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• A kritikai pedagógia és a szociális munka kapcsolata: pedagógia a szociális munkában szakemberek nézőpontjain keresztül

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  122

  This paper is trying to enlighten the interrelations between pedagogy and social work practice through lenses of professionals and by analysing similar courses of development and professionalization of these two disciplines. My question in this small research basically was how social workers do and educators think about similarities and differences of the two disciplines in practice and in theory as well. Do social workers identify pedagogical situations, which include a process of learning in their social work praxis? If they identify situations when they are participants in a learning process with the service users do they apply educating methods and techniques? Do social workers apply pedagogical methods and skills in their praxis consciously?
  From my point of view the process of empowerment is also a learning process of ourselves and our environment therefore I think social workers would need to facilitate these learning situations to make empowerment happen thus I also think they might need to know of different theories of learning, importance of feedbacks, terms of educational psychology, different learning styles. Based on these thoughts it occurred to me to examine what professionals think about the connection between pedagogy and social work? I was also curious of if social workers can apply a perspective on their professional practise that includes learning situations and educational work as well? Or do they perceive educational work’s and social work’s theories and practises really differently?
  In my research I have done a focal group interview with social workers and educators where we used different approaches on cases from social work practise and try to identify learning situations. In this paper I am using the person-centered approaches of pedagogy and the theory of critical education because I think that is where an overlapping can be found between the objectives of reform education theories and social work.

• A magyarországi szociálismunka-kutatások néhány kontextusban

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  524

  In their study authors are seeking answer to the question whether social work research in Hungary can be characterised by scientifical and/or practical orientation and accordingly what its role in is maintaining the gap in the profession between theory and practice. The paper examines Hungarian social work research in a quasi-systematic review, for which theoretical backgrounds are views regarding social work practice research and social work knowledges, explored in previous papers of the same authors. The empirical base of the review is an analysis of the essays published in the two-volume collection ’Tudományos gondolkodás és kutatás szerepe a szociális munkában’ (translate as ’Role of scientifical thinking and research in social work’) being an adequate representation of recent Hungarian research on social work.  The review indicates that Hungarian research on social work can be placed on a continuum ranging from theoretical to practical approach, although research involving practitioner-researchers, or examining and developing the practical knowledge are not typical features of it.

• A szociális munkás és a hatalom – válasz Krémer Balázs cikkére

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  265

  The article responds to Balázs Krémer's article "From the Social Worker of Power to the Power of Social Work - Discussion Paper on the Crisis of Social Work" and the related online professional debate. In my article, I summarize my views on the historical and social embeddedness of social work in Hungary, including the apparent contrast between social policy and person-oriented social work, the contrast between improvisational and standardized social work, the phenomenon of client management, and the empowerment to interpret the social profession.

• A szélsőjobboldal befolyása a németországi szociális munkára: Szisztematikus támadások és napi eltolódások

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  155

  Exploratory studies in two German federal states (NRW 2019, MV 2020-21) have examined the question of whether and how the far right has an impact on social work. After an introduction to the growing influence of the far right across Europe (1) and its relationship to social work (2), a brief outline of the regional context (3) and the methodological approach of the two studies (4) are described. After a presentation of the overall results (5) and a more detailed description of the central categories (6), the summary of the impact of influences on social work (7) and the implications for social work are discussed (8).

  The results show that the influences are present across all fields of social work and all regions of both federal states examined in Germany. The far right's own social offers instrumentalise charitable activities for political messages and organised educational offers within closed scenes exist with a high degree of continuity. Attempts to exert external influence, especially by political actors, have increased and in some cases have taken on a drastic character, even reaching the stage of mass threats and physical attacks. Finally, the findings also point to shifts within professional social work. These are reflected in undemocratic and inhumane practices as well as specific exclusions. The findings suggest that it is necessary to make the far right's influences visible and to formulate a common institutionalised response within the profession that is effective in countering these attacks.

