Opinions Of Social Workers And Social Pedagogues About Their Professional Responsibility While Interacting With Clients

• Authors: Edita Jezerskytė , Vilma Žydžiūnaitė
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Professional responsibility of social worker and social pedagogue is related to social, psychological, moral, educational, material and / or financial and other aspects. Then which aspects within the professional responsibility are worth to both specialists? The object of the research is the professional responsibility of social worker and social pedagogue. Research questions in this study are the following: What aspects are meaningful for social workers and social pedagogues within their professional responsibility while interacting with clients? Are these aspects overlap for social worker and social pedagogue or differ? The research aim is to explore the opinions of social workers and social pedagogues about their professional responsibility within their occupations. The questioning survey was performed at schools and social service organizations in five regions of Lithuania. Research participants were chosen according to purposeful sampling and in research study were asked to participate only social workers and social pedagogues who have experience in their professional (social work or social pedagogy) activities not less than five years. Data were collected by applying the questioning survey (2014 year) using the questionnaire with closed-ended questions. For data analysis were used the Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 21.0). Findings showed that the self-perception, help to clients, professional ethics, trust are the components of professional responsibilities in the daily professional practices of social workers and social pedagogues. Conclusions highlight the idea that social workers and social pedagogues as responsible professionals must realize themselves not only as professionals, but also as human beings who must find the ways to connect with the diversity of clients.

Keywords

EN

Ethics; Help; Social pedagogy; Social work; Statistics; Self-confidence; Trust

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Vocational Training: Research And Realities
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1

Dates

published

2015-11-01

online

2015-12-10

Contributors

author

Edita Jezerskytė

• St. Ignatius Loyola College, Kaunas, Lithuania

author

Vilma Žydžiūnaitė

• Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas; Klaipeda University of Applied Sciences, Klaipeda, Lithuania

References

• Ainsworth, F. (1981). The training of personnel for group care with children. In F. Ainsworth and L.C. Fulcher (eds.) Group care for children: Concept and issues (pp. 225-247). London: Tavistock.
• Allen-Meares, P., Washington, R. O., & Welsh, B. L. (2000). Shaping the future of mental health in schools. Psychology in the Schools, 37, 49-60.
• Augustiniene, A., Abromaitiene, L., & Minkute-Henrickson, R. (2012). Expression of Social Responsibility in Professional Expectations of Future Social Pedagogues. Social Sciences, 3(77), 41-51.
• Bernstein, V., & Hartsell, T. (2000). The Portable Ethicist for Mental Health Professionals. New York: Wiley.
• Cantwell, N. (2013). The Role of Social Work in Juvenille Justice. Copenhagen: UNICEF Available at (Retrieved on 25/10/2015).
• Comartin, E. B., & Gonzalez-Prendes, A. A. (2011). Dissonance Between Personal and Professional Values: Resolution of an Ethical Dilemma. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 8(2), 5-11. Available at (Retrieved on 13/11/2015).
• Desmette, D., & Gaillard, M. (2008). When a “worker” becomes an “older worker”: The effects of age-related social identity on attitudes towards retirement and work. Career Development International, 13(2), 168-185.
• Eichsteller, G., & Holthoff, S. (2012). The Art of Being a Social Pedagogue: Developing Cultural Change in Children’s Homes in Essex. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 1(1), 30-46. Available from: (Retrieved on 07/11/2015)
• Gibelman, M. (2005). What Social Workers Do. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
• Gregorian, C. (2005). A Career in Hospital Social Work: Do You Have What It Takes? Social Work in Health Care, 40(3), 1-14. Available at (Retrieved on 27/10/2015). DOI 10.1300/J010v40n03_01[Crossref]
• Grunwald, K., & Thiersch, H. (2009). The concept of the 'lifeworld orientation' for social work and social care. Journal of Social Work Practice, 23(2), 131-146.[WoS]
• Harrison, K., & Harrison, R. (2009) The school social worker’s role in the tertiary support of functional assessment. Children & Schools, 31, 119-127.
• Hodge, D. R., Baughman, L. M., & Cummings, J. A. (2006). Special populations: women, elderly and diversity. Moving Toward Spiritual Competency. Deconstructing religious Stereotypes and Spiritual Prejudiccs in Social Work Literature. Journal of Social Service Research, 32(4), 211-231.
• Howe, K., & Moses, M. (1999). Ethics in educational research. Review of Research in Education, 24, 21-59.
• Jacobsen, C. A. (2013). Social Workers Reflect on Engagement with Involuntary Clients. Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers. Paper 198. Available at (Retrieved on 11/11/2015).
• McAuliffe, D. (2005). I’m Still Standing: Impacts & Consequences of Ethical Dilemmas for Social Workers in Direct Practice. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics. Available at (Retrieved on 12/11/2015).
• Oxtoby, K. (2009). Social pedagogy in practice. Available at (Retrieved on 08/11/2015).
• Reamer, F. (2005). Ethical and legal standards in social work: Consistency and conflict. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 86(2), 163-169.[Crossref]
• Perrin, N., & Polowy, J. (2008). (Eds). The Role of the Social Worker in the Long-Term Care Facility. Missouri, USA: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Available at (Retrieved on 26/10/2015).
• Petrie, P. (2001). The potential of pedagogy/education for work in the children’s sector in the UK, Social Work in Europe, 8(3), 23-26.
• Petrie, P., Boddy, J., Cameron, C., Wigfall, V., & Simon, A. (2006). Working with children in care: European perspectives. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
• Poppy, A. A. (2012). The Role of a School Social Worker from an Administrator’s Perspective. Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers. Paper 74. (Retrieved on 26/10/2015).
• Rupsiene, L., & Leliugiene, I. (2004). Position, Professional Expertise and Functions of an Educator of Child Care Homes in Lithuania. Social Work and Society, 2(2). Available from (Retrieved on 08/11/2015).
• Scrutton, S. (1999). Counselling Older People. London: Arnold.
• Smith, M. & Whyte, B. (2008). Social education and social pedagogy: reclaiming a Scottish tradition in social work. European Journal of Social Work, 11(1), 15-28.
• Social Pedagogy: Concepts & Theories (2014). Available from (Retrieved on 08/11/2015).
• Social Workers in Hospitals and Medical Centers: Occupational Profile (2011). Washington, National Association for Social Workers: NASW Center for Workforce Studies and Social work Practice.
• Social Work and the Rights of the Child. A Professional Training Manual on the UN Convention (2012). Münsingen, Switzerland: International Federation of Social Workers. Available at (Retrieved on 26/10/2015).
• Zamora, J. (2011). An exploratory study on social workers’ attitudes and practices with gay and lesbian clients. Master Thesis in Social Work. Fresno: California State University, College of Health and Human Services.
• Trainin Blanc, B. (2006). Racism: The Challenge for Social workers. Available at (Retrieved on 11/11/2015).
• The work of the pedagogue: roles and tasks (2006). Copenhagen: BUPL. Available from (Retrieved on 08/11/2015).
• Whitaker, T., Weismiller, T., Clark, E., & Wilson, M. (2006). Assuring the Sufficiency of a Front Line Workforce: A National Study of Licensed Social Workers. Special Report: Social Work Services in Health Care Settings. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
• Yanca, S. J., & Johnson, L. C. (2008). Generalist Social Work Practice with Families (pp. 53-86). NY: Allyn & Longman / Bacon.

Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/vtrr-2015-0007