The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in early 2020 spread worldwide and had a major impact on European health and social care systems. The outbreak and the epidemics have brought many changes and challenges to people's lives.
In the theoretical part, I reviewed the literature that defines social work in the event of emergencies in the country, the challenges and dilemmas that social workers faced at social work centers, what changes have occurred in working methods, in the work relationship, the accessibility and coordination of services. In my research work, I delved into the challenges and organization of work within the Primorsko-Notranjska Social Work Centre, Unit Ilirska Bistrica, and the social welfare program Dnevni center Sonček during the epidemic. I conducted interviews with the employees of the unit and analyzed the obtained data in a verbal way.
The findings of the research show that the way of working at the Primorsko-Notranjska Social Work Centre, Unit Ilirska Bistrica and at the Dnevni center Sonček, at the time of the outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19 and afterwards, has changed significantly. Emergencies had different effects on the organization of work and on contacts with users. It was necessary to react immediately to the changes and adapt to the new circumstances. Limited access to services has led to more confusion among users, while social workers and professionals had concerns about how to act, while providing adequate protection against the disease and nevertheless keep in touch with the users and provide help.
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