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Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic signalled a radical shift in health and social care services
globally. In UK, many of the people with existing social care needs were identified
as ‘clinically vulnerable’ to COVID-19. Those at greatest risk were encouraged to
adhere to additional public health measures that inadvertently exacerbated social
disadvantages. Social workers were challenged to ‘dig deep’ to continue to provide
services as usual. However, problems implementing new ways of working were reported
but not examined in-depth through research. Our study explored experiences and perceptions
of social workers responding to the first wave (April–July 2020) of COVID-19, in England,
UK. Interviews with thirteen social workers, all working in the West Midlands region,
were conducted via telephone or online video. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive
thematic analysis. We use ‘managing uncertainty’ as a central concept underpinning
the four themes identified after analysis: (1) providing social care at a physical
distance, (2) negotiating home/work boundaries, (3) managing emerging risks and (4)
long-term implications for social work. We discuss our findings in the context of
resilience and organisational adaptation. Social workers in our study demonstrated
resilience in action and rapid adaptation to new practices, but equally expressed
concern about short-term efficiencies being prioritised over individual service user
needs.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic signalled a dramatic shift in how health and social care services
were delivered to members of the public. Social workers reported challenges implementing
new ways of working during the first wave of COVID-19. However, such challenges received
little coverage in the media or in research. This article explores the views and experiences
of social workers responding to the first COVID-19 wave in England, UK (April–July
2020). Telephone and online interviews were carried out with thirteen social workers
active in the West Midlands region. Social workers shared experiences of how they
managed uncertainty—a core theme in the study. Interviewees described managing the
uncertainty of: (1) providing social care at a physical distance, (2) negotiating
home/work boundaries, (3) managing emerging risks and (4) contemplating the future
of social work practice. Our study demonstrates how social work professionals adapted
rapidly to new practices during the first wave. However, social workers raised concerns
about the impact of short-term solutions on long-term needs of service users. Implications
for research and practice are discussed with reference to key literature.
Saturation has attained widespread acceptance as a methodological principle in qualitative research. It is commonly taken to indicate that, on the basis of the data that have been collected or analysed hitherto, further data collection and/or analysis are unnecessary. However, there appears to be uncertainty as to how saturation should be conceptualized, and inconsistencies in its use. In this paper, we look to clarify the nature, purposes and uses of saturation, and in doing so add to theoretical debate on the role of saturation across different methodologies. We identify four distinct approaches to saturation, which differ in terms of the extent to which an inductive or a deductive logic is adopted, and the relative emphasis on data collection, data analysis, and theorizing. We explore the purposes saturation might serve in relation to these different approaches, and the implications for how and when saturation will be sought. In examining these issues, we highlight the uncertain logic underlying saturation—as essentially a predictive statement about the unobserved based on the observed, a judgement that, we argue, results in equivocation, and may in part explain the confusion surrounding its use. We conclude that saturation should be operationalized in a way that is consistent with the research question(s), and the theoretical position and analytic framework adopted, but also that there should be some limit to its scope, so as not to risk saturation losing its coherence and potency if its conceptualization and uses are stretched too widely.
[1
]School of Medicine, Keele University , Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
[2
]Research and Innovation Department, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, St
George’s Hospital , Stafford ST16 3SR, UK
[3
]Social Work Learning Academy, Adult Social Care, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust, The Coach House, St Michaels Court , Lichfield WS11 6EF, UK
Author notes
Correspondence to Professor Lisa Dikomitis, School of Medicine, Keele University,
Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. E-mail:
l.a.dikomitis@
123456keele.ac.uk
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.
History
Date
accepted
: 29
June
2021
Page count
Pages: 20
Funding
Funded by:
Bristol Myers Squibb, DOI 10.13039/100008021;
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