• Trends in social work in the 21st century

  Walter Lorenz

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  2

  This historical and contemporary overview of key developments in social work’s professionalisation demonstrates its intricate enmeshment with political framework conditions. The current scenario is characterised by stark polarisations as evidenced by the seemingly insurmountable dilemmas over how to overcome wars, epidemics and the economic and climate crises. These polarisations indicate a systematic erosion of the social dimension of societies largely through neoliberal politics which pose a central challenge to social work and its professional social mandate. The experience of social workers in confronting ambiguity and dealing dialectically with the polarising tendencies of modernity in their position as an “in-between profession” therefore offers transformative possibilities for dealing with current global dilemmas through the affirmation of core social work competences, which is illustrated with examples.

• A Szociális Munka Énhatékonyság Skála magyar változatának reliabilitás vizsgálata

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  116

  In our study, we present the development of the Hungarian version of the Social Work Self-Efficacy Scale, the validation process of the Hungarian instrument, and the most important results of empirical data collection on the validity of the scale, mainly based on reliability studies. The scale is designed to measure the self-efficacy level of social worker students. Our research has convincingly demonstrated that the Hungarian version of the scale is valid, works well, and is suitable for use in domestic research.

• A nincstelenség konceptualizálása: elméleti megközelítés és gyakorlati relevancia

  Zsolt Temesváry

  Sabrina Roduit

  Matthias Drilling

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  226

  Jelen tanulmány a nincstelenség (destitution)2 újszerű és kifejező társadalomelméleti fogalmát vizsgálja. A nincstelenség tágabb koncepciója alkalmas az esszenciális szegénység és a szélsőséges társadalmi kirekesztés ábrázolására. A nincstelenség újszerű társadalomtudományi megközelítése kihívást jelent a korábbi neoliberális, jövedelem-alapú szegénység vizsgálatokkal szemben, mivel a szegénységet a lakáspiac, a foglalkoztatás, a családi kapcsolatok és az egészség terén megjelenő deprivációk többrétegű kapcsolatrendszerén keresztül mutatja be és nem csupán a materiális tényezőkre összpontosít. Noha a nincstelenség az egyén szintjén megjelenő biológiai és pszichológiai deprivációk mentén is tanulmányozható, írásunk elsősorban a fogalom strukturális, szociálpolitikai dimenziójával foglalkozik és mindenekelőtt két területre összpontosít: a hajléktalan személyek és a papírok nélküli migránsok szociális jogaira és jogosultságaira. A nincstelenség fogalma számos szociológiai, filozófiai, közgazdaságtani és politikai tényezőt foglal magában. Jelen írásunkban a szociális munka és a szociálpolitika elmélete és gyakorlata mentén vizsgáljuk a jelenséget.

• Az Észak-alföldi régió szociális szövetkezeteinek működési sajátosságai

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  101

  In my study I attempted to give a thorough picture of the terminology of social economy, of the evolution of cooperatives in Hungary and of the current situation of social cooperatives both on a national and international level. I focused on the underlying causes of the success or failures of cooperatives. The topic continues to gain importance in the ever more intense economic competition of the present, which in turn results in rapid changes in social inequalities. Intense competition on the market causes increasingly rapid appearances of ever growing numbers of the disadvantaged who no longer possess the resources to break into the primary labour markets. Social cooperatives can be a powerful means to combat these inequalities and to support the integration of their members into the labour market and into wider society. My study aims to analyse the situation of social cooperatives registered in the Northern Great Plain Region of Hungary. I used national databases to focus on and analyse the social cooperatives of the region. My goal was to present the advantages and disadvantages of social cooperatives. To date, I have interviewed the heads of 33 social cooperatives. I processed the findings of my interviews through thematic analysis. I found that considering the low membership of the few available cooperatives within the region the above method would prove the most viable. As part of my work I also aimed to investigate the state of the infrastructure, as well as the leadership, social networks, marketing techniques, financial management, future plans, and the conditions surrounding the formation of each cooperative. My empirical research uncovered a growing dependency on projects and found that working under the local government can lead to violations of principles. On the other hand, cooperation with the local government proved to be beneficial considering the small size of owned capital. Sustainability of social cooperatives is further made more difficult by the negative connotation and biases that came to be attached to the term in the country.

