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1
Hodson, Ann. "Pre-birth assessment in social work." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2011. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/13037/.
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The Children Act 1989 imposes a duty on Local Authorities in England to ‘safeguard and promote the welfare of children’ and to ‘promote the upbringing of children by their families’ wherever possible. If, during pregnancy, concerns are identified that suggest the child may be at risk of harm a referral may be made to the Local Authority for a pre-birth assessment. When completing a pre-birth assessment social workers and other professionals are often involved in the process of collecting and analysing information, which will ultimately be used as a basis for planning and decision-making and can have life long consequences for the family. Removing a baby at birth brings with it an inevitable impact on the process of attachment and bonding, as well as the impact of subjecting a family to court proceedings and all of the emotions that entails. However, allowing a baby to be discharged from hospital to a family who are unable to provide appropriate care and protection or do not have the necessary support in place to assist them may result in irreparable harm to, or even the death of the baby. Sitting within the context of general child and family social work assessment, pre-birth assessment has received a very limited amount of specific research attention. This thesis comprises a report on the outcomes of my own research, which was exploratory in nature, and details the findings from a mixed methods study of relevant legal and procedural frameworks in England, Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and a case study of pre-birth social work assessment practice in one Local Authority. The findings were that pre-birth assessment is a complex process guided by a national and local procedural framework which does not recognise the unique status of the unborn child. Having evolved from a historical perspective based on protecting live children, the procedural guidance is contradictory as it does not acknowledge that an unborn child has no legal status and a pregnant woman maintains rights over her own body. The case study also revealed that social workers in the host LA were practising in an environment of managerial systems which aimed to improve accountability and yet the very systems designed to ensure children did not fall through the ‘safety net’ of professional support were, ironically, prompting systems which made practice in (and research into) pre-birth social work assessment a challenge. A narrow forensic approach to pre-birth assessment was found to have developed, with the documentary process of completing pre-birth Initial and Core Assessments (as defined by the Department of Health (2003) documentation) becoming split from the process of actually ‘doing’ a social work pre-birth assessment.
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Holland, Sally Anne Louise. "The comprehensive assessment in child protection social work." Thesis, Cardiff University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.327223.
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Wong, Chan Pik-Yuen. "Human factors in performance assessment : the assessment of practicum performance in social work." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.369110.
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Sipahi, Dantas Alaíde. "Social Behavior and Emotions at Work: Regulation, Assessment and Feedback." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Ramon Llull, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/352715.
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En una societat basada en els serveis, la qualitat de les relacions entre els col·legues, el proveïdor del servei al client, els directius i els membres dels seus equips determinen una sèrie de resultats, com ara les intencions de facturació, la fidelitat del client o la retenció del talent. En efecte, la qualitat de la relació entre un client i un proveïdor de serveis pot determinar la satisfacció del client, com també la seva predisposició a oblidar els errors (p. ex., Verghese, 2003; Roter, 2006). Això explica per què les organitzacions cada vegada es gasten més diners en formació corporativa en gestió, en general, i en lideratge, en particular. El desenvolupament del lideratge i la gestió encapçalen la llista de les primeres àrees d’inversió. L’any 2013, després de dos anys d’increment de la despesa, la inversió nord-americana en formació corporativa va créixer encara un 15 % -més de 70.000 milions de dòlars als Estats Units i 130.000 milions de dòlars arreu del món (Deloitte Corporate Learning Factbook, 2014). Aquesta tesi doctoral s’inspira en el rol fonamental de les interaccions socials a la feina per tal d‘obtenir una sèrie de resultats empresarials, com la satisfacció al lloc de treball, la satisfacció del client, la retenció del talent i l‘acompliment individual i de l’organització. Cercant de contribuir a l’estudi i a la pràctica del desenvolupament del comportament social a la feina, la motivació principal dels estudis que s’inclouen en aquesta tesi és respondre a la pregunta global: Com poden ser més efectius el comportament social i les emocions de les persones a la feina? Aquesta pregunta global s’ha abordat amb tres estudis, un de teòric, un de metodològic i un d’empíric.
La finalitat del primer estudi és descriure els tipus generals del comportament social que una persona pot exhibir en funció de les múltiples vies d’interacció cognitiva-emocional i utilitzar-los com a base per proposar un model de regulació emocional que afavoreixi l’exhibició d’un comportament social més efectiu a la feina. El segon estudi pretén afavorir el desenvolupament d’un comportament social a la feina a través del primer pas fonamental que cal fer, que és avaluar-lo. Amb aquesta finalitat, el segon estudi presenta el desenvolupament i el test de validesa del constructe d’un instrument espanyol per avaluar el comportament personal i social a la feina. El tercer estudi tracta dels intents dels directius per desenvolupar el comportament social dels seus treballadors a través d’un feedback de seguiment de 360º. Investiga les paradoxes que afronta un directiu durant un feedback de seguiment de 360º, com es tradueixen en comportaments de lideratge i incideixen en les reacciones emocionals dels receptors del feedback.En una sociedad basada en los servicios, la calidad de las relaciones entre los colegas, el proveedor del servicio al cliente, los directivos y los miembros de sus equipos determinan una serie de resultados, como las intenciones de facturación, la fidelidad del cliente o la retención del talento. En efecto, la calidad de la relación entre un cliente y un proveedor de servicios puede determinar la satisfacción del cliente, así como su predisposición a olvidar errores (p. ej., Verghese, 2003; Roter, 2006). Ello explica por qué las organizaciones siguen incrementando sus gastos en formación corporativa en management, en general, y en liderazgo, en particular. El desarrollo del liderazgo y el management encabezan la lista como las primeras áreas de inversión. En 2013, después de dos años de incremento del gasto, la inversión estadounidense en formación corporativa creció un 15% -más de 70.000 millones de dólares en los Estados Unidos y 130.000 millones de dólares en todo el mundo (Deloitte Corporate Learning Factbook, 2014). Esta tesis doctoral se inspira en el rol fundamental de las interacciones sociales en el trabajo para obtener una serie de resultados empresariales, como la satisfacción en el puesto de trabajo, la satisfacción del cliente, la retención del talento y el desempeño individual y de la organización. Buscando contribuir al estudio y a la práctica del desarrollo del comportamiento social en el trabajo, la principal motivación de los estudios que se incluyen en esta tesis es responder a la pregunta global: ¿De qué modo pueden ser más efectivos el comportamiento social y las emociones de las personas en el trabajo? Esta pregunta global ha sido abordada a través de tres estudios, uno teórico, uno metodológico y uno empírico. La finalidad del primer estudio es describir los tipos generales de comportamiento social que una persona puede exhibir en función de las múltiples vías de interacción cognitiva-emocional y utilizarlos como base para proponer un modelo de regulación emocional que favorezca la exhibición de un comportamiento social más efectivo en el trabajo. El segundo estudio pretende respaldar el desarrollo de un comportamiento social en el trabajo a través del primer paso fundamental que se necesita, que es su evaluación. Para ello, el segundo estudio presenta el desarrollo y el test de validez del constructo de un instrumento español para evaluar el comportamiento personal y social en el trabajo. El tercer estudio trata de los intentos de los directivos para desarrollar el comportamiento social de sus trabajadores a través de un feedback de seguimiento de 360º. Investiga las paradojas que afronta un directivo durante un feedback de seguimiento de 360º, cómo se traducen en comportamientos de liderazgo e inciden en las reacciones emocionales de los receptores del feedback.
In a service-based society the quality of the relationships among colleagues, client-service provider, managers and their team members, determine a range of outcomes such as turnover intentions, client loyalty, talent retention. Indeed, the quality of the relationship between a client and a service provider may determine client satisfaction as well as willingness to forgive mistakes (e.g. Verghese, 2003; Roter, 2006). This explains why organizations keep increasing its spending in corporate training in management in general and leadership in particular. Leadership and management development are at the top of the list as the number 1 areas of investment. In 2013, following two years of already increasing spending, the US investment in corporate training grew by 15% - over $70 Billion in the US and $130 Billion worldwide (Deloitte Corporate Learning Factbook, 2014). This doctoral thesis is inspired by the key role of social interactions at work for a series of business outcomes such as job satisfaction, client satisfaction, talent relation, individual and organizational performance. In a quest to contribute to the research and practice of social behavioral development at work the main motivation underlying the studies that encompass this dissertation is to answer the overarching question: How can people`s social behavior and emotions be more effective at work? This overarching question was addressed through three studies, one theoretical, one methodological and one empirical. The aim of the first study is to explore the literature review of neuroscience, psychology and management and, through its integration, provide the mapping of the general types of social behavior a person can display depending on the multiple cognitive-emotion interaction pathways. This review was then used as a basis to propose an emotional regulation model that is expected to facilitate the display of more effective social behavior at work. The second study aims to support the development of social behavior at work through the first fundamental step necessary to it, which is its assessment. To do so the second study presents the development and the construct validity test of a Spanish instrument to assess personal and social behavior at work. The third study managers’ attempts in developing the social behavior of its workers through 360º follow-up feedback. It investigates the paradoxes faced by a manager during a 360º follow-up feedback, how they translate into leadership behaviors and impact the emotional reactions of feedback receivers.
