The importance of specific professions for human rights realization is increasingly recognized. Journalists, teachers, and civil servants are all considered to play a role because their work affects individual rights. This is also the case for social workers. The connection between social work and human rights is evident in the large amount of literature explaining how human rights relate to social work. At the same time there is more attention for human rights localization. These fields of knowledge are related: social workers are local professionals and if they start applying human rights in their work this may influence human rights localization. This article contributes to existing debates on human rights localization by reflecting on the potential role of social workers in local human rights efforts in the Netherlands. Since human rights localization in general and human rights application in social work are recent phenomena in the Netherlands this provides a useful case study for a qualitative analysis on whether and how social workers can be regarded as actors in human rights localization. By connecting different actors that are said to play a role in human rights localization to proposed forms of human rights application by social workers this article identifies three possible roles for social workers in human rights localization: as human rights translators, as human rights advocates, and as human rights practitioners.
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The realization of human rights standards depends in part on the commitment of local actors. It can be argued that local public service professionals such as social workers can also be regarded as key players. The possible role of social workers becomes imperative if these professionals are working in a policy context that is not congruent with human rights. If existing laws or policies cause or maintain disrespect for human rights, social workers are in a position to observe that this is having an adverse impact on clients. When social workers are regarded as human rights actors, the question arises how they can or should respond to law and policy that impedes them in carrying out their work with respect for human rights. This article adds to existing theories on social workers as human rights actors by examining the practices of social professionals working in such a challenging policy context. The research took place among professionals in social district teams in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Following a series of decentralizations and austerity measures the social care landscape in the Netherlands has changed drastically over the last few years. As a result, social workers may find themselves on the one hand trying to realize the best possible care for their clients while on the other hand dealing with new laws and policy expectations focused on self-reliance and diminished access to specialist care. The article explores how social professionals’ responses to barriers in access to care affect human rights requirements. In doing so, this socio-legal study provides insight into the ways in which everyday social work relates to the realization of human rights at the local level.
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The guidance offered here is intended to assist social workers in thinking through the specific ethical challenges that arise whilst practising during a pandemic or other type of crisis. In crisis conditions, people who need social work services, and social workers themselves, face increased and unusual risks. These challenging conditions are further compounded by scarce or reallocated governmental and social resources. While the ethical principles underpinning social work remain unchanged by crises, unique and evolving circumstances may demand that they be prioritised differently. A decision or action that might be regarded as ethically wrong in ‘normal’ times, may be judged to be right in a time of crisis. Examples include: prioritising individual and public health considerations by restricting people’s freedom of movement; not consulting people about treatment and services; or avoiding face-to-face meetings.
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This report summarises the findings of an international study of the ethical challenges faced by social workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, undertaken during 6th-18th May 2020. 607 responses from 54 countries were received via an online survey, additional interviews and local surveys. Six key themes relating to social workers’ ethical challenges and responses were identified: 1. Creating and maintaining trusting, honest and empathic relationships via phone or internet with due regard to privacy and confidentiality, or in person with protective equipment. 2. Prioritising service user needs and demands, which are greater and different due to the pandemic, when resources are stretched or unavailable and full assessments often impossible. 3. Balancing service user rights, needs and risks against personal risk to social workers and others, in order to provide services as well as possible. 4. Deciding whether to follow national and organisational policies, procedures or guidance (existing or new) or to use professional discretion in circumstances where the policies seem inappropriate, confused or lacking. 5. Acknowledging and handling emotions, fatigue and the need for selfcare, when working in unsafe and stressful circumstances. 6. Using the lessons learned from working during the pandemic to rethink social work in the future.
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The aim of this exploratory study was to assess whether practicing social workers currently enrolled in Master Social Work (MSW) programs (hereafter referred to as MSW students) were more oriented to the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and more engaged in it than practicing social workers who are not currently enrolled in MSW programs (hereafter referred to as social workers) in the Netherlands. Data were collected from MSW students (n = 32) and from social workers (n = 341) using the EBP Process Assessment Scale. MSW students reported a stronger orientation toward the EBP process, more positive attitudes toward EBP, more familiarity with EBP and more intentions to engage in EBP than social workers did, however, they were less positive about the feasibility of implementing EBP in practice. These preliminary results suggest that there are grounds for optimism about MSW students’ acceptance of and engagement in the EBP process. Implications for social work education are discussed.
