A saúde mental do trabalhador: estudo sobre os afastamentos por transtornos mentais

Pós-graduação em Planejamento e Análise de Políticas Públicas - FCHS

Transitando entre as políticas de assistência social e igualdade racial: produção e (re)produção da trama social dos negros

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS

Transitando entre as políticas de assistência social e igualdade racial: produção e (re)produção da trama social dos negros

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS

Family Health Strategy Professionals Facing Medical Social Needs: difficulties and coping strategies

Professionals of Family Health Strategy (FHS) work in communities where there are complex medical social problems. These contexts may lead them to psychological suffering, jeopardizing their care for the users, and creating yet another obstacle to the consolidation of FHS as the primary health care model in Brazil. The study investigated the difficulties and coping strategies reported by health professionals of the FHS teams when they face medical social needs of the communities where they work. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were carried out with 68 professionals of three primary care units in the city of Sao Paulo (Southeastern Brazil). Drug dealing and abuse, alcoholism, depression and domestic violence are the most relevant problems mentioned by the study group. Professionals reported lack of adequate training, work overload, poor working conditions with feelings of professional impotence and frustration. To overcome these difficulties, professionals reported collective strategies, particularly experience sharing during team meetings and matrix support groups. The results indicate that the difficulties may put the professionals in a vulnerable state, similar to the patients they care for. The promotion of specialized and long term support should be reinforced, as well as the interaction with the local network of services and communities leaders. That may help professionals to deal with occupational stress related to medical and social needs present in their routine work; in the end, it may as well contribute to the strengthening of FHS.

Gender inequalities in occupational health related to the unequal distribution of working and employment conditions: a systematic review

Introduction: Gender inequalities exist in work life, but little is known about their presence in relation to factors examined in occupation health settings. The aim of this study was to identify and summarize the working and employment conditions described as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health in studies related to occupational health published between 1999 and 2010. Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken of studies available in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sociological Abstracts, LILACS, EconLit and CINAHL between 1999 and 2010. Epidemiologic studies were selected by applying a set of inclusion criteria to the title, abstract, and complete text. The quality of the studies was also assessed. Selected studies were qualitatively analysed, resulting in a compilation of all differences between women and men in the prevalence of exposure to working and employment conditions and work-related health problems as outcomes. Results: Most of the 30 studies included were conducted in Europe (n=19) and had a cross-sectional design (n=24). The most common topic analysed was related to the exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards (n=8). Employed women had more job insecurity, lower control, worse contractual working conditions and poorer self-perceived physical and mental health than men did. Conversely, employed men had a higher degree of physically demanding work, lower support, higher levels of effort-reward imbalance, higher job status, were more exposed to noise and worked longer hours than women did. Conclusions: This systematic review has identified a set of working and employment conditions as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health from the occupational health literature. These results may be useful to policy makers seeking to reduce gender inequalities in occupational health, and to researchers wishing to analyse these determinants in greater depth.

Condições de trabalho e terceiro setor: implicações contemporâneas para o serviço social

In the contemporaneity, due to the implementation of the neoliberal project in which one verifies the withdrawal of the State in regard to the development of social policies, it is observed a new way of responding to the multifaceted expressions of the social issue, which is the emergence and expansion of a supposed "third sector" in society. Thus, the productive restructuring process has led to the deterioration of labor relations, as well as a super exploration of human labor power, also triggering structural unemployment. By being delineated in classist interests, the emergence of the "third sector" brings contradictory aspects to the society, one of these being the very concept of "third sector", more ideological than real. By seeking to answer the expressions of the social issue, demands the intervention of social workers in the institutions that "composes it". This way, arises the interest in researching what are the current conditions and labor relations of the social workers who work in the institutions of the "third sector" in Mossoró-RN. Therefore, this study is constituted by a survey for the conclusion of a Master's degree in Social Service at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Therefore, it was listed out as general objective to identify and analyze the conditions and labor relations of the social workers entered in the institutions of the "third sector" in Mossoró-RN. And by specific objectives: to map the institutions that are part of the "third sector" in the city of Mossoró, which have social workers on its professional staff, in order to profile the same; and, analyze the main challenges presented to the work of the social worker in these institutions. We used the bibliographic and documental research to enlighten the knowledge of the topic approached and the development of the field research, in which for the analysis of the data obtained, through field research, it was used the quantitative and qualitative approach. The search results confirmed that half of the institutions was identified as philanthropics, and most of them are funded by the federal government and that such organizations develop activities in several areas, particularly health and welfare. Concerning the conditions and labor relations, was highlighted the fact that half of the professionals insert themselves within the institutions by appointment; regarding the salary, 57.1% of employees receive between 3 and 4 minimum wages, which is considered relatively low. Was satisfactory the analysis related to the labor rights, because almost all offer a formal contract, which ensures, in great measure, the effectuation of such rights. Now with regard to the workload, 5 of 6 institutions implemented the Law Nº. 12.317/2010 ensuring 30 hours a week for social workers. However, it were cited many challenges relating the reality of the "third sector" to the conditions and labor relations, among them stands out: the delay of salary and non-salary adjustment; the realization of activities that do not relate to professionals, functions and duties; the development of many activities by a single professional. Two important data are the not incentive to a postgraduate and the charging of the fulfillment of the goals for the professional productivity. Here, it is worth to reflect that, although this study presents elements that provide to identify some aspects of labor relations and conditions of social workers in the "third sector" in Mossoró- RN, as well as some challenges that permeate this space of professional insertion, is meant that there is much to be unveiled, and other studies can later do so in an attempt to a better understanding of the complexity of processes that permeate the "third sector"

