THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS EMPLOYED IN PSYCHIATRIC DEPARTMENTS AND FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR READINESS TO ENGAGE IN SUPERVISION

Rad prikazuje rezultate istraživanja provedenog na uzorku od 23 socijalnih radnika zaposlenih na odjelima psihijatrije u 5 bolnica na području Grada Zagreba. Cilj istraživanja je dobiti uvid u doživljaj vlastitog iskustva rada socijalnih radnika zaposlenih na odjelima psihijatrije te potrebu za supervizijom. Radi se o eksplorativnom kvalitativnom istraživanju. Za potrebe prikupljanja empirijske građe korišten je polustrukturirani intervju, a podaci su podvrgnuti tematskoj analizi. Rezultati pokazuju da svoju profesionalnu ulogu socijalni radnici zaposleni na odjelima psihijatrije opisuju kroz ulogu socijalnih radnika vezanu uz pacijente te u kontaktu s drugim stručnjacima. Kao izazove s kojima se susreću socijalni radnici navode izazove vezane uz djelokrug rada i iz ostvarenog kontakta s pacijentom. Čimbenici koje sudionici navode, a koji utječu na njihovu spremnost na uključivanje u superviziju, odnose se na percipiranu dobit od supervizije, organizacijski okvir supervizije, strukturu i obilježja supervizijske grupe, obilježja supervizora i organizacijske preduvjete. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na područja koja mogu dovesti do profesionalnog stresa (npr. nejasno određen djelokrug rada, položaj socijalnih radnika u timu i sl.) te daju smjernice o kojim čimbenicima treba voditi računa vezano za planiranje i organiziranje supervizije socijalnih radnika u zdravstvu.The paper presents the results of the research conducted on a sample of 23 social workers employed in psychiatric departments in 5 hospitals in the City of Zagreb. The aim of the research is to gain insight into the perception of own work experience of social workers employed in psychiatric departments as well as the need for supervision. It is about an explorative qualitative research study. For the purpose of collecting empirical material, a semi-structured interview was used while the data was subjected to a thematic framework analysis. The results show that the social workers employed in psychiatric departments describe their professional role through the role of social workers in relation to patients and in contact with other experts. Challenges encountered by social workers are challenges related to the scope of their work and to the contact they have with patients. The factors mentioned by participants, the ones that affect their readiness to engage in supervision, relate to the perceived benefit of the supervision, the organisational framework of supervision, the structure and characteristics of the supervisory group, the characteristics of the supervisor and the organisational preconditions. The results indicate the areas that can lead to professional stress (e.g. unclear scope of work, the position of social workers in team work, etc.) and provide guidance on which factors should be taken in mind in planning and organising supervision for medical social workers