Student perspectives on school-based social workers: A mixed-methods study

Bennett, Verity ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9311-4124, Roberts, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6154-3549, Lugg-Widger, Fiona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0029-9703, Meindl, Melissa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1231-0175, Pallmann, Philip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8274-9696, Smith, Philip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3491-4519, Schroeder, Elizabeth-Ann, Adara, Linda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0015-3942, Munnery, Kim, Meister, Lena, Ayayo, Sharon, Rawlinson, Sarah, Forrester, Donald ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2293-5718, Petrou, Stavros, White, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8371-8453 and Westlake, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7507-3413 2024. Student perspectives on school-based social workers: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Children's Services 19 (3) , pp. 189-221. 10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0021

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Abstract

Purpose School social work, in various forms, is well established internationally and has a growing evidence base. Yet existing research focuses on professional perspectives rather than those of students. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring secondary school student perspectives of having social workers in schools (SWIS). It was undertaken in England as part of the SWIS trial, which tested whether secondary school-based social workers could improve child safety and well-being, identify issues more quickly and reduce the need for statutory services. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach comprised a survey (n = 1,998 students) and interviews (n = 27 students). Surveys included questions on awareness, understanding, interaction with and attitudes towards the school-based social workers. Interviews involved a Q-sort activity followed by semi-structured questions on general attitudes and experiences. The Q-sort characterised prominent perspectives and how many students subscribed to them. Findings Students were broadly positive about having a social worker in their school in the survey and interviews. Two prominent perspectives on SWIS were identified. The first (n = 17) was defined by students feeling positively overall and strongly agreeing that they trusted the social worker. The second (n = 4) was mixed in sentiment, defined by some anxiety about working with the social worker. In interviews, students relayed that social workers were easily accessible, offered emotional support and acted as a bridge between school and home. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to quantify student perspectives on having social workers at school and evidence attitudes and experiences about school-based social work as practiced during the SWIS trial.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Medicine
Publisher:	Emerald
ISSN:	2042-8677
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 September 2024
Date of Acceptance:	26 July 2024
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2024 13:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/171972

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