Are empathy and compassion bad for the professional social worker?

Recent studies have shown that social workers and other professional helpers who work with traumatized individuals run a risk of developing compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress. Some researchers have hypothesized that helpers do this as a result of feeling too much empathy or too much compassion for their clients, thereby implying that empathy and compassion may be bad for the professional social worker. This paper investigates these hypotheses. Based on a review of current research about empathy and compassion it is argued that these states are not the causes of compassion fatigue. Hence, it is argued that empathy and compassion are not bad for the professional social worker in the sense that too much of one or the other will lead to compassion fatigue.

Jane Addams (1860-1935): Social worker and Peace Builder

The name Jane Addams is typically associated with the Settlement House Movement. As a founder of Hull House, the first settlement house in the United States, Addams worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor and oppressed. Less widely known is the depth of her concern about peace and her efforts as a peace builder. A more careful review, however, of Addams’ words and works reveals her passionate commitment to the abolition of war and the restoration of peace. This biographical sketch highlights the breadth and depth of Addams’ work both as an advocate for the poor and as an advocate for peace.

The social worker in the prevention and treatment of delinquency,

The original manuscript was rearranged and condensed by Philip Klein. cf. Foreword.

Social worker,

Mode of access: Internet.

The social worker's handbook : revised edition of the tenant's manual /

Photocopy.

Development of test items for the entry-level social worker class in selected State and local jurisdictions /

Photocopy. Springfield, Va. : U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, 1977. -- v, 74 leaves ; 28 cm.

Oral Health Experiences of Social Workers Serving Children in the Foster Care System: Assessing the Feasibility of a Social Worker-Driven Oral Health Intervention

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Client satisfaction and empowerment through social work intervention

This Study examines the utility of satisfaction questionnaires in gauging the effectiveness of social work services in a paediatric hospital setting. Participants completed an empowerment scale before seeing a social worker. Approximately four weeks later, participants completed the empowerment scale again, at which time they also completed a satisfaction questionnaire. The difference between the pre- and post-test empowerment scores was compared with the satisfaction scores, and the influence of some demographic and intervention variables was examined. The results indicated that there was no significant relationship between participants' reported level of satisfaction with the social work service provided and the change in participants' empowerment scores before and after intervention. Most demographic and intervention. variables tested did not yield any significant associations with satisfaction or change in empowerment. However, it was found that those who received both counselling and practical assistance (rather than only one or the other) and those with a higher level of education were more likely to report an increase in their level of empowerment after receiving social work intervention. This study lends further support to the contention that satisfaction questionnaires alone may not provide reliable information with regard to the utility and effectiveness of paediatric hospital social work intervention.

Social work, stress and burnout: A review

Stress and burnout for health care professionals have received increasing attention in the literature. Significant administrative, societal and political changes have impacted on the role of workers and the responsibilities they are expected to assume. Most writers suggest that social work is a highly stressful occupation, with stress deriving in particular from role conflict between client advocacy and meeting agency needs. This article reviewed the social work literature with two questions in mind: Are social workers subject to greater stress than other health professionals? What factors contribute to stress and burnout among social workers? We found that most of the literature was either anecdotal or compared social worker stress with general population norms rather than with stress levels of workers in comparable professions. Such empirical research as is available suggests that social workers may experience higher levels of stress and resulting burnout than comparable occupational groups. Factors identified as contributing to stress and burnout included the nature of social work practice, especially tension between philosophy and work demands and the organization of the work environment. There was some evidence that supervision and team support are protective factors.

Intervenção social com as famílias = Intervention sociale avec les familles

RESUMO: Breve apresentação de uma família e sua problemática, beneficiária do Rendimento Social de Inserção, bem como as dificuldades que a técnica encontra no acompanhamento da mesma. ABSTRACT: Brief presentation of a family and set of problems raised by their social situation that receives a social subsidy for reinsertion, as well as the difficulties that the social worker encounters.

Risco em Saúde e Políticas Sociais:a Intervenção do Serviço Social Local na promoção do Acesso à Saúde.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Sociedade, Risco e Saúde

Le processus de positionnement éthique du travailleur social dans la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée, dans le cadre des régimes de protection du majeur

