Evaluating Social Work Benefits and Risks through In-Depth Interviews with Social Workers of Inte-grated Center for Social Services

Occupation: Head of the Department of Sociology of Social Work
Affiliation: Saratov National Research State University
Address: Russian Federation, Saratov

Svetlana V. Klimova

Occupation: Lecturer
Affiliation: Saratov Regional Basic Medical College
Address: Russian Federation, Saratov

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 11

Pages

107-117

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of social work benefits and risks in the Integrated Center for Social Services. It is based on the material of “internal” criticism. The research features are as follows: how social workers determine meaning of their activities; what are the motives for joining profession; how they determine the situation of interacting with clients, what are their expectations regarding the motives and actions of clients; which are established practices of relationships/interactions and their purely practical reasons. The analysis of in-depth interviews with social workers of the Integrated Center for Social Services allowed identifying substantial difficulties, vulnerabilities and advantages of this job. A study of mechanics of social workers’ behavior (ways to achieve credibility of clients, reasons for losing it) reveals the nature of their interaction with clients, as well as their logic of “circumventing” regulatory requirements and overcoming the boundaries of their own habits by expanding the range of orientating values in search for alternative solutions of everyday problems of customers life. In their professional work social workers tend to show characterological and/or professionally instilled moral orientation, rather than a self-seeking desire for personal advantages. Otherwise, inevitably the situation arises, which might be described as “a round peg in a square hole”. The close interdependence of such practices of social workers and their clients often leads to development of common culture in joint participation. It is especially important for older people who are cut off from any stable primary ties. According to the respondents, the profession of a social worker has a positive rating of “developed moral feeling”, but significantly lags behind in other indicators. It is still mainly branded as mechanical activity.

Keywords

social work, social services, sources of motivation, care and maintenance practices, professional status, culture of joint participation

Received

03.05.2020

Publication date

22.12.2020

Number of characters

35428

Cite

GOST	Elutina M., Klimova S. Evaluating Social Work Benefits and Risks through In-Depth Interviews with Social Workers of Inte-grated Center for Social Services // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2020. – Issue 11 C. 107-117 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250009560-9-1-en (circulation date: 23.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009560-9
MLA	Elutina, Marina E, Klimova, Svetlana V "Evaluating Social Work Benefits and Risks through In-Depth Interviews with Social Workers of Inte-grated Center for Social Services." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 11 (2020):107-117. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009560-9
APA	Elutina M., Klimova S. (2020). Evaluating Social Work Benefits and Risks through In-Depth Interviews with Social Workers of Inte-grated Center for Social Services. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (11), pp.107-117 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009560-9

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