British Journal of Social Work - current issue

Editorial

Rafferty, J., Steyaert, J. — 2009-06-03

A Tale of Two CAFs: The Impact of the Electronic Common Assessment Framework

Pithouse, A., Hall, C., Peckover, S., White, S. — 2009-06-03

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is an electronic system for assessing children and sharing information between child welfare professionals, which is at various stages of pilot and implementation in England and Wales. Research by the authors in England (Peckover et al., 2008a, 2008b; White et al., 2008) and in Wales (Pithouse et al., 2004; Pithouse, 2006) informs this paper in order to compare CAF as implicating a number of policy ‘goods’, with CAF as a set of worker and organizational accomplishments.¹ Our interest here is that in the course of implementation, policy aims have become submerged in day-to-day practice and that, analytically, there are differences between the ‘CAF of policy’ and the ‘CAF of practice’; in brief, there are, conceptually, two CAFs, the formal construct of policy and the applied CAF as constructed by multiple organizations across Wales and England, wherein there is no singular model. Indeed, we demonstrate that there are all manner of common assessment designs operating in the world of practice. Rather than rehearsing our research findings (the above sources offer an abundance), we use this opportunity to develop and synthesize our arguments about key assumptions and conceptual properties that underpin the CAF of policy and practice and which may have wider provenance in respect of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in child welfare.

An Exemplary Scheme? An Evaluation of the Integrated Children's System

2009-06-03

We outline selected central results from a formative evaluation of four pilot sites in England and Wales of the Integrated Children's System (ICS) – one part of the UK's e-Government strategy. We concentrate on the aspiration of the ICS towards ‘integration’ and ‘systematization’ of services within children's services, at local and national levels. We look in turn at, the use of the ICS as a foundation for aggregate statistical profiles; the experience and views of the social workers; and the implications of ICS for social work practice as exemplified in social workers' use of time. The evidence suggests substantial problems in accomplishing government policy aspirations in each of these areas. We review the likely reasons for these problems, and recommend a review of the ICS on the grounds that the difficulties are inherent rather than transitory, and have arisen at least in part from uncertainty as to whether the ICS is fit for purpose. The authors seek to promote the open and thoughtful debate that a major innovation of this nature requires.

Client Satisfaction and Outcome Comparisons of Online and Face-to-Face Counselling Methods

Murphy, L., Parnass, P., Mitchell, D. L., Hallett, R., Cayley, P., Seagram, S. — 2009-06-03

This article compares Global Assessment of Function (GAF) and Client Satisfaction Survey scores for clients receiving either face-to-face or online counselling. Clients were assessed by phone and then assigned to one of the two modalities. Analyses of variance were conducted with = 0.05, to examine differences between counselling modalities. No significant differences were found for degree of change in GAF between assessment and closing between the two modalities. Some differences were found in Client Satisfaction Scores. Implications for screening and social work practice are discussed.

Ageing and Technology: A Review of the Research Literature

Blaschke, C. M., Freddolino, P. P., Mullen, E. E. — 2009-06-03

While the ageing of the population around the world raises serious concerns about social security, pensions, long-term care, health care and family systems, digital-age tools have been proposed as possible resources to improve outcomes. Considerable literature has appeared suggesting that Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden. The goal of this review is to separate the evidence base for these claims from simple optimism about the ultimate value of technology-based tools. This is accomplished through an extensive examination of the empirical research literature in the field of ATs and ICTs as they relate to older adults and ageing populations. In this review, we describe how these technologies are being utilized by older adults and barriers to their use, and we identify what is known—based on scientific studies—about the utility and effectiveness of the technologies. Appropriate social work practice in the digital age requires knowing what tools are available and their documented effectiveness and limitations. This review will thus consider the implications of current research knowledge for social work practice, education and research.