L’importance accordée à la reconnaissance des droits fondamentaux des personnes en matière d’intégrité physique et de consentement aux soins dans notre société fait que le travailleur social appelé à participer à l’ouverture de régimes de protection du majeur doit développer une expertise multidimensionnelle. De plus, le travailleur social se retrouve à confronté à différentes logiques d’action (juridique et procédurale, médicale, psychosociale, pragmatique) dont il doit tenir compte dans le processus d’évaluation. Ceci nous amène à aborder la position difficile dans laquelle se trouve généralement le travailleur social qui oscille entre la possibilité de favoriser l’autonomie de la personne et la volonté de protéger celle-ci. L’objectif de ce mémoire est donc d’accroître notre compréhension du processus de prise de décision du travailleur social dans la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée, dans le cadre des régimes de protection du majeur. D’une manière plus spécifique, cette étude consiste à retracer et à théoriser, par l’analyse de sa logique d’action, le processus à travers lequel le travailleur social se positionne lorsqu’il se retrouve confronté à des dilemmes éthiques par rapport à la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée. L’analyse de l’expérience du travailleur social a été réalisée à travers le paradigme de l’individualisme méthodologique tel que définit par Raymond Boudon. Les données furent recueillies lors d’entrevues semi-dirigées réalisées auprès de sept intervenants. Les témoignages recueillis par le biais de cette recherche exploratoire montrent à quel point il peut être difficile et éprouvant pour le travailleur social de devoir se positionner dans la détermination de l’inaptitude d’une personne âgée, dans le cadre des régimes de protection du majeur et comment ces interventions s’inscrivent dans un jeu infiniment complexe d’interactions multiples entre acteurs et actants. Les principaux obstacles à la prise de décision éthique dont ont fait part les travailleurs sociaux interrogés sont liés au contexte de pratique. Il s’agit du manque de ressources financières et humaines disponibles ainsi que le fait que les décisions ne soient pas toujours prises en équipe interdisciplinaire et dans un climat qui soit non menaçant. La reconnaissance de l’expertise des travailleurs sociaux en matière d’ouverture de régimes protection est d’ailleurs ressortie comme un enjeu important.

Prevenção da sida nos ''idosos'' : aproximação à intervenção do Serviço Social. O caso de Cascais

RESUMO: Os dados estatísticos evidenciam uma tendência para o aumento de casos de HIV/SIDA em indivíduos com mais de 50 anos (OMS, 2008) e apontam a transmissão por via sexual como uma das causas das novas infecções nesta faixa etária. A inexistência de um tratamento ou de uma vacina para o HIV/SIDA faz com que a alteração de comportamentos de risco seja ainda o único meio disponível e universal de prevenir a doença, independentemente da faixa etária considerada. Reconhecendo a dimensão social do fenómeno, e a função preventiva e educativa inerente à actividade dos assistentes sociais, constitui-se como principal objectivo deste estudo compreender o papel do Serviço Social na prevenção do HIV /SIDA e dos comportamentos de risco nos idosos frequentadores de centros de convívio e academias. Especificamente pretendemos identificar o entendimento dos assistentes sociais face à SIDA, à sexualidade e aos comportamentos de risco da população idosa; compreender o papel do Serviço Social na prevenção do HIV/SIDA por relação a outros profissionais; identificar que acções de âmbito preventivo são utilizadas e em que nível da prevenção se situa a intervenção dos assistentes sociais e perceber se a mesma contribui para a mudança de comportamentos de risco. Situámos o estudo numa abordagem qualitativa, e seguimos uma estratégia indutiva. Os dados foram recolhidos através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, aplicadas a oito assistentes sociais que exercem a sua actividade em Centros de Convívio ou Academias Seniores, no concelho de Cascais. Pela análise e interpretação dos discursos das entrevistadas verifica-se que, a maioria, têm conhecimentos acerca da sexualidade dos idosos no geral e nas respectivas instituições. Percepcionam a sexualidade como algo existente nos idosos, embora se tenham identificado, concomitantemente alguns preconceitos, não sendo um assunto comummente abordado nas suas acções quotidianas. O conhecimento que revelam relativamente ao HIV/SIDA e à expressão do problema a nível global ou local tem uma relação muito directa com a existência, ou não, de casos concretos na instituição. Constatámos que as acções preventivas sobre os comportamentos sexuais de risco são feitas por profissionais exteriores à instituição e de outras áreas, como a enfermagem e a psicologia. Face à regularidade e proximidade com os destinatários da intervenção sublinhamos a importância que os assistentes sociais podem ter no âmbito da prevenção primária, promovendo acções que capacitem, eduquem e motivem os idosos para a adopção de comportamentos saudáveis, sendo também condição sine qua non que os profissionais se reposicionem e assumam esse papel investindo na sua qualificação e especialização. ABSTRACT: The statistical data shows that the number of HIV/AIDS cases in individuals over 50 is rising (OMS, 2008), with the sexual transmission being the prime cause of the new infections in this age group. The non-existence of a treatment or a vaccine for HIV/AIDS leads the change in risk behaviors to remain the only available and universal method to prevent the spreading of this disease, regardless of the age group we are considering. Acknowledging the social dimension of the phenomenon and the inherent preventive and educational function of the Social Workers, the main objective of this study is to understand the role of the Social Work in HIV/AIDS prevention and the risk behaviors of the elderly. Specifically we intend to identify the knowledge the social workers have about HIV/AIDS, about the sexuality and risk behaviors of the elderly; understand the role of the social worker in HIV/AIDS prevention by comparison to other professionals; identify which preventive actions are taken in intervention and in which level of prevention the intervention of social workers takes place, and understand if prevention leads to changing the risk behaviors. We based the study in a qualitative approach, and followed an inductive strategy. The data was gathered by semi-structured interviews, applied to eight Social Workers working in Recreational Centers or Seniors Academies in Cascais’ district. By analyzing and interpreting the interviews we see, that the majority, knows about the sexuality of the elderly in general and in their respective institutions. They see sexuality as something that the elderly possess, although we have also identified some prejudices towards it, and it isn’t a theme usually approached in their daily actions. The knowledge that they reveal about HIV/AIDS and the impact of this problem at a global and local level, is directly linked to the existence, or not, of actual cases in the institution they work. We noticed that the preventive actions on sexual risk behaviors are conducted by professionals that don’t belong to the institution and of other areas of expertise, as Nursing and Psychology. Due to the regularity and proximity with whom the intervention is destined to, we emphasize the importance that the social workers may have in primary prevention, promoting actions that enable, educate and encourage the elderly to adopt health promoting behaviors, also being a sine qua non condition the professionals must reposition themselves and take that role investing in their qualification and specialization.