• A szociális munka etika oktatása

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  227

  How does the teaching of ethics appear in the education of social work and is this enough? I would like to answer to these questions in this article. In my thesis I tried to approach the topic from several aspects. On the one hand, I prepared questionnaires for bachelor students participating in various social work trainings. On the other hand I interviewed students, entrants and tutors. Finally, I reviewed the curriculums of these trainings, searching for subjects, which name refers that the subject includes aspects of social work ethics.
  Why is this topic so important? That is because social work is a profession of human rights, which not only aims to get people to respect rights but to guarantee their implementation and realization. Indeed, the task is to develop and protect these fundamental human rights, too. However, this is only possible if the social workers are aware of the Code of Ethics and the professional values, as essential parts of professional competences.
  The research concluded that the ethics education in universities and colleges is not structured and focused enough and still there are some social work students and professionals who do not know the Code of Ethics, did not hear about the Association of Social Work Ethics. Consequently, they may have difficulties to solve pivotal problems, and recognize dilemmas in the field of ethics.
  Nincs szociális munka szakmai etika nélkül. Ebben valószínűleg mindannyian egyetértünk, ahogy a szakirodalomban is olvasható „…a szociális munkában minden döntés tartalmaz etikai aspektusokat” (Loewenberg, Dolgoff 1988a: 181). Mégis, annak ellenére, hogy a szociális munkának szerves része a szakmai etika – vagy annak kellene lennie –, igen kevés tanulmány található ebben a témában a hazai szakirodalomban. Hogyan lehetséges az, hogy úgy kell kutatni, vadászni a kapcsolódó olvasmányokat? Pedig szükség lenne szakirodalomra, hiszen a „hatékony gyakorlat feltétele a dilemmákhoz való tudatos viszonyulás” (Andok, Tímár 2002: 88). Hogyan jelenik meg az etika oktatása a képzésben és ez mennyire elegendő? Erre a kérdésfeltevésre épül ez az írás.

• Az elhívás: a szociális munka gyakorlatának spirituális modellje

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  104

  In making a carrier choice, many Christian students find the social work profession a good fit with their religious faith. Many specifically relate their faith to their choice of social work. Buti t doesn’t take long in their social work studies for these students to begin to recognize the complex tensions between religious faith, agency auspices, and the secular values of the social work profession. My intent in this paper to explain, or more accurately to reintroduce, the religious model of calling as used by Christian social workers, past and present, in linking Christian faith and professional social work practice.

• Szociális munka – Spiritualitás – Egyházak: A szerkesztő előszava a különszámhoz

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  163

  The purpose of the editorial foreword is to present the special issue, to summarize the lessons I have found in the studies on the relationship between social work, spirituality, and churches, both in general and here and now in Hungary. The relevance of and interest in the topic is that nowadays the role of churches in social care is expanding both in Hungary and in other European countries, while their missionary role is steadily decreasing. This situation is creating tensions between those who believe that the state should have primary responsibility for the social rights of citizens and those who would rather see the responsibility for the welfare of individuals falls to the individuals themselves, then to their families, the local community, the parishes, and only as a last resort to the state. In a tense political climate, it is important to highlight the values and ethical principles that fundamentally unite believing and non-believing social workers, i.e., the spirituality that is at the core of all genuine social work, and to detach the issue from the political substrate that makes the conflict between social work rooted in religious faith and social work rooted in science seem irreconcilable.

