Research on Social Work Practice, 29(7), 2019, pp.741-752.
Publisher:
Sage
Purpose: This systematic review synthesized evidence supporting interventions aimed at mitigating cognitive bias associated with the decision-making of social work professionals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted within 10 social services and health-care databases. Review authors independently screened studies in duplicate against prespecified inclusion criteria, and two review authors undertook data extraction and quality assessment. Results: Four relevant studies were identified. Because these studies were too heterogeneous to conduct meta-analyses, results are reported narratively. Three studies focused on diagnostic decisions within mental health and one considered family reunification decisions. Two strategies were reportedly effective in mitigating error: a nomogram tool and a specially designed online training course. One study assessing a consider-the-opposite approach reported no effect on decision outcomes. Conclusions: Cognitive bias can impact the accuracy of clinical reasoning. This review highlights the need for research into cognitive bias mitigation within the context of social work practice decision-making.
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: This systematic review synthesized evidence supporting interventions aimed at mitigating cognitive bias associated with the decision-making of social work professionals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted within 10 social services and health-care databases. Review authors independently screened studies in duplicate against prespecified inclusion criteria, and two review authors undertook data extraction and quality assessment. Results: Four relevant studies were identified. Because these studies were too heterogeneous to conduct meta-analyses, results are reported narratively. Three studies focused on diagnostic decisions within mental health and one considered family reunification decisions. Two strategies were reportedly effective in mitigating error: a nomogram tool and a specially designed online training course. One study assessing a consider-the-opposite approach reported no effect on decision outcomes. Conclusions: Cognitive bias can impact the accuracy of clinical reasoning. This review highlights the need for research into cognitive bias mitigation within the context of social work practice decision-making.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social work, decision making, systematic reviews, intervention, family reunification, mental health problems;
The author talks to emergency social work team member David Glover-Wright, who had to decide, in the early hours of the morning, whether to visit a client with pronounced mental health problems who was threatening to kill his neighbour and himself.
The author talks to emergency social work team member David Glover-Wright, who had to decide, in the early hours of the morning, whether to visit a client with pronounced mental health problems who was threatening to kill his neighbour and himself.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, prevention, risk, social work, social workers, violence, decision making;
Forensic social worker Marian Trendell talked to the author about how she dealt with a young man who posed a serious risk to himself and others.
Forensic social worker Marian Trendell talked to the author about how she dealt with a young man who posed a serious risk to himself and others.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mentally disordered offenders, offenders, risk, social work, social work methods, social workers, decision making, forensic social work;
Practice: Social Work in Action, 12(2), 2000, pp.5-19.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Social workers, whether working with people with learning difficulties or with older people, are often required to make judgements an individual's capacity to make decisions. This article explores the legal basis upon which such judgements should be based and the implications for the individual and for the worker of finding of capacity or otherwise. The material is presented in the form of a checklist, supported by discussion of the issues that should be taken into account when assessing capacity; these cover not only cognitive factors, but address also the importance of social history, the environment and interpersonal skills.
Social workers, whether working with people with learning difficulties or with older people, are often required to make judgements an individual's capacity to make decisions. This article explores the legal basis upon which such judgements should be based and the implications for the individual and for the worker of finding of capacity or otherwise. The material is presented in the form of a checklist, supported by discussion of the issues that should be taken into account when assessing capacity; these cover not only cognitive factors, but address also the importance of social history, the environment and interpersonal skills.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health, mental health problems, older people, social work, social work methods, social workers, assessment, decision making;
A social workers talks to the author about the dilemma she faced when she tried to find an alternative to sectioning a man with a young family who had tried the hang himself, and was intent on further suicide attempts.
A social workers talks to the author about the dilemma she faced when she tried to find an alternative to sectioning a man with a young family who had tried the hang himself, and was intent on further suicide attempts.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, risk, social work, social workers, assessment, attempted suicide, community mental health services, decision making, families;
Social workers' attempts to help those who cannot make decisions for themselves have been historically plagued by a dearth of appropriate legislation, guidance and definition. Recounts how BASW's long attempts to change things are finally achieving results.