Da voz que cala ao corpo que fala: o assédio moral no ambiente de trabalho como desafio para o serviço social

The changes ocurred in the world of capitalist labor, especially from the last decades of the 20th century, accentuated the process of manipulation and domination of the working class, materialized mainly through naturalization and / or trivialization of violence, conducted in the work environment. From this process, emerge the elements of bullying, that is, the embarrassing and humiliating practices which extend through time, degrading human race, and becoming fruitful object for study, debate and the intervention of the professionals of the Social Service area. Thus, we assume the perspective of analyzing the concepts and the work of social workers, whom work at people management area before the bullying in the workplace. We propose the following objectives: apprehend the settings of bullying, in the contemporary context of competitiveness and flexibility of work, as well as its implications for workers' health; characterize the background of this expression of violence at work in the municipality of Natal- RN; and analyze the powers and duties of the social worker in the process of prevention, identification and addressing of bullying in the context of work. This study consisted of a qualitative approach, based on the dialectical-critical method as soon as we adopt methodological procedures such as: theoretical knowledge, documental and field research, and performed using semi-structured interviews. The subjects of this research were nine (09) the Social Service professionals working in personnel management area, in five (5) institutions with legal and branches of different activities, located in Natal-RN. Even interviewed one (01) representative of the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte Office (MPT-RN). The findings of this analysis indicate that bullying is a contemporary expression of "social question", which is presented as a demand for the Social-assistants – covered up and / or camuflage – under the guise of problems related to workers' health or mere conflicts of interpersonal relationships, that is, without any causal connection with the organization of work. The fear of losing job, not to be inserted in the labor market, and / or suffering reprisals, deepens the subject levels of the victims of bullying. Hence the importance of Social Workers are capable to understand the social reality, by preventing and combating the elements of bullying.

