PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON RESILIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

<doi>10.24250/jpe/1/2024/AC/</doi>

Abstract

Social work is a profession that addresses social problems in society and aims to promote changes that facilitate optimal frameworks for the development of disadvantaged categories and equally promote the healthy development of human relationships. Exercising the profession constituted a permanent challenge due to the professional's daily contact with adversity, in various forms: abandonment, poverty, disabilities, losses, inequalities, etc. We aim to explore the perception of social workers in different social services at community level with consideration of the difficulties of the profession and resilience as a core feature in client practice. 4 in-depth interviews were conducted and 80 social workers from special and primary services responded to a questionnaire on resilience indicators. The results confirm other specialized studies that emphasize that resilience is a specific trait of the social worker (Wolin, 2004; Benard, 1991; Grant, & Kinman, 2012) and address the inherent nature of the profession. Study participants identified several manifestations of resilience, or compartments of it, that enable them to remain or perform better in an environment marked by suffering. A positive self-concept and a strong sense of identity. openness to experience, sense of humor, etc. We conclude that social workers are consciously involved in this process of generating change for the better; however, signals could be observed indicating the need to care for and maintain a healthy organizational climate to prevent occupational risks such as burnout, compassion fatigue.