Klaipėdos universitetas

A social worker’s individual work with the client, empowerment and leadership as the professionalisation of social work are analysed in the research article. This area of social work activity has become especially relevant in recent years, due to the new functions that have been taken over: the empowerment of clients who come out of prison. The article emphasises the change in the relationship between the social worker and the client, as well as the need for diverse methods of social work and the search for innovative solutions. The social worker’s activity in the community, and the change of attitudes while presenting a positive image of the client to achieve greater social participation, are reviewed in the article. The results of the qualitative study are presented with the content analysis method. The aim of the study was to bring to light the most essential competencies for social workers which allow them to achieve the greatest social participation results for people coming out of prison. In total, nine social workers who work directly with clients after prison took part in the qualitative study. The findings of the research revealed that social workers are in need of broadening their competencies. The most important qualities mentioned by social workers in competencies were: empathy, communication, and motivation. They tend to be the most essential factors determining social workers’ possibilities to construct the social support and better integration of clients into society. The study also revealed that social workers need continuous improvement, participation in training, and the use of various methods and programmes, in order to implement their new functions effectively.

The scientific article analyses the subjectively perceived quality of life of adult patients with mental and behavioural disorders, and its relationship to the certification of day care institutions according to the EQUASS quality implementation system and the links with health services provided to adults with disabilities. The aim of the research is to investigate the correlations between the subjectively perceived quality of life of patients with mental and behavioural disorders and the health services provided. The article presents a research study involving 13 respondents (seven men and six women) with mental and behavioural disorders. Qualitative research with the in-depth interview method was applied. The respondents ranged in age from 20 to 48 years (the mean age was 32), all of them had attended the day care centre for from one to 20 years (the average attendance was 7.5 years). The research data were processed using narrative analysis. The research results revealed that adults with mental and behavioural disorders perceive the health system integratively. The essential triangulation that influences the assessment of their subjectively good quality of life was identified: the characteristics of the person himself/herself, the efficiency of services provided, and the professionalism of the employee. It was also found that for respondents receiving inpatient services for ten years or more, the subjectively perceived quality of life is related to social participation in the community. It was also identified that adults with mental disabilities still face stigmatisation; therefore, it is necessary to legally ensure the context of their social participation and valorisation. The research revealed that medical and social services for patients with mental and behavioural disorders require closeness: a person after in-patient treatment and receiving additional psychosocial rehabilitation services focuses on the valorisation of his/her role in society and social participation.

The current global situation after Covid-19 presents the situation of youth in Europe as a synthesis for an international strategy of national youth policies instigated by the Council of Europe ‘Supporting Young People in Europe: Principles, Policy, Practice’. We look at youth policy as an initiative within other policy areas, which affect not only young people but all of society. The article presents the social and demographic situation of youth in the EU, and the state of play regarding welfare and poverty, education, employment, family issues, health and behaviour, and the future of youth in the EU.