Cuidados Paliativos em Portugal na Perspectiva de Assistentes Sociais

O contexto demográfico e epidemiológico hodierno traz à luz a fulcral relevância dos cuidados paliativos de qualidade acessíveis para todos. Pela importância que o serviço social assume na defesa da garantia dos direitos humanos, com uma ação direta nestes cuidados, o presente estudo pretendeu analisar os cuidados paliativos na perspectiva de assistentes sociais, tendo em conta o atual contexto das políticas sociais e de saúde. Optou-se por uma investigação quanti e qualitativa, através de um inquérito por questionário dirigido a todas as unidades/equipas de cuidados paliativos identificadas no território nacional (Portugal Continental e Regiões Autónomas), com assistentes sociais. A amostra foi constituida por 17 profissionais de serviço social, na sua maioria mulheres (94,1%), com idades entre os 25 e os 57 anos, a exercer a profissão há 5,5 anos, em média, na área dos cuidados paliativos. Os resultados do estudo mostram-nos que os assistentes sociais estão inseridos em 86,36% das unidades/equipas, sendo estas maioritamente de natureza pública. Os profissionais mais frequentes na constituição das equipas são o médico, enfermeiro, assistente social e psicólogo. Todos ou quase todos têm formação específica na área, tendo a maioria apoio para formação continuada. As condições de trabalho atuais foram alvo de uma avaliação desfavorável por parte da amostra. Estes profissionais perspectivam o acesso a estes cuidados como sendo pouco equitativos, apontam a falta quer de estruturas que cubram geograficamente todo o país, quer de recursos humanos adequados, não esquecendo a ausência de regulamentação da atividade laboral dos profissionais nos cuidados paliativos. É exigido ao assistente social uma intervenção baseada no cumprimento de objetivos que apresentem resultados rápidos, o que tem vindo a dificultar uma intervenção eficaz desde a admissão até ao encaminhamento do doente para continuidade de cuidados. A presente investigação oferece um contributo para a produção de conhecimento capaz de evidenciar as transformações que têm vindo a ocorrer na prática dos profissionais permitindo contribuir para a reflexão sobre os contextos e processos de intervenção, assim como sobre a promoção do direito aos cuidados paliativos de qualidade em Portugal. / The current demographic and epidemiological context highlights the crucial importance of quality palliative care accessible for all. The importance that social work assumes in the defense of human rights guarantees, with a direct action on these care, this study aims to analyze the palliative care from the perspective of social workers, taking into account the current context of social and health policies. We chosed a quantitative and qualitative research through a questionnaire addressed to the universe of the palliative care institutions identified in the national territory (Portugal’s mainland and the Autonomous Regions), with social workers. The sample has 17 social work professionals, mostly women (94.1%), aged between 25 and 57 years. They work as a social worker for 5.5 years on average in the area of care palliative. The results of the study show us that social workers are included in 86.36% of the units / teams, wich are mostly public services. The most frequent professionals in the teams are the doctor, nurse, social worker and psychologist. All or almost all have specific training in the area, and the majority has institutional support for continuing training. Current conditions of work have received an unfavorable evaluation by the participants. The inquired considered access to palliative care as being inequitable, or point to a lack of structures that geographically cover the whole country, whether adequate human resources, not to mention the lack of regulation of the activity of professionals working in palliative care. An intervention based on the achievement of goals that have quick results, which have been a difficulty for an effective intervention from the admission to the referral of the patient for continuity of care is required of the social worker. This research offers a contribution to knowledge production, able to highlight the changes that have taken place in professional practice, allowing to contribute to the reflection about the contexts and processes of intervention as well as on the promotion of the right to quality palliative care of in Portugal.

Políticas de Austeridade, Serviço Social e Direitos das Crianças: o Serviço Social nas CPCJ do Distrito de Leiria

Objetivo. Este estudo reflete sobre o impacto das políticas neoliberais e a austeridade na vida das famílias e das suas crianças, no sistema de promoção e proteção de crianças e jovens em perigo e na prática profissional dos assistentes sociais que nele trabalham na defesa dos direitos devidos a essas crianças. Partiu-se da análise do enfraquecimento do estado social, para se perceber o desmonte das políticas públicas e as suas implicações na carreira profissional e nas condições de trabalho do assistente social. Assiste-se à transição de responsabilidades da esfera pública para a sociedade civil, no caso específico das políticas de proteção à infância. Participantes. Existindo necessidade de constituir uma amostra para a realização do estudo, optámos por uma amostra não-probabilística de informadores estratégicos. O critério de inclusão foi ser assistente social a desempenhar funções na CPCJ do distrito de Leiria. Com este critério responderam ao questionário 10 Assistentes Sociais, num total de 16 solicitações às CPCJ do distrito de Leiria. A recolha de informação através da aplicação dos inquéritos decorreu entre o mês de maio e junho de 2015. Material e métodos. A recolha de dados, para poder responder à questão em análise, foi feita com a aplicação de um inquérito por questionário online, com perguntas fechadas e abertas. Resultados. O Neoliberalismo atinge a prática profissional do assistente social, pela redução de recursos para o estudo diagnóstico das crianças e suas famílias e pela redução de técnicos superiores especializados na intervenção. Os Direitos das Crianças no sistema de promoção e proteção não se encontram devidamente asseverados, na medida em que estas comungam do sucessivo empobrecimento das suas famílias, sendo privadas da satisfação das necessidades básicas para o seu saudável desenvolvimento. Implicações. Os resultados deste estudo compelem a uma clara necessidade de lhe dar continuidade de âmbito nacional, para entender e melhorar as expressões do trabalho do assistente social desenvolvido com as crianças e suas famílias, no sistema de promoção e proteção. É necessário construir e consolidar uma manifestação de espírito crítico na classe profissional, no sentido de pugnar pelo projeto ético – político, bem como atribuir ao Serviço Social o estatuto de disciplina especializada. Nesta qualidade, a profissão deve participar na análise e na discussão das políticas para a infância, para assim colocar as necessidades das crianças, no centro das obrigações públicas. / Objective: This study concerns the impact of the neoliberal and austerity policies in the life of the families and their children, in the protection system of children and young people at risk and in the professional practice of the social workers, who work to defend the rights owed to those children. It started with the analysis of the weaknesses of the social state to understand the deconstruction of the public policies and the implications in the professional career and working conditions of the social worker. It can be noticed that there is a transition of responsibilities from the public sphere to the civil society in the specific case of the childhood protection policies. Participants: Due to the need to build a sample to perform the study, we chose a nonprobabilistic sample of strategic informers. The inclusion criterion was being a social worker performing duties in the CPCJs in the District of Leiria. 10 social workers answered the questionnaire with this criterion, out of a total of 16 requests to the CPCJs of the District of Leiria. The gathering of the information through the use of the questionnaires was done between the months of May and June 2015. Material and Methods: The gathering of data, to be able to answer the question under analysis, was done through the use of online questionnaires, with both open and closed questions. Results: The Neoliberalism affects the professional practice of the social worker, by reducing the resources, in the diagnostic study of the children and their families, by reducing specialized superior technicians in the intervention. The rights of the children in the protection system are not properly secure as they are affected by the continuous impoverishment of their families, being deprived of satisfying their basic needs, which are essential to their healthy development. Implications: The results of this study indicate a clear necessity to give it some continuity at a national level, to understand and improve the expressions of the social worker���s job being developed with the children and their families, in the promotion and protection system. It is necessary to build and consolidate some form of critical mind in the professional class, as to fight for the ethical-political project, as well as to give to the social service the statute of specialized discipline. Therefore, the profession should participate in the analysis and discussion of the policies concerning the childhood, being then able to place the needs of the children, in the centre of the public obligations.