The Informatization of Welfare: Older People and the Role of Digital Services

Hardey, M., Loader, B. — 2009-06-03

The informatisation of health and social care is a central element of the modernisation of welfare. This article seeks to understand how older people have been conceptualised during the complex process of informatisation. To do this an ideal type typology is used as a heuristic and way of engaging with the complexities of informatisation and policy changes. The typology gives rise to four models that are used to highlight the dilemmas and opportunities afford by different paths to the informatisation of health and care services. It is suggested that while informatisation may have facilitated the integration of services it has been accompanied by a marginalisation of older people as users. However, it is argued that the recent transition of the Web from version one (or Web 1.0) to a significant new version (or Web 2.0) and the consequent rise of user generated information may transform the role of the user in such systems.

Attitudes of Family and Professional Care-Givers towards the Use of GPS for Tracking Patients with Dementia: An Exploratory Study

Landau, R., Werner, S., Auslander, G. K., Shoval, N., Heinik, J. — 2009-06-03

This study examined the attitudes of family and professional care-givers towards the use of advanced electronic tracking such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) for elderly people with dementia. The study revealed four principal findings. First, care-givers' views ranged from feeling obligated to use the tracking device for the sake of patients' safety through support of the use of the device for the sake of the care-givers' peace of mind and restricted support, to objection to the use of the device and respect for a person's autonomy. Second, family care-givers showed higher support for the use of GPS and RFID both for their own peace of mind and for the safety of the elder in their care. Professionals attached higher value to respect for a person's autonomy and restricted support for using GPS and RFID. Third, both family and professional care-givers agreed that the decision on tracking dementia patients should be an intra-family issue. Fourth, family care-givers attached more importance to the tracking device's characteristics and design, thus emphasizing that the tracking device must be considered by them as ‘user-friendly’. The implications of the results for social work are also discussed.

Knowledge Management in Social Work: Types and Processes of Knowledge Sharing in Social Service Organizations

Leung, Z. C. S. — 2009-06-03

Based on a conceptual framework of knowledge management (KM) in social work developed in an earlier paper (Leung, 2007), the author conducted a single-case study of a social service organization practising KM in Hong Kong. This article provides a follow-up discussion of the framework. Findings of the study are used to extend the framework so that it can be applied more comprehensively to further research on KM in the profession.

Practitioner Networks: Professional Learning in the Twenty-First Century

LaMendola, W., Ballantyne, N., Daly, E. — 2009-06-03

This article reports on a study of a networked learning approach among remote social work practitioners in a large, rural local authority. The intervention was a blended approach that combined facilitation, face-to-face meetings, online communications and access to e-library resources. The intervention was focused on discussions of case management issues for three fictional cases. A method of text analysis used in community of enquiry research was implemented to examine participant discourse. Findings indicate that practitioners developed a community of enquiry that privileged face-to-face communication. Online resources were primarily used as supplementary communication. Practitioners engaged with the community of enquiry approach and used explicit knowledge to inform discussions of case planning.

The Role of Virtual Communities of Practice in Supporting Collaborative Learning among Social Workers

Cook-Craig, P. G., Sabah, Y. — 2009-06-03

The advent of technology has been instrumental in creating access for social workers to research on evidence-based interventions. However, for many social problems there remains a gap in the availability of proven evidence-based strategies (Rosen et al., 1999). For social workers facing problems for which there is a lack of research evidence, the solution is to develop practice innovations that can be evaluated (Sabah and Cook-Craig, 2008a, b). Virtual communities of practice (VCoP's) are a promising venue for housing reviews of research evidence and engaging social workers to share tacit knowledge and invent practice innovations.

During the past two years, the Israeli Ministry of Social Affairs has developed eighteen VCoP's social work practitioners. Those communities are designed to enable practitioners to review and use multiple sources of professional relevant knowledge in user-friendly repositories and to facilitate a collaborative inter-organizational learning and innovativeness.

