Self-perceived competence and willingness to ask about intimate partner violence among Swedish social workers

Abstract

In this article we explore the extent to which Swedish social workers encounter IPV, as well as their readiness to handle these cases. The study draws from data gathered in an online survey answered by 787 caseworkers within the personal social services, exploring the rate of asking clients about intimate partner violence, access to IPV training, level of self-rated competence, and amount and frequency of IPV-cases in the caseload. Our findings do on the one hand confirm that IPV is a widespread problem that a large proportion of social workers come across on a regular basis, and on the other show that substantial parts of Swedish social workers consider themselves to be rather ill-equipped at handling cases of IPV. Results from multiple regression analyses show that training, high self-perceived competence and administrative procedures each tend to increase the likeliness of social workers regularly asking clients about IPV. Social service organisations striving to increase their ability to detect and support victims of IPV are thus likely to benefit by raising the level of staff competence as well as implementing administrative procedures throughout the organisation.

A matter of choice—professionals’ views on the incorporation of practical work with intimate partner violence into Swedish personal social services

“…The sampling frame consisted of all Swedish municipalities (n=290), except the three largest cities (Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo), which are divided into city districts. As the present data is part of a larger research project that consists of both qualitative and quantitative data sets (for further studies conducted as part of this project, see Lundberg, 2017;Lundberg & Bergmark, 2018), such divisions into cities districts renders it impossible to gather information that is valid for the municipality as a whole.…”

“…Hence, there is an obvious risk that social problems such as IPV, which are not directly related to any of these core domains, fall into an organisational vacuum (cf. Ekström, 2018;Lundberg, 2018 (Lundberg & Bergmark, 2018).…”

Daring to ask about violence? A critical examination of social services’ policies on asking about gender-based violence

“…Disclosing ongoing violence to professionals is not always regarded as helpful, especially when professionals have judgemental attitudes and when disclosing is not followed by providing the support that women require (Edin et al, 2010). Whether social workers ask or not, and how, varies between regions, services and individual professionals in Sweden (Lundberg, 2018;Lundberg and Bergmark, 2018;NBHW, 2019).…”

“…The identification of GBV through asking is becoming increasingly promoted, both in Sweden and elsewhere (García-Moreno et al, 2013;Sweet, 2014;Lundberg, 2018;Lundberg and Bergmark, 2018); for example, several instruments and guidelines have been developed in countries such as Spain, Sweden, the UK, Australia or the US, to facilitate asking in different public services in more or less structured ways. While research on barriers to the implementation of such recommendations exists (especially within the healthcare sector), research focusing on the social services and critically analysing the assumptions and effects of policies that promote 'daring to ask' about GBV is lacking.…”