Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21860/j.10.1.1
Social Work in Health Care - A View from the Corner of Social Workers Employed in Hospitals
Marina Milić Babić
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska.
Maja Laklija
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska.
Abstract
The social work services in the health care system represent an important segment of the
formal support system intended at the beneficiaries of health care services and the family
members of patients. The aim of the study was to examine the status of the social work
profession within the health care system from the perspective of the social work professionals
employed by health care services. Qualitative research study was conducted on the purposive
sample comprising the social work professionals working in hospitals. Data collection
involved semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Research results revealed a broad
spectrum of roles and professional activities performed by social workers in their daily practice,
including informational and administrative activities, counselling, crisis intervention support,
performance of urgent nonmedical interventions, individual and group therapy with patients,
and cooperation with the local community. In the context of difficulties encountered by
social workers in their professional practice, research participants indicated a discriminatory
and subordinate position in the organizational hierarchy, as well as generally poor working
conditions. In conclusion, social workers offered several recommendations for advancing the
status of their profession, including an improved cooperation with colleagues in the health
care system and beyond, the promotion of professionalization of the social work practice
within the health care system, as well as technical and organizational advances.
Keywords
health care system; social workers; recommendations;
Hrčak ID:
223330
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2019.
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