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Anka, Ann. "Assessment as the site of power : an interrogation of 'others' in the assessment of social work students." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2014. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/50343/.
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The thesis focused on the field of service user and carer involvement in the assessments of social work students. It examined the positioning of service users and carers in relation to other stakeholders involved in student assessments. Participants' views on what should count as service users and carers' feedback evidence at Continuing Professional Development (CPD) level were also explored. The rationale for the study centred on the relatively limited research studies focusing on service user and carer involvements in students' assessment, in comparison to their involvement in other areas of social work education. Further, the limited studies available appeared to be under theorised. The study is situated in the qualitative research tradition and drew from narrative research methods. It was influenced by the practitioner-doctorate research paradigm (Drake and Heath 2011). The study drew from the theoretical insights of Foucault's (1972; 1980) notion of discourse and power/knowledge theory; and Bourdieu's (1990) concepts of field, capital and habitus, to analyse the dynamic power relations between those involved in the assessments of students. Following ethical clearance from the University of Sussex, a semi-structured individual interview was carried out with 21 people. The sample consisted of service users, carers, social work students, social work employers and social work educators. The voice-centred relational method of data analysis, developed by Gilligan (1982), was used to analyse the research participants' narratives about how they have experienced their involvements in social work students' assessments. Participants' narratives revealed that the field of service user and carer involvement in social work students' assessment is characterised by a complex mix of relationships, different power dynamics and power struggles. On the question of what should count as service user and carer evidence, in relation to what students are expected to demonstrate to service users and carers at CPD level, the research participants reported on qualities such as: Professionalism, good time-keeping, reliability and honesty Effective communication skills, such as listening, empathy and kindness Ability to support service users and carers Intelligence, ‘structured empathy', mastery of practice and development of practice wisdom. Although important, progressive difference in expectation at CPD level was not acknowledged. The study makes five contributions to knowledge in the field of service user and carer involvement in social work students' assessments, as follows: (1) It adds to the body of research studies looking at service user and carer involvement in social work students' assessments. (2) It sheds some light on what stakeholders involved in social work practice and education thought about the ASYE in 2010 before its implementation in 2012. (3) It contributes to knowledge on what participants feel service users and carers should comment on when assessing social work students at CPD level. (4) It offers theoretical insight into the different power relations, struggles, and power dynamic between stakeholders involved in social work students' assessments from Bourdieusian and Foucauldian perspectives. (5) Feedback of the interim findings was provided to Skills for Care to support the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) assessment in 2011. The study concludes by arguing the case for social work and service user organisations to support service users and carers in their role as assessors of social work students.
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Rankin, Pedro. "Industrial social work : an exploration and an assessment of the practice of social work in industry in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006474.
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Industries in South Africa have been employing social workers in increasing numbers during the last decade, and in several of the bigger industries social work seem to have succeeded in establishing itself over the course of time. Certain forces seem to be operating in both industry and social work which could facilitate the introduction and development of industrial social work as a specialised field of practice in South Africa. Very significant variables in this regard are a rapidly changing labour force, and certain socio-political developments in South Africa, that took place especially during the last decade, and in particular during the past two years. A lack of knowledge about the practice of social work in industry exists in South Africa, mainly as a result of a general lack of empirical research into this field. The main purpose of this research project was to add to the knowledge about the nature of industrial social work practice in South Africa, and to contribute to an understanding of the forces influencing its development. In order to achieve this overall purpose, an extensive review of the existing literature was done with the aim of identifying and describing the present trends and issues in industrial social work thinking. This was combined with an empirical investigation into the practice of social workers presently employed in industry in South Africa. In addition to this, the attitude of industries not employing social workers was established with a view of determining factors influencing the further development of industrial social work. A third component of the empirical investigation consisted of a survey of the attitudes and knowledge of community welfare organisations regarding industrial social work practice. This was done in an effort to establish the amount of support for industrial social work from the rest of the profession. The findings of the empirical investigation indicated an emphasis on the individual employee as far as the practice of industrial social work is concerned - an EAP model thus. Industries not employing social workers still seem to need more education as far as the true nature of social work practice is concerned, and there seem to be a reserved acceptance of industrial social work practice amongst community welfare organisations, as well as a lack of knowledge. In conclusion it can be stated that the social work fraternity in South Africa should take more serious notice of occupational social work practice in South Africa in general, and of industrial social work practice in particular, mainly because of its importance to the worker.
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Wright, Donald R. "Identifying children at risk: caseworkers’ assessment of father-daughter incest." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 1988. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/356.
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This study was designed to determine the relationship between attitudes of child protective social workers in their identifying children at risk, and their assessment of father-daughter incest. Fifty-seven caseworkers participated in the study. The findings indicated that: 1) there is no significant difference in mean based on different levels of education in assessment of children at risk; 2) there was no significant difference between the black and white caseworkers in their identifying children at risk in father-daughter incest; and 3) there was no difference in workers living in rural areas as oppose to workers living in urban areas in their perception of children at risk.
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Hartweg, Janine. "Identification and assessment of intentional physical injuries to hospitalised preschool children." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51793.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the indicators, different role players and the assessment process of intentional physical injuries to children who are hospitalized. The basic premise for this research is the importance of professionals working with children in acquiring skills and knowledge on handling physically abused children. Physical abuse affects and requires the involvement of the entire family of the physically abused child. It is therefore necessary to consider the physically abused child as a part of the larger family system, and not assessed or treated in isolation. The purpose of this research is to broaden the theoretical knowledge of professionals working with children, and specifically social workers, in identifying and assessing physically abused children. This research report includes an investigation of risk factors, consequences and the adjustment process of physically abused children. Knowledge of these indicators of physical abuse will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or other professional to identify the injury as intentional. The assessment process by the multi-professional team in the hospital is also examined, focusing on the central role of the social worker in managing cases of physically abused children. The phases of the assessment process, the role of each team member, the various techniques applied as well as factors influencing assessment are described. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to explore the theoretical part of the research. This section can be divided into three phases. The first phase included setting up a profile, over a period of four months, of physically abused children under the age of five, who were admitted to the hospital and their families (N = 24). Of this sample, the characteristics and circumstances of four parents/perpetrators (n = 4) were investigated in the form of interviews, which formed part of the second phase of the empirical research. The third phase included conducting a survey with the social workers (n = 5) that assessed physically abused children in the hospital. This was done III the form of questionnaires, which included closed and open-ended questions. The findings and responses of the respondents were analyzed and compared with the findings from previous studies undertaken by various authors. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for professionals in general who work with children, and more specifically social workers in a hospital that assess children presenting with intentional physical injuries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die aanduidende faktore, die rolspelers en die asseseringsproses van fisies mishandelde kinders wat gehospitaliseer word. Die uitgangspunt is die noodsaaklikheid van professionele persone wat met kinders werk, en veral maatskaplike werkers, om kennis en vaardighede te hê, ten einde kinders wat fisies mishandel is te kan hanteer. Omdat die hele gesin van die mishandelde kind geaffekteer word en betrokke is, is dit belangrik om die fisies mishandelde kind nie in isolasie, maar as deel van die familie sisteem te kan benader. Die navorsingsondersoek het ten doel om die teoretiese kennis basis van professionele persone wat met kinders werk, en spesifiek maatskaplike werkers, oor die identifisering en assesering van fisies mishandelde kinders uit te brei. Ten einde maatskaplike werkers se kennis van die probleem onders aandag uit te bou, vervat die navorsingsverslag 'n bespreking van die risiko faktore, gevolge en aanpassingsproses van die fisies mishandelde kind. Kennis van hierdie aanduiders sal die bewusdheid asook die vermoë van professionele persone om die fisiese mishandeling te identifiseer, verhoog. Die asseseringsproses deur die multiprofessionele span in die hospitaal word ook ondersoek, met fokus op die sentrale rol van die maatskaplike werker in die hantering van fisies mishandelde kinders. Die fases van die asseseringsproses, die rol van elke spanlid, verskeie tegnieke en faktore wat assesering beïnvloed, word bespreek. Die teoretiese doel van die verslag word uitgebrei in die empiriese ondersoek, deur 'n bespreking van die bevindinge wat deur veskeie metodes verkry is. Kwalitatiewe asook kwantitatiewe metodes is benut tydens die drie fases van die empiriese ondersoek. Die eerste fase was die opstel van 'n profiel wat oor 'n tydperk van vier maande geneem is, van fisies mishandelde kinders wat toegelaat is in die hospitaal en hul gesinne (N = 24). Vanuit hierdie streekproef, is die eienskappe en omstandighede van vier ouers/oortreders (n = 4) ondersoek deur middel van onderhoude, wat die tweede fase van die ondersoek bevat. Die derde fase was om 'n opname te doen met die maatskaplike werkers (n = 5) wat die fisies mishandelde kinders in die hospitaal asseseer. Die bevindinge en response van die respondente is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die bevindinge van vorige studies wat deur verskeie outeurs onderneem is. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing kan as 'n riglyn gebruik word deur professionele persone wat oor die algemeen met kinders werk, en meer spesifiek maatskaplike werkers wat fisies mishandelde kinders in 'n hospitaal asseseer.
