Social work research:

improving visibilityJO MORIARTY

SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE RESEARCH UNIT

Summary

Social work research evidence base

Three examples from studies

undertaken in Social Care Workforce

Research Unit

Some suggestions!

Discussion

2

Our effectiveness

review

The aim of the review … was to provide

insight into, and aid our understanding

of, the current research and evidence

base for social work, including potential

gaps and areas for development

3

What we did

Bibliographic database, website, internet, journal table of contents searches and ‘reference harvesting’

Retrieved 1666 items Screened on abstract and title

178 full text items read

Final review included 98 items

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But ….

Social work contribution sometimes unrecorded

Example of an excluded study from 2001 which recorded community nurse time but not social work time

Many instances where professional backgrounds of those delivering a mental health intervention unreported

Extreme example of review not including CBT delivered by experienced psychiatrists and psychology students

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Discussion paper

More evidence on social work

with adults than is sometimes

thought but need a more

strategic approach to its

development

6

Progress may be slow and a

consensus may not be reached

1988https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00752471.pdf

2005https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/81

2017http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_53146-2.pdf

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Three examples

Decided against just looking at

strengths based approaches Evidence difficult to synthesise because of the

different populations and problems they face

Debates about definition of what it means

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Rapp et al framework can help

1. Goal orientation – people are asked to define the goals they would like to achieve in their lives

2. Systematic assessment of strengths

3. Environment is seen as rich in resources

4. Explicit methods used for achieving personal and environmental goals

5. Relationship is hope inducing

6. Provision of meaningful choices is central

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‘Helping or hindering’

Examined current safeguarding

practice in England where

access to an adult at risk was

obstructed by a third party

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Methods

Compared legislation in England, Scotland and Wales Scotland and Wales do have a power of entry, unlike England

Online survey (n=27) and interviews with adult safeguarding social workers and managers(n=37) and people using services and carers (n=11)

No definite figures collected on frequency with which social work access is obstructed

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In absence of legal power of entry

Social worker skills in negotiating and

developing relationships Ranged from ‘soft’ styles to more assertive

approaches

Multi agency approaches Relationships with banking staff, as well as more

typical work with police or ambulance services

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Conclusions 13

Social workers appear creative in their

approaches to gaining access to the

adult at risk. However, in a small

number of cases, gaining any access

proves very difficult and sometimes

impossible. Such cases can take up a

great deal of time and resource, and

also may mean that adults at risk suffer

abuse or neglect for long periods. In

these cases, many social workers

appear to support the introduction of a

power of entry, and some of the other

powers available in Scotland

Gambling related

harms

Increase in popularity - around two thirds of the population gamble. Around 7% of men & 2% of women identified as being at risk in last 12 months but some evidence that that some groups more likely than others to experience problem gambling

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Findings

Studies suggest some people experiencing harm from gambling may have pre-existing conditions (e.g. complex trauma, brain injury), or mental health problems

Some communities more vulnerable than others Tottenham identified as a problem area which includes high

numbers of people with mental health problems and/or experiencing homelessness

Concerns that some abuse of adults at risk is perpetrated to fund gambling habits

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Latest study phase

Research team would like to talk to social workers and other practitioners

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Social work support for paid

employment

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Aims and methods

Jobs First aimed to increase the numbers of people with moderate to severe learning disabilities eligible for publicly funded social care, in paid employment Ran from 2010-2011

In other countries, social workers widely involved in ‘labour market activation’ Varies from a ‘workfare’ approach to wider societal reintegration

Semi-structured interviews with 109 participants, including 27 social workers & 25 people with a learning disability

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Findings

Social workers’

enthusiasm varied

When they were positive, this

was key to helping people

gain paid employment

These social workers saw it as

helping people achieve an

‘ordinary life’ and better

income

Arranged and co-ordinated

practical support eg getting

up and help with travel

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‘The three social workers

we’ve got that have been

really influential, and I

think they have managed

to influence their teams as

well, and we are getting

some positive outcomes

and feedback from this’

Concluded

Social workers were not just involved in mainstream tasks such as establishing eligibility and assessments

Roles as brokers, helping people learn the job, providing employment support

More learning about processes needed to provide employment support than in evidence of ‘success’ in finding jobs

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Discussion

Social work is often at the ‘sharp end’ of emerging policies or their effects

Challenge for practitioners and researchers to respond and adapt effectively to changes

Examples have shown emerging emphasis away from focus on individual ‘problems’ towards recognition of impact of wider community and environment

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In short!

Think about opportunities in own

practice Becoming part of a wider research project

Role of practitioner research

Help in develop evidence based guidance

Join an ethics committee

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Help set priorities for social work research

Still time to complete survey for James Lind Alliance

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Apply to join Social Care Research Ethics Committee

Closing date is 5pm, 11th December 2017

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Thanks & disclaimer

We acknowledge the contribution of the Policy Research Programme at the Department of Health for its support for the Unit

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in research –and for your continuing help

The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Department of Health Contact: jo.moriarty@kcl.ac.uk

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‘Look, Daddy. Teacher says,

every time a bell rings an

angel gets his wings’

Every time a social worker helps

with a piece of research, they

make the researchers

incomparably happy!

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Links and bibliography (1)

Slide

no.

Content Link

3 Effectiveness https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-

institute/publications/SCR_FInal.pdf

4 Discussion paper https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-

institute/publications/Social-work-research-with-adults-in-

England---the-state-were-in.pdf

10 Helping or hindering https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-

institute/scwru/pubs/2017/reports/Helping-or-Hindering-Final-

Report-2017.pdf

14 Gambling https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/policy-institute/publications/The-

nature-of-gambling-related-harms-for-adults-at-risk-a-

review.pdf

16 Recruiting http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2017/08/07/gambling-

impact-vulnerable-adults/

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Links and bibliography (2)

No. Content Link

17 Jobs First http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/146801731663722

4

23 James Lind Alliance http://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk/priority-setting-partnerships/adult-

social-work/the-survey.htm

24 SCREC https://www.hra.nhs.uk/about-us/news-updates/expert-

members-needed-social-care-research-ethics-committee/

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