wat betrokke is by die onderrig van voorgraadse maatskaplikewerk-studente. Praktykopleiers speel 'n belangrike rol in die opleiding en onderrig van professionele maatskaplike werkers en betrokke partye in die opleidingsproses dra 'n verantwoordelikheid om praktykopleiers toe te rus vir die taak.

The aim of this study is to examine Swedish social work students’ norms and values towards homosexuality and intimate partner violence in homosexual relationships, in order to establish an increased understanding for whether social work students contribute to or challenge the heteronormative beliefs that can occur in social work. Previous studies have shown that professional social workers tend to perceive individuals who are homosexual and exposed to intimate partner violence as less serious than individuals who are in a heterosexual relationship, and therefore individuals who are homosexual are more likely to receive a lesser support and treatment. Furthermore, studies show that heteronormativity is prevalent within social work education. In addition, studies show that social work education further needs to implement different sexualities and intimate partner violence, regardless the individual’s sexual orientation in the syllabus.The chosen method for this study was focus group interviews with a vignette about intimate partner violence, which was executed with social work students from two different universities in Sweden. The empirical material has been analyzed using previous studies and theoretical perspectives such as queer theory, heteronormativity and gender. The empirical material shows that social work students in Sweden do not show any heteronormative beliefs, however they tend to show and maintain biases about gender. Furthermore, the empirical material indicate that social work students have a general knowledge about intimate partner violence, however they disclose that they do not possess knowledge about the differences in intimate partner violence regarding homosexual relationships. Lastly the empirical material shows that social work students depicts that heteronormativity is prevalent within social work education, furthermore social work students claims the necessity of that the syllabus further implement a content regarding intimate partner violence and how the faculty refer to individuals who do not identify themselves as heterosexuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of parental support on social work students’ well-being. This study assessed social work students’ perspectives on perceived social support, financial support and the relationship between student stress levels and depression levels. The data was collected using quantitative surveys and was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). A total of 64 students participated in the study. Results concluded that there was no relationship between parental financial support, parental social support, depression levels, and stress levels were not statistically significant. The study also revealed that parents did not contribute financially to social work students. It was also found that friends played a bigger role in social work students life compared to family. The study recommends increases educational materials on stress and depressive symptoms, training, support from staff, and a one-time mandatory mental health counseling session.

Socionomprogrammet i Sverige är en generalistutbildning som ska ge förberedelser inför arbetslivet som socionom. Vi upplever att flertal socionomstudenter är fundersamma om deras kunskaper från och förberedelser i utbildningen är tillräckliga för att ta sig an arbetsuppgifter som socionomer. Studiens syfte är att undersöka nuvarande och tidigare socionomstudenters upplevelse av kunskap och förberedelse inför arbetslivet, kopplat till olika ämnesområden, samt undervisnings- och examinationsformer. Valet av kvantitativ metod och enkät som mätinstrument baserades på att vi ville nå ut till fler personer och få en större överblick av situationen. Studien genomfördes på Hälsohögskolan i Jönköping och populationen valdes ut genom ett strategiskt urval, utifrån studiens frågeställningar.  Studien genomfördes i samarbete med socionomstudenter i termin 6 och socionomer som examinerades 2018. I resultatet framgår det att kunskap och förberedelse är sammankopplat, hög upplevd kunskap i ett område är kopplat till starkare känsla av förberedelse i ämnesområdet. Generellt är respondenterna neutrala eller lätt positiva kring sin förberedelse inför arbetslivet som socionom. Utmärkande var att VFUn ansågs vara det mest givande under hela utbildningen. / The social work program in Sweden is a generalist education that will prepare students for social working tasks. Our experience is that a lot of social work students are questioning whether their knowledge and preparations from the social work program are enough to prepare them for employment as social workers. The aim of this study is to examine current social work students and newly graduated social workers experience of knowledge and preparedness to work. Different topic areas, form of teaching, and form of examinations are surveyed. Choosing quantitative methods and survey as our instrument, was based on the fact that we wanted to reach more people and get a larger overview of the situation. The study was conducted at School of Health and Welfare in Jönköping, the population was strategically selected based on its relevance of the study topic.  The study was conducted with students attending their 6th semester and with social work students who graduated in 2018. Descriptive statistics were computed. The results reveal that knowledge and preparedness are connected, knowledge in one area is linked to preparedness to work with that area. Generally, the respondents are neutral or slightly positive about their preparedness to work. Periods on internship / working placement (VFU) was considered as the form of education that generated the strongest effect on preparedness out of the entire social work program.

