Jasmina Rosič, Liljana Rihter

The findings so far have indicated that client violence is common, especially in the family services. Clients in the field of domestic violence commonly do not willingly seek the services, resulting in violent behaviour towards practitioners. Several models for working with involuntary clients, and guidelines for working with clients’ violence were developed. Organisations are obliged to ensure safety for their staff. Trauma-informed care and supervision may be used. It has been shown that practitioners mostly experienced tense situations with elements of psychological abuse. Some practitioners did not report to be influenced by violent behaviour, while others experienced negative consequences on their well-being, work or personal life. Practitioners developed their own approaches to ensure their safety. Some also used elements of models for working with involuntary clients. Organisations ensured safety with supportive, physical ways and by forming violence prevention plans. It has been suggested that practitioners should be educated about how to work with clients’ violence and involuntary clients. Organisations should reflect on their work culture. Not only support and safety of the employees, but also respectful attitude towards clients should be ensured.

Liljana Rihter

In recent years, some important changes of legislation in the field of ​​social protection have been adopted. The government has passed a law including austerity measures in the area of ​​salaries and promotions in the public sector. Previous studies only show the effects of changes to users. In the article, the results are presented of the qualitative (meta) analysis of the research findings of the final theses of the students from the Faculty of Social Work between 2012 and 2015, which addressed topics such as employment in the field of social protection, working conditions and quality of working life. The results show that employees have more difficulties meeting particular needs of »having« (salary, promotion). In some environments they feel less secure because of threats of users. And it is also difficult to meet the needs of »being« (fewer opportunities for professional development). An area in which changes in the laws and savings haven’t had (yet) a significant impact are the needs of »loving«. Relations between employees remain one aspect which is generally well rated. Based on identified weaknesses, systemic changes are suggested that would allow for better working conditions, as well as organizational changes within the working environment that would enable more support to staff to carry out professional work, which will respond to the needs of users.  

Andreja Rafaelič

The aim of the article is to systematically and chronologically analyse research that has been done in social work on deinstitutionalisation and that contributed to the development of the rapid assessment and response method (RAR). The heritage of action research in social work that contributed to the development of the RAR in Slovenia, is summarised. The development of action research and RAR in Slovenia has been divided into four phases: (1) the beginnings of action research with the socio-therapeutic projects, (2) the development of the methodology of action research, (3) implementation of social care system and (4) the development of long-term care and activism research. The RAR, as it was developed in Slovenia, is at the moment a very important tool because it enables research and also deinstitutionalisation planning. Slovenia is set to introduce the systematic implementation of deinstitutionalisation therefore it is especially important to have a good and systematic research plan, but also to be able to do it quickly and with focus on development.

Daniela Janušić

For smooth functioning of all school activities, a lot of prevention work with children is needed, especially on the field of preventing violence. In this respect, the workshop entitled »No peer violence«, organized by the Institute for psychological counceling projects, plays an important part at the Elementary School Leskovec pri Krškem. When children experience violence, they are therefore quicker to express their uneasiness and are more prone to solve conflicts with peers when they appear. By playing different roles in the workshop, they learn strategies that enable them to take a stand for themselves. As a result of the workshop, relationships among them improve. Teaching assistance to the Roma children is also organised, as it develops their learning skills but also connects the school with the pupils' families and their wider social environment. If we manage to engage all parts in the educational process (pupil, class teacher, teachers, parents, headmaster) and get their contributions, examples of good practice ensue. One such example is descirbed, involving a Rome girl who was prevented to attend school by her father.

Liljana Rihter, Lea Šugman Bohinc

Nejc Pulko

Nina Mešl, Tadeja Kodele

Today's challenge for social work practice and science is to stimulate conditions for development and strengthening of new practices, based on a contemporary social work doctrine. Our experiences of collaboration with social workers in different contexts have confirmed that they recognize the importance of a shift towards collaborative processes of support and help and that they already espoused these theoretical starting points. Now we have a new task: to co-create practice where it will be evident that collaborative paradigm is also a paradigm-in-use. Understanding the starting points of collaborative social work, it is important to overcome division of working on micro, mezzo and macro levels and search for opportunities in collaborative dialogue of all participants in building a social work practice and science. Throughout the presentation of some results of the project Helping families in the community: co-creation of desired changes for reducing social exclusion and strengthening health, the authors discuss the opportunities for common shift in the field of social work from "what is missing and what should be" to "what is and what could be".

