In my master's thesis, I researched the work and challenges of social workers in the intervention service of the Centre for Social Work. The theoretical part of my thesis presents the role of social work centres and the services needed for co-ordination and assistance to within which the intervention service operates. The intervention service is presented in detail, in which on the basis of police notification, professional workers intervene and what are their tasks. Special attention is paid to the subject of domestic violence, which is a particularly social problem and one that the whole of society is responsible for. Furthermore, I explain child protection measures, violence against the elderly, the possibility of accommodating the threat assessment plan, and an individual safety plan. I also describe the importance of and education at work. In addition, I define the role of social work, and describe the knowledge, skills and abilities that are important for this work, what the possible dangers are, and the necessary improvements. I conclude the theoretical part of my thesis with the subject of the Covid-19 epidemic.
In my research, I was particularly interested in the work process of the intervention service (i.e. in a constant state of readiness, at the intervention stage, after intervention, and after completion of the constant state of readiness) and what the circumstances of the interventions look like. I wanted to find out the role, or importance of social work treatment, the profession of social work in the intervention service, and the role of co-operation within the intervention service and other organisations.
In my research, I was also interested in the challenges and dilemmas that social workers face at work and what improvements are needed. At the end of my research, I asked interviewees about the specifics of their work during the Covid-19 epidemic and what was their opinion regarding the extent of violence compared to its extent before the epidemic.
In the empirical part of my thesis the findings of a qualitative research are presented. I have found that working in an intervention service involves a variety of tasks and cases. Based on the examples, social workers decide whether to work in pairs, have a telephone conversation or go to a location where threats and dangers may be present. The collected data show that each situation presents a challenge, therefore certain skills, abilities and knowledge are needed. Social workers want to strengthen and establish co-operation with various organisations. They express the necessity to provide accommodation for vulnerable groups, equal and better pay, training for the emergency services and the exchange of good practice.
|