The aim of this study is to examine social work students’ experiences of knowledge regarding ethnicity and culture in the social work education at Stockholm University and if this knowledge is of importance for their future role as social workers. This is a qualitative study based on seven semi-structured interviews. The students were asked about how knowledge regarding ethnicity and culture has been depicted in the social work education and how to integrate this subject in the social work education to make it significant for the students. Lastly, the social work students also discussed whether they believe that the social work education has given them skills for their future work with clients categorized as non-ethnic swedes. The theoretical framework used in this study is the critical theory, anti-oppressive theory and the term ethnocentrism. The results of this study highlight that knowledge regarding ethnicity and culture has been depicted from western perspective, knowledge regarding ethnicity and culture should be integrated through discussions and by having teachers who have interpretative prerogative. Further, the social work students emphasized the need for awareness of oppressive structures that affect clients categorized as non-ethnic swedes and self-reflection as a set of important skills for their future work with these clients.

The purpose of this study is to describe trauma in the lives of social work students studying at Unisa South Africa. It explores how they describe trauma, what traumatic experiences they have gone through, the effect these experiences had on them, what they did to cope and how these experiences impacted their work as aspiring social workers. A case study was conducted with fourth-level students at Unisa South Africa. The theoretical framework adopted for the research was the person-centred approach. The research involved both focus group interviews and a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were generated. Descriptive statistics were used to create a profile of the participants. Qualitative data were analysed using a hermeneutic method. The perceptions of the participants were re-told by the researcher in the form of specific themes that emerged from the data. These themes were discussed and compared with the literature. Implications for the students’ work as social workers were discussed. The study accessed unique aspects of trauma that are grounded in the South African context. The description of trauma that emerged from the research created a new definition of the meaning of trauma. The research discusses the effects of trauma on the emerging professional self of the social work student. Recommendations are made that could be valuable to social work educators wishing to further the personal and professional growth of social work students. The research is also of value to those working with traumatised people. / Social Work / D .Litt. et Phil. (Social Work)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2009. / Title from screen (viewed on August 27, 2009). School of Social Work, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Cathy Pike, Hea-Won Kim, Margaret Adamek, Drew Appleby. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 317-330).

The purpose of this study is to describe trauma in the lives of social work students studying at Unisa South Africa. It explores how they describe trauma, what traumatic experiences they have gone through, the effect these experiences had on them, what they did to cope and how these experiences impacted their work as aspiring social workers. A case study was conducted with fourth-level students at Unisa South Africa. The theoretical framework adopted for the research was the person-centred approach. The research involved both focus group interviews and a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were generated. Descriptive statistics were used to create a profile of the participants. Qualitative data were analysed using a hermeneutic method. The perceptions of the participants were re-told by the researcher in the form of specific themes that emerged from the data. These themes were discussed and compared with the literature. Implications for the students’ work as social workers were discussed. The study accessed unique aspects of trauma that are grounded in the South African context. The description of trauma that emerged from the research created a new definition of the meaning of trauma. The research discusses the effects of trauma on the emerging professional self of the social work student. Recommendations are made that could be valuable to social work educators wishing to further the personal and professional growth of social work students. The research is also of value to those working with traumatised people. / Social Work / D .Litt. et Phil. (Social Work)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / GREGORY RESEARCH BELIEFS SCALE: FACTOR STRUCTURE AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES The study at hand involves developing the Gregory Research Beliefs Scale (GRBS) to reliably and validly measure social work students’ beliefs about the function of research in social work practice. Research has considerable actual and potential benefits for practice. Social work students’ beliefs about this construct are vital. A description of the advantages of using research to inform practice is given. Additionally, the Council on Social Work Education and National Association of Social Workers’ policies that mandate the merger of research and practice are also provided to further justify the need for adequate psychometric evaluation of the construct. Details of the literature search strategy are described and critical evaluations of the empirical articles are conducted. Based on critical evaluations of instruments which have previously measured the same construct, a number of psychometric shortcomings are outlined to validate the need for further scale development of the construct. The present study’s objectives were to develop a scale which has an empirically and theoretically supported factor structure, acceptable coefficient alpha levels, empirically supported discriminant (divergent) validity, concurrent criterion validity, and known–groups criterion validity. Steps for developing the GRBS’s items, response format, sample, research design, and statistical tests are specified and conducted to determine the factor structure and psychometric properties. Finally, the strengths, limitations, and areas for future research are discussed.