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Harris, Melvin T. "Child welfare worker educational preparation : an assessment of child welfare knowledge /." The Ohio State University, 1997. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487948158627951.
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Mengel, Nadia. "A Social Work assessment of the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS orphans." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2003. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08182004-090705.
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Wood, Kelli Greene. "Recruitment of the retired volunteer: a needs assessment for the Dekalb county CASA program." DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, 2005. http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/438.
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The purpose of this evaluation was to conduct a needs assessment for the DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, which utilizes volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children who are in foster care. This assessment assisted the staff in developing a recruitment strategy targeting retired adults. This assessment evaluated the dependability, health and income of retired adults. For the purpose ofthis study dependability was measured by: (a) the number of hours volunteers spent on assigned cases per month, (b) the number of hearings attended and (c) the number of monthly advocacy reports that were completed and sent to volunteer’s advocacy supervisors between September 2004 and November 2004. Six, current, retired adult volunteers participated in the study. A convenience sample of six non-retired volunteers was used to compare dependability findings with those of retired adult volunteers. Income and health were qualitatively analyzed. Descriptive analysis was used describe dependability and volunteer demographics. This evaluation was relevant to DeKalb CASA because, as a program that is dependent upon volunteers to for its success, it is vital that the most advantageous volunteer be recruited and retained. Thus, this evaluation allowed staff to identify the benefit of recruiting this target population in regards to their level of dependabifity compared to non-retired volunteers, as well as, the potential challenges experienced by retired adults in regards to health related illnesses and limited income. Findings from this study concluded that retired adult volunteers are more dependable than non-retired volunteers. In addition, volunteering did contribute to increased feelings of better mental and physical health. Moreover, their limited income did not restrict their ability to volunteer.
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Hardin, Melissa. "Evidence-Based Child Welfare Screening and Assessment Practices." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5875.
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The purpose of this action research project was to examine the screening and assessment behaviors of child welfare workers in the southwestern region of the United States. The study addressed whether social workers' knowledge of evidence-based practice influenced their implementation of evidence-based practice in child welfare screening and assessment, and whether the agency environment affects evidence-based practice implementation and use. The family systems theory was used to evaluate child welfare practitioner work and systems theory was used to evaluate the child welfare system in the region of the study. A focus group comprised of seven social workers practicing in the southwestern region was used to determine screening and assessment practices as well as agency factors that affect practice. Social workers' knowledge of evidence-based practices and agency environment were found to impact social workers' use of evidence-based practice. The overuse and misuse of evidence-based practice terminology confused the concept for social workers. This combined with the implementation approach in an agency setting led many of the social workers to avoid evidence-based models and revert to experiential practice knowledge. The client and agency behaviors interpreted in the findings might prompt future research and change to increase the use of evidence-based practice. Implications for social change resulting from these findings include the potential to improve evidence-based practice implementation by agencies and increase of social worker education and knowledge regarding evidence-based practice. These changes could affect greater social change with improved child welfare outcomes.
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Christopher, Yvonne M. "Welfare Dependency and Work Ethic: A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1495994092190171.
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Sujee, Shahieda. "The Assessment of self-esteem before and after a therapeutic milieu programme." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9902.
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Bibliography : leaves vii-xiii.The present quasi-experimental study was conducted in ward G22, a milieu therapy unit at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital. It examines self-esteem of patients prior to and subsequent to completion of the therapeutic milieu programme, using a self-report questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. This questionnaire was used to measure the level of self-esteem after completion of a 9-12 week stay in G22. The questionnaire was administered to twenty-three successive patients admitted to the unit. Of these one terminated prematurely by committing suicide, while the questionnaire was re-administered to the remaining twenty-two subjects in the final week of their treatment. Protocols were computer scored and quantitatively analysed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Signed Rank tests of significance. This analysis indicated that there was a general improvement in self-esteem of subjects after completion of the therapeutic milieu programme, while there was a significant improvement in self-esteem of older subjects when compared with the younger subjects. Other variables such as language, gender and length of stay did not significantly affect the results.
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Hawker, Rodney George. "Lone parenting, alcohol use and child welfare." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.275893.
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Wood, Heather. "Assessing the feasibility of using actuarial risk assessment tool to identify risks in child protection cases." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2011. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/19387/.
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The problem: Risk and uncertainty are integral to child protection decisions because of the need to protect children from intrafamilial maltreatment, which is more common than abuse by strangers and occurs in the private sphere of the home. The problem of assessing intrafamilial risks to children following abuse and neglect referrals has received little attention in the UK compared with North America. Improved assessment of such risks would inform child protection plans, enabling risk reduction and improved safeguarding of children. There are currently no UK recommended valid and reliable risk assessment tools available for child protection teams, who rely on unaided professional judgement where information may be incomplete, expertise is variable and the process open to bias. Currently, UK child protection risk assessments are based on professional opinions about the range and weighting of factors associated with families where children have been abused or neglected. Study purpose: Selecting and weighting the most significant predictive factors of risk to children by using actuarial statistical methods is more likely to lead to yield accurate risk ratings. Whilst not perfect predictors, such actuarial tools categorise cases into low or high risk groups better than unaided professional judgements or consensus based assessments. Actuarial risk assessments have not previously been tested for UK child protection work, so this study selected and applied the best available North American tool. Method: The Michigan Family Risk Assessment for Abuse or Neglect (FRAAN) was selected on the basis of its published evidence base and applied to a cohort of UK Serious Case Review reports from Thirteen Counties (SCRs) to identify and rate pre-existing risks before the abusive event. Further analysis of risk factors singly and in combination was extended to compare the Thirteen Counties data with two large recently published SCR studies and one study of UK child homicide perpetrators. Findings: The FRAAN assessment scores correctly identified most cases as High or Intensive Risk. FRAAN performed adequately in identifying these very high risk cases (Sensitivity = 88%) but specificity could not be assessed using these exclusively high risk cases. Most frequent neglect risk factors were inadequate physical care of children, unsupported primary carers and their inability to prioritise the child’s needs over their own. Most frequent abuse risk factors were families not cooperating with a need for parenting improvement, prior abuse incidents, a youngest child aged <6 years and domestic violence. Comparing those cases where children died versus those where they survived, risk factor frequencies for Deceased and Survivor groups were strongly positively correlated, showing no statistical differences between the direction of scores for the two groups. Parental substance misuse was more common in the Deceased group, whilst households where a child had a disability or delinquency problems were both more common in the Survivor group. FRAAN risk scores could not effectively distinguish between fatal and non fatal outcomes. Comparisons between this Thirteen Counties study dataset and a UK study of child homicides and two major recent reviews of SCRs demonstrated no statistical differences between the ages and sexes of the children, the causes of death and parental characteristics, except for in the cases of men with convictions for violence, which were possibly under recorded in SCRs. Key risk factors in all the studies were parental mental illness, chaotic neglectful families and substance misuse. These factors appear to distinguish high risk families where there are further risks of fatal child abuse. Conclusions: The use of formal risk assessment tools is likely to help child protection teams identify cases where extra support, or substitute care, is required to protect children at high risk of further intrafamilial maltreatment. The use of such tools in low and medium risk cases was not tested in this study due to lack of access to a mix of cases. Policy, practice and further research directions are recommended to extend the testing of the FRAAN risk assessment tool.
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Ryke, Elma. "The social niche of farm dwellers : a social work strengths approach / Elizabeth Hermina (Elma) Ryke." Thesis, North-West University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/224.
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Farm dwellers in the North West Province have been identified as an extremely
vulnerable group. in terms of physical, physiological and mental health.
