No description available.

This quantitative survey study examined stress/burnout and job satisfaction in a sample of 108 social workers in rural Mississippi using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Abridged Job Description Index (AJDI). The research examined the prevalence of stress/burnout among mental health social workers employed with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. The research focused primarily on the relationship between burnout and job satisfaction and the degree to which levels of burnout and satisfaction were associated with demographic characteristics. Results of this study showed that 36.1% of respondents reported a high level of emotional exhaustion, 6.5% reported high levels of depersonalization, and 27.8% reported high level of personal accomplishment. Multiple dimensions of job satisfaction were found to be associated with burnout; emotional exhaustion was a particularly strong predictor of low job satisfaction. No significant differences in burnout and job satisfaction were found between men and women. Levels of burnout and job satisfaction were not related significantly to respondents’ age, marital status, or years of experience. Bachelor-level social workers scored higher on both emotional exhaustion and depersonalization than Masters-level social workers. A significant difference between African-Americans and Caucasians was found for general job satisfaction. Social worker certification, years of social work experience, and education level were related significantly to satisfaction with opportunities for promotion. Caseload was associated with differential levels of job satisfaction, but not in a simple linear pattern: the lowest levels of job satisfaction were found among social workers with moderate caseloads (21-30 clients).

Abstract This study sought to understand the differences and similarities between social work practice and evidence-based practice (EBP). As evidence-based practice becomes popularized in areas of professional practice, challenges and tensions arise for social workers. This qualitative research study asked social workers working in the hospital setting how they define and use evidence-based practice in their work, and about the tensions they experience in using EBP. The study revealed that social workers maintain their scope of practice in areas related to advocacy, the use of systems theory and the importance of the therapeutic relationship with clients in the helping process. The social workers in the study identified that social workers understood the value of scientific research and indicated that as a profession, social work practice can use research to influence areas for social change. The participants in the study described that social work practice and evidence-based practice are distinct. Social work practice is intended to understand and respond to social problems, whereas EBP in mental health settings is designed to resolve more narrowly-defined problems of individual coping. The social workers recognized that the two practices could only really co-exist. However, they did note that social workers’ commitments to reinforce self-determination for clients have potentially important overlap with EBP’s attention to patient values and preferences. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

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Finally, some recommendations for the development of bereavement counselling in relation to social policy, service delivery, education and training, workers' personal development, as well as future research were presented. / In--depth interviews were conducted with 12 social workers working in palliative care. This figure was nearly half of the total number of palliative care social workers in Taiwan, so the research findings may reflect the general situation of bereavement counselling in Taiwan. Their stories revealed the endeavours of these social workers in the past years and showed the development of the services from nothing to multifarious. / The narratives of the workers reflected the required individual characteristics of a bereavement counsellor, such as stability in emotion, resilience, creativity, psychic energy. Due to the nature of their work they often encountered death and sufferings, as well as feeling of helplessness. In facing different obstacles and challenges, some of them might retreat themselves at times, especially for those who were still entangled in their personal bereavement. Their emotional state would affect the establishment of effective helping relationship and subsequently the effectiveness of their service. / The research revealed that most of the social workers did not apply any specific theories, or techniques in working with the bereaved. Their narratives reflected that they worked with the bereaved by establishing a meaningful working relationship. They respected and accepted their clients' needs; their empathic support helped the bereaved face the pain of losing their loved ones. Their encouragement and assurance helped them develop and change. Their skills and methods matched well with those of humanism and existentialism. They also tended to adopt postmodernism approach of storytelling in helping the bereaved. Through narration, the workers helped the bereaved re-construct the meaning of their relationship with the deceased in their life. / The study revealed that the social workers considered most of the bereaved had the ability of self-healing, but for some, due to personal or environmental factors they might be entangled in their grief and might need assistance. Their work reflected the emphases of bereavement counselling in Taiwan. Besides counselling service, they also provided assistance in medical related matters, emotional support, enhancement of family members' communication, social adjustment and religious support. Due to the socio-cultural backgrounds of Taiwan, their tasks also included special arrangements at death and discussion of funeral services and rituals. The social workers also stressed the importance of the traditional value of harmony among Heaven, Earth and Man. They paid special attention to the emotional harmony of the bereaved, harmony between the bereaved and their relatives, and harmony among the social environment, the spiritual and the bereaved. / This study is a narrative analysis of the palliative care social workers' experiences in bereavement counselling in Taiwan. It explored the characteristics of bereavement counselling, the social workers' interpretation of their experiences and the cultural and contextual factors that affected the palliative care social workers and bereavement counselling. / 李閏華. / Adviser: Mong Chow Amy Lam. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-305) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Li Runhua.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--McGill University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-87). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD%5F0015/MQ55114.pdf.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1982.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981.