Srečo Dragoš

In the early 1990s, during the disintegration of our ex common state of Yugoslavia, when the new state of Slovenia was established, we received approximately 70,000 refugees (amounting to 3.5% of the population of Slovenia). Despite this massive intake of refugees, at that time Slovenia didn't disintegrate and no social stratum's living standard deteriorated, although at that time Slovenia was regarded as a rather uncertain project, was faced with a serious economic crisis and unemployment, and the outcome of war on the Balkans looked completely unpredictable. The situation today is the opposite: there are practically no refugees in Slovenia, and our country is the second most restrictive country in Europe (both in absolute and relative numbers), as far as getting protected against them is considered. The backdrop of this anti-refugee panic is related to a very negative structure and trends of public opinion in the key fields of societal and systemic integration. Regarding a pronounced tendency toward increased poverty and decomposition of basic mechanisms of the welfare state, the public opinion of the Slovenes is progressively moving in an authoritarian direction, is getting susceptible to patriotic sentiments and uncritical glorification of “Sloveneness”, but at the same time it is rejecting capitalism and (again) getting enthusiastic about socialism. Therefore all conditions are met for an evolution of events similar to those from the first half of the 20th century – in other words, for national socialism.

Liljana Rihter

The article focuses on results of an analysis examining measures to improve the employment situation of people with disabilities. Analysis of the Slovenian legislation on general (macro) level shows both positive aspects (general principles of non-discrimination, possibility of employment in an ordinary working environment, incentives for employers to employ disabled people) as well as shortcomings in the prevalence of measures that promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities in areas that are spatially segregated from the normal working environment. At the same time the lack of the themes of employment issues in the general law guaranteeing equal opportunities for people with disabilities might not devote enough attention to the prevention of discrimination. Analysis of implementation (mezzo) level shows that people with disabilities work mostly in work environments for which also (some) vocational rehabilitators argue that they do not imply real social inclusion. Some problems in the implementation of vocational rehabilitation services imply the absence of the concepts of social work. At the micro level, it is noted that in cases where people themselves have enough resources or support, integration into the normal working environment is easier. For people who are less successful or unsuccessful in integrating into normal working environment, the system of vocational rehabilitation presents opportunity to find the environments and possibilities for employment.

Ana Curk

In the paper the main findings of the master's thesis Discourses – language, communication and other forms of interaction: stories of the handicapped are presented. The author is mainly interested in the communication strategies among persons with handicaps and those without them. In the context of the autobiographies of the disabled, she focuses on everyday interaction between people with handicaps and those without specific obstacles, so that she establishes a relation between intimate interpersonal relationships and social context.

Sanja Sitar Surić

Mija M. Klemenčič Rozman

Duška Knežević Hočevar, Jana Šimenc

Darja Zaviršek

Sexual abuses in the Catholic Church are a global problem, but the victims have only started to report it in greater numbers in the last 15 years. In Slovenia, a more intensive disclosure of sexual abuses among priests has been noted after 2000. The article presents the chronology of reported suspicions and legal procedures against suspects, of their charges and punishments. In revising the discussion about sexual abuses in the Catholic Church, the problem of non-reporting and non-action of the Roman Catholic Church comes to the fore as something to do with the Concordat between the Roman Catholic Church and the Republic of Slovenia. One of the main reasons for sexual abuses in the Church seems to be the traditional Catholic culture, based on the Church doctrine, that presents children as adults’ property, and on the historic interest of the Church in controlling women's sexuality. The problems of victims' silence, the disclosure, and the ambivalent position of parents are presented in the article as well as basic theories of social work in dealing with survivors, such as advocacy, recovery, resilience, and sensibilisation for the child's perspective. These theories are the conceptual framework for methods of work with victims and their parents and for the prevention work with children in general and with community. Several reports are presented in the article, including an original report on sexual harassment by a priest. One of the key tasks for social workers in social care system is encouraging victims to speak out and supporting them during the recovery process.