Therefore the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus (Focus Area 9.1)
launched the FLAGH study with the broad aim of gaining reliable information on
the reasons for and contributing factors to their poor health status, which could
be used to design appropriate intervention programmes. The research formed
part of this multidisciplinary study and focused on farm dwellers' experience of
the farm as the environment in which they live and work.
While a great deal is already known about the psychological strengths of people
that protect them against psychological malfunctioning, far less is known about
environmental elements protecting people against adversity. From a social
work perspective it is a long-cherished conviction that individual outcomes are
the results of a transactional process between personal and environmental
influences. However, it is also a conviction that is often not reflected in social
work practice. Strength-based assessment models are, for example,
overwhelmingly concerned with individual human factors, while practice
guidelines and specific practice knowledge about environmental factors are
lagging behind. This situation consequently pointed to the need for further
theoretical and empirical research. The concept of social niche was identified
as a possible framework for organising strengths and risks as experienced by a
specific group within a specific context (in this case people living on farms).
Against this background a research need was identified to develop an approach
to assess environmental strengths and risks. This was done by means of a
literature study and an empirical investigation.
The strengths perspective and the concept of social niche are described and
evaluated as a paradigm and theoretical construct (or perspective) for
developing an approach to assess environmental strengths and risks. It is
concluded that, from the strengths perspective, an environment can be
considered strong when it consists of human beings who are connected to their
innate strengths and capacity for healing, where there is community,
membership, mutuality and connection among people and the environment, and
people who experience the environment as strong and contribute to creating a
strong environment. From the social niche perspective, an optimal niche refers
to conditions and resources that would enable people to function at the best
possible level, while a realised niche refers to the more limited spectrum of
conditions and resources which allows people to survive. These niche types
have enabling and entrapping elements to a greater or lesser degree.
It was found that the social niche concept does provide a theoretical approach
to assessing the environment in terms of strengths and risks and gives better
insight into the result of the transactional process between person and
environment. It was also found that the niche construct does not fully reflect the
assumptions of the strengths perspective in terms of mainly two points: (1) the
belief in the inherent strengths and capacity for healing of people (human
agency), and (2) understanding reality as it is subjectively constructed. Based
on this evaluation, it was thus endeavoured to broaden both the description of
social niche, based on a critical evaluation of the ecological analogy, and to
reflect more fully the strengths perspective. A revised definition of social niche
is proposed and each of the niche components presented in the definition are
discussed, evaluated and in some instances broadened, as indicated earlier.
Farm dwellers' experience of their environment is explored and described,
following a qualitative approach in order to promote an understanding of their
specific experience from their own viewpoint. The social niche is used, in
addition, as a tentative conceptual framework to describe the main dimensions
of their experience. Analysis of the farm dwellers' narratives produced six
categories (each with several sub-categories), namely:
employment (unhealthy working conditions for men, employment security
threatened, grievance procedures unsatisfactory, limited work
opportunities and underemployment of women);
income and spending (inadequate income and high cost of living, debt
trap, a longing for the former practice of 'mahala', and supplementing
income);
housing (housing security threatened, and availability and access to
housing outside the neighbourhood a concern);
transportation (distance, means of transport and cost involved are major
considerations);
community life (the importance of family and friends, lack of connection
between residents, community life in the past being better, and
ambivalence about the employer as support system); and
people, places and services outside the immediate farm environment
(importance of extended family, church as a source of strength, and
health services a link with the outside world).
It is concluded that numerous entrapping elements are present in the account of
farm dwellers of their life on the farm, namely a lack of tangible resources, a
lack of social resources and a low sense of power. The entrapping nature of
farm dwellers' social niche, however, can not only be understood in terms of
lack of social and tangible resources. The experiences and the meanings the
farm dwellers attach to their environment provide the key to a better
understanding of the living experiences of farm dwellers and the entrapment
contained in their narratives. However, it also reveals their experience of a few
enabling elements within this environment.
Based on the critical analysis of viewing the environment from a strengths
perspective, the evaluation and broadening of the concept of social niche, and
findings from the fieldwork done with farm dwellers, a social niche approach for
assessing environmental strengths and risks is proposed. The goal of the
social niche assessment approach is to provide a framework to review people's
environmental strengths and risks/stressors, based on their own experience and
understanding, in collaboration with another person (social worker), so as to co-construct
a description of their human environment. A diagram and description
of the approach is provided. This approach has already been validated through
peer evaluation.Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.
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Kilgore, Brita B. "An Assessment of the Health Care Needs of Homeless People in Rural Ohio: A Focus on Women." The Ohio State University, 1991. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1392815239.
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Cowley, Denzil. "The Cape Town juvenile assessment centre and the transformation of the youth justice system." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6901.
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Bibliography: leaves 82-84.The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Young People at Risk (IMC) undertook a comprehensive analysis of the Child and Youth Care system, including the Juvenile Justice system in South Africa and made recommendations for transformation thereof. Various transformation initiatives in the Child and Youth Care System stimulated the researcher's interest in the progress of the implementation of transformation policies. In particular the policies related to the Juvenile Justice system at the Cape Town Juvenile Justice Assessment Centre were of interest to the researcher. Services and legislation governing youth in conflict with the law was fragmented. New legislation was needed that incorporated national and international instruments to protect the rights of children and to regulate the juvenile justice system. Since the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Young People at Risk (IMC) in 1996, various documents, policies, discussion papers and draft legislation have been published. The aim of this study is to determine to what extent the recommendations in these various documents have been implemented at the Cape Town Juvenile Assessment Centre. The aim of the Cape Town Juvenile Assessment Centre is to assess all youth in conflict with the law in the magisterial district and, where possible, to divert the case away from the justice system. From the findings of the study it is clear that the Cape Town Juvenile Assessment Centre has progressed far on the continuum of implementing the transformation policies. The probation officers in particular had excellent insight into the transformation process and the implementation of practice principles. It was also clear that every effort was made to make services child and family centred. Diversion options are implemented where possible and detention of juveniles in prisons was reduced drastically. The Cape Town Juvenile Assessment Centre has good relationships with other role-players. Services are co-ordinated through a monthly co-ordination meeting, where role-players like the Departments of Social Services, Justice, South African Police Services and NICRO are represented. In summary, the Cape Town Juvenile Justice Assessment Centre has made commendable progress in implementing policy recommendations and policy related to the transformation of the juvenile justice system. There is, however, room for improvement, particularly with the after-hour assessments. Delegating decision-making powers to all prosecutors will streamline the diversion process. Diversion options for second- or third-time offenders should be developed. Furthermore, not enough support is given to youth in conflict with the law and their families in that very few of them are referred to welfare organisations for continued services.
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Alcaraz, Cristina. "A community risk assessment of Huntington Park, California." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1588575.
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The purpose of the study was to conduct a community risk assessment of the city of Huntington Park, California by utilizing the Communities That Care model to identify the most concerning risk factors for delinquency and school dropout. Forty-seven indicators measuring 18 risk factors were gathered from public sources. Data from Huntington Park was compared to data from Los Angeles County and California. The risk factors of main concern for the community appeared to be transition and mobility, low neighborhood attachment and community disorganization, extreme economic deprivation, family management problems, academic failure beginning in elementary school, early and persistent antisocial behavior, friends who engage in the problem behavior and early initiation of the problem behavior. Efforts to reduce involvement in delinquency and school dropout should target the community, school and peer and individual domains. Suggestions for evidence-based programs and approaches to reduce the most salient risk factors are provided.
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Taylor, Abigail. "Decision making in child and family social work : the impact of the assessment framework." Thesis, Durham University, 2007. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2481/.
Full textAbstract:
The Department of Health's (2000) Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families [Assessment Framework] represents the most significant attempt to aid social work decision making in the UK currently. Its overriding objective is to improve outcomes for children in need through effective assessment and decision making. Yet, since its introduction in April 2000, no empirical research has been conducted exploring the ways in which the Assessment Framework helps social workers in the decision making process. Clearly, if the Assessment Framework is not effective in helping social workers reach decisions, it may not be effective in achieving better outcomes for children in need. This thesis therefore explores the impact of the Assessment Framework on social workers' decision making practice. Documentary analysis of 98 core assessment records in four local authorities was used as a means to reconstruct social workers' cognitive decision making processes and the role of the Assessment Framework within these processes. Follow-up semi structured interviews were carried out with the 50 social workers responsible for completing these core assessments. Particular attention was given to investigating the effects of case, individual and environmental characteristics on participants' decision making strategies and use of the Assessment Framework in order to identify factors that facilitated or obstructed the integration of this tool in practice. The resulting qualitative data was used to reconstruct a trace of the decision making process and to explore any potential causal factors affecting this process. Tests of association and cluster analysis were then employed as a means of exploring these causal connections further. Due to the complex way in which the relevant causal factors interacted Qualitative Comparative Analysis was also used as a method for understanding the causal mechanisms affecting social workers' decision making processes. The findings reveal variations in social work decision making strategies and in the use of the Assessment Framework associated with a range of case, environmental and individual characteristics. Participants identified strengths and weaknesses in the use of the Assessment Framework and confirmed that the Assessment Framework does not always fit with the way in which social workers approach assessment and decision-making. The thesis concludes by providing a number of solutions to this problem.
