Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Social Education In Disruption – From Pressure To Proactive Solutions, Aoife Prendergast

Journal of Social Care

In November 2025, FESET members gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for our seminar, “Under Pressure – Social Education in Disruption.” The choice of venue was a deliberate statement of intent. By anchoring our discussions within the heart of European democracy, we underscored a fundamental truth: social education is not merely a domestic or peripheral concern. It is a vital pillar of social cohesion and the democratic fabric of the European project.

As President of FESET, it is an honour to introduce this collection of insights and research to the readers of the Journal of Social Care, reflecting …

How To Train Social Intervention Professionals In A Polarised World?, Bruno Michon

Journal of Social Care

This article examines the challenges of training social intervention professionals in an increasingly polarised society. Drawing on theoretical perspectives on political and affective polarisation, it explores how contemporary social divisions shape social work practice. The analysis includes findings from a five-year qualitative study on radicalisation prevention in France, highlighting tensions between security imperatives and the ethical foundations of social work. These tensions often generate mistrust and professional dilemmas for practitioners. The article argues that social work education must address polarisation directly. It proposes three key responses: reaffirming human rights as the ethical foundation of the profession, adopting professional stances that …

Strengthening Emotional Self-Regulation Through Play: An Innovative Simulation Game For Resilience In Health And Social Professions, Amelie Büchler, Bettina Flaiz, Sabine Münzenmay

Journal of Social Care

Healthcare and social work professionals are currently facing a crisis characterised by chronic stress, burnout, and high attrition rates. While the root causes of these issues are often systemic, the emotional burden falls heavily on individual professionals, often leading to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as "cool-out" strategies or withdrawal. This article introduces the Erasmus+ project Simply4Emotions, which addresses this challenge by developing a digital-physical simulation game designed to foster emotional self-regulation and resilience. Grounded in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and the Process Model of Emotion Regulation, the game utilises a mountaineering metaphor to create a safe …

How Art You Today? Art, Aesthetics And Creativity In Social Educational Care Work Curricula Under Pressure., Bart Vanhoenacker

Journal of Social Care

Curricula in Social Educational Care Work increasingly face structural pressures shaped by neoliberal logics, managerial priorities and cost-efficiency paradigms. Creative and artistic components, traditionally central in the curricula, are particularly targeted, despite a growing consensus in research and professional practice regarding the indispensable role of art and creativity for personal development, well-being, social connection and inclusion. This article analyses institutional pressures, shifting curriculum priorities and the risks associated with diminished artistic courses and outlines pathways for strengthening art‑based and creative pedagogies in the current challenging context.

Les programmes d'études en travail social éducatif sont soumis à une pression structurelle croissante, …

Dillemas Facing Social Care, Paula Byrne

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Under Pressure: Stories Out Of Youth Care, Elien Decock, Nele Cox

Journal of Social Care

In this practice‑oriented research we explore how storyweaving can counterbalance the increasingly negative public discourse surrounding youth care. While societal narratives often emphasise staff shortages, aggression, and systemic failure, youth care workers also describe moments of connection, growth, and meaning that rarely enter the dominant conversation. Through nine storyweaving workshops with 79 youth care workers, six duo‑interviews across roles and organisations, and ongoing reflection with a professional steering group, three central themes emerged: the importance of connection and recognition, the shrinking “space in between” where genuine relational work can occur, and the need to focus on process rather than results. …

The Evolving Landscape Of Social Education In The Uk: The Legacy Of Neoliberalism Affecting Uk Children And Those Who Support Them, And The Considerable Value Of Its Potential Counterbalance — Social Pedagogy, Robyn Kemp

Journal of Social Care

This paper examines the erosion of concern for the social and relational in the United Kingdom through four decades of neoliberal policy, and argues for social pedagogy as a principled and urgently needed counterbalance. Drawing on a career spanning public, charitable, and academic practice primarily with children in and on the edges of care, it traces how the introduction of neoliberalism under Thatcher in the 1980s — and its institutionalisation through New Public Management in the 1990s — systematically dismantled the relational, ethical, and communal foundations of work with children. The consequences are documented in stark statistical terms: rising school …

