Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1177/00208728251400279
Sandra Lindström, Kerstin Svensson
This study aims to highlight school social workers’ professional self-perception and how they manage their broad discretion. The empirical data is based on open-ended responses from a survey of 215 school social workers in upper secondary schools in Sweden. The responses have been analysed using thematic text analysis. The results show that school social workers and the school organisation are continuously engaged in a coordinated dance, where social workers must follow steps dictated by time constraints, collaboration with other professions, method application and more. They navigate a complex choreography, often finding themselves dancing solo to an uncertain tune.
{"title":"School social workers’ discretionary practice in Sweden: The need for professional creativity","authors":"Sandra Lindström, Kerstin Svensson","doi":"10.1177/00208728251400279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251400279","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to highlight school social workers’ professional self-perception and how they manage their broad discretion. The empirical data is based on open-ended responses from a survey of 215 school social workers in upper secondary schools in Sweden. The responses have been analysed using thematic text analysis. The results show that school social workers and the school organisation are continuously engaged in a coordinated dance, where social workers must follow steps dictated by time constraints, collaboration with other professions, method application and more. They navigate a complex choreography, often finding themselves dancing solo to an uncertain tune.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145847161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1177/00208728251398460
Uwihangana Consolée, Mikaela Starke
This article aimed at exploring measures and strategies used in promoting gender equality in Rwanda. Thirty-eight actors from government, non-government and community-based organisations were interviewed. Using Bacchi’s ‘ What is the Problem Represented to be ?’ (WPR) framework, the analysis reveals that these actors frame the core problem of gender inequality differently: as gender-based violence, women’s historical disempowerment, misunderstanding of gender equality and neglect of cultural norms. The study concludes that effective gender policy requires context-specific and culturally sensitive strategies, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’. It emphasises the critical role social work could play in developing sustainable solutions aligning with local realities and values.
{"title":"Strategies for promoting gender equality in Rwanda: How do the actors describe their work?","authors":"Uwihangana Consolée, Mikaela Starke","doi":"10.1177/00208728251398460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251398460","url":null,"abstract":"This article aimed at exploring measures and strategies used in promoting gender equality in Rwanda. Thirty-eight actors from government, non-government and community-based organisations were interviewed. Using Bacchi’s ‘ <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">What is the Problem Represented to be</jats:italic> ?’ (WPR) framework, the analysis reveals that these actors frame the core problem of gender inequality differently: as gender-based violence, women’s historical disempowerment, misunderstanding of gender equality and neglect of cultural norms. The study concludes that effective gender policy requires context-specific and culturally sensitive strategies, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’. It emphasises the critical role social work could play in developing sustainable solutions aligning with local realities and values.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145717537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-28DOI: 10.1177/00208728251390039
Eileen Joy, Bonnie Scranton, Dan Burrows, Katrina Roen
Documented involvement of social work in relation to people with variations in sex characteristics is sparse. This commentary reflects what is known about the role of social workers according to current care guidelines and existing research. We foreground social justice advocacy as important for this community, and suggest how social workers (could better) work with people with variations in sex characteristics. We engage the concept of ‘intersex justice’ and highlight opportunities for social workers to impact at the levels of policy and social work training as well as impacting on how health services meet individuals with variations in sex characteristics.
{"title":"Social work with people with variations in sex characteristics: Where and what is it?","authors":"Eileen Joy, Bonnie Scranton, Dan Burrows, Katrina Roen","doi":"10.1177/00208728251390039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251390039","url":null,"abstract":"Documented involvement of social work in relation to people with variations in sex characteristics is sparse. This commentary reflects what is known about the role of social workers according to current care guidelines and existing research. We foreground social justice advocacy as important for this community, and suggest how social workers (could better) work with people with variations in sex characteristics. We engage the concept of ‘intersex justice’ and highlight opportunities for social workers to impact at the levels of policy and social work training as well as impacting on how health services meet individuals with variations in sex characteristics.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145611001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1177/00208728251390040
Evaristo Barrera-Algarín, Ana Vallejo-Andrada, Rocío Martínez-Fernández, Rebeca Castro-Ibáñez
This study examines the relationship between Empathy Fatigue Syndrome, professional experience and institutional context among 269 social workers in Seville, Spain. Using the Empathy Fatigue Inventory, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability tests, frequency studies, contingency tables, Pearson’s correlations, linear regressions and ANOVA, findings reveal that less experienced social workers are more vulnerable to compassion fatigue, especially within their initial years. Moreover, higher compassion fatigue levels are observed in public institutions compared to private ones. The research advocates for emotional intelligence training and underscores the necessity for systemic support to improve well-being and professional efficacy in social work practice.