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Cooper, Barry. "The assessment profession? : towards a re-construction of continuing professional development in social work." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.432687.
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Hicks, S. "Familiar fears : the social work assessment of lesbian and gay fostering and adoption applicants." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1998. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/2354/.
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This thesis considers how local authority social workers go about assessing the suitability of lesbians and gay men to foster or adopt children. It also asks how far a stated lesbian or gay sexuality is problematic within this process. A constructionist approach to social enquiry is used, data being generated by interviews with social workers, as well as a case study of a lesbian couple’s adoption application. Dorothy Smith’s ‘institutional ethnography’ is also employed to examine the ‘relations of ruling’ that structure such assessments (Smith, 1987). A continuum of assessment models is proposed in order to show the dominance of ‘on merit’ approaches which prioritise child care skills over sexuality issues. The thesis demonstrates the presence of arguments about the supposed ‘risks’ to children posed by lesbians or gay men. The notion of ‘discrimination’ in assessments is analysed, as are attempts by some social workers to challenge discrimination, and it is argued that small-scale anti-discriminatory measures are inadequate. Constructions of the categories ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay’ are discussed in relation to the ‘good carer of children’, and the thesis proposes the dominance of two versions: the ‘good lesbian’ and the ‘maternal gay man’. The thesis argues that the ‘on merit: prioritisation of child care skills’ model relies upon iii heteronormative ideas, and the case study looks at contested meanings given to the category ‘lesbian’ which are also gendered and raced. The thesis sees ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay’ as categories of knowledge, and social work assessment as a ‘making sense’ activity in which versions of these are produced. Such everyday practices are problematised in the thesis, and discourse, (black) feminist and queer theories are used to analyse how the assessment is a site for the production of knowledges about sexuality.
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Van, Staden Magdaleen. "Services provided to relatives of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital : an assessment of family satisfaction." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16097.
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Bibliography: pages 80-88.This study explores family satisfaction with services provided to them on their relatives' admission to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. The rationale for doing this research arose from the researcher's encounters with families of psychiatric patients and the perceived lack of involvement of the professionals with the families. In addition, a needs assessment was done to establish the need for family groups. The literature review traced the psychiatric services from the earlier custodial orientation, the subsequent deinstitutionalisation of the services resulting in the families becoming the primary caregivers of their mentally ill relatives, to the emphasis of the biopsychosocial model in the recently established community services. Review of the treatment models indicated supportive family education as the primary form of intervention to ensure compliance, aid the recuperation process, enhance the quality of life for the patient and their families and to equip the families to cope with the illness. A survey method was employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data via questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 31 relatives of 24 patients who had been admitted during January, February, and in March 1995 to the male and female admission units (wards 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16) at Valkenberg psychiatric hospital in Cape Town. A non-probability convenience sampling procedure, based on the availability and accessibility of the relatives to attend an office interview, was used. Findings from prior studies as well as from this current study have shown a lack of professional involvement with the families in relation to the treatment programme of their mentally ill relatives. The majority of the respondents were not informed about the implications of the illness and the effect of treatment and most of the respondents lacked guidance on how to cope with their mentally ill relatives. Other findings indicated that families are the most concerned about the lack of supported housing, rehabilitation services, adequate financial assistance, day care centres, sheltered employment for their mentally ill relatives and difficulties in relation to admission procedures. More than three quarters of the respondents were interested in family groups and there was a definite need for professional counselling for the parents and siblings. In response to the findings a number of recommendations are made to improve services to families, including the formation of family groups where the relatives of mentally ill people can receive psychoeducation and practical guidance. The need for further research has been identified.
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Seo, In Hae. "Utilizing research technology in human service organizations : factors contributing to implementing a convergent needs assessment model in area agencies on aging /." The Ohio State University, 1998. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487951907960572.
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Thomas, Jane. "Re-constructing children's identities : social work knowledge and practice in the assessment of children's identities." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2010. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55064/.
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This thesis is an exploration of how social work practitioners learn about and assess children's identities within the Core Assessment process contained within the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. A qualitative case study was conducted within one childcare team in a local authority in South Wales with participation from key stakeholders involved in the assessment process: practitioners, parents, carers, and the subject children. Thirteen social work practitioners and eleven parent/carers participated in semi-structured interviews that explored what they understood identity to mean together with their appraisals of assessments of children's identities. Access to children was gained with consent of the parent/carers, with ten children taking part in a multi-method research strategy aimed at ascertaining children's own accounts of their identities. Core Assessment documents and interview data were analysed utilising textual analysis. The data from the children has been reproduced, wherever possible, verbatim to ensure their voices are made prominent within the study. The key findings are that the assessment of children's identities is an intricate, iterative task that poses practitioners with considerable practical and moral issues. Practitioners appear to utilise artistry in their management of the assessment task, commonly not making explicit the sources upon which their assessments of children's identities are based. It would appear that practitioners prefer to present their assessments of children's identities in the form of a narrative account, of which ownership of the details remains very much in the hands of the practitioner. Within this thesis subtle yet important differences between how practitioners, parents, carers and children construct identities is unearthed. It is posited that practitioners' assessments of children's identities do not reflect the individuality of the child and the reasons for this are explored. Also the adequacy of the Assessment Framework as a tool for assessing children's identities is questioned. It is suggested that the Assessment Framework restricts practitioners' assessments of children's identities to little more than constrained accounts of any child: thus ignoring the uniqueness of the subject children. It is demonstrated that in using the Assessment Framework, practitioners often struggle to employ their own nuanced knowledge of the subject child. The complexities practitioners encounter in managing the task of assessment is considered. Some practitioners appear to invoke some sense of the fluidity and subjectivity of identities, suggesting an appreciation that there may be many different ways to perceive another. Other practitioners assert some singular and true identity that should be unearthed though the assessment process. More generally, the thesis reveals that practitioners typically construct children's identities within the familiar framework of developmental and object-relational theories. The implications of this for children to be constructed as passive objects, whose identities are seen as more simplistic, less sophisticated than adult identities, is critically examined. The limits and potential of contemporary assessment practices with regard to children's identities is also explored. It is suggested that greater inclusion of the views of parents, carers and subject children in assessment is needed if practitioners are to move away from a constrained re-construction of children's identities and to present instead accounts that more authentically reflect the individual identities of the subject children.
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Alexanderson, Karin. "Vilja, kunna, förstå : om implementering av systematisk dokumentation för verksamhetsutveckling i socialtjänsten." Doctoral thesis, Örebro University, Department of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-449.
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The aim of this study is to analyse conditions that either promote or hamper the implementation of methods for systematic documentation, follow-up and evaluation in social-work services with individuals and families. The theoretical framework consists of organization theories. Human Service Organizations (HSO) theory is complemented with concepts from the new institutionalism, domain theory, implementation theory, and theory about interventions.
A concrete case, a project has been studied. The purpose of project was to implement methods for systematic documentation in public social services. With the notation “integrated” is meant that the methods should be built in and adjusted to the social-work practice. The methods were ASI (Addiction Severity Index) and IUS (a locally based model for integrated evaluation by inspiration from Göran Sandell).
Data has been captured in a pretest/ posttest design (Marlow 2000). This means that “state of things” has been described before the intervention and after. The methods used were surveys and interviews (individual and group). The process has been documented through research notes proceeding records, protocols and some diaries written by social workers. Four municipalities from the middle of Sweden took part with five working groups. Two groups contained social workers acting with children and families and three groups were working with drug abusers. The population consisted of the social workers, the managers responsible for the individual and family entities, the politicians and the clients who were affected during the time of the project.
The implementation of ASI and IUS has not occurred in the extent that was stated in the intervention theory. This means that ASI and IUS were not used in all new cases that occurred during the time of the project. The interviews supposed to be done in the beginning of the clients contact with the agency tended to be done more often than the follow-up interviews. After the project ended, three of five working groups decided to continue to use ASI (one group) and IUS (two groups). The overall impression is that the respondents comprehend, they have the willingness but they do not have the capability of using ASI and IUS. The organization does not seem to have the capacity of imposing requirements and giving resources. The outcomes do not seem to be the most important issue for the social services. These conditions are discussed in the study by means of the theoretical concepts. In the end, there is an effort to adjust the implementation theory to human service organizations.
