social work research: improving visibility · social work research evidence base ... adult...
Post on 26-Jun-2020
0 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Social work research:
improving visibilityJO MORIARTY
SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE RESEARCH UNIT
Summary
Social work research evidence base
Three examples from studies
undertaken in Social Care Workforce
Research Unit
Some suggestions!
Discussion
2
Our effectiveness
review
The aim of the review … was to provide
insight into, and aid our understanding
of, the current research and evidence
base for social work, including potential
gaps and areas for development
3
What we did
Bibliographic database, website, internet, journal table of contents searches and ‘reference harvesting’
Retrieved 1666 items Screened on abstract and title
178 full text items read
Final review included 98 items
4
But ….
Social work contribution sometimes unrecorded
Example of an excluded study from 2001 which recorded community nurse time but not social work time
Many instances where professional backgrounds of those delivering a mental health intervention unreported
Extreme example of review not including CBT delivered by experienced psychiatrists and psychology students
5
Discussion paper
More evidence on social work
with adults than is sometimes
thought but need a more
strategic approach to its
development
6
Progress may be slow and a
consensus may not be reached
1988https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00752471.pdf
2005https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/81
2017http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_53146-2.pdf
7
Three examples
Decided against just looking at
strengths based approaches Evidence difficult to synthesise because of the
different populations and problems they face
Debates about definition of what it means
8
Rapp et al framework can help
1. Goal orientation – people are asked to define the goals they would like to achieve in their lives
2. Systematic assessment of strengths
3. Environment is seen as rich in resources
4. Explicit methods used for achieving personal and environmental goals
5. Relationship is hope inducing
6. Provision of meaningful choices is central
9
‘Helping or hindering’
Examined current safeguarding
practice in England where
access to an adult at risk was
obstructed by a third party
10
Methods
Compared legislation in England, Scotland and Wales Scotland and Wales do have a power of entry, unlike England
Online survey (n=27) and interviews with adult safeguarding social workers and managers(n=37) and people using services and carers (n=11)
No definite figures collected on frequency with which social work access is obstructed
11
In absence of legal power of entry
Social worker skills in negotiating and
developing relationships Ranged from ‘soft’ styles to more assertive
approaches
Multi agency approaches Relationships with banking staff, as well as more
typical work with police or ambulance services
12
Conclusions 13
Social workers appear creative in their
approaches to gaining access to the
adult at risk. However, in a small
number of cases, gaining any access
proves very difficult and sometimes
impossible. Such cases can take up a
great deal of time and resource, and
also may mean that adults at risk suffer
abuse or neglect for long periods. In
these cases, many social workers
appear to support the introduction of a
power of entry, and some of the other
powers available in Scotland
Gambling related
harms
Increase in popularity - around two thirds of the population gamble. Around 7% of men & 2% of women identified as being at risk in last 12 months but some evidence that that some groups more likely than others to experience problem gambling
14
Findings
Studies suggest some people experiencing harm from gambling may have pre-existing conditions (e.g. complex trauma, brain injury), or mental health problems
Some communities more vulnerable than others Tottenham identified as a problem area which includes high
numbers of people with mental health problems and/or experiencing homelessness
Concerns that some abuse of adults at risk is perpetrated to fund gambling habits
15
Latest study phase
Research team would like to talk to social workers and other practitioners
16
Social work support for paid
employment
17
Aims and methods
Jobs First aimed to increase the numbers of people with moderate to severe learning disabilities eligible for publicly funded social care, in paid employment Ran from 2010-2011
In other countries, social workers widely involved in ‘labour market activation’ Varies from a ‘workfare’ approach to wider societal reintegration
Semi-structured interviews with 109 participants, including 27 social workers & 25 people with a learning disability
18
Findings
Social workers’
enthusiasm varied
When they were positive, this
was key to helping people
gain paid employment
These social workers saw it as
helping people achieve an
‘ordinary life’ and better
income
Arranged and co-ordinated
practical support eg getting
up and help with travel
19
‘The three social workers
we’ve got that have been
really influential, and I
think they have managed
to influence their teams as
well, and we are getting
some positive outcomes
and feedback from this’
Concluded
Social workers were not just involved in mainstream tasks such as establishing eligibility and assessments
Roles as brokers, helping people learn the job, providing employment support
More learning about processes needed to provide employment support than in evidence of ‘success’ in finding jobs
20
Discussion
Social work is often at the ‘sharp end’ of emerging policies or their effects
Challenge for practitioners and researchers to respond and adapt effectively to changes
Examples have shown emerging emphasis away from focus on individual ‘problems’ towards recognition of impact of wider community and environment
21
In short!
Think about opportunities in own
practice Becoming part of a wider research project
Role of practitioner research
Help in develop evidence based guidance
Join an ethics committee
22
Help set priorities for social work research
Still time to complete survey for James Lind Alliance
23
Apply to join Social Care Research Ethics Committee
Closing date is 5pm, 11th December 2017
24
Thanks & disclaimer
We acknowledge the contribution of the Policy Research Programme at the Department of Health for its support for the Unit
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in research –and for your continuing help
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Department of Health Contact: jo.moriarty@kcl.ac.uk
25
‘Look, Daddy. Teacher says,
every time a bell rings an
angel gets his wings’
Every time a social worker helps
with a piece of research, they
make the researchers
incomparably happy!
26
Links and bibliography (1)
Slide
no.
Content Link
3 Effectiveness https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-
institute/publications/SCR_FInal.pdf
4 Discussion paper https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-
institute/publications/Social-work-research-with-adults-in-
England---the-state-were-in.pdf
10 Helping or hindering https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-
institute/scwru/pubs/2017/reports/Helping-or-Hindering-Final-
Report-2017.pdf
14 Gambling https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-institute/publications/The-
nature-of-gambling-related-harms-for-adults-at-risk-a-
review.pdf
16 Recruiting http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/08/07/gambling-
impact-vulnerable-adults/
27
Links and bibliography (2)
No. Content Link
17 Jobs First http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/146801731663722
4
23 James Lind Alliance http://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk/priority-setting-partnerships/adult-
social-work/the-survey.htm
24 SCREC https://www.hra.nhs.uk/about-us/news-updates/expert-
members-needed-social-care-research-ethics-committee/
28
top related