The Role of Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Social Work Practice

The understanding and promotion of sexual and reproductive rights are essential in the social work profession, not only to improve the health status of affected populations but to advocate effectively for social justice and to respond to globalized realities. This article highlights the relevance of sexual and reproductive rights in the philosophical foundation and practice of social work, emphasizes the impact of reproductive health and rights on women's lives, and proposes a social work agenda that will embrace and promote sexual and reproductive rights. It uses policy statements from the International Federation of Social Workers as well as a human rights framework focused on sexual and reproductive rights that stems from the global feminist movement.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Searching for a Social Work Language of Human Rights : Perspectives of Social Workers in an Integrated Mental Health Service

Human rights are described as central to the social work profession. However, whilst principles of human rights are generally accepted as fundamental to social work, their application in specific practice settings is far more complex and the perspectives of social workers themselves are largely absent in the literature. This research explored the perspectives of nine social workers in integrated mental health teams in a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in the north of England. Participants took part in semi-structured face-to-face interviews investigating the role of social workers in enacting rights-based social work in integrated mental health services, the issues they face and aspects of good practice. Participants identified rights-based approaches as inherent in their practice but lacked an adequate language to describe this work and confidence in using specific legislation. All described a lack of available training (post-qualification) and support, and the impact of a lack of both time and resources, in enacting rights-based work. The research suggests a need for further training in human rights, increased support for social workers in enacting rights-based work, and for a language of human rights to be more effectively embedded in organisations

Closing the gap on nurse retention: a scoping review of implications for undergraduate education

Objectives: Newly qualified nurses leave the profession at a higher rate than any other year of experience. Undergraduate education influences nurse retention following qualification. However, it is unclear if strategies to overcome the common factors associated with intent to leave once qualified are included within undergraduate programmes. A scoping review was conducted to explore the literature within nursing as well as social work undergraduate education to obtain viewpoints from an allied profession with similar staff retention concerns. Design and data sources: Following PRISMA extension guidelines for a scoping review, the research question used to explore the literature was: What is the impact of undergraduate nurse and social work education on retention when newly qualified? Databases searched were BNI, CINAHL complete, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Medline Complete, Academic Search Complete and ERIC. Review method: One author undertook a comprehensive electronic and hand search of relevant research articles. These were then discussed with two authors for inclusion within the review and data extracted for thematic analysis. Results: Limited through search inclusion and quality of research, ten research papers met the criteria for this review. Main themes identified were resilience and commitment, perceived knowledge and confidence, preparation for transition and expectation of supervision. Conclusion: The literature presents the need to strengthen resilience-building within undergraduate education in the transition to newly qualified practitioner, support to cope with the emotional and physical impact of professional practice as well as developing confidence in one’s skills, guidance for career progression, promotion of authentic leadership in work-place mentors and commitment of both the University and health or social organisation to support staff to be healthy and feel valued

Negotiating personal engagement and professional accountability: professional wisdom and ethics work

This article examines the relationship between personal engagement and professional accountability in social work—considering whether the increasing focus on professional accountability in the context of the new public management, public austerity and market-based systems of welfare is incompatible with the personal engagement of social workers with service users and with their work. After undertaking a conceptual analysis of the terms, it is argued that both personal engagement and professional accountability are essential features of social work. Indeed, it is this negotiation of the creative tension between them that constitutes the subject matter and work of professional ethics. This requires a capacity and disposition for good judgement based in professional wisdom and a process of practical reasoning or ‘ethics work’ to find the right balance between closeness and distance, passion and rationality, empathic relationships and measurable social outcomes. It also requires a space for the exercise of professional wisdom