Social Work in Hospital - Used Methods and Techniques

The thesis deals with the issue of social work in a hospital. Social work in health care is a sphere where health care is combined with social care and is an inseparable part of therapeutic and nursing process. The aim was to map the methods and techniques of social work used in the České Budějovice Hospital. Three research questions were set: 1. What methods and techniques does a social worker apply to work with a patient? 2. What social help is most frequently used by patients in hospital? 3. Are patients informed on social care possibilities after discharge from hospital? Quantitative research, questioning method, the technique of semi structured interview was performed to reach the goals of the thesis. The research was conducted from March to June 2012. The practical research was performed in direct cooperation with social workers from the České Budějovice Hospital and with clients that had been discharged to home environment after being hospitalized in the České Budějovice Hospital and used social services after discharge. The research has shown that social workers apply the most suitable methods to the social work process and use the most modern procedures in solving unfavourable social situation, including the approach to a client. Clients have the possibility to get in touch with a social worker in hospital and to use her assistance in mitigation or elimination of negative social impacts of illness