This exploratory study reviews evaluation data collected on the VCoP's. It includes quantitative analysis of secondary data and survey data on usage patterns of VCoP members. Findings related VCoP usage, the impact that organizational endorsement of organizational learning has on worker involvement in the community, and the development of weak professional ties between members were evaluated.

Social Work and the Changing Face of the Digital Divide

Steyaert, J., Gould, N. — 2009-06-03

In this article, the concept of digital divide and its relation to social exclusion is analysed. After describing the several facets of the digital divide, the question is asked whether the divide is widening or narrowing? The definition of digital divide is reconsidered and the article argues that access to the technology alone is but a very rudimentary indicator of actually making use of digital opportunities. This is expanded in the section on risks arising from digital exclusion. Finally, implications of this approach of the digital divide for social work and social care are considered.

Tackling the Digital Divide

Wong, Y. C., Fung, J. Y. C., Law, C. K., Lam, J. C. Y., Lee, V. W. P. — 2009-06-03

The emergence of an information society has created new social exclusions and aggravated old ones by creating digital exclusion. Many countries have explicit policies about turning themselves into the leaders of such transformations or about catching up with the changes made in other countries. Nevertheless, little is known about their efforts to bridge the gap between the digital ‘haves’ and the digital ‘have-nots’. Governments in East Asia are good examples of those who work on improving their society's digital capabilities. They top most of the related international comparison tables. It is, however, not clear what they have done to bridge the new digital exclusion gap or what the effects of such efforts have been. This paper reviews the digital inclusion strategies put in place by several East Asian countries and discusses a framework for tackling the digital divide, and examines pertinent policies, using Hong Kong as an example. This paper argues that while improvement in information communication technology (ICT) accessibility and knowledge is important, the promotion of community-based ICT user networks for certain disadvantaged groups is crucial to enhance their participation in the information society.

Healing from the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Journey for Women, Karen A. Duncan, Westport, CT, Praeger, 2008, pp. xiv + 244, ISBN 978 0 313 36321 4 (pbk), {pound}11.95 * Moving on after Childhood Sexual Abuse: Understanding the Effects and Preparing for Therapy, Jonathan Willows, London, Routledge, 2009, pp. vi + 191, ISBN 978 0 415 42483 7 (pbk), {pound}12.99

Lister, P. G. — 2009-06-03

Connecting with Children: Developing Working Relationships Pam Foley and Stephen Leverett (eds), Bristol, Policy Press, 2008, pp. 306, ISBN 9781847420589 (pbk), {pound}19.99

Brown, K. — 2009-06-03

The Value Base of Social Work and Social Care: An Active Learning Handbook, Adam Barnard, Nigel Horner and Jim Wild (eds), Maidenhead, Open University Press, 2008, pp. xv + 183, ISBN 978-0-335-22214-8 (pbk), {pound}19.99

Moss, B. — 2009-06-03

Social Care Practice in Context Malcolm Payne, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, pp. v + 209, ISBN 9780230521810, {pound}18.99

Scourfield, P. — 2009-06-03

Public Services Inspection in the UK Howard Davies and Steve Martin (eds), London, Jessica Kingsley, 2008, pp. 160, ISBN 978-1-84310-527-5, {pound}18.99

Carey, M. — 2009-06-03

Dementia and Well-Being: Possibilities and Challenges, Ailsa Cook, Edinburgh, Dunedin Academic Press, 2008, pp. xi + 90, ISBN 9781903765760 (pbk), {pound}13.50

Young, C. — 2009-06-03

Anti-Oppressive Ethics and Values in Social Work, Derek Clifford and Beverley Burke, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, pp. vi + 234, ISBN 978 1 4039 05567 (pbk), {pound}20.99

Morton, J. — 2009-06-03

The Social Worker's Guide to Children and Families Law, Lynn Davies, London, Jessica Kingsley, 2009, pp. 304, ISBN 9781843106531 (pbk), {pound}19.99

Holt, K. — 2009-06-03

Books Received

2009-06-03