Izzivi socialnih delavk, zaposlenih na centrih za socialno delo v času izrednih razmer COVID-19. : diplomsko delo

Jelenc, Maja (author), Rihter, Liljana (mentor)

V svojem diplomskem delu sem raziskovala izzive, s katerimi so se socialne delavke srečale v času epidemije covida-19. Zanimalo me je, s katerimi izzivi so se srečevale same in v svojem delovnem okolju. Raziskovala sem, kako so se odzvali na nastale izzive zaposleni in kako se je odzvalo vodstvo. Zanimalo me je tudi, kdo jim je nudil pomoč in podporo ter kako je delo potekalo v primerjavi med prvim in drugim valom epidemije covida-19. Prav tako so me zanimale morebitne dobre prakse dela in to, kaj bi v podobnih situacijah v prihodnje morali nujno narediti drugače. V teoretičnem delu sem opredelila socialne delavke kot profesionalno skupino in se osredotočila na temeljne kvalitete socialne delavke. Predstavila sem elemente delovnega odnosa, ki jih uporabljamo v delovnem odnosi z uporabniki. V nadaljevanju sem predstavila centre za socialno delo in izpostavila stres na delovnem mestu. V tretjem poglavju sem se posebej osredotočila na socialno delo v izrednih razmerah in ga povezala z novim virusom covid-19. V zadnjem delu teoretičnih spoznanj sem opisala covid-19 in socialno delo. Zanimalo me je predvsem, kakšne posledice je prinesla epidemija, kako se to odraža na posameznikih in skupinah ter kaj je naloga socialnih delavk v izrednih okoliščinah epidemije covida-19. V empiričnem delu sem predstavila pridobljene rezultate. Moja raziskava je bila kvalitativna, izvedena na neslučajnostnem, priročnem vzorcu. V njem je sodelovalo devet socialnih delavk, zaposlenih na centrih za socialno delo. Ugotovila sem, da so se pri socialnih delavkah najpogosteje pojavljali izzivi, kako komunicirati z uporabniki preko telefonov in elektronske pošte ter kako nuditi učinkovito pomoč uporabnikom brez osebnega stika z njimi. Pomembna je tudi povezava med zadovoljstvom socialnih delavk in možnostjo kombiniranja dela od doma in dela na enoti. Ugotovila sem, da so socialne delavke, ki so imele možnosti dela od doma, z organizacijo dela bolj zadovoljne kot tiste, katerim delo od doma ni bilo omogočeno. Prav tako so bile socialne delavke zadovoljne s tem, da se uporabniki vnaprej najavijo. Rezultati raziskave izpostavljajo tudi pomanjkljiv odziv vodstva na nastalo situacijo, saj so se odzvali s premalo posluha za zaposlene, brez upoštevanja mnenj in potreb zaposlenih. Ugotovila sem, da se v času izrednih razmer socialne delavke niso povezale z dodatno aktiviranimi službami v času epidemije, ampak so sodelovale samo s tistimi, s katerimi so bile v stiku že pred epidemijo. V primerjavi obeh valov epidemije se je izkazalo, da je bila za drugi val značilna boljša organizacija dela, manjši občutek strahu ter več primerov in prijavljenih socialnih stisk. Ne glede na različno doživljanje epidemije med socialnimi delavkami pa so kot dobre prakse dela izpostavile usklajevanje dela od doma in dela na enoti ter naročanje uporabnikov vnaprej. Sama možne izboljšave organizacije dela v podobnih razmerah v prihodnosti vidim v večji podpori zaposlenih s strani vodstva, v skupnih sestankih vodij in zaposlenih ter v organizaciji dela v skladu s potrebami in predlogi zaposlenih.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: izredne razmere, epidemija, epidemija covid-19, centri za socialno delo, izzivi in odzivi.
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
• Organization: FSD - Faculty of Social Work
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [M. Jelenc]
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (106 str.))
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-128995
• UDC: 364-43
• COBISS.SI-ID: 82445315
• Publication date in RUL: 21.08.2021

JELENC, Maja, 2021, Izzivi socialnih delavk, zaposlenih na centrih za socialno delo v času izrednih razmer COVID-19. : diplomsko delo [online]. Bachelor’s thesis. Ljubljana : M. Jelenc. [Accessed 11 April 2025]. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=128995

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Challenges of social workers employed in centres of social work during COVID-19 crysis.

Abstract

In my undergraduate thesis, I addressed the challenges faced by social workers during the Covid 19 pandemic. I looked at the challenges faced by social workers themselves, but also in the context of their work environment. I examined how staff and how management responded to the challenges that arose. In comparing the first and second waves of the Covid 19 pandemic, I was also interested in who provided help and support to social workers and how their work was carried out. I also looked at possible good practices in the workplace and what needs to be done differently in similar future situations. In the theoretical part of my thesis I define social workers as a profession and focus on the basic qualities of a social worker. I introduce the components of a working relationship used when dealing with service users. Next, I introduce the centres for social work and emphasize the occurrence of stress in the workplace. In the third chapter I focus specifically on social work in exceptional circumstances and how it relates to the new Covid 19 virus. In the final part of my theoretical findings, I describe Covid-19 and social work. I was particularly interested in the consequences of the pandemic, how these consequences are reflected in individuals and in groups, and what tasks social workers must undertake in the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the empirical section of the paper, I present my findings. My research was qualitative and conducted with a non-probability convenience sampling. Data was collected from nine social workers employed at centres for social work. I found that social workers were most likely to face challenges such as communicating with service users by telephone and email and how to provide effective help without direct contact with service users. Also important was the relationship between social worker satisfaction and the ability to combine working from home with working in the setting. I found that social workers who had the opportunity to work from home were more satisfied with the organization of work than those who were not offered the opportunity to work from home. Social workers were also satisfied with service users being able to make appointments in advance. The findings of my research also highlight the inadequacy of management's response to the situation as their response was not considerate of staff and did not take into account their opinions and needs. I found that during the exceptional circumstances, social workers did not contact the services that were additionally activated during the pandemic, but only worked with those they were already in contact with before the pandemic. When comparing the first and second waves of the pandemic, the most striking differences were in improved work organization, reduced feelings of anxiety and an increase in caseloads and reported social distress in the second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic. Notwithstanding the differences in individual social workers' experiences of the pandemic, they emphasize coordination of work from home and work in the facility, as well as making appointments with service providers in advance, as examples of good workplace practices. I myself see the possible improvements in work organization for similar future situations in the management giving more support to their staff, in joint meetings between staff and management and in organizing the work according to the needs and suggestions of the staff.

• Keywords: exceptional circumstances, pandemic, Covid-19 pandemic, centres for social work, challenges and responses.