World wide closed! Social worker field practice during the ‘lockdown’ period

ABSTRACT

The current health crisis we are experiencing because of Covid-19 pandemic has put social worker training facilities in a new, unexpected position. How can a practice-based training programme be organised during a ‘lockdown’ period? How can practical skills be acquired when contact field instructors, social services and target groups is limited?In order to face the professional challenges posed by the epidemic, to better understand the impact on professional training, and learn more about the innovations and good practices used to tackle the problems, we organised focus group interviews with 15 field instructors and 15 students. The first results of our research provide evidence that, contrary to expectations, the world has not only narrowed but at the same time also expanded as a result of the restrictions. Although the outbreak of the COVID-19 has had a traumatic impact in many ways, the crisis had also positive consequences. With the intensive use of digital tools and forms of work, remote locations and target groups have become more accessible, special knowledge elements have been included in the training, and new opportunities for the development of personal skills have opened up in the education of social workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Field practice
• training innovations
• digital social work
• personal and professional skills

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The focus group research was organized in the framework of the programme EFOP3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00007—‘Young researchers for talent’ -Supporting career in research activities in higher education.

2. The professionals and students participating in the focus groups were working in the following areas at the time of the research: persons with special needs (social enterprise, boarding institutions, daytime school care), addicts (daytime care, low-threshold services) youth (international projects, community development, individual casework), psychiatric patients (daytime care), unemployed people (career guidance), inmates of penal institutions (counseling), disadvantaged families (family and children’s welfare), elderly people (household help provision, signaling services).

3. Social work students (BSW) take part in an internship each semester during their 7 semesters of training. They complete 273 hours of internship in the first 6 semesters (30–50 hours per semester), and 468 hours (13 weeks) of intensive internship in the last (7^th) semesters in Hungary. The timeframe of filed education is in line with CSWE (2015) standards.

4. Data collection and management was carried out in accordance with the standards adopted by the international scientific community, following the guidelines of the International Sociological Association (ISA) Code of Ethics (2001) and in compliance with the rules of volunteering and anonymity. In collecting and using the data from the focus group interviews we also followed the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (hereinafter: GDPR) on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and free movement of such data, repealing Directive 95/46/EC and the Hungarian Act CXII of 2011 on the right to information self-determination and freedom of information.

5. During the lockdown period, the day-care facilities for people with mental health issues were closed. Maintaining contact with disabled people was implemented through online groups.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the “Young researchers for talent” -Supporting career in research activities in higher education program [EFOP3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00007].

Notes on contributors

Judit Csoba

Dr. Judit Csoba, is professor of Sociology and Social Policy and Course Director of Social Work Education at the University of Debrecen. She is the nominated expert of Social Work Training in the Hungarian Accreditation Committee. She has 30+ years of experience in research of Social Policy, Employment Policy, Conditional Benefits and Social Economy.

Andrea Diebel

Andrea Diebel, is sociologist and Social Work Training coordinator at the University of Debrecen. She has been actively involved in the development of Training Programs and Internship Programs of Social Workers in Hungary in the last 10 years. Her areas of expertise include the planning and development of innovative social services and NGO research.