Search results for ‘Subject term:"social workers"’ Sort:
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Tying your colours to the mast
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 10.1.91, 1991, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Points out the dangers of overempathising with clients and urges social workers to identify, and thereby recognise and control their own strong feelings.
Smoke without fire? Social workers' fears of threats and accusations
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 21(3), November 2007, pp.323-355.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper draws on a qualitative research study enquiring into social workers' experiences of fears to demonstrate the potency of threats made to such workers. Threats of complaints and anxiety surrounding their subsequent handling are shown to be particularly powerful and to give rise to ontological fears in workers. The extent to which such threats should be regarded as 'real' is debated. Substantive quotations are provided from research participants which highlight these issues. Psychodynamic theory, poetry and stories are drawn upon to explore the experience of uncontained imagination as a way of helping to think about and understand the implications of fears of threats and accusations for social work practitioners. The capacity for 'catastrophic thinking' and the potential for a misguided belief in a malignant authority is demonstrated and the concept of an 'inner courtroom' in the mind of the fearful worker is illustrated. The paper concludes with the contention that a reflective containment within individuals and organisations is the most helpful response available in attempting to mitigate the harmful and unwanted repercussions of such pervasive and powerful fears.
Why EDTs aren't ready for the museum
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, February 2006, p.12.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
The division of adult and children's services in England has led to some questioning the continued relevance of emergency duty teams. The author, a practitioner-manager in an emergency duty team, argues that their unique skills are still very much relevant today.
The terrors of night and the arrows of day: social workers' processes in the aftermath of murder
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 15(1), May 2001, pp.57-65.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper provides extended extracts from interviews conducted with three social workers interviewed for a study enquiring into social workers' experiences of stress. For the purposes of this study, experienced practitioners were asked to recall a time that stood out for them in their minds as causing them stress. They were asked to describe the experience, to say how it had affected them, how they responded to it and what they had found helpful and unhelpful when attempting to deal with the experience. The three participants quoted in the paper all talked of their involvement with service users who had killed others. They describe personal and organisational responses to the murders and tell of internal processes and responses from others that were found to be helpful and unhelpful. The "haunting" quality of such experiences is apparent throughout accounts, as is the relevance of psychodynamical theory and concepts. The importance of creating and using a therapeutic space in which it is possible to have ideas about how such stress can be thought about is emphasised.
Researching social workers' experiences of fear: piloting a course
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Education (The International Journal), 18(3), September 1999, pp.347-354.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Confronting workplace fear head-on
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, July 1999, pp.6-7.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
The author based his PhD on research into management of fear in social work and counselling. In this article the author describes the emotions of the social workers interviewed.
Too little fear can kill you. Staying alive as a social worker
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 20(1), March 2006, pp.69-81.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper provides a psychodynamic exploration of risk assessment of service users who might represent a danger to others and, in particular, to the social workers involved in their care and treatment. Substantive quotations from participants in a qualitative research study enquiring into experiences of fear in social work and counselling are provided and discussed in the light of psychodynamic theory. Fear is seen to be of crucial and life-enhancing significance while not listening to the ‘survival signals’ transmitted from fear responses is shown to be potentially dangerous, even fatal. The need for workers to locate themselves accurately on the continuum of the depressive/paranoid-schizoid position is highlighted throughout as is the need for them to appear to disturbed and disturbing service users as whole people rather than part objects. The importance of clearing a space through the fear to think about what is happening between service user and worker is emphasised and the parts played by the eyes and the emotions in this are also considered. The paper concludes with the contention that workers should aim to cultivate an attitude of appropriate fearfulness as this is a helpful albeit complex balance worth striving for.
Embrace the fear
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 18.4.02, 2002, p.38.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Fear in social work has always been portrayed as a negative factor. The author, an emergency team manager says that practitioners need to feel it and learn from it.
Surviving fears in health and social care: the terrors of night and the arrows of day
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 166p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book explores the impact of fear on health and social care practitioners and suggests how it can be understood and managed. Drawing on first-hand accounts, he looks at the commonly experienced fears of physical and sexual assault, as well as fears arising within organizations from bullying, complaints or negative media attention. Focusing on the fears experienced when working in child protection, mental health, probation, and with vulnerable people both in the community and in residential settings, the author provides a wide range of helpful suggestions for good practice and training. He describes the vital roles of supervision, management and workplace culture in helping practitioners cope with their fears, and suggests how family members, colleagues and the police can also provide support. He discusses the benefits of recognizing and confronting openly the repercussions of fear, as well as the importance of using its positive and life-enhancing aspects in practice.
Social workers praised by service users! What the Climbie report doesn't say
- Author:
- SMITH Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 15(3), 2003, pp.7-16.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The author reflects on the findings of the Climbie Inquiry whilst assessing the portfolios of four candidates studying for the Post Qualifying Award in Child Care. Presents some of the positive feedback received from service users as part of the portfolios, and highlights their appreciation and the differences social workers had made to their lives. The feedback serves as a reminder that as well as getting things wrong social workers can also get things right in the eyes of those they work with.