Is Authentic Assessment Our Only Hope? Exploring The Potential Of The Integrative Framework For Social Care To Address Challenges Posed By Generative Ai., Jennifer Mcgarr, Dr. Margaret Fingleton

Journal of Social Care

Social Care education in Ireland is experiencing rapid change, driven by technological advancements and the growing influence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). While these developments create new learning opportunities, they also raise concerns about academic integrity and the erosion of critical thinking. Educators must simultaneously ensure graduates meet CORU’s regulatory standards and can adapt to the evolving scope of social care practice. CORU is Ireland’s multi-professional state regulatory of health and social care professions. Traditional assessment methods are increasingly questioned for their ability to foster professional competence, prompting interest in authentic assessment approaches that emphasise real-world application and the development …

Practices And Ethics In The Act Of Transmission In Social Work In A Disrupted Environment, Ana-Luana Deram, Ségolène Payan

Journal of Social Care

At the dawn of the 21st century, we are witnessing demographic, sociological, professional and institutional changes that accompany educational policies and transformations in social work training, giving rise to paradoxical demands sometimes being placed on educators. Like a beacon, adherence to an ethic of consideration in transmission through teaching, sharing and comprehension, nourish the reflection associated with the support of today's social work students.

En ce début de XXIème siècle nous sommes témoins des changements démographiques, sociologiques, professionnels et institutionnels qui accompagnent les politiques éducatives et les mutations de la formation en travail social, à l’origine des injonctions paradoxales parfois …

Editorial Feset Conference Special Edition, Martin Power Dr

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Still With Us: Formative Imperatives In The History Of Material Irish Whiskey, C. 1324-1980, Fionnán O'Connor

Theses, Doctoral

Whiskey is regularly discussed as a drink entwined with Irish history and society. That history, however, has usually been read as the immaterial social history of a single material commodity. It does not consider the varied, often dissimilar beverages that have been consumed as ‘whiskey’ or as ‘uisce beatha’. Even within the more recent history of the Irish whiskey industry, most of the grain recipes of Ireland’s closed distilleries have largely passed out of trade memory. This thesis examines the evolution from c.1324 to 1980 of amorphous whiskeys, indebted to their historical moments and materially responsive to their agricultural, …

Book Reviews

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Is Therapeutic Lying Ethically Justifiable If It Leads To Improved Care?, Deborah Murphy

Journal of Social Care

Problem statement

Although therapeutic lying is used extensively as an intervention in dementia care, its use is ethically controversial, firstly, because lying is usually viewed negatively, and secondly, because people with dementia are an especially vulnerable cohort. It is claimed that therapeutic lying improves wellbeing and supports a person-centred approach to dementia care.

Research Question

Is lying to people with dementia ethically justifiable if it leads to improved care?

Aim

To investigate whether care can be improved using therapeutic lies, to explore the ongoing ethical debate around its justification and to examine whether therapeutic lies support person-centred interventions.

Method

This …

The 6-Frame Model: Transforming Supervision With Creative Interprofessional Methodologies, Delores Crerar

Journal of Social Care

This article introduces the 6-Frame Model, a dynamic framework designed to enhance interprofessional practice through creative supervision within a community-based family support service. Grounded in constructivist, interpretivist, and critical realist perspectives, the model supports critical reflection, effective communication, and insights through creative processes. By integrating various theoretical approaches, it provides a robust structure for supervisors to engage in meaningful reflective dialogue with supervisees, addressing both subjective experiences and underlying objective realities impacting practice.