Psychology and Social Work: Applied Perspectives

Successful social work practice is underpinned by knowledge, theories and research findings from a range of related disciplines, key amongst which is psychology. This timely book offers a grounded and engaging guide to psychology s vital role at the heart of contemporary social work practice. The book skilfully addresses some of the central theoretical developments in psychology from an applied perspective, and explains how these make essential contributions to the methods and theory base of social work in ways that foster critical evaluation and promote best practice. Written by two authors with extensive backgrounds in psychology and social work respectively as well as a deep understanding of the intersections of the two this book delivers a unique synthesis of perspectives and approaches, focusing on their application to the lives of individuals and families. Each chapter contains reflective points and case studies based on contemporary practice realities which are related to the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers and also to the Health and Care Professions Council s Standards of Proficiency. Times have never been more challenging for social work and this book will be an invaluable source of professional support within the ever-more complex psychological worlds where social work takes place. Table of Contents 1. Introduction: The place of psychological knowledge and research in social work training and practice 2. Signposts from Developmental Psychology on Human Development over the Life Course 3. Perspectives from Clinical and Counselling Psychology on Mental Health and Illness 4. Perspectives from Social and Community Psychology: Understanding values, attitudes, diversity and community change 5. Health Psychology: Understanding health, illness, stress and addiction 6. Organizational Psychology: Understanding the individual and the organization in the social work structure 7. Forensic Psychology: Understanding criminal behaviour and working with victims of crime 8. Conclusion References Index

Impacto das características e condições de trabalho no absentismo em assistentes operacionais de escolas e jardins de infância

O trabalho é capaz de proporcionar sentimentos de identificação, permitindo a partilha de experiências, a aquisição de status social e identidade profissional, mas também pode colocar o trabalhador em situações desagradáveis. As condições a que os trabalhadores estão expostos no seu trabalho e os constrangimentos organizacionais podem despoletar riscos para a sua saúde mental, social e física. A exposição a riscos psicossociais no trabalho tem consequências para a saúde dos trabalhadores. Riscos estes que estão relacionados com a organização do trabalho, com o conteúdo das tarefas e com o ambiente vivenciado no local de trabalho. Para além de consequências para a saúde, a exposição a fatores de risco pode ter consequências que prejudicam o trabalhador, a organização e a sociedade em geral, exemplo dessa consequência é o absentismo. O absentismo é caracterizado pela ausência do trabalhador ao seu local de trabalho, podendo ter na sua essência múltiplas causas, sendo, por sua vez, causador de diversos problemas. A insatisfação com as condições e características do trabalho e os problemas de saúde causados e agravados pela exposição aos riscos leva ao elevado absentismo. Esta dissertação tem como intuito compreender a perceção dos assistentes operacionais acerca da exposição a fatores de riscos psicossociais, compreender a que se deve o elevado índice de absentismo laboral e perceber se existe relação entre este e as condições de trabalho e a perceção de exposição a riscos psicossociais. Participaram do estudo 85 assistentes operacionais, entre os 32 e os 65 anos, de escolas e jardins de infância do conselho. A recolha de dados foi realizada através do questionário INSAT2013 e pela técnica de observação não sistematizada, onde se procurou observar, com o intuito de compreender, as atividades, comportamentos, dificuldades, interações/relações e satisfação do trabalhador assistente operacional. Os principais resultados apresentam uma percepção moderada, por parte dos trabalhadores a riscos psicossociais de modo geral e a sua relação com o elevado absentismo. Umas das conclusões que se destaca na dissertação é que a elevada carga de trabalho reforçada com a redução de colaboradores levam ao aumento do absentismo.

