Annual of social work, Vol. 31 No. 2, 2024.
Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.3935/ljsr.v31i3.446
ASSESSMENT AND SELF-ASSESSMENT OF THE COMPETENCIES OF CAREGIVERS IN CHILDREN’S HOMES AIMED AT THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF USERS
Irena Sovar
orcid.org/0000-0001-8384-9576
; Ludbreg Elementary School, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The paper presents the results of research on the competencies of caregivers employed in children's homes which is aimed at the positive development of users. The research was conducted on a sample of N = 137 caregivers from a total of 12 children's homes, community service centers and SOS Children's Village in the period from September 2019 to February 2020. Caregivers simultaneously assessed which competencies they consider important for working in the children's homes, and self-assessment determined their own development. An adapted Self-reported Competency Scale (Hartje et al., 2008) based on the features of the concept of positive youth development (Eccles and Gootman, 2002) was used in the research. Descriptive parameters of assessment and self-assessment are presented, as well as factor analysis of the assessment of required competencies, which resulted in 6 factors (activities, expectations, cooperation, interculturality, safety and structure). High self-esteem of caregivers can be observed in activities that are carried out daily with users in the home, such as learning life skills, learning school content, and problem solving. There was a statistically significant difference in the assessment of the required competencies in relation to the self-assessment of the development of competencies. It is necessary to develop specific competencies in caregivers that will enable greater user safety, easier work with inhomogeneous groups, and greater family involvement, which are necessary prerequisites for positive development, and it is in them that the greatest differences in competency development are observed. The obtained results indicate that it is necessary for caregivers to provide continuous professional development, and to develop specific competencies of educators necessary to provide an environment suitable for positive youth development.
Keywords
children's home; competencies; caregivers; positive youth development
Hrčak ID:
327499
URI
Publication date:
7.1.2025.
Visits: 843 *