• A hatalom szociális munkásától a szociális munka hatalma felé

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  886

  In this paper I review the power relations relevant to social work and social workers. At the birth of the profession, an enlightened absolutist political power structure created great freedom and creative opportunities for social workers to contribute to alleviating social crisis. Social work was willing and able to meet these needs. The above-mentioned power orientation created a particular professional manner of operation by applying improvised solutions, by „dispatching” of clients to other public services, by the brokering of information and resources. In this set-up, the importance of power of clients, especially over social workers were marginalised. All this has contributed to a serious crisis in the sphere of social work when political power has become more confrontational and has sought to resolve social issues by force.

• A szociális vezetők értékei: Értékek, jellemzők, tulajdonságok – a szociális szolgáltatásokban dolgozó intézményvezetők választásai alapján

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  402

  Within the framework of educational activities in the Social Services Leadership Knowledge Center of the Semmelweis University, this research is based on our work dealing with the organizational and managerial issues of social services. This study describes how current leaders think about an optimally functioning social system including desired operational frameworks, characteristics, and properties. Based on the value choices and critical remarks made by the heads of social institutions participating in the leadership training, we describe the operating characteristics of the Hungarian social system. We present theoretical frameworks, which support the interpretation of the current situation and future-oriented vision of leaders in the field of social services. With no research and previous data in this field, our study is the first to present shared conceptual and value frameworks for those working as managers in the Hungarian social services. To interpret our results, findings of previous surveys in other service areas might be helpful, which, due to the specifics of the social services sector, represent only a limited opportunity to capture innovation in the field. We also present the characteristics of the “good social leader” using data from free-text questions.

• Tudás a szociális munkában – az elmélet és a gyakorlat viszonyában

  István Budai

  Gábor Szöllősi

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  2216

  The study analyses the nature of knowledge in social work for better understanding the distance („gap”) between theory and practice. It provides a systematic synthesis of the theoretical interpretation and framework of social work knowledge furthermore summarizes the connection between this knowledge and the social work practice in Hungary. The spectrum of social work knowledge can be classified by numerous aspects, but it covers a much wider area than the theoretical or practical character of knowledge. The authors anticipate that each aspect of this knowledge has relevance for social work, therefore the deeper analysis and understanding of their roles can contribute to reducing the gap between theory and practice.

• A szociális munka új, 2014-es globális definíciója

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  492

  The paper introduces the Global Definition of Social Work as an important milestone of international discourse on social work. Outlines historical background of the Definition, inclusive the debates which characterised the development of the draft, and new features of the Definition accepted in 2014. The preliminary issue of the global definition is, whether there exists, or is possible to exist a universal social work. The paper introduces the main topics and point of views in the debates concerning the issue. It formulates the conclusion that the role of the Definition is not so much to describe the reality, nor to lay down the norms of social work, but should be understood as an accomplishment of global discourse of social workers. The task for Hungarian social workers is not to learn the Definition and to comply with the „norms”, but to develop their own discourses on issues represented in the Definition.

• Reflections on six decades of professional social work fundamental principles for social workers

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  124

  What principles have I found to exist over my six decades of social work that are central to the profession and are still applicable in today’s complex world?  What has guided social work in its quest to address the myriad, ever changing and most difficult problems facing our societies irrespective of the continent or country?  In my professional journey these practice guides can be synthesized into 13 basic principles that can serve as a strong foundation and are still highly useful today. In my over 55 years as a professional social worker, studying the individuals and writers who were seminal to the profession to those who emerged during the mid-20^th century, certain principles emerged.  These principles arose from both practice and academic areas and have provided grounding and guidance that has led to the successful delivery of social work irrespective of the decade or location.