{"title":"Levels of compassion fatigue in social workers: Professional practice duration and public or private entity type as moderator variables","authors":"Evaristo Barrera-Algarín, Ana Vallejo-Andrada, Rocío Martínez-Fernández, Rebeca Castro-Ibáñez","doi":"10.1177/00208728251390040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251390040","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the relationship between Empathy Fatigue Syndrome, professional experience and institutional context among 269 social workers in Seville, Spain. Using the Empathy Fatigue Inventory, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability tests, frequency studies, contingency tables, Pearson’s correlations, linear regressions and ANOVA, findings reveal that less experienced social workers are more vulnerable to compassion fatigue, especially within their initial years. Moreover, higher compassion fatigue levels are observed in public institutions compared to private ones. The research advocates for emotional intelligence training and underscores the necessity for systemic support to improve well-being and professional efficacy in social work practice.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145609798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arab social workers in Israel face unique challenges when working with Bedouin Arabs, balancing Western-secular and traditional-religious orientations. This qualitative study interviewed 14 Arab social workers participating in the 2-year Ausj project, which trained them to elicit indigenous knowledge from their experiences. Two main themes were revealed: ‘a unique and successful experience’ and ‘echoes from the program that continued to motivate personal and interpersonal progress’. The program enhanced professionals’ effectiveness and success while helping prevent burnout. By incorporating indigenous knowledge, social workers internationally can develop more appropriate practices and reduce their risk of burnout when dealing with complex service-user problems.
{"title":"The Ausj program: Empowering Bedouin social workers in Israel through indigenous knowledge and professional development","authors":"Nuzha Allassad Alhuzail, Merav Moshe Grodofsky, Shehda Aljbur","doi":"10.1177/00208728251390043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251390043","url":null,"abstract":"Arab social workers in Israel face unique challenges when working with Bedouin Arabs, balancing Western-secular and traditional-religious orientations. This qualitative study interviewed 14 Arab social workers participating in the 2-year Ausj project, which trained them to elicit indigenous knowledge from their experiences. Two main themes were revealed: ‘a unique and successful experience’ and ‘echoes from the program that continued to motivate personal and interpersonal progress’. The program enhanced professionals’ effectiveness and success while helping prevent burnout. By incorporating indigenous knowledge, social workers internationally can develop more appropriate practices and reduce their risk of burnout when dealing with complex service-user problems.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"111 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145575566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1177/00208728251393060
Donna McAuliffe, Sylvia Ramsay, Lise Johns, Emily Plunkett
Social workers face many complex issues including the emergence of legalised assisted dying in an increasing number of countries. This article reports on factors identified as helpful or challenging to the grieving process surrounding assisted dying and makes recommendations about supporting children through the pre-death preparation and subsequent bereavement.
{"title":"Supporting children in cases of assisted dying: Guidance for social workers","authors":"Donna McAuliffe, Sylvia Ramsay, Lise Johns, Emily Plunkett","doi":"10.1177/00208728251393060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251393060","url":null,"abstract":"Social workers face many complex issues including the emergence of legalised assisted dying in an increasing number of countries. This article reports on factors identified as helpful or challenging to the grieving process surrounding assisted dying and makes recommendations about supporting children through the pre-death preparation and subsequent bereavement.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"125 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145535542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article presents a comparative analysis of the Czech Republic and Colombia’s implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Alternative Family Care. Based on secondary data, we identified a shared adherence to the UN framework; a strong Czech system for alternative caregivers’ selection, training and support; a deep ethical commitment of Colombian foster families to ensure children’s well-being, despite limited resources; and the relevance of supporting parents at risk of having their children removed from their care and integrating the effects of unplanned migration into alternative care strategies. The findings are valuable for improving practices in social work and social policy.