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Objectives: This study assesses social workers’ orientation toward the evidence-based practice (EBP) process and explores which specific variables (e.g. age) are associated. Methods: Data were collected from 341 Dutch social workers through an online survey which included a Dutch translation of the EBP Process Assessment Scale (EBPPAS), along with 13 background/demographic questions. Results: The overall level of orientation toward the EBP process is relatively low. Although respondents are slightly familiar with it and have slightly positive attitudes about it, their intentions to engage in it and their actual engagement are relatively low. Respondents who followed a course on the EBP process as a student are more oriented toward it than those who did not. Social workers under 29 are more familiar with the EBP process than those over 29. Conclusions: We recommend educators to take a more active role in teaching the EBP process to students and social workers.
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The number of employees above 50 is increasing in organizations because of demographic changes. People above 50 feel less involved in work and societal activities as they should be and as they are expected to be. Older workers‟ employment is accompanied by stereotyping that workers are less productive and less capable than younger workers. The current research is about older workers‟ wishes, desires and wants to further develop gradual retirement schemes as scenarios for both employers' and employees' mutual benefit. Furthermore, the perception of ICT tools supportiveness is researched for older workers‟ sustainable employability. The study is conducted in the northern part of the Netherlands and data were collected by questionnaires and interviews. Data were analysed with the statistical tool SPSS and with Excel for the search of patterns. Results suggest that workers between 50 and 65 like to retire gradually by applied flexible working schemes, reducing the workload and reducing the weekly hours. ICT tools are considered as helpful tools as long as they do not affect workers‟ health. Training is required as well as constantly being updated in the ICT arena. Respondents also indicated that they want to work after retirement either voluntarily or on a small-scale salary to cover their basic costs.
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Set up: Focus on ethical agency, of which ethical sensitivity is a part Best practice unit (i.e. a community of practice with inquisitive objectives): cooperation of 12 social workers (of 6 different welfare organizations) and 2 researchers (UAS teachers) Practice based co-research: involving social workers as reflective and inquisitive professionals with regard to their own practice Phenomenological design: focus on (interpreting) experiences
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Although occupational influences on the wellbeing of social workers have been recognized, influences on the private sexuality or intimate relationship(s) remain unknown. This research addresses how social workers that specialize in offering support to people working in the sex industry, experience impact on their own private sexual lives. The author is a social work practitioner, working with sex workers and victims of human trafficking at NGO Stichting Humanitas in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Furthermore, she works as a social work teacher and coach at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. After having experienced sexual occupational influences herself, but at the same time having observed a taboo on the topic among colleagues within and outside of the organization, this research topic was chosen. Literature study (presented at SWSexuality16) was followed by interactive model building, an anonymous survey and a focus group. Analysis was largely inductive qualitative with quantitative elements.Results indicate a high prevalence of both positive and negative sexual occupational influences - respectively 87% and 85% - among the practitioners. Regarding positive influences at the intrapersonal level, most commonly the social workers describe that they have become more broad-minded in exploring their own sexuality or sexual behaviour. At interpersonal level the positive influence that was indicated most often was that they are communicating more easily about sexuality with their partner(s). In the area of negative influences at intrapersonal level, the most common influence is the experience that due to the work they occasionally are not in the mood for sexuality or intimacy when they would want to be. At interpersonal level, most often it is described that the social workers feel more distrust towards (the loyalty of) their (future) partner(s).Attention for the topic is considered important for maintaining and improving sustainable employability of the social worker and indirectly the quality of the offered social work services. Although self-care methods are applied, most practitioners do not experience sufficient organizational support to cope with negative sexual occupational influences. They would appreciate acknowledgement for the intensity of this particular type of work and possible sexual occupational influences. Considering the taboo nature of the topic, outreach information and compulsory periodical checks with an external specialist were recommended as possible helpful methods of care for the social worker. The existence of similar impact on the private sexual life is assumed for social workers working in other areas and with other user groups.
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Because social workers respond to local contexts, it is often said that social work is not a global profession. Indeed, social workers adapt their practices to local conditions. However, these local practices are recognised globally. The exchange of these practices and methods enriches social workers, inspires them and strengthens the further development of the profession. To facilitate this exchange, social work has had several international associations and networks for almost a century, which have enabled the sharing of local practices and educational programs. Today, social work works within a basic international framework that guides both professional practice and education. This descriptive article will take the reader through the history of international social work, by mentioning some global social work associations and networks and their achievements. Furthermore, the article will address internationalisation of the social work curriculum and will mention the added values and disadvantages of an international experience abroad. (Includes an abstract in the Slovakian language)
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