• A szociális munka és a keresztény lelkiség kapcsolódásai a Golgota Keresztény Gyülekezet szociális szolgálatainak bemutatása alapján

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  209

  Social work and Christian spirituality cannot be sharply separated from each other. The roots of social assistance are an important part of Christian morality and the teachings of the Bible. At the same time, in almost all of the Christian denominations, you can also find lay assistance, which provides help to those in trouble, nourished by the practical faith of the churches. In my paper, I examine the possibilities of Christian-based lay assistance and social assistance, as well as the relationship between spirituality and social work, using the example of the social and charitable activities of Calvary Chapel Hungary. It is important to recognize that lay help without professional social skills can sometimes cause more harm than good, but it is also true that professional social work can also be enriched by a commitment to help stemming from faith in God.

• A szociális életpályamodellel kapcsolatos dilemmák

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  334

  The social sector has been in crisis in many respects because of adverse changes in recent decades. There is a shortage of qualified social workers, high staff turnover, precarious working conditions and a steady decrease in the resources available to the sector. The development of human resources has therefore become an urgent necessity. The social careers model, like career models in other sectors, could contribute to the development of human resources in the social sector and the efficient functioning of social institutions and services. However, dilemmas about the career model have emerged in recent years, dividing the profession significantly. In our study, we set out to explore these dilemmas and, using the focus group interview method, we sought to find out what social professionals think about the career model, which has been taking shape for almost a decade. Would they support the introduction of a career model, and if so, under what conditions, and what tools would they include in the model to improve the efficiency of the sector and the quality of life of social workers. Our research shows that employees in the social sector have highlighted a stable and predictable salary and incentive system guaranteeing existential security as a key element of a modern career model. The guarantee of working conditions has emerged as a new, usually unusual and indicative of fundamental shortcomings element in the career models. However, the majority of respondents expressed reservations about the introduction of a performance appraisal system and the use of performance management in the sector. Only a minority of the focus group argued in favour of career management, an appraisal system that recognises quality work and professional innovation, and a service system that supports human resource development.

• The importance of social rehabilitation as an effective tool for activation for the parent’s perspective

  Martin Karas

  David Urban

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  52

  If the situation arises when a child's proper upbringing and favourable development are at risk and parents cannot or are not able to solve this situation by themselves, the child is, according to act on social and legal protection of children, considered as endangered (Act No. 359/2009 Coll., on social and legal protection of children).
  It is not easy to determine the degree of risk and it is even harder to choose the suitable support service and involve parents, considering the degree of risk. A true professional makes the family realize that the problem solution is connected with responsibility and the quality care for children (Gjuričová, Š., Kubička, J., 2003).
  During the last five years, several new sorts of support services have been created in order to attempt to provide support tailored to the needs of the aforementioned families (Act. No. 108/2006 Coll., on social services).
  Social rehabilitation is an example of such auxiliary service. It emphasizes the bond between parents and children and brings out family ties in general (Act. No. 108/2006 Coll., on social services).
  The acceptance of social rehabilitation is very difficult for every family. With regard to psychology, families must deal with complicated stressful situations (Bob, P., Vymětal, J., 2005).
  Centre for children of South Bohemian region in Strakonice has been performing social and legal protection for children since 2006. The main target of the Centre for children is mutual communication with families, cooperation and rational problem solution. This would be barely possible without the participation of the family, or at least one of its members.
  Mutual cooperation, empathy, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, sympathy and patience are essential for social work. In order to solve problems efficiently, it is also convenient to know the viewpoint of the family in relation to the provided service. The opinion of the family can reveal many issues.
  Martin Karas is the director of the Centre for children, which focuses on active involvement of family in social rehabilitation. He highlights one of several problems - insufficient and unsystematic support of family from institutions in the process. Insufficient support may prevent children’s return to their biological family in time. In his studies he focuses on an important issue – the active participation of the family in problem solving.
  The aim of this article is to point out that active cooperation with family, especially the opinion of family, is an important criterion of the quality of the partnership. The article contains interviews with participants and former participants of social rehabilitation; several conclusions were made based on these interviews.

