The first part of this thesis presents the complexity and specifics of working with perpetrators of violence and highlights the challenges faced by social workers at the Ljubljana Social Work Centre. It also discusses phenomena such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and the importance of self-care, both at the individual and organizational levels. Special attention is given to the social workers’ sense of safety and the lack of systemic protection in their work.
In the research section, I used qualitative analysis of interviews with professionals working in the field of domestic violence to explore how social workers experience working with perpetrators, what challenges and obstacles they identify, how they care for their own well-being, and how they perceive organizational support. The findings show that social workers often encounter denial of responsibility, resistance, and manipulative or verbally aggressive behavior from users. They point to the absence of adequate safety mechanisms and legislative protection, which negatively affects their sense of security. Despite these challenges, they strive to maintain a professional relationship with perpetrators, emphasizing ethics, boundary-setting, and transparency in communication.
In terms of self-care, social workers use various strategies, yet often report difficulties in truly disconnecting due to workload and staff shortages. While organizational support such as supervision and intervision exists, they often feel left to rely on their own judgment. I conclude that there is a need for greater investment in professional education, systemic protection of social workers, and the creation of safe working environments. The findings offer important starting points for improving professional support and understanding the specifics of working with perpetrators of violence.
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