The Role of Social Workers in Interprofessional Primary Healthcare Teams

Tadic, Vela; Ashcroft, Rachelle; Brown, Judith Belle; Dahrouge, Simone

doi:10.12927/hcpol.2020.26292

Cited by 30 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…Although the composition of providers varies within each FHT, teams are typically comprised of family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, as well as other types of providers [24]. Most FHTs include providers specifically for mental health care, including social workers (92% of FHTs), psychologists (25%), and general mental health workers (13%) [27]. The size of each FHT, types and number of services provided by family physicians and other interprofessional providers vary across FHTs [26].…”

Section: Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

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Background Integrated primary care teams are ideally positioned to support the mental health care needs arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how COVID-19 has affected mental health care delivery within primary care settings will be critical to inform future policy and practice decisions during the later phases of the pandemic and beyond. The objective of our study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care teams’ delivery of mental health care. Methods A qualitative study using focus groups conducted with primary care teams in Ontario, Canada. Focus group data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results We conducted 11 focus groups with 10 primary care teams and a total of 48 participants. With respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care in primary care teams, we identified three key themes: i) the high demand for mental health care, ii) the rapid transformation to virtual care, and iii) the impact on providers. Conclusions From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care quickly responded to the rising mental health care demands of their patients. Despite the numerous challenges they faced with the rapid transition to virtual care, primary care teams have persevered. It is essential that policy and decision-makers take note of the toll that these demands have placed on providers. There is an immediate need to enhance primary care’s capacity for mental health care for the duration of the pandemic and beyond.

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Section: Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

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“…However, some social workers have used virtual care in clinical practice even prior to the pandemic for counselling, group therapy, case management and other activities ( Marziali et al , 2006 ; Reamer, 2013 ; Ramsey and Montgomery, 2014 ; Mishna et al , 2019 ). Some social workers in rural and remote communities have long relied on telephone and video technologies, yet the uptake has not been widespread ( Ramsey and Montgomery, 2014 ; Bryant et al , 2018 ; Mishna et al , 2019 ; Tadic et al , 2020 ). Despite having some experience of using virtual care in practice there is a widespread gap in the education and training of social workers on how to effectively and ethically integrate virtual technology into practice ( Mishna et al , 2015 ; Berzin et al , 2015 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Workers at the Frontline: A Survey of Canadian Social Workers

Ashcroft

Sur²,

Greenblatt

et al. 2021

The British Journal of Social Work

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Social workers are facing increasingly complex client needs during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because of the social distancing requirements of the pandemic, social workers have undergone transformative changes in practice with the rapid uptake of virtual technologies. The objective of our study was to understand the experiences of social workers during the first-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey, comprised of close-ended and open-ended questions. Survey participants included social workers who were the members of a provincial social work association in Ontario, Canada. With n = 2,470 participants, the response rate was close to 40 per cent. Descriptive statistics were conducted on the close-ended questions. Two open-ended questions were coded using the thematic analysis. Nine themes were identified on the impact to social worker’s employment status: increased work-load; loss of employment; redeployment to new settings; early retirement; concern for personal health and safety; social workers in private practice seeing fewer clients; personal caregiving responsibilities; limiting recent graduates’ employment potential and social workers experiencing new opportunities. There were five themes on the impact on social work practice: clients with increasing complexities; challenges with transition to virtual care; benefits with transition to virtual care; adapting in-person services and personal well-being.

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“…This would highlight and document their specific role within the organisation. 51,110 Increasing job satisfaction and preventing burnout among social workers. Increasing job satisfaction among social workers and preventing burnout is another prerequisite for meaningful involvement in palliative care.…”

Section: Clear Role Description and Set Of Core Competenciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

How can social workers be meaningfully involved in palliative care? A scoping review on the prerequisites and how they can be realised in practice

et al. 2021

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Palliative care is a holistic practice using a multidisciplinary approach in addressing multidimensional needs. Although the social aspects surrounding the end-of-life phase suggest a place for social work in it, the profession is often inadequately involved in daily practice. This contrasts strongly with the potential meaningful contributions of social workers in this field. To date, no comprehensive list of prerequisites for meaningful social work involvement in palliative care exists. This review aims to gain more insight on the prerequisites for meaningful social work involvement in palliative care and how to realise them in practice. It could therefore provide pathways for future intervention development in enhancing the involvement of social workers and maximising their contributions in palliative care. A scoping review methodology was used. A systematic selection of peer-reviewed articles ranged from 2000 to April 2021 – out of the electronic databases Web of Science, Scopus and Pubmed – was conducted. The 170 articles that met the eligibility criteria were analysed for relevant content using open and axial coding processes. The findings are reported according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The nine prerequisites listed in this review concern the level of individual social work capacities and the level of contextual factors structuring social work practices. A majority of articles have, however, focused on the level of individual social work capacities in a rather specialist view on palliative care. Future research should further address the contextual level of social work involvement in the broader practice of death, dying and bereavement.

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The Role of Social Workers in Interprofessional Primary Healthcare Teams

Abstract: Background: In Ontario, Canada, social workers are employed in a number of primary healthcare (PHC) settings such as Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Family Health Teams (FHTs). However, many aspects of social work practice within PHC settings are unknown.

Cited by 30 publications

References 30 publications

Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Workers at the Frontline: A Survey of Canadian Social Workers

How can social workers be meaningfully involved in palliative care? A scoping review on the prerequisites and how they can be realised in practice

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