Serviço social na educação: saberes e competências necessárias no fazer profissional

The Theory analyzes what should know and what competes, formally, to the Professional of Social Service to act in the School Education. He/she investigates, starting from studies on the theme, and close to Council Federal and Regional of Social Service, and of the Brazilian Association of Studies and Researches in Social Service, that you know and competences are necessary for the social worker performance in that specific area. Through a research of nature empiric, bibliographical and documental, the analysis focus outlines the glance and the understanding of the professionals' category that represent the defense organs, fiscalization and formation of the profession. The importance of the scientific study is justified for the social worker necessary contribution acting in the School Education, whose political and pedagogic context presents multiple demands, you know and relationships, and when it is lived a social and education picture at the present time with order words in formation, as inclusion, empowerment, competence, that they demand other specialists in the school scenery to work with the varied expressions of the social subject. Since the years 1930 the social worker acts in the area of the Education, with an originating from knowledge the human and social areas that you/he/she makes possible him/it to contribute, undisciplinement, close to the pedagogic team of the School Education. The clarity of the you know and of the necessary competences to intervene in that field of specific work makes possible the legitimation of the identity, of the social worker professionalization and the formalization of his/her practice. The Theory ends that the profissionality and the social worker professionalism is built and it is recognized in the area of the Education starting from the knowledge of the you know and pertinent competences to intervene in that context, beginning that knowledge on the part of the category of the Social Service and of the formation organs and representation of the profession so that the school community - administration and pedagogic coordination, teachers and students - he understands and recognize the social worker necessary intervention in that field. The formalization of those you know and competences are built starting from actions and thought mobilizations and operation in the group of the category, and not for isolated actions and individualized. It is revealed, in the opinion of the ones that represent Regional Council of Social Service, a wide vision of the social worker in that space exercising, among other, functions that don't compete to the professional's profile or restricted to actions and techniques historically exercised in their work fields. A new profile of the professional of the Social Service that it acts in the School Education is possible when his/her action is visualized centered not just in the work with the family, but, doing of the school a proposition space and execution of programs, projects, studies and social researches. He intends, an action politics and of popularization on them know and the social worker competences in the School Education

Serviço Social e terceiro setor: considerações sobre as atuais relações e condições de trabalho para o Assistente Social em Natal

The present study analyses the actual relations and work conditions found in the third sector in Natal city, in the context of productive restoration and increasingly retraction from the State in providing Social Service before the new approach that has been destined to the social issue. The study talks about the work of the social worker when fighting the different expressions the social issue has, such as social service provision as a way of teamwork associated to work relations and conditions, to accessible resources and quality control management. These are elements that affect and interfere in the accomplishment and in the work of the social worker itself. The State s improvement, according to neoliberal-political precepts and increasingly retraction from the public investment in the areas of social concern (health, social welfare, assistance) and in the wage and employment policy, besides expanding the partnership with the public and private areas, in search for social services with quality, it has diversified the structures of the professional work with the growth of the so called third sector institutions. However, the absorption of the social workers by the third sector groups in general, has as major features the impoverishment of work relations, the maintenance of an unequal salary model, pointing out the deadline contracts and/or single tasks that generate work instability. The research debates, with a critical view and full perspective, over the conception of the third sector, interpreted as an action that expresses functions and values, treated as a real phenomenon generated from the restoration of the capital based on neoliberal principles. This study aims for responding what the established work relations are and under what work conditions the social worker has been fitting in the third sector and how such a reality echoes in the current work conditions for a social work in the city of Natal, before this new model of state intervention that transfers part of the social service provision to distinctive divisions of society, among them the so called third sector. The research results have shown that like the other workers the social worker passes through the same crises, dilemmas, advances and challenges that occur in the world of employment and which are expressed in the drop of salary average in the growth of contemporary contracts, unemployment, and in the ever more selective requirements to one be included in the social spaces, where the professional work is done, having as a result a greater impoverishment of work relations and conditions as well as more vulnerability as a salaried occupation