• The Role of the Gerontological Knowledge in the Training Programmes for Social Work

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  170

  The author gives a view of the „Introduction to Gerontology”, which is elaborated for the teaching of social work students in the Social Work BA curricula. The main focus in this teaching material is on the basic knowledge in gerontology connected to the practical field work with older people including topics in biogerontology, gerontological psychology, and socialgerontology. This teaching material play an important role in the preparation of the „Social Work with Older People” subject, and in the form of the knowledge and view about the aging of the social workers on the different social work fields.

• Szociális csoportmunka módszerének alkalmazása a gyermekek szociális kompetenciáinak fejlesztésében

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  237

  The case study provides practical experiences of the socialization group session implemented among primary school children: from the presentation of the key points of the planning process to the analysis of group work. The main goal of writing my paper is drawing attention to the possibility, importance and effectiveness of social group work as a method, as opposed to preferred case work.

• Kulcspontok a külföldön dolgozó prostituáltak kapcsolataiban

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  392

  Our research focused on Hungarian women working as prostitutes in Switzerland. We came in contact with younger and active age women who worked as legal sexworkers in Zurich and Basel. We modified the ISEL test (Cohen és Hoberman 1983) and we used it in our research work. We called it street work ISEL test. It includes 20 items supplemented with data about personal social networks.
  We have determined that the driving force of prostitution is basically livelihood. In many cases this is the base of choice of becoming sexworkers. However, we found the signs of vulnerability and exploitation which proved to be more significant abroad than in women’s home environments. Four groups can be distinguished in prostitutes’ social space that seems to affect women’s vulnerability in different ways. These groups are family and friends; husband (life partner) and his family; beneficiaries of prostitution; social workers and official professionals (police).
  Based on our experience social workers and volunteers can use street work ISEL test and the matrix of social space (Street work-ISEL display) in street work for collecting information about individuals and about the target group of social work.

• Infokommunikációs technológiák használata a szociális munka gyakorlatában

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  334

  The article examines how the growing use of ICT affect social work practice, from online counseling to community work and advocacy. I will discuss the changes required of social workers; what kind of skills, competencies and literacy they need to ensure high quality, professional, value driven, and ethical practice. The question to be answered is: what difficulties are presented when integrating technology, and what can be done to assist both practioner and client to optimally achieve that integration. Examples of current and future utilization opportunities, as well as the strengths of applying new technology in social work practice will be presented. Weaknesses, limitations, contraindications and the potential pitfalls of technology usage will also be discussed. A short introduction to the Hungarian and the international professional policies, standards, guidelines and Codes of Ethics on ICT based social work practice and telemental health will be provided as a framework in which to consider these important questions.

• Gyorsjelentés munkahelyi veszélyekről és biztonságról a szociális munkában

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  91

  Workplace safety and risk are rarely mentioned in social work, so we researched the topic. We explored how workplace risks, client aggression and workplace bullying manifest themselves and who is affected by them, from a national and international perspective. Our survey was based on a questionnaire from the Association of Union of Social Professionals, which, from the responses, has shown a strong interest among those working in the profession. The responses showed that professionals are not prepared for dangerous situations that happen in all areas of social work. National and international research data and professional materials suggest that there is a responsibility on the part of the legislator, the profession, training, institutions, and professionals themselves to ensure a safe workplace and safe working conditions. Professional minimum standards are needed to increase safety in the workplace and in social work. International standards and national experiences can be used to develop this. A protocol of this type can provide a basis for training on the subject and for the development of further detailed, discipline-specific standards.

• A szociális munka válsága a lakhatási válság szemszögéből

  Zsófia Sára Török

  Bulcsú Mihály

  Views:

  570

  Our study’s aim is to open a debate and reflect to the crisis of social work, the empty usage of social work as a concept and method, the distance of theoretical work and practise and the struggle of no means in everyday work.

  Our views and experiences are illustrated through two program’s experiences dealing with reducing housing poverty, supported by significant sums, and we focus on social work.