Category Archives: Social care

Social work in Australia: virtual teams offer supervision

July 11, 2014   Carers, disability, Featured Article, internet, Older care, Social care

Technology offers an accessible and affordable way for rural and isolated social workers to connect, reflect and learn

Amanda Nickson

 
An old water-pumping windmill stands in front of an abandoned farmhouse in Gawler, South Australia. Photograph: www.corbis.com/Paul A. Souders

Social work practice in rural Australia faces high staff turnover, burnout and difficulties in recruitment and retention. A lack of supervision and professional development opportunities have been identified as contributing to difficulties.

My research describes the process of peer supervision in virtual teams in rural and remote Australia, based on a research trial over a 12-month period.

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How can social workers support unpaid carers?

July 9, 2014   Carers, Depression, disability, Featured Article, Social care

Social care professionals can help identify carers and link them up to support servicesSha

Timm Ranson with his son, Danny. ‘I always dread this job. I try and leave it as long as possible.’ Photograph: Timm Ranson/Guardian Witness

“Caring for someone you love is a real privilege fraught with sorrow,” said one contributor to our Guardian Witness project about unpaid caring. “And some self-pity, which is fought off relentlessly. For my wife and I as parents, it is a life sentence. We will be doing this until the day we die.”

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NHS chief announces plan to give patients cash to fund their own care

July 8, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Social care

Simon Stevens says giving patients financial control will force health and social care systems to provide better services

The scheme will give vulnerable patients individual pots of money to spend as they see fit on services such as carers or physiotherapy – GP and hospital care would still be free. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Billions of pounds of health service and town hall budgets are to be handed over to the most vulnerable patients to purchase health and social care services in the community, in a dramatic change of policy being unveiled by the NHS‘s new boss.

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