The model consists of six stages: Invite, Initiate, Engage, Reflect, Explore, and Apply. This approach begins with the constructivist 'Invite' and 'Initiate' phases, incorporates the interpretivist 'Engage' …

Transitioning To Adulthood From A Life In Care: An Important Milestone For Young People, Kate Cooley Ms, Margaret Linehan Prof, Judith Butler

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Recognising The Unseen: Emotional Labour In Teenage And Adolescent Care, John Bowe

Journal of Social Care

This study delves into the often-overlooked aspect of Emotional Labour (EL) within social care work, specifically focusing on its impact on social care workers who support teenagers and adolescents. EL, defined as managing emotions to meet organisational objectives, is crucial in shaping best practices within care professions. While EL can yield positive outcomes, this study primarily examines its negative repercussions, particularly in relation to professional burnout among social care workers. The study explores the organisational barriers that may compel social care workers to emotionally detach from their roles as a protective measure through quantitative analysis. Drawing on Hochschild's EL concept …

Editorial Vol 5

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Is Ethical Review A Barrier To The Publication Of Research On Violence Against Women And Children For Low- And Middle-Income Country Researchers?, Elizabeth Dartnall, Sarah Homan, Kevin Lalor, Mpho Silima, Chi-Chi Undie

Articles

Producing and publishing research on violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) is essential for developing evidence-based solutions to these widespread issues. However, researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face numerous challenges and structural inequities that hinder their ability to contribute to the global knowledge base. Among these, obtaining research ethics approval, which is essential for ensuring research integrity and safeguarding participant welfare, stands out as a particularly critical and often arduous hurdle. Access to research ethics approval presents significant challenges for researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), due to: (1) limited availability and accessibility of …

Smyly's Aftercare Service: A History And A Celebration.

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Navigating Involuntary Care Home Closures: Professional Perspectives And Thematic Analysis Of Failures In Norfolk, Farah-Leila Mughal, Vikki Bunting, Jessica Ruth Austin

Journal of Social Care

The Care Quality Commission is responsible for regulating care homes across England to make sure that residents are respected and provided for. But what happens when they find a home who are not doing this? Little is known about commonalities in the main failings that preclude a care home’s closure after CQC intervention and little is known concerning the effects of closing down a home on healthcare professionals. To understand the common themes precluding care home closure and whether debriefing can aid healthcare professionals in dealing with the emotional challenges of care home closure. This study used thematic analysis to …

A Workforce Development Team’S Reflections On Social Work Retention And Turnover In South-East London, Uk, Mark Taylor, Shalini Abrol, Sharon Frieslaar, Corlea Taylor

Journal of Social Care

Statutory children’s services in England experience a high turnover of social work staff. Workforce development teams from these services are seen as part of the solution to reduce the haemorrhaging of social workers. However, how do those working in these teams imagine the world of staff turnover? This paper presents the perspectives of three experienced social workers from a workforce development team in South-East London on staff churn and retention. Informed by a collective experience of over 80 years in social work practice, management and mentoring roles, Sharon, Shalini and Corlea reflect and speculate on two contrasting experiences of social …

Are Social Care Managers Ready For Professional Registration And What Will The Implications Be On Their Role?, Lorraine O Brien

Journal of Social Care

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of social care managers understanding of CORU (Irish Social Care Registration Board) and the professional registration process. It is timely as it focuses on the responsibilities that social care managers have inherited due to the commencement of registration in November 2023. Furthermore, it emphasises the dual responsibilities that social care managers will take on, both as a manager and as a practitioner. Literature is presented in relation to the history of social care and the evolution of the regulation of the social care sector. The literature extends to offer a comparative context specific to …

Stigma Experience Of Men With Eating Disorders: A Scoping Review, Rachael Maloney, Louise Lunney, Olivia-Mari Lennox, Elena Vaughan, Colette Kelly

Journal of Social Care

This scoping review aimed to synthesise the literature concerning the stigma experiences of men with eating disorders. Seven databases were searched using relevant keywords and subject headings. Following deduplication, articles published since 2000 were screened against eligibility criteria. Key information was charted and analysed using descriptive statistics and deductive content analysis. The final sample (n=9) was synthesised under four categories of stigma experiences within the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. Internalised stigma was the most prevalent stigma experience across the included studies. This review suggests that men with eating disorders experience stigma in many forms and across various contexts, including …

