Community social workers’ perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has required public social services departments to cope with an unexpected and unprecedented emergency situation. As community social workers work on the macrolevel and deal with entire communities in emergency situations, the present study investigated the challenges they face as well as the factors that promoted they are coping during the “age of COVID.” Drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 managers of community social work departments in Israel, findings highlighted three main themes: (a) organizational politics, which impeded community social workers’ work; (b) the mobilization of both professional community social work staff as well as civilians; and (c) the perception of the crisis as an opportunity. Findings pointed to the challenges, promotive factors, and perceptions of community social workers in public social services departments who have had to cope with the pandemic. We discuss these findings in light of the theoretical perspectives of “the politics of pandemic” pandemic, social support, and resilience. Implications for community practice are outlined.

“No matter what, I will not give up”: Community practice on the front lines of COVID-19.

“…In addition, as part of the municipalities’ process of emergency assessments, we recommend that stakeholders would map the unique qualities and abilities of community social workers, so as other health care workers, and plan the way they can be expressed in emergency times, to minimize underutilization in real time. At the same time, the present study, in line with our previous findings (Itzhaki-Braun, 2021b), suggests that managers of community social work departments (i.e., the direct managers of the participants) should be more aware of the chasm between their own experience and the frontline workers’ experience. Whereas the managers felt they received recognition and appreciation, the frontline workers felt that they lack support and were not able to fulfill their professional mission.…”

Let's talk about our feelings: Emotional labour of community practice in times of pandemic

“…She argues that the concept focuses “on the urgent needs of those stricken by COVID‐19 and [how workers] must try to empathise with the victims of it—bridging the differences between self and victim” (Stix, 2020). As we know from recent research, the spread of the virus has disproportionately affected marginalised communities, exacerbating the risks and dangers they face on a daily basis (Itzhaki‐Braun, 2021; Krumer‐Nevo & Refaeli, 2021). It is therefore possible that community social workers during the pandemic recognised their communities' suffering and did not view members simply as their clients.…”

“…Community practice has been regarded as a macro-level intervention that helps differently positioned people organise, plan and act for change in their environment (Banks & Butcher, 2013). From the earliest days of the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected all populations but disproportionately marginalised communities, community practice had assumed a critical role on the front lines of the human services' response to the pandemic (Itzhaki-Braun, 2021). While scholars have devoted growing attention to community practice over the past few years (including during times of crisis and emergency), little is known about the emotions of community practitioners and how they deal with them in order to do their job well.…”

Untitled

“…It further explains that social workers need to abide by the ethical standards proposed by their agencies, which complicates the process of resolving ethical dilemmas for many clinicians during the pandemic. In fact, a study conducted in Israel explores this phenomenon, explaining that social workers struggle to balance personal, professional, and organizational pressures that continue to emerge during these challenging times (Itzhaki-Braun, 2021).…”