Exploring the Impact of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Study in England, UK

Abstract

Summary The COVID-19 pandemic signalled a radical shift in health and social care services globally. In UK, many of the people with existing social care needs were identified as ‘clinically vulnerable’ to COVID-19. Those at greatest risk were encouraged to adhere to additional public health measures that inadvertently exacerbated social disadvantages. Social workers were challenged to ‘dig deep’ to continue to provide services as usual. However, problems implementing new ways of working were reported but not examined in-depth through research. Our study explored experiences and perceptions of social workers responding to the first wave (April–July 2020) of COVID-19, in England, UK. Interviews with thirteen social workers, all working in the West Midlands region, were conducted via telephone or online video. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. We use ‘managing uncertainty’ as a central concept underpinning the four themes identified after analysis: (1) providing social care at a physical distance, (2) negotiating home/work boundaries, (3) managing emerging risks and (4) long-term implications for social work. We discuss our findings in the context of resilience and organisational adaptation. Social workers in our study demonstrated resilience in action and rapid adaptation to new practices, but equally expressed concern about short-term efficiencies being prioritised over individual service user needs.

Social care professionals’ perceived barriers to implementing attachment and trauma-informed care training in their practice

“…Additionally, another barrier was a lack of within-team connection. This can be viewed within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been found to have “ contributed to growing feelings of isolation amongst social workers ” (Kingstone et al, 2021, p. 9). Professionals called for greater encouragement of teamwork, collective care and ensuring enough support is available for them.…”

O impacto da COVID-19 em profissionais de serviço social portugueses e brasileiros: Um estudo exploratório

“…Devido aos requisitos de distanciamento social da pandemia, os assistentes sociais passaram por mudanças transformadoras na sua prática, com a rápida aceitação de tecnologias virtuais (Hakak et al, 2022;Kingstone et al, 2022;Mishna et al, 2021;Okafor & Walla, 2021;Pascoe, 2022).…”

“…Também Kingstone et al (2022Kingstone et al ( , p. 2050, numa pesquisa com assistentes sociais, mencionaram: "many feared missing important factor cues due to their partial view of a servisse user's reality". Numa outra pesquisa, os assistentes sociais inquiridos manifestaram a sua preocupação com o facto de a pandemia ter diminuído a qualidade da relação com os beneficiários da ação social, ameaçando os valores e a ética do serviço social, que se baseia no relacionamento (Pascoe, 2022).…”

“…Em ambos os grupos dos assistentes sociais (portugueses e brasileiros) surgiu o tema da crise económica relacionado com verbalização de que houve um aumento das desigualdades sociais, económicas e problemas mentais da população e agravamento dos problemas sociais. Estas preocupações foram também partilhadas pelos assistentes sociais do Reino Unido: "Participants shared concerns about potential financial impacts of COVID-19, these concerns were often based on past experience in times of austerity and described with reference to implications for vulnerable members of society" (Kingstone et al, 2022(Kingstone et al, , p. 2055. Eis algumas partilhas dos assistentes sociais por nós inquiridos:…”

“…É interessante que também o estudo de Kingstone et al (2022) necessitou também de reorganizar a sua atuação, se adaptar às novas exigências profissionais e construir estratégias de intervenção profissional tendo em vista os impactos da pandemia nos sujeitos com o qual atuam. Neste contexto grande incerteza e de elevado risco, como é uma pandemia, os assistentes sociais foram desafiados a prestarem a sua prática profissional, enquanto serviço essencial.…”