{"title":"To care and protect: Shared values, different paths in Czech–Colombian analysis of children’s alternative family care","authors":"Leona Stašová, Lucie Smutková, Jacqueline Garavito Lopez, Alexander Fernandez, Teresita Sevilla","doi":"10.1177/00208728251382827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251382827","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents a comparative analysis of the Czech Republic and Colombia’s implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Alternative Family Care. Based on secondary data, we identified a shared adherence to the UN framework; a strong Czech system for alternative caregivers’ selection, training and support; a deep ethical commitment of Colombian foster families to ensure children’s well-being, despite limited resources; and the relevance of supporting parents at risk of having their children removed from their care and integrating the effects of unplanned migration into alternative care strategies. The findings are valuable for improving practices in social work and social policy.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145498987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1177/00208728251383138
Tumelo Sekgobela
This article explores religion and spirituality as sources of resilience among social workers in South Africa. Social work remains a demanding, emotionally straining, and stressful profession. Although social workers are exposed to adversity, they are expected to be resilient. While some experience structural difficulties and remain passive and vulnerable, others are resilient. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. It presents coping mechanisms for social workers to be resilient and deal with adversity. The study reveals the cultural, traditional, and spiritual as sources of resilience and provides recommendations to bridge the resilience gap guided by a strength-based approach.
{"title":"Religion and spirituality as a source of resilience among social workers: A strength-based perspective","authors":"Tumelo Sekgobela","doi":"10.1177/00208728251383138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251383138","url":null,"abstract":"This article explores religion and spirituality as sources of resilience among social workers in South Africa. Social work remains a demanding, emotionally straining, and stressful profession. Although social workers are exposed to adversity, they are expected to be resilient. While some experience structural difficulties and remain passive and vulnerable, others are resilient. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. It presents coping mechanisms for social workers to be resilient and deal with adversity. The study reveals the cultural, traditional, and spiritual as sources of resilience and provides recommendations to bridge the resilience gap guided by a strength-based approach.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145498988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1177/00208728251386045
Emmanuel Brenyah Adomako, Rugare Mugumbate, Jo Spangaro, Alankaar Sharma, Paul Alhassan Issahaku
Global social work research has been predominantly influenced by Eurocentric paradigms, leading to the coloniality of knowledge production. This article reflects on the processes and methods used in mixed-methods research – guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu as the theoretical framework – on intimate partner violence among women in refugee camps in Ghana. The research shows that community stakeholder consultations, use of local languages, use of talking circles, and integration of community perspectives in research can serve to decolonise. The article offers valuable insights into why social work researchers globally should adopt a decolonising approach to avoid coloniality of knowledge production.
{"title":"Applying Ubuntu principles to decolonise social work research: A mixed method study on intimate partner violence among women in two refugee camps in Ghana","authors":"Emmanuel Brenyah Adomako, Rugare Mugumbate, Jo Spangaro, Alankaar Sharma, Paul Alhassan Issahaku","doi":"10.1177/00208728251386045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728251386045","url":null,"abstract":"Global social work research has been predominantly influenced by Eurocentric paradigms, leading to the coloniality of knowledge production. This article reflects on the processes and methods used in mixed-methods research – guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu as the theoretical framework – on intimate partner violence among women in refugee camps in Ghana. The research shows that community stakeholder consultations, use of local languages, use of talking circles, and integration of community perspectives in research can serve to decolonise. The article offers valuable insights into why social work researchers globally should adopt a decolonising approach to avoid coloniality of knowledge production.","PeriodicalId":47606,"journal":{"name":"International Social Work","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145485870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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