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Burt, Michael. "From ascertainment to assessment : the development of a social work role in local authorities, 1950-1993." Thesis, University of Chester, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/600478.
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The social work literature of the last two decades has drawn attention to the increasing importance of the assessment role of social workers. However, there has been limited historical analysis of the development of the assessment function in social work. This study examines the way in which the assessment role of social workers in England and Wales developed between 1950 and 1993. Historical narrative has been used to develop the themes of this study, addressing the significance of interrelated events and the range of political, economic and social influences on the changes which took place. It uses archival sources as primary material, including the archive of Lancashire County Council which is employed as a case study. This study traces the stages of development of social policy for the assessment function of social workers in local authorities. It draws attention to the diverse approaches of separate occupational groups of social workers to making enquiries and investigations about the circumstances of people who experienced social problems in the 1950s. Principles of social assessment which emerged during the 1960s are explored, together with their wider application to all client groups during the 1970s and the development of assessment as a priority activity within the newly established Social Services Departments (SSDs). The importance of the development of criteria and models of assessment in the late 1970s and 1980s and their inclusion as part of the social work process in planning documents produced by SSDs in the 1980s is discussed. The significance of the children’s and adults’ legislation and accompanying documentation at the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s in giving local authorities a lead role in the co-ordination of assessments is addressed. Although conventional interpretations of the history of social work have suggested that a high point in the development of social work was reached in the early 1970s, archival material points to the function of social assessment being at a particularly early stage of its development. As a consequence of the changes which took place, the thesis argues that assessment was a unifying influence on social work as a single occupational group and emerging profession.
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Robinson, Tanya Marie. "A critical assessment of the experiences and perceptions of the couple in an unconsummated marriage." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1097.
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Thesis (PhD (Social Work))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005.It is generally accepted that the inability to consummate a marriage causes couples great distress, and can finally lead to divorce. Limited research has been done on the unconsummated marriage in South Africa. International studies have pointed out that the unconsummated marriage is a reality and a prevalent problem. While medical and therapeutic intervention is available, many people still suffer in silence and feel embarrassed about their condition. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the emotional and psycho-social experiences and perceptions of the couple in an unconsummated marriage. In order to achieve this goal, the objectives of the study were to explore the experiences of the couple in an unconsummated marriage in order to obtain the couple’s perception of their marriage; to present a literature overview on the subject of marriage within the context of the family life cycle; to describe the nature and causes of an unconsummated marriage; to critically describe approaches and models that may be used for the assessment of an unconsummated marriage; and to reflect on the implications of the emotional and psycho-social experiences and perceptions of the couple in an unconsummated marriage within a postmodern systemic framework. The purpose of the literature study was to provide a context for the research study. The researcher conducted an extensive literature review in order to establish and refine the research subject and to guide the empirical study. An exploratory study was executed and the purposive non-probability sampling method utilised. The sample for this study was obtained from Intercare Medical Centre, Johannesburg and The Square Medical Centre, Umhlanga between April 2004 and November 2004. Ten couples that have not consummated their marriage were included in the sample. An interview schedule with open-ended questions was used to conduct joint interviews with the couples. The empirical study enabled the researcher to draw certain conclusions. The main conclusion was that males and females in an unconsummated marriage experience and perceive control-related problems; negative feelings towards their own and their partner’s body; a fear of engaging in an intimate relationship and other phobias; a feeling of sin and moral dilemma; feelings of guilt and shame; the manifestation of depression and apathetic attitudes; personal distress and psychological problems; a feeling of serious regret and sadness; self-blame, self-destructive behaviour, mutilation and suicidal thoughts and episodes; and lastly, a lack of information on how to be sexually intimate with a partner. A number of recommendations flowed from the findings. The main recommendation was that healthcare professionals such as social workers should be better educated about the phenomenon of the unconsummated marriage in order to make a correct diagnosis and deliver high quality medical and therapeutic intervention.
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Lovitt, Brent. "Examining Social Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Assessment Using the Work of Bourdieu, Coleman and Putnam." TopSCHOLAR®, 2007. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/405.
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The value that individuals attribute to their social ties with other residents can have an impact on the amount of crime that occurs within their own neighborhood. While previous criminological research has identified a negative relationship between the levels of social capital and victimization within neighborhoods, these studies often used different conceptualizations of social capital. This study seeks to extend previous research by examining the multiple dimensions of social capital within each classical approach and to assess each dimension's influence on self-reported violent victimization and property crime victimization in Chicago neighborhoods using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN). Multivariate regression analyses measure the effects of these social capital dimensions individually. The results primarily assess which dimension(s) of social capital lead to significantly lower self-reported accounts of violent victimization and property crimes in Chicago Neighborhoods. Findings suggest that the dimensions of social cohesion and trust and informal social control are important indicators in predicting violent victimization and that Coleman's model of social capital is consistently related to lower violent and property crime in Chicago neighborhoods, when compared to the other models.
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Friedman, Mark David. "The holocaust survivor's experience of death and dying : a model for social work assessment and intervention." Thesis, McGill University, 2002. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=29554.
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This paper investigates whether or not the experience of survivors of the Holocaust through the dying process follow the stages and tasks of dying as defined in the theoretical literature and the ramifications this has for the social worker serving these individuals and their families. The methodology employed was a library search to overlay the literature on death and dying upon the literature concerning Holocaust survivors. The study concludes that, for the most part, there is little congruence between the theories of dying and the coping mechanisms of the Holocaust survivor and that a different model of death and dying is required for this population. In order to provide a preliminary model and guide workers who might encounter terminally ill survivors and their families as patients and clients, approaches for engagement, assessment, and intervention are proposed and analyzed.
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Respress, Trinetia L. "Assessment of Discrepancies Between Residential Employees' Work Values and Program Directors Perceptions of Residential Employees' Work Values." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 1997. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2969.
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This study assessed discrepancies between residential employees' work values and program directors' perceptions of the residential employees' work values. Additionally, work values of residential employees were analyzed to identify variations when considering gender, age, educational level, length of service, job classification, and current position. The study was undertaken to assist in developing a clearer understanding of the work values of residential employees for the purpose of enhancing administrator-associate relationships and to determine factors in the work setting that might contribute to longevity and more productive, satisfied, motivated employees. Data for the study were gathered from 172 program directors and residential employees in the First Tennessee District by the use of Donald Super's (1970) Work Values Inventory and Demographic Information Questionnaire. Analysis of the data included t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's Post-hoc Analysis. There were eight major findings. Residential employees scored higher on the work values creativity, esthetics, and surroundings than program directors perceived they would score. Over 55 age group valued economic returns, independence, intellectual stimulation, and security less than other age groups. No significant differences were found to exist when considering gender or length of service of residential employees. Residential employees with less education placed less value on intellectual stimulation than employees with more education. Residential employees with high school diplomas placed more significance on surroundings than bachelor degree employees. Full-time residential employees placed greater merit on independence and intellectual stimulation than part-time employees. Shift workers placed more merit on economic returns, intellectual stimulation, and security than houseparents. Recommendations were made for program directors for the following work values: way of life, esthetics, surroundings, creativity, economic returns, achievement, altruism, supervisory relations, and intellectual stimulation. Recommendations were also made for future studies on older residential employees, adolescents' perceptions of quality of services received, and the work environment of residential facilities.
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Chui, Wing Tak Ernest. "Assessment in professional training in higher education : an exploration into the issues of assessment in social work field education in Hong Kong." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.414129.
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Saguin, Joana Valerie Garong. "A Community Health Risk Assessment of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Long Beach California 90813 Zip Code." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10785256.
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The purpose of this study was to conduct a community health risk assessment of the city of Long Beach, California specific to the 90813 ZIP code by utilizing an adaptation of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (2013) model for community health assessment to identify the most imperative risk factors for the chronic homeless population in the 90813 ZIP code of Long Beach. Data on three domains (physical health, mental health, and housing) measuring 16 risk factors were gathered from both archival data and major public sources. Data from Long Beach 90813 ZIP code were compared to data from Los Angeles County, California, and the United States. Risk factors that are the utmost concerning for the community appeared to be difficulties in obtaining health care, infectious diseases, both ER and hospitalization rates due to alcohol abuse and high poverty rate. Efforts to reduce the amount of both sheltered and unsheltered chronic homeless individuals should target all three domains. Recommendations for evidence-based programs and interventions to reduce the most salient risk factors are provided.
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Jakhara, Mohammed. "The journey to adopt a child : a mixed methods study comparing aspiring parents' perceptions of the adoption process with those of social workers and social work managers." Thesis, University of Derby, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622715.
