School of Health and Social Services
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Item Justice in action? : social work and social justice in the 21st century : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University, Manawatu, Aotearoa/New Zealand(Massey University, 2011) Ross, Amy KayeMost social workers today learn about and adhere to international and national commitments which specify social justice as an integral part of social work ethics and values. This research focuses on how eight Aotearoa/New Zealand recent social work graduates (2000-2010) understand social justice and how they integrate it into their social work practice. The study explores whether barriers exist in implementing social justice into social work practice on both a personal and structural level, and if so, what they are. The study is qualitative, utilising a critical ethnographic methodology and a critical theoretical framework. Data collected through the use of focus groups and in-depth interviews is examined with a thematic analytical approach. Analysis identified seven themes which showed that social justice was primarily understood as being able to work for change on a structural level. The themes also highlighted the existence of a number of barriers to the integration of social justice into practice. These barriers were in two key areas, the workplace and the organisation of social work. All participants were in strong agreement regarding these barriers. These findings strongly support previous literature and research which identify a disjuncture for social workers between the definition and practice of social work in a number of areas, particularly in an environment dominated by neoliberal ideology. The concord between participants in this study and the similarity of the findings to data within earlier research suggests that the social work community is facing an ongoing and serious difficulty in ensuring social work is able to fulfil its ethical commitments and protect its workers as they work for social justice. Based on this research five recommendations are made to develop and support the social work community.Item Christian social workers and their sense of effectiveness in social work practice : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work, School of Health and Social Services, Massey University, Albany Campus(Massey University, 2010) Hare, Jennifer LoisWhile social work roots are undoubtedly firmly in religious soil, over recent years the emphasis has widened to include a more inclusive definition of spirituality that seeks to mirror the diverse society we now live in. How social work responds to this increasingly complex environment is a matter of concern for social work educators, practitioners and academics, who all share the same aim of developing the most effective ways to deliver services to the client. The evidence-based practice movement is an evolving response, seeking to offer quality research based solutions to be implemented in practice. Missing in the equation to date is the ability to capture the spiritual aspects of practice both for practitioner (in terms of ‘use of self’) and client ( in relation to spiritual assets that assist them). To this end this qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with eight Christian practitioners as examples of spiritually motivated social workers. The research sought to explore how a Christian perspective contributed to a sense of effectiveness in social work practice. The findings produced discoveries that concurred with the literature and revealed insights from the participants about the ways in which they sought to practice that were consistent with their most valued beliefs. Using the findings and the literature, practical applications are suggested as a way forward for the inclusion of spiritual aspects in evaluating effective social work practice.Item "Someone to walk with me" : supporting caregivers who look after children with mental health problems in statutory care : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University School of Sociology, Social policy and Social Work(Massey University, 2004) Wells, Philippa MaryThe role of support to caregivers in strengthening care outcomes was explored for a group of children and young people with mental health problems in the care of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Four studies were integrated in a mixed methods design. In the first study a survey of 237 social workers established that informal support and caregiver factors were regarded as more effective than formal support services to caregivers in strengthening care outcomes for this group. Social workers described poor access to mental health services and deficiencies in their support to caregivers looking after children and young people with mental health problems. In the second study a focus group of caregivers viewed effective support as constituting a number of factors, including, informal support from caregiver networks, boundary setting by caregivers, training and support in managing behaviours and participation by children and young people in school or work. The role of religious beliefs, religious networks and respite care, in strengthening care outcomes was emphasised. Caregivers identified poor levels of support from Child, Youth and Family social workers and from mental health services. In the third study, a composite construct for measuring positive care outcomes for children and young people with mental health problems was established by a group of Child, Youth and Family experts, using a Delphi process. In the final study, case history data for a large group (n=1071) of children and young people with mental health problems in care of Child, Youth and Family were explored in a multivariate analysis. This analysis utilised, as independent variables, those factors identified by social workers and caregivers in studies one and two. The composite criterion designed in study three was employed as the dependent variable in this study. Multiple regression procedures provided some evidence for the role of religiously affiliated care and respite care in strengthening care outcomes for this group. The implications of these findings for Child, Youth and Family are discussed.
