A qualitative study of a recovery capital assessment tool in alcohol and drug treatment facilities: Perspectives from social work professionals

Abstract

The ambition to translate the concept of recovery capital (RC) from research to practice has entailed operationalisations of RC to measure progress and outcomes of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatments.At the same time, the role played by standardisation in social work organisations is known to be a complex matter, and research suggests that the implementation of standardisation should be carried out with caution. By examining the need for a RC assessment tool in a Swedish AOD treatment context, this paper contributes to the discussion on the use of assessment tools for measuring treatment progress and outcome in AOD treatments, as well as interrelations between standardisation aims and social work professionals. Four group interviews with employees at AOD treatment facilities were conducted in Stockholm, Sweden. The interviewees were presented with an example of an RC-based assessment tool and asked to review the applicability of the tool in their daily work. The findings provide insights on the applicability of specific assessment list items, as well as general observations on the complex relationship between standardisation and discretion in social work. The findings suggest that professionals will ultimately rely on their knowledge and experience, and act accordingly to support the service user, regardless of any manual or standardisation that regulates their work.

Bridging academia and Nordic Societies

“…When examining the need for a recovery capital assessment tool, Sofia Härd found that professionals in substance use treatment will ultimately rely on their own know-how when supporting service users regardless of any manuals that regulate their work ( Härd, 2024 ). According to a study by Heradstveit et al (2024) , adolescent use of risky substances is a strong predictor for school dropout, and externalising factors play a major part.…”