Alcohol and other drug use: the roles and capabilities of social workers

Author:
GALVANI Sarah
Publisher:
Manchester Metropolitan University
Publication year:
2015
Pagination:
31
Place of publication:
Manchester

Sets out the roles and capabilities of social workers in relation to substance use and clarifies the broad expectations of all social workers when they work with someone who is experiencing problematic substance use. Three key roles are identified and discussed: to engage with the topic of substance use as part of their duty of care to support their service users, their families and dependents; to motivate people to consider changing their problematic substance using behaviour and support them (and their families and carers) in their efforts to do so; and to support people in their efforts to make and maintain changes in their substance use. At the core of these roles sit communication skills and an empathic and non-judgemental approach. The document sets out key implications for policy, practice, education and research, calling for: key policy documents driving any revision or reform of social work education to include substance use as core knowledge and skills; reviews of social work practice to acknowledge substance use as a cross cutting issue; reviews of social work education to ensure substance use is a requirement of qualifying course content; and evaluation of the effectiveness of 'evidence based' substance use interventions in the reality of social work practice contexts. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
social workers, professional role, alcohol misuse, drug misuse, substance misuse, staff development;
Content type:
practice guidance
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