Social workers' attempts to help those who cannot make decisions for themselves have been historically plagued by a dearth of appropriate legislation, guidance and definition. Recounts how BASW's long attempts to change things are finally achieving results.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, rights, risk, severe learning disabilities, social work, social workers, advocacy, decision making;
British Journal of Social Work, 46(7), 2016, pp.2088-2103.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Understanding how social workers and parental service users construct the meanings of parental problems in the child protection context is important, as ultimately this affects decision making. Using qualitative methods, this study elicited social workers' and parental service users' perceptions of decision reasoning and analysed them from a discursive constructionist perspective. By completing secondary analysis of social worker–parental service user pairs, this article describes patterns in how the causes of family problems were constructed by social workers and parental service users. It was found that explanations of poor mental health and lack of supports for initial family problems were used to emphasise a lack of parental culpability by both parties, particularly through a narrative of separating one's ‘authentic self’ from the impacts of mental illness on parenting. This convergence of explanations helped to maintain fragile parental identities, assisted with relationship maintenance, and allowed both social workers and parents to acknowledge harm to children. However, an individualised view of problems promoted by mental illness discourses was unable to account for the impact of domestic violence and poverty on parental life experiences, and thus sometimes over-emphasised parental responsibility.
(Publisher abstract)
Understanding how social workers and parental service users construct the meanings of parental problems in the child protection context is important, as ultimately this affects decision making. Using qualitative methods, this study elicited social workers' and parental service users' perceptions of decision reasoning and analysed them from a discursive constructionist perspective. By completing secondary analysis of social worker–parental service user pairs, this article describes patterns in how the causes of family problems were constructed by social workers and parental service users. It was found that explanations of poor mental health and lack of supports for initial family problems were used to emphasise a lack of parental culpability by both parties, particularly through a narrative of separating one's ‘authentic self’ from the impacts of mental illness on parenting. This convergence of explanations helped to maintain fragile parental identities, assisted with relationship maintenance, and allowed both social workers and parents to acknowledge harm to children. However, an individualised view of problems promoted by mental illness discourses was unable to account for the impact of domestic violence and poverty on parental life experiences, and thus sometimes over-emphasised parental responsibility.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
parents, mental health problems, social workers, social work, child protection, decision making, attitudes, parenting, family support, responsibilities, social worker-service user relationships, user views;
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 22(4), 2000, pp.401-414.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The government green paper, 'Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983', was published in November 1999, for consultation by end of March 2000. This article offers comment on the operation of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the proposals for change, from an approved social worker perspective. Approved social workers' main concerns relate to the social context of mental health need, the availability of social resources, civil liberties, protection for people subject to statutory mental health interventions and the effective regulation of practice and services. Current proposals include options what would significantly reduce approved social worker involvement in decisions about compulsory admission and treatment; the implications of this care discussed.
The government green paper, 'Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983', was published in November 1999, for consultation by end of March 2000. This article offers comment on the operation of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the proposals for change, from an approved social worker perspective. Approved social workers' main concerns relate to the social context of mental health need, the availability of social resources, civil liberties, protection for people subject to statutory mental health interventions and the effective regulation of practice and services. Current proposals include options what would significantly reduce approved social worker involvement in decisions about compulsory admission and treatment; the implications of this care discussed.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, needs, social work, treatment, therapy and treatment, assessment, approved social workers, compulsory detention, compulsory treatment, decision making;
Next year, the Human Rights Act comes into force, and public bodies will have to ensure their policies are in line with the law. Reports on how the implications for social care could be significant.
Next year, the Human Rights Act comes into force, and public bodies will have to ensure their policies are in line with the law. Reports on how the implications for social care could be significant.
Subject terms:
human rights, law, mental health problems, policy, public sector, rights, social services, social work, social care provision, child protection, compulsory detention, decision making;
Talks to a social worker, Roger Parke, who had to address the problem of twin brothers whose hoarding of rubbish endangered their health.
Talks to a social worker, Roger Parke, who had to address the problem of twin brothers whose hoarding of rubbish endangered their health.
Subject terms:
mental health, mental health problems, risk, social work, social workers, assessment, behaviour, community mental health services, community mental health teams, conduct disorders, decision making, health;