Karina Schlingensiepen-Trint

In democratic constitutional states there is a gap between social inequalities as a result of capitalist societies and the status of free and equal citizens guaranteed by the constitution. This paper argues that social work, by “mediating” between the individual and society, is not only confronted with this gap. It can be shown that there is a direct link between social work, democracy and citizenship. The following hypotheses are laid out. (1) Social rights are the necessary condition for realizing the status of a free and equal active citizen. Social rights are necessary in order to achieve democratic conditions. (2) Taking into account the fact that rights are meaningless if there are no social conditions available for the individual to realize them, this paper argues that social rights implemented and guaranteed by a welfare state are needed but not sufficient. (3) The author points out that social work is crucial for the individual to really make use of his or her status as an equal free citizen and therefore for realizing democratic conditions. The paper ends with some consequences that arise from this theoretical consideration.

Anže Jurček

The article is a result of research and study of the selected field of social work in Slovenian healthcare, the work of Social work section in the healthcare field and the specific contribution to the multidisciplinary treatment of patients. The results of empirical qualitative research show narrations of six interviewees who present the methods and elements of social work profession used in the treatment of patients, use of specialized language and the associated integrity of the profession in the healthcare field, acknowledgment and recognition of social work profession and also the cooperative work with patients, their families and healthcare professionals in the process of treatment. The results address the status of the Social work section in healthcare and challenge the unsettled standards and norms of social work in healthcare, undefined and uncoordinated services, unresolved internships and traineeships in this field, undefined role and importance of the profession in laws and other general acts, undeveloped education and the lack of research work.

Ana Štambuk

Characteristics of widowhood in old age and different reactions to loss are investigated in the first part. In the second part, theoretical approaches to grief are examined. In the process of grieving, the complexity and individuality of each individual are important, and professionals working with the elderly and their family members should recognise the signs of grief and take into account all factors related to the grieving process. Although adaptation to the death of a spouse in old age is considered one of the natural stages of life, it is emphasised that the loss of a spouse is one of life’s greatest stressors. The consequences of widowhood are discussed, as well as differences in adaptation between men and women, which must be understood if adequate assistance and support is to be provided. Finally, strategies for coping with loneliness as a consequence of widowhood are suggested. The conclusion underlines the importance of social support to all the elderly in bereavement (particularly to those who are severely ill, without family or on a low income and to men) as well as the need to create a social climate in which grieving persons are recognised and accepted in their new role, for which they need time to adapt.

Tamara Rape Žiberna, Aleš Žnidar, Janko Cafuta, Vito Flaker

Klavdija Gorjup

Juš Škraban

Anže Jurček

Vera Grebenc

Tjaša Žakelj, Martina Rameša

Economic growth and a growing demand for the labour force are reflected in a reduced number of unemployed and a declining unemployment rate. However, the increasing possibilities for employment are not equally distributed across demographic groups. Employers’ pragmatism and the deep-set stereotypes about age, are effecting the preference for younger candidates. Despite this, the prolonging working lives and the increasing percentage of the older workforce are introducing new challenges for the employers in sense of providing appropriate placement of the aging workforce in the work processes, adapting to their abilities and making use of the potentials in employment of older workers. The articles points to the challenges of recruiting the older jobseekers in time of prolonging working lives and increasing labour demand, based on the indicators of employment and unemployment, structural characteristics of older unemployed, and identification of the factors influencing the active aging of the workforce.

Vera Grebenc, Teja Bakše

Research of suicide is sensitive from the ethical and methodological point of view since suicide attempt involves a part of personal history, which is rarely publicly disclosed by the individual. Today, suicide is being written about and investigated primarily as a public health problem. This problem isn't much explored as a question of personal experience of an individual, or as a problem of the relevance of the professional response and forms of help that are available to survivors. A research based on an ethnographic research, involving people who survived suicide attempt, and professionals working with them, discovered that in a current society a process of individualisation of distress and suffering can be recognised. Discrepancies between needs of the survivors and the help they receive have been found. In Slovenia, after attempting suicide, assistance is carried out primarily in psychiatric hospitals, with an emphasis on the medication management of symptoms of mental problems. Survivors rarely are rarely offered help by social workers. Actually survivors did not seek help from social work, as they didn't recognize social workers as potential or relevant supporters. Although social work can and could offer knowledge, methods, and approaches to tackling mental distress that results from complex problems in people's daily lives, this aspect of assistance is completely overlooked in the system. In times of mental crises, survivors wish for easily accessible community interventions, for experts to respond to actual and specific needs and for more support and help in the environment where they live. Suicide prevention should include striving for social justice.

Bojan Popović

Author summarizes the development and the implementation of the restraining order in regard to intimate partner violence in Kosovo, where restraining order was first implemented through a UN regulation in 2003. When Kosovo was under UN protectorate and after declaring independence, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act was passed. The enforcement of practically the whole legal framework in Kosovo shows that the international recommendations and standards are carefully followed; however, the enforcement of the restraining order and the inter-institutional cooperation in Kosovo reveal that the measure is not sufficiently imposed. Based on the presentation of the legislative frameworks and the number of restraining orders in Slovenia and Kosovo in 2016, the article summarizes some of the reasons for the (non)implementation, and emphasizes the importance of the (co)operation of institutions, especially the police, center for social work and nongovernmental organizations as crucial actors in case of intimate partner violence. This strengthens the victim's trust in the functioning of the institutions. Author shows the relevance of the transfer of “best practices”, from international environment to post-conflict Kosovo, a country which is still a patriarchal environment, diminishing the possibility of implementing an institutional measure.

Jasna Murgel

The prevailing model of early intervention for children with special needs in Slovenia is medical and focused only on child’s treatment, not on his family. To improve the treatment of children at risk, it is necessary to move towards a social or social pedagogical model. This should include multidisciplinary assistance for the whole family, which would be carried out by mutually coordinated stakeholders in the field of medical treatment, social protection and education. The act of 2017 rearranges the early intervention model for pre-school children with special needs. It prescribes the reinforcement of future centres for early treatment with social workers, who will be the link between early treatment centres and families and between centres for social work, kindergartens and other stakeholders dealing with the family. With the launch of the new law, a gradual transition to a more social model of the treatment of children with disabilities will be introduced in Slovenia. Parents will participate in a multidisciplinary team which will treat their child, the early intervention coordinator will provide parents with all the information on further assistance available, and treatment of children at their home is envisaged. The basis for the transition to a more social model is ensured by the law. To what extent this transition will actually occur, will depend on the implementation of the law in practice.

Darja Zaviršek

Ivan Janko Cafuta

Tanja Buda