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The adoption of children in care who are legally referred to as “looked after”, (Children Act 1989, s22, HMSO, 1989) usually by local authorities is a key national Government objective (DfE, 2016a) where rehabilitation with the birth family is not viable. The desire to place more "looked after" children for adoption with greater speed is not new. It became increasingly apparent after the election of the New Labour Government in 1997 due to concerns about drift and delay in planning for children in care (DoH, 2000a) leading to poorer outcomes. This led to a series of measures aimed at increasing the use and speed of adoption. Eventually this resulted in the introduction of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (HMSO, 2002) that also for the first time in English law recognised that the welfare of the child is of paramount concern when considering adoption. There is an abundance of published literature that considers the topic of adoption. However, there is a dearth of studies that have comprehensively considered the journey that adopters undertake to become parents. This practice based study was conducted by a researcher who is a senior academic manager and an active social work practitioner with extensive professional experience of adoption. A unique aspect of the study is the longitudinal mixed methods approach used to gather data in real time from a sample of adopters. The three part study tracks the journeys of the sample of adopters from when their application to adopt had been accepted by an adoption agency until after children were placed. The study was supported by five adoption agencies based in England. The data was collected over a period of two years from the adopters who described their experiences and perceptions of their journeys in real time. The information from the adopters is triangulated with data from adoption professionals from the agencies that supported the study. The professionals discussed their approaches to the adoption process, as well as their own experiences of working with adopters. The longitudinal nature of the study enables an analysis of how and why adopters’ experiences and perceptions changed over time. The research considered the changing power dynamics between adopters and professionals during the different stages of the journey to adopt. Furthermore, the long-term impact of professional interactions with adopters during the adoption process are discussed.
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Beswick, Melinda. "The assessment and training of work related social skills, with intellectually disabled adults, by means of videotape /." Title page, contents and introduction only, 1992. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09AR.PS/09ar.psb561.pdf.
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Randall, Catherine E. "Development of the Professional School Social Work Survey: A Valid and Reliable Tool for Assessment and Planning." Scholar Commons, 2015. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5561.
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School social workers are currently in a unique position to support and lead schools through the change process initiated by districts' adoption of a Response to Intervention model. This dissertation describes an exploratory study to develop and pilot-test a self-administered survey for use by school social workers for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of school social work practice. The survey was developed using DeVellis' 8-step process for survey design. The survey consisted of four subscales theorized to measure school social worker effectiveness as determined by a review of current literature in the field: Response to Intervention, Evidence-Based Practice, School Climate, and Roles and Leadership. The survey was pilot tested with 105 school social workers in Hillsborough County, Florida. Reliability and validity of the instrument was assessed through SPSS using Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis. Once adjusted for negatively-worded items and dropping items that failed to load, four factors emerged explaining almost 44% of total variance. Cronbach's alpha analysis of the final scale length of 27 items resulted in values of .815 for the Evidence-Based Practice subscale, .792 for the Response to Intervention subscale, .676 for the School Climate subscale, and .726 for the Roles and Leadership subscale. These values indicate that the final instrument has good internal consistency reliability. An additional item was rewritten for clarity and included in the 28-item version of the survey suggested for use in future research.
Analysis of the collected data indicated that the survey demonstrates both validity and reliability, making it a useful tool for school-based social workers; suggestions for further development of the survey and future directions for research are discussed. The Professional School Social Work Survey can serve as a means of both self-assessment and planning for professional development.
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Beresford, Susan Margaret. "Reflecting on practice : perspectives on social work assessment in families where there is a parental mental illness." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242725.
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Louw, Alexander. "Examining the level of Empathy of second-year Bachelors of Social Work Students at a South African University making use of the Empathy Assessment Index." Master's thesis, Faculty of Humanities, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30524.
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The aim of this study was to examine the level of empathy of second-year Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) students using the Empathy Assessment Index (EAI), and the findings were contextualised within the South African social work training policies. The Social Work Model of Empathy and the social cognitive neuroscientific definition of empathy the EAI was built on, forms the guiding theoretical frame for this study. It is often assumed that social work students have adequate levels of empathy and this research study was a first step in determining if this was correct. This has contributed to the discussion on social
work education, specifically if more direct instruction or policy changes may be necessary concerning empathy in social work training. The researcher utilised a quantitative research methodology in conjunction with the Empathy Assessment Index in order to collect the data. Univariate descriptive data analysis was used in order to illustrate the findings in a logical and understandable format. The research was conducted using second-year BSW students (n=40) from a Western Cape University and the study found that the respondents had an overall high level of empathy. However, the component score for Emotional Regulation was fairly low. This, according to the literature, could prevent a person from accessing the full benefits of an empathic experience.
It was recommended that universities consider implementing more direct methods to train and increase empathic ability. Furthermore, considering how new the study of empathy is to social work in South Africa, it was also recommended that further studies are required for better implementation of the construct, especially to determine what an optimal level of empathy is for a social work student
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Rawlings, Mary A. "Assessing Direct Practice Skill Performance in Undergraduate Social Work Education Using Standardized Clients and Self-Reported Self-Efficacy." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1216156818.
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Carruthers, Jean Catherine. "Performance as a platform for critical pedagogy in social work education." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2020. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205094/1/Jean_Carruthers_Thesis.pdf.
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The aim of this research is to discover whether and how 'critical performance pedagogy' (CPP) is a strategy for students to think critically about the ways they link theory and practice in social work using theatrical performance as a platform. Using critical thematic and critical discourse analysis of qualitative interviews, video recorded performances and corresponding texts, this research has uncovered the various ways CPP supports critical and collaborative engagement in social work. The research indicates, students initially develop social and political analysis, make relevant links between theory and practice (praxis) and foster skills in democratic leadership and social action.
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Eriksson, Hanna, and Alina Forsell. "En god föräldraförmåga - enligt vem? : En kvalitativ intervjustudie om kulturella skillnader." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Centrum för socialt arbete - CESAR, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-411558.
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Begreppet kultur är komplext och innefattar många aspekter. Möten mellan kulturer sker inom många delar av samhället, däribland hos socialtjänsten, och påverkar relationer mellan människor. Socialtjänsten ska i sitt arbete verka för goda uppväxtvillkor för barn samt göra sina bedömningar på ett jämlikt sätt. Studien syftar till att undersöka socialsekreterares förståelse av kulturella skillnader gällande föräldraskap samt på vilka sätt de upplever att deras förståelse påverkar bedömningar som görs av föräldraförmåga. Kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med tio socialsekreterare. Materialet analyserades sedan med tematisk analys. För att förstå hur socialsekreterarna resonerar kring vad som sker i möten med klienter har symbolisk interaktionism använts för att analysera intervjuerna. Stämplingsteori har använts som ett komplement för att analysera vad som sker om socialsekreterare och klient har olika syn på föräldraskap. Av resultat och analys framkommer det att socialsekreterarna upplever att det finns kulturella skillnader i föräldraskap, men att det också finns många likheter. Skillnader som beskrivs är syn på gränssättning, ekonomi, barns olikheter och uppfostringsvåld. Det framkommer även att socialsekreterarna tycker att det är viktigt att visa förståelse för klienterna, men att det ibland kan leda till att kraven på deras föräldraförmågor höjs eller sänks. Det beskrivs som svårt att särskilja förförståelse och fördomar. Avslutningsvis framkommer också ett behov och en önskan om mer kunskap om kultur för att kunna säkerställa rättssäkra bedömningar.
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Buchanan, Diana. "WARRIOR TRANSITION PROGRAM: NEEDS ASSESSMENT MARINES IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2004-2005." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1133282552.
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Pendergraft, Jenilynn Marie, and Santia Gloria Magallanes. "Non-Offending Caregivers' Experiences at a Southern California Children's Assessment Center." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/497.
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Victims of child maltreatment are often subjected to both repeat interviews and physical exams over the course of an investigation. There are specialized centers across the country that serve this highly at-risk population with the goal of minimizing further traumatization of victims by repeat interviews and exams. These centers must maintain a high standard of practice and undergo outside scrutiny and evaluation, in order to best serve their clients and recognize possible shortcomings. An evaluative, pilot study was conducted at a Southern California Children’s Assessment Center (SCCAC). The purpose of this pilot study was to gain more knowledge about caregivers’ overall experiences at the center and the population’s willingness to participate in future studies. Twelve participants were identified through convenience sampling and completed a qualitative interview. Demographic information was input into SPSS and analyzed through descriptive statistics. In addition, interview response content was analyzed by the use of triangulation. Overall findings support existing literature which states that clients are generally satisfied with their experiences at the SCCAC. The significance of this study for social work will enhance the understanding of the need for additional policies to ensure proper training. This study will also benefit the field of child welfare by providing a small amount of insight into how different components of service factors may affect diverse individual’s experiences during a difficult time. This study will allow child welfare professionals to further customize their engagement approach and provide services that are considerate and effective for each individual.
