Profession and Workplace Expectations of Social Workers: Implications for Social Worker Subjective Well-Being

Abstract

The expectations people have of social workers, and those that social workers hold of themselves, can negatively affect social worker's perceived well-being, via work stress and strain and other negative workplace experiences. This qualitative research presents findings that help to better understand what aspects of these expectations have the greatest impact on the well-being of a sample (n ¼ 19) of social workers with reported low levels of workplace and profession satisfaction. Our data support a conceptual framework of social worker's expectations that relate to outcomes of practice, social worker roles, the perceived functioning by other health-related professionals, conflict in direct practice with social worker identity and having to work in adverse situations, as all contributing to the wellbeing of social workers. Findings are discussed in relation to social work practice and the role and function of professional associations and educational programmes in addressing these issues that emerge in practice.

We are at Full Capacity”: Social care workers persisting through work-related stress in a new immigrant settlement context in the United States

“…Smith and Shields () tested this framework quantitatively with social service workers in Missouri and found that variety and creativity (motivation factors) and experiences with supervisor (workplace factors) were significantly associated to job satisfaction. Graham and Shier () further extended the literature by qualitatively elucidating the role of cognitive processes including meaning making or insight into the overall value of service to clients, in shaping the well‐being of social care providers in Canada.…”

La Construcción Subjetiva Que Sobre El Trabajo Realizan Profesionales Del Trabajo Social: Aproximaciones a Un Estado De La Cuestión

“…Uno de sus trabajos explora las percepciones que tienen trabajadores sociales sobre la proporción de bienestar que les ofrece su trabajo, encontrando que perciben bajo bienestar, notando con preocupación la ausencia de un rol claramente delimitado en sus espacios laborales (Graham and Shier, 2014).…”

Cognitive dissonance in social work - the experiences of social workers who facilitate transracial adoption plans for aboriginal children

“…Educational programs and professional development training that does not always reflect the realities of day-to-day work create further expectations within the minds of social workers around the way that they are supposed to practice (Graham & Shier, 2014). Blurred lines between their roles and the roles of other professionals (i.e.…”

“…For example, burnout can result from social workers having unrealistic expectations surrounding their jobs, such as believing that they will be a positive influence in the lives of the majority of their clients, that they will consistently be appreciated for the work they do, that they will be able to challenge bureaucracies and be responsive to their clients ' needs, and that they will have opportunities for career advancement and increased status (Gibbons et al , 2011 ;Graham & Shier, 2014). Conflict between family and work can also be a source of stress, with family-related issues impacting levels of stress at work and work-related issues affecting levels of stress at home (Kalliath et al , 2012).…”