Abstract
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the professional experiences of social workers employed in refugee support programs in Greece. This study adopts a qualitative research design using two complementary samples of social workers, which were selected to shed light on different but interrelated dimensions of their professional experience in the refugee field. The first sample (15 social workers) focused on working conditions and coping strategies, while the second sample (15 social workers) focused on ethical dilemmas and ways to deal with them in everyday practice. The sample is characterised as a convenience sample. It was approached using the "snowball" method. Semi-structured interviews were used as the main data collection tool for the investigation of the employees’ working conditions in depth, while narrative interviews were used to investigate ethical dilemmas and to highlight the personal experiences of the respondents and their ways of making sense of them. Th ...
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the professional experiences of social workers employed in refugee support programs in Greece. This study adopts a qualitative research design using two complementary samples of social workers, which were selected to shed light on different but interrelated dimensions of their professional experience in the refugee field. The first sample (15 social workers) focused on working conditions and coping strategies, while the second sample (15 social workers) focused on ethical dilemmas and ways to deal with them in everyday practice. The sample is characterised as a convenience sample. It was approached using the "snowball" method. Semi-structured interviews were used as the main data collection tool for the investigation of the employees’ working conditions in depth, while narrative interviews were used to investigate ethical dilemmas and to highlight the personal experiences of the respondents and their ways of making sense of them. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings highlighted the decisive, negative impact of the broader restrictive context on both working conditions and the emergence of ethical dilemmas that respondents experienced in their daily practice. The migration policy on asylum and immigration in Greece and the European Union, which is not in line with the principle of solidarity, the inadequate plan for the reception, integration, and support of the refugee population, the policy of funding programs, and others significantly undermine working conditions and the quality of services provided. The influence of neoliberal ideology and New Public Management (NPM) on the practice of social work was decisive: quantification of work, pressure from the agency that assigned social workers an executive, supervisory, and administrative role with an emphasis on quantitative efficiency, social workers' involvement in bureaucratic tasks, and interference in their work. Respondents experienced excessive work demands, little support in their work, and limited professional recognition. The ethical dilemmas experienced by the respondents were the result of a conflict between the broader institutional conditions, the restrictive conditions of the organizations, the regulations of the organizations, and the basic principles and values of social work. The most common strategies used by social workers to deal with restrictive conditions and ethical dilemmas were "strategies of compliance with the rules of the Organization." Although "strategies of tacit non-compliance with the rules of the Organization or broader legislation that they considered unfair" and "active strategies of exerting pressure for change" were not the dominant practice, they were found to be quite widespread and demonstrate the respondents' efforts, despite the difficulties, to fulfill their professional role, contributing to ensuring the rights of those served. Respondents assessed their cultural readiness as inadequate, highlighted the need for ongoing specialized cultural training and supervisory support, and referred to the need to create services that respect multiculturalism and diversity. In the context of migration policies increasingly detached from humanitarian values, it is necessary to continuously demand better conditions, resources, and services for both the population served and social workers, pressuring for changes in policies, procedures, and restrictive regulations, creating alliances, collaborating with movements, empowering practices, and engaging in collective action. Enhancing supervision and ongoing training on issues related to the refugee field and particularly on developing the knowledge and skills required to be able to apply social work ethics within restrictive environments and to develop strategies of resistance is essential for supporting social workers.
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