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23 Feb 2009 17:11:13
Researchers at the University of Bedfordshire found more than half of newly-qualified social workers feel inadequately prepared to deal with clients suffering drug and alcohol issues, in a project funded by the Home Office.
Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarah Galvani and Director of the Child and Family Welfare Research Unit Dr Donald Forrester have published their report ‘What works in training social workers about drug and alcohol use? A survey of student learning and readiness to practice.’ They have recommended the Government ensures all social workers are trained to deal with substance misuse.
Dr Galvani said: “We surveyed nearly 250 newly qualified social workers across the country and found many of the clients they come into contact with experience difficulties related to drug or alcohol use. They feel poorly prepared for working with these substance use issues and more training is needed to address this serious gap in social work education.
"What stood out was the anger and frustration felt by many newly qualified social workers because of the lack of input on alcohol and drug issues in their social work training. As a result, they reported feeling unprepared for practice, particularly those who worked within child protection where substance use and domestic violence are frequently cited as key risk factors, as recent serious case reviews have highlighted.
“The report is particularly timely as it coincides with the Government’s current review of social work practice and education.
“We found it would not require a great deal of input for social workers to feel adequately prepared. On average those who estimated that they had three or more days of training rated themselves as ready to practice with drug or alcohol use.”
The researchers have urged the Government to give serious consideration to how to support and encourage social work education at qualifying and post-qualifying levels to address substance misuse issues, if the Department of Health guidelines are to be met.
They recommend the importance of quality placements in substance use settings as a learning experience for social work students and for this to be encouraged within local and regional practice partnerships, as well as resources being available to support social work programmes seeking to improve their input on alcohol and drugs.
For further information about The Institute for Applied Social Research at the University of Bedfordshire visit www.beds.ac.uk/research/iasr
Latest news» 2009» February» Researchers call for mandatory training in substance misuse for social workers