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Sánchez, Gómez Martín. "Emotional intelligence:a new way to assess it and its importance to understand work outcomes." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Jaume I, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.6035/14109.2021.423380.
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This doctoral thesis develops an instrument for measuring emotional intelligence that reduces the weaknesses of existing ones and makes it possible to determine the role of EI on some variables of great importance in the work environment.
The main results of this thesis indicate that: 1) MEIT (Mobile Emotional Intelligence Test) is a reliable and valid measure of EI, as well as the advantages of taking advantage of technology for it; 2) EI of employees is indirectly related to job performance through professional efficiency and burnout; EI acts as a protective variable when it comes to preventing the development and chronic progression of worker burnout; 3) It is those workers with the highest EI and the capacity for emotional repair who achieve the greatest professional success, which leads to obtaining a higher salary.La presente tesis doctoral desarrolla un instrumento de medida de inteligencia emocional que reduce las debilidades de los existentes y permite determinar el papel de la IE sobre algunas variables de gran importancia en el entorno laboral. Los principales resultados de esta tesis señalan que: 1) MEIT (Mobile Emotional Intelligence Test) es una medida fiable y válida de la IE, así como las ventajas de aprovechar la tecnología para ello; 2) la IE de los empleados está indirectamente relacionada con el rendimiento laboral a través de la eficacia profesional y el agotamiento; la IE actúa como variable protectora a la hora de prevenir el desarrollo y la progresión crónica del agotamiento de los trabajadores; 3) son aquellos trabajadores con mayor IE y capacidad de reparación emocional los que alcanzan mayor éxito profesional, lo que conduce a obtener un salario superior.
Programa de Doctorat en Psicologia
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Kok, Magdelena Cornelia. "The availability of foster care resources in the Free State Province : a social work assessment / by M. Kok." Thesis, North-West University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/9779.
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A large number of children find themselves in foster care situations in South Africa with placements that have to be monitored by social workers. This is a demanding task, given the nature of foster placements and the high caseloads of social workers responsible for monitoring of foster placements.
Although a wealth of information on resource management is to be found in the prevailing literature, no comparative volume of information is to be found on foster care resources in child welfare in particular. A model for resource management in this field must still be developed.
In view of this and considering the role occupied by the researcher in the Kerklike Maatskaplike Diens: Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, it was decided to embark on a research project investigating the use of resources in the field of child welfare, specifically with foster care social workers. The aim of the study is to assess whether adequate resources are available.
The availability and utilisation of resources in the field of child welfare is under-researched and a resource management system for this purpose should still be developed.
The research results indicated that social workers monitoring foster care placements have high caseloads and that resources, even though they are utilised to a certain extent, are not always accessible or effective.
The most important learning needs were related to organisational, community and professional resources that could be considered unrealistic, ineffective, inaccessible and not feasible in most circumstances. Further main challenges are a lack of resources and time, a lack of co-operation from the foster parents and the biological parents respectively and the shortage of foster care social workers in South Africa.Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.
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Ellis, Kathryn Ann. "Revisiting 'street-level bureaucracy' in post-managerialist welfare states : a critical evaluation of front-line discretion in adult social care in England." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134370.
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The thesis set out in this submission is drawn from six of the candidate’s publications, based in turn on empirical findings from four research studies of adult social care in England spanning the period 1992 2006. As a body of work, it interrogates the validity of Lipsky’s (1980) conclusions about the origins and nature of ‘streetlevel bureaucracy’ in the wake of subsequent welfare restructuring. The earlier studies pay particular attention to the impact of managerialisation on frontline assessment practice amongst adult social work teams following implementation of the 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act. Later studies tackle a further challenge to Lipsky’s thesis of street-level bureaucracy, that is, the potential for a change in the nature of the exchange relationship between street-level bureaucrat and client in the light of the insertion of service user involvement, empowerment and rights into governance arrangements after 1990, including adult social care. The candidate argues that the ethnomethodological approach adopted in three out of the four studies has yielded rich data on frontline practice of a type screened out by much contemporaneous research on the impact of social care reforms. Taken together with the span of the research studies over some fifteen years, this has supported not only a detailed analysis of the relationship between the micropolitics of assessment practice and key features of the differing environments within which they occur but also their articulation with changing modes of welfare governance. Discourse analysis of interview findings from the remaining study has permitted insights into the way social workers integrate thinking about human and social rights into their everyday assessment practice. The candidate summarises her threefold contribution to the literature in a taxonomy derived from the research findings which serves, firstly, to articulate the relationship between core dimensions of the policy and practice environment and the differing forms of frontline discretion to emerge after 1990; secondly, to explore the impact of user empowerment and rights on the distribution of resources; and, thirdly, to evaluate the continuing relevance of ‘streetlevel’ bureaucracy for understanding frontline social work practice. She concludes by sketching out possible future directions for her work.
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Wilkins, David. "The use of theory and research knowledge in child protection social work practice : a study of disorganised attachment and child protection assessment." Thesis, University of Kent, 2015. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/48930/.
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This thesis seeks to examine how child protection social workers use theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment in the course of their practice with potentially abused or neglected children. In order to facilitate this understanding, three supplementary research questions are posed – (1) ‘how do child protection social workers use the theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment in work with children who may be at risk of significant harm due to abuse or neglect?’ (2) ‘how do child protection social workers use theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment when assessing children who may be at risk of significant harm due to abuse or neglect?’ and (3) ‘how do child protection social workers incorporate the theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment into their existing social work practice?’ The research described in this thesis consists of the use of two methods – guided conversation interviews and Q-method. In answer to the primary research aim, it was found that child protection social workers, suitably trained, are able to usefully apply the theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment in practice and that they may do so in a small variety of ways related to developing a better understanding of the children and carers they work with; as a way of aiding them to help and support the carers of the child being assessed, and as a way of completing better assessments. Thematically, it was notable that all of the participants described their use of the theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment by reference to the methods and techniques they were able to put into practice, such as Adult and Child Attachment Interviews, and how their use of this theory and research knowledge was thus mediated or applied via the use of these and other similar techniques. As a result of these findings, further research would be useful as to how the development of new techniques (or co-option of existing techniques) may be helpful as a way of facilitating the transfer of theory and research knowledge into social work practice. Further research regarding the impact of the use of theory and research knowledge related to disorganised attachment in child protection social work practice would also be useful, particularly whether the outcomes for children and families are improved as a result.
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Parks, Hillary Faye. "Beyond sibling rivalry an exploratory study of social work assessment of school-age sibling abuse : a project based upon an independent investigation /." Click here for text online. Smith College School for Social Work website, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10090/1005.
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Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2007Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Social Work. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48).
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Nethercott, Kathryn. "Understanding the use of the Common Assessment Framework : exploring the implications for frontline professionals." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/556347.
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Current legislation, within England, states that local authorities should provide services for all those families in need, while also setting thresholds for access to these services. However, research has identified that regardless of the introduction of strategies to identify need and enhance family support, on-going barriers to services remain. This study took a social constructionist approach to explore professionals’ experiences of the use of the Common Assessment Framework form and multiagency working. Data were collected in four different local authorities in the South East of England, in two phases: phase one February 2011 to February 2012, phase two July to September 2014. Phase one was intended to focus on the experiences of both professionals and families in one Local Authority (LA). However, as a result of a difficulty in accessing families the research was refocused to professionals’ experiences and use of the CAF alone. Phase two was extended to three further LAs. Forty one professionals, from a variety of agencies, took part in semistructured interviews individually or in a group. Data were analysed utilising thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke 2006). Conclusions are from a small scale study and so cannot be generalised. However, findings suggested professional use of the CAF was dictated by local authority policy. Two issues emanated from this. Firstly, as the local authorities adopted the policy of utilising the CAF as a referral mechanism, rather than for its intended purpose, to assess needs, professionals perceived the CAF form as a referral tool, rather than an assessment tool. Secondly, the range of professionals utilising the CAF was diverse. This diversity necessitates suitable training to accommodate the various professionals and their backgrounds. However, in this study, such training was largely lacking. Additionally professionals found multi-agency working, required by the CAF process, problematic, time consuming, and onerous. However, experienced and knowledgeable professionals were seen to utilise creative ways in which to successfully navigate the ‘referral process’. A further finding of the study is that there were key differences in regard to the ways in which diverse professional groups view safeguarding for adolescents. Recommendations for future research, policy and local authority use of the CAF form have been made.