social worker survey 2015 powerpoint presentation
Transcription
social worker survey 2015 powerpoint presentation
Survey of Social Workers Australia Data collated by Debbie Fortnum Kidney Health Australia May 4th 2015 Powered by Introduction • • • • • • • The aim of this survey was to establish some baseline data about the current workload of renal social workers and the social issues that are of the greatest concern. Social workers helped to design the survey. This survey was offered by email to an existing voluntary membership network of renal social workers around Australia (all states are represented within the network except NT) 50 social workers received the email link 34 Social workers responded This presentation is all of the data and graphs without any complex data analysis A written report will also be produced with some analysis of data This data does not represent the views of every social worker or state within Australia and therefore results while being a useful guide should be interpreted with caution. Q1: Which State/territory do you work in? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 Q2: Which answer best describes your main place of employment? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 79% of social workers were located in metropolitan areas and 21% of them were located in a rural region. Q3: Where do the patients you provide services for reside ? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 62% of social workers primarily supported patients in metropolitan areas but 94% also provided support for rural or remote regions. Q4: How many hours of work are you allocated to the renal service for each week (pick the nearest answer)? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 Only 35% of social workers are working in full-time positions within renal with 50% working 1-3 shifts per week. Q5: How many hours of work are you allocated to another specialty for, each week (pick the nearest answer)? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 25% of social workers had responsibility for other specialties Q6: Approximately how large is your current personal caseload of renal patients (include those who potentially could but may not have received social work support)? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 Caseloads are usually a mix of pre-dialysis, dialysis, transplant and supportive care patients Q7: Please choose how many end-stage kidney disease patients in your service receive social work contact/support each year. Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 55% are able to support all patients who require support. 30% are limited and 12% can only support urgent and major issues. Q8: Indicate the percentage of each cultural group that represents your caseload population. Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 62% of units have over 50% of European cultural groups who speak English as a first language. Over 75% of units each had some Europeans, Asians and others who were non-English speaking. 85% of units had up to 50% indigenous patients. Q9: Which answer best describes the stage of kidney disease when the majority of your referrals for first time support occur? Answered: 34 Skipped: 0 The role of social workers is dominated by those in end-stag kidney disease (stage 5) but over 40% provide a service for those at various stages. Q10: Who refers patients to you on a regular basis? Answered: 31 Skipped: 3 Most social workers accept referrals from a wide range of sources including patient self-referral. Q11: Please choose all options that describe a function that you manage as part of your social work role for your renal service. Social workers have a diverse role. Supporting patients and carers psychologically and during crisis are key roles. Transport, education, accommodation, nursing home and financial support input are variable by jurisdiction. Q12: Which of these other services/roles are easily available to patients using your service (either internal or external) Answered: 31 Skipped: 3 Most services have access to a number of other support services/roles. Q13: Carers who are actively involved in treatment for those on home dialysis can apply for either the carers allowance (about $580 FN) or additional carers payment (about $120 FN). In your opinion what percentage of carers require either/both payments to relieve financial pressure? Answered: 31 Skipped: 3 A high proportion of responding social workers estimate that 20-50% of carers would benefit from the carers allowance, carers payment or both. Q14: Have you supported, or are you aware of, carers who support home dialysis and have applied for the carers alloance ($580 per f/n)? Answered: 32 Skipped: 2 71% of social workers are aware of carers who access the $580 per f/n carers allowance but most of the carers experienced difficulty in accessing this payment. Q15: Have you supported, or are you aware of, carers who support home dialysis and have applied for the additional carers payment ($120 per f/n)? Answered: 30 Skipped: 4 63% of social workers are aware of carers who access the $120 per f/n carers payment but many of these have experienced difficulty in accessing this payment. Q16: Home haemodialysis training can require extended periods off work. Based on referrals to help how many working patients use these strategies to manage financially during this period? Answered: 29 Skipped: 5 During home dialysis training sick leave, annual leave and saving up are the most common strategies to manage financially. A few patients are known to access centrelink payments or use the good will of employers, family and friends. It is less well known how may people try to access their superannuation. Q17: Is there a need for additional financial support such as a 6 week special paid leave scheme for new home haemodialysis patients during training? Answered: 32 Skipped: 2 66% of social workers think there is a need for additional financial support during home haemodialysis training and 28% think there may be a need. Powered by Q18: Anecdotally remaining at work during end-stage kidney disease is important given the difficulty in obtaining new employment once on treatment. Do you think there is a need for better resources to support people to remain at work? Answered: 32 Skipped: 2 75% of social workers think there is a need for better resources to support people to remain at work and 22% think there may be. Q19: There are many other potential issues for those with kidney disease that are currently inadequately addressed. Choose the three issues below that you think require improvement and would best improve quality of life for patients in your region. (You can choose other and provide details) Answered: 33 Skipped: 1 Top 4 issues that social workers believe require input are transport for in-centre dialysis, respite for PD and HHD, psychosocial support for carers and assisted home dialysis. Q20: If a working party is set up to improve any issues mentioned above would you be willing to contribute (expressions of interest will be sought at the time) Answered: 33 Skipped: 1 94% of social workers are willing to become involved at some level in seeking solutions to the issues as determined in this survey. Q21: As a social worker are you interested in any of the following networking/information opportunities? Answered: 32 Skipped: 2 87% of social workers support the email network and 63% would like a regular newsletter. Teleconferences and face to face forums also have good support. Conclusion • • • Most social workers work part-time. Social workers have a varied workload and are responsible for a wide range of social supports, varying by jurisdiction The scope and size of the workload is not consistent around the country Referrals to social work come from many members of the multidisciplinary team and even patient self-referral Many services have wide ethnic diversity Transport, assisted dialysis at home and respite care are the key issues where social workers would like intervention Social workers welcome the opportunity for networking • Email [email protected] for any queries related to this survey. • • • •