Defining the degree of work attractiveness in the Protected Housing service in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

This research-based article examines the challenges that social workers are facing in the context of intense reforms and transformations in a period of transition from centralised and institutionalised system of social care towards a decentralised and deinstitutionalised one. Key issues for social workers are determined through an exhaustive empirical study, assessing the degree of subjective attractiveness of the professional activity of social workers in the Protected housing service in Bulgaria. The study aims to give insights on what components of working conditions need to be improved to provide adequate support to social workers, enabling them to offer quality service to users. The study further analyses how workers prioritise these components, how the desired state differs from their current work situation and how work attractiveness relates to socio-demographic characteristics. The results show a low degree of work attractiveness and discrepancies on factors across the board between what social workers’ rate as significant for work to be attractive and their actual work situation. When considering the findings within the wider European context, the authors suggest the Bulgarian experience is of significance for other societies going through fast and fundamental transformations.

АБСТРАКТ

Тази статия, базирана на емпирично изследване, изучава предизвикателствата пред социалните работници в контекста на интензивни реформи и трансформации, в период на преход от централизирана и институционализирана система на социална грижа към децентрализирана и деинституционализирана такава. Основните проблеми, пред които са изправени социалните работници са определени чрез изчерпателно емпирично изследване, определящо степента на субективна привлекателност на професионалната дейност на социалните работници в услугата Защитени жилища в България. Изследването цели да вникне в компонентите на условията на труд, които трябва да бъдат подобрени, за да е налице адекватна подкрепа на социалните работници, така че те да са способни да предоставят качествена услуга на потребителите. Изследването също анализира как работниците приоритезират тези компоненти, как желаните условия се различават от реалната ситуация и как привлекателността на труда е повлияна от социално-демографски характеристики. Резултатите показват ниска степен на привлекателност на труда и множество разминавания между компоненти, които социалните работници считат за обуславящи привлекателността на работата и тяхната реална работна ситуация. Разглеждайки изводите и резултатите в широкия европейски контекст, авторите твърдят, че българският опит е полезен за други общества, преминаващи през динамични и фундаментални трансформации.

KEYWORDS:

• social work
• work attractiveness
• social workers
• working conditions
• protected housing
• Bulgaria

ключови думи:

• социална работа
• привлекателност на труда
• работни условия
• защитени жилища
• България

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 At time when the empirical study was conducted (2016–2017), the minimal wage in Bulgaria was 510 Bulgarian levs. The lev (BGN) is the national currency of Bulgaria and has a fixed exchange rate in relation to the euro at 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Krasimira Benkova

Prof. Krasimira Benkova, PhD is a Professor of Social Sphere Organisation and Governance in the Department of Social Activities and a Vice Dean of Administrative activity, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Professor Benkova’s academic interests lie in intersection of Philosophy, Ethics, Law and Social Work. She is teaching a range of courses, including Legal Basics Social and Healthcare Law, Ethics of Social Work, Administrative Regulation of the Social Sphere, Professional Ethics, Philosophic Anthropology.

Nadia Vlaeva

Nadia Vlaeva, PhD is a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Social Activities of Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria as well as a social worker in the Protected Housing service in Stara Zagora. Dr, Vlaeva’s academic interests are focused on the specifics of social work and the profile of the social worker in the Protected Housing service.

Katia Peeva

Katia Peeva, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Activities of Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. She is an expert in biostatistics and works in the sphere of applied statistics with her scientific interests in medical science and the social sphere. She is proficient in SPSS and teaches information systems in the social sphere.

Stanimira Raleva

Stanimira Raleva is a PhD Student in in the Department of Social Activities of Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, currently writing a dissertation on the Migrant crisis and the ethical dilemma of security and solidarity. Ms Raleva also holds a LLM in International Human Rights Law and a BA in International affairs and International Communications.