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

Abstract

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.

Professional Identity Level of Social Pedagogy Students in the Context of Career Decisions

“…But our research results showed that this factor is not so important: students are not afraid of hard work and, on the contrary, working with children and daily challenges inspire them to choose this career. According to Jezerskytė & Žydžiūnaitė (2015), social pedagogues must realize themselves not only as professionals, but also as human beings who must find the ways to work with the diversity of clients. This means that the future social pedagogues must at first realize themselves as personalities.…”

“…Žydžiūnaitė & Crisafulli (2011Žydžiūnaitė & Crisafulli ( , 2012 were investigating the identity of the university students and the factors of the professional identity and the professional links with the curriculum. The recent research by Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/10/18 4:29 AM Jezerskytė & Žydžiūnaitė (2015) revealed the opinion of social educators about their professional responsibility while working with the clients. The researchers pointed out that social pedagogues, as being responsible professionals must realize themselves not only as professionals, but also as human beings who must find ways to connect with the diversity of clients.…”

“…The professional activities of social pedagogues are based on their permanent, continuous interactions with their clients (Augustinienė & Stanišauskienė, 2012). These interactions are related to different target groups, but the component of professional responsibility is manifested in activities of specialists (Jezerskytė & Žydžiūnaitė, 2015).…”