Estrategias de intervención desde el trabajo social frente al suicidio en la adolescencia

La presente monografía; “Estrategias de intervención desde el Trabajo Social frente al suicidio en la adolescencia” aborda, entre otras, las siguientes temáticas; definiciones y tipos desuicidio; factores que influyen en el suicidio de la adolescencia y las causas que generan este problema de salud pública. El “sujeto” central de la investigación es la adolescencia, grupo etario donde el suicidio se ha convertido en la tercera causa de muerte. La conducta suicida,también es abordada; considerando los cambios y características psicológicas que es determinante para detectarestos comportamientos y poder prevenirlos e intervenir desde diferentes perspectivas profesionales, en donde el trabajo multidisciplinario es la base de la intervención especializada. En este escenario de multidisciplinariedad la tarea del Trabajador Social es caracterizada, en la monografía, como la del profesional que dinamiza armónicamente la acción de los profesionales involucrados, apoyándose en lopsicoeducativo y en la definición del escenario social. Finalmente se plantean estrategias y alternativas conceptuales y metodológicas, para prevenir el suicidio en la adolescencia y como intervenir con sus familias y allegados. La propuesta metodológica que se enfatiza como estrategia, para prevenir el suicidio, es el trabajo de equipo multidisciplinario,en dónde; psicólogos, médicos, psiquiatras, enfermeras, educadores, orientadores familiares y trabajadores sociales, aúnan esfuerzos para prevenir este flagelo y con la finalidad de relacionar lo conceptual y metodológico desde la práctica profesional se transcribe una entrevista a profundidad con un médico psiquiatra de uno de los hospitales de la localidad.

Testing and Expanding an Emotion-Centered Model of Workplace Aggression: The Moderating Effects of Perceived Intensity and Social Support in the Workplace

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the mediating effects of job-related negative emotions on the relationship between workplace aggression and outcomes. Additionally, the moderating effects of workplace social support and intensity of workplace aggression are considered. A total 321 of working individuals participated through an online survey. The results of this thesis suggest that job-related negative emotions are a mediator of the relationship between workplace aggression and outcomes, with full and partial mediation supported. Workplace social support was found to be a buffering variable in the relationship between workplace aggression and outcomes, regardless of the source of aggression (supervisor or co-worker) or the source of the social support. Finally, intensity of aggression was found to be a strong moderator of the relationship between workplace aggression and outcomes.

The role of social capital in reducing negative health outcomes among police officers

This paper investigates the role of social capital on the reduction of short and long run negative health effects associated with stress, as well as indicators of burnout among police officers. Despite the large volume of research on either social capital or the health effects of stress, the interaction of these factors remains an underexplored topic. In this empirical analysis we aim to reduce such a shortcoming focusing on a highly stressful and emotionally draining work environment, namely law enforcement agents who perform as an essential part of maintaining modern society. Using a multivariate regression analysis focusing on three different proxies of health and three proxies for social capital conducting also several robustness checks, we find strong evidence that increased levels of social capital is highly correlated with better health outcomes. Additionally we observe that while social capital at work is very important, social capital in the home environment and work-life balance are even more important. From a policy perspective, our findings suggest that work and stress programs should actively encourage employees to build stronger social networks as well as incorporate better working/home life arrangements.

Sustaining the next generation of teacher-researchers to work for social justice

This chapter explores a research project involving teachers working with some of the most disadvantaged young people in South Australia, children growing up in poverty, in families struggling with homelessness and ill-health, in the outer southern suburbs. Additionally, there were particular children were struggling with intellectual, emotional and social difficulties which were extreme enough for them not be included in a mainstream class. The research project made two crucial interrelated moves to support teachers to tackle this tough work. First, the project had an explicit social justice agenda. We were not simply researching literacy outcomes, but literacy pedagogies for the students teachers were most worried about. And we wanted to understand how the material conditions of students’ everyday lifeworlds impacted on the working conditions of teachers’ schoolworlds. We sought to open up a discursive space where teachers could talk about poverty, violence, racism and classism in ways that would take them beyond despair and into new imaginings and positive action. Second, the project was designed to start from the urgent questions of early career teachers and to draw on the accumulated practice wisdom of their chosen mentors. Hence we designed not only a teacher-researcher community, but cross-generational networks. Our aim was to build the capacities of both generations to address long-standing educational problems in new ways that drew overtly on their different and complementary resources.