Jana Šimenc

The creation of the multidisciplinary team in cases of domestic violence is an important available mechanism for the assistance to victims. According to law in Slovenia, centers for social work are the coordinators of such teams. Centers for social work are also in charge of making case assessments and selecting/inviting relevant representatives from education, health, police, prosecutor's office or NGOs to cooperate in the multidisciplinary team. In case of invitation, everybody is obliged to respond, attend and cooperate in the team. Active participation of the involved contributes to the faster assistance to the victims and gives better prospects for their long-term security. The everyday practice and research indicates, that health care representatives are the least responsive and motivated for cooperation of all sectors involved. The results of a qualitative research presented in the article, confirm that the health and social services encounter several systemic, organisational and communication barriers in the process of cooperation. Perspectives and expectations of health and social workers indicate a weak knowledge about the different working “culture”, insufficient understanding of the algorithms for the assistance to domestic violence victims, poor comprehension of the legal framework and professional competences. Best practice examples suggest strategies to overcome such barriers and indicate the path to improvements. All identified barriers, gaps in knowledge, and lack of adequate professional skills of the health care professionals when treating victims of domestic violence were also taken into account in the process of the development of the multidisciplinary educational platform within the presented project.

Duška Knežević Hočevar

The article discusses some findings of the qualitative research “Recognizing and treating victims of domestic violence in health care settings”, which addresses the understandings of domestic violence in rural environments. Research was conducted in 2015 with both health care practitioners (14) and other professionals (16) in urban and rural settings all over Slovenia, who are dealing with domestic violence in their work. The results imply certain aspects of rurality, which contextualize general discourses and practices of domestic violence in both victims and perpetrators and various practitioners who work with them. Living and working in settings where “everybody knows each other” determine unreliable reporting on domestic violence prevalence, its high tolerance and poor recognition in practitioners of supporting institutions who as a rule know both – the victim and the perpetrator of domestic violence. Few, scattered and unrelated social and health care systems hinder victims to leave their violent relationship. The solution remains a coordinated community response of all actors involved in treating domestic violence.

Sanja Cukut Krilić

Results of rare research on domestic violence among the Roma demonstrate that both cultural and structural barriers that influence the recognition and treatment of domestic violence in these families exist. Based on expert interviews with social workers, NGO representatives and health workers, the contribution presents their experiences and perceived obstacles in recognising and dealing with violence in families of the Roma. It was found that both supposed cultural specificities of the Roma as well as multiple aspects of their social inclusion are emphasised when talking about this topic. Consequently, it is imperative to develop further the ethnic sensitivity of experts as well as to address structural barriers that affect both recognition and treatment of domestic violence in Roma families.

Mojca Vah Jevšnik

The immigration status is linked to the way the immigrant enters the state, either through legal channels or illegally, and to the application for extension of acquired status. The most vulnerable are the undocumented female migrants. The fact that woman is without a legal status is used by the perpetrator as a tool for asserting further power and control over her, prohibiting her contact with the society, making learning the language difficult for her, hiding or destroying her personal documents, threatening to report her to the police, threatening her with deportation and removal of children by the social services. Victims of domestic violence can also have the status of applicants for international protection, the status of a refugee or a subsidiary protection status. These victims are usually very reluctant to seek help because they would like to maintain a positive impression of their family and ethnic community and are afraid that their partners or their families are going to be deported. They want to appear humble, grateful and worthy of their (granted) status. The article is based on the findings of the qualitative research conducted with professionals dealing with migrant victims of domestic violence in Slovenia.

Melita Zver Makovec

There are many different existing programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence, but they focus mainly on male perpetrators, besides they differ considerably in methodology and construction. Based on empirical data and expert interviews with social workers, NGO representatives and health workers, the article presents their experiences and perceived obstacles in recognising and dealing with domestic violence, with grand focus on perpetrators of domestic violence. Working with perpetrators is challenging in many different ways, due to dynamics of perpetrator’s behaviour, his personality, his manipulation strategies, and difficulties concerning cooperation between different institutions.

Tjaša Hrovat

Preventing and stopping violence requires an integrated approach of various institutions, with an emphasis on rapid intervention. The article presents the essential features of the work with perpetrators of violence, which is not limited to specialized programmes. It includes all forms of establishing a relationship with perpetrators of violence. Every professional worker must consider at least some of the basic principles of work with perpetrators and communicate uniform and straightforward messages to them. It is also important to make Violence Risk Assessment, which is a base for Personal Responsibility Plan, created by a professional worker and a perpetrator. Working with perpetrators of violence is difficult both professionally and personally. Therefore professional workers must be appropriately trained and are expected to have regular supervision and intervision.

Lilijana Šprah

Gašper Krstulović

Gašper Krstulović