Forgotten Victims: Recommendations For Social Care On The Impact On Children Of Their Parent’S Incarceration, Karla Kane Ms, Susan Flynn Dr

Journal of Social Care

In the wake of parental incarceration, remains the plight of children who are hidden and seldom appreciated victims. In this article, findings of a novel study into key dimensions of the impact of parental incarceration on children will be presented, including socioemotional and behavioral harm, and disenfranchised grief. The study employed a critical literature method which applied in-depth thematic analysis to a sample of twenty peer-reviewed international publications. Findings reveal that due to direct and indirect harm caused to children arising from parental criminality and the ineptitude of the criminal justice system, children are being punished despite no fault being …

Outcomes Measurement In Social Care: Insights From Current Evidence, Susan Flynn Dr, Sowmia Lakkshme Sundaresan Ms, Louise Caffrey Dr

Journal of Social Care

Outcomes measurement and evaluation in social care services have become of increasing importance. Contemporary social care services operate in a climate where accountability, transparency and cost efficiency are key to providing assurance to stakeholders, funders, and the public. In this article, thematic findings of a funded literature review are presented. The aim is to enhance understanding of how outcomes measurement can be used in social care services to improve quality, accountability, and value. Five themes are presented. These refer respectively to the vital importance of outcomes measurement; the variable nature of outcomes; strengths and limitations of outcomes measurement; the …

Editorial

Journal of Social Care

No abstract provided.

Body-Oriented Gesture Generation System For Medical Interpreter Robots Based On Reinforcement Learning From Human Feedback, Tung Ngo, Emma Murphy, Conor Mcginn, Robert Ross

Conference papers

Medical interpreters are crucial in facilitating communication between healthcare stakeholders who speak different languages. Body-oriented gestures convey critical information essential for accurate and high-quality interpretation in healthcare settings. This study introduces a body-oriented gesture generation system designed for medical interpreter robots based on reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). The system allows robots to interpret more naturally and improve over time through interactions with humans. By adopting a human-centered development approach, we tailor our system to address the actual needs of healthcare stakeholders.

Using Online Learning Courses As A Tool To Support Implementation Of National Standards: A Case Study, Shauna Mccarthy, Deirdre Connolly, Linda Weir, Laura O'Connor, Niamh O'Rourke

Journal of Social Care

National standards act as levers to improve the quality of health and social care services. Lack of knowledge and understanding has been identified as a barrier to implementation of standards into practice. As such, there has been a move internationally towards the development of tools and resources to support implementation. However, there is little literature describing the development or evaluation of such tools. The health and social care standards setting body in Ireland (Health Information and Quality Authority) has developed online learning courses, as a tool to support staff in health and social care services to adopt national standards into …

Affect Theory, The Perceived Impact Of Judicial Diversity, And The Gender Pay Gap In The Irish Legal Profession, Caoimhe Kiernan

Books/Book Chapters

This chapter investigates how affect theory can be used as a framework when examining judicial diversity, along with how affect theory can be used to help explore the impact of increasing gender diversity on the Irish bench. This chapter will first examine the current gender pay gap in the Irish legal profession, the status of women in Ireland throughout the 20th Century, recount the women’s movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s and discuss the appointment of the first women judges to Irish courts. Affect theory will then be explored, including how affect theory can be applied as a framework when …

A Qualitative Investigation Of A Setting-Wide Pbs Workforce Development Programme In An Adult Disability Setting, Deirdre Kearney, Shannon Sinnott, Olive Healy

Journal of Social Care

The presence of distressed behaviours can amplify the difficulties experienced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID), and place pressure on the provision of effective support by organisations and direct support personnel. Setting-wide positive behaviour support (PBS) is an evidence-based framework aimed at enhancing quality of life and reducing distressed behaviour for people with intellectual disabilities through systemic change. Implementation science offers a route to better understand how we can support organisations to adopt best practice into routine procedures. This study employed a qualitative research design to examine the facilitators and barriers of a workforce development programme in setting-wide PBS in …