Browsing by Author "Isakov, Anita Burgund"
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- Family support workforce skills: a conceptualization through a delphi studyPublication . Zegarac, Nevenka; Isakov, Anita Burgund; Jović, Nikola; Mešl, Nina; Martins, Cátia; Nunes, CristinaFamily support workforce encompasses a diverse range of professionals, and defining the skills required for this workforce is a multifaceted challenge. A Delphi study was designed to explore the core and field-specific skills essential for family support practitioners, with a keen focus on their implications for a comprehensive model. There were three rounds, with 31 family professionals participating in the first round, and 27 in the second and third rounds. In the initial round, data were gathered to inform subsequent rounds. A comprehensive, structured questionnaire featuring Likert-type scales and ranking options was developed for the second round, encompassing 122 variables across 11 questions. The third round involved panellists responding to 15 yes-no questions, with the opportunity to provide explanations when answering negatively.Findings The findings of this research contribute to the development of a model that outlines family support skills, highlighting the intricate interplay between core and field-specific skills, knowledge, approaches, personal traits, and amalgam qualities within the family support workforce. These core and field-specific workforce skills are strengthened by specific knowledge and practice approaches, reinforced by practitioner traits and qualities that facilitate effective family support. Applications The results of the study can contribute to the development of training for future providers and to the improvement of professional competencies. Implications of this study invite for the development of plain policies regarding education, development of professional competences, and the design of family supportive organizations and services.
- Family support workforce skills: Pathways towards (new) conceptualizationsPublication . Zegarac, Nevenka; Mesl, Nina; Isakov, Anita Burgund; Buciuceanu-Vrabie, Mariana; Antunes, Ana Maria Pereira; Nunes, CristinaProfessionals working in different areas of family support have diverse conceptual assumptions and epistemological frameworks. Thus, a common conceptualization of family support workforce skills presents major research and practical challenge. Beyond general recognizability, a growing knowledge base and interests, there is still no generally accepted concept of what family support is as a practice, policy, and theoretical construct. This paper attempts to conceptualize the skills for the practice of family support in different professions and social sectors through several research approaches. Initially, we analyzed the content of websites with international organizations’ resources about skills in family support. Second, we systematically reviewed literature using the PRISMA method. Last, we reviewed literature, including professional handbooks and publications. The content analysis and systematic literature reviews indicate that as an interdisciplinary concept, family support workforce skills are generally familiar, but not defined nor specified and differentiated from other skills used in the broad field of work with families. So, to deepen the knowledge on family support workforce skills and reach a reliable consensus, the Delphi method was used with a series of questionnaires at different stages of research. Results indicate that specific core and field-specific skills become family supportive when they are applied in the contexts of strength and relationship-based approach as well as both – whole family and child-centred approach. That has opened up new possibilities for more precise efinitions, recognisability and transferability of family support skills and construction of a conceptual model.
- Professional skills in family support: A systematic reviewPublication . Dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Isakov, Anita Burgund; Martins, Cátia; Antunes, Ana Pereira; Zegarac, Nevenka; Nunes, C.Family support encompasses a wide variety of professionals, sectors, and intervention paradigms that make it difficult to systematize and standardize the skills needed by the family support workforce. The present study aimed to describe the relevant skills of professionals, organize the main skills into different categories, and contribute to the development of intervention standardization guidelines in the field of family support. So, a systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in five databases and included the analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, and all studies were qualitatively assessed. Of the initial 3334 articles identified, 59 studies were included, and four categories were identified: professionals’ qualities, essential skills common to all professions and contexts, specific knowledge, and theoretical approaches necessary for family support. Most of the studies were from the United Kingdom, qualitative, published in the last 10 years, used small samples, and included a specific group of professionals. The included studies did not specify whether some skills or characteristics were considered more effective in practice, and they had bias issues related to social desirability. The implications for family support practice are discussed, as well as the gaps to be covered in future studies.
- Workforce skills in family support: a systematic reviewPublication . Zegarac, Nevenka; Isakov, Anita Burgund; Nunes, Cristina; Antunes, AnaPurpose: Skills used in the practice of family support workforce are implemented in different settings and frameworks. The conceptual assumptions and epistemological frameworks of diversity are a challenge. Various paradigms of intervention, different sectors, and disciplinary involvement indicate the need to systematize and clarify knowledge in the field. Method: Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, a systematic review was conducted, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies on skills in the practice of family support. Results: The literature was collected in an exhaustive search of several databases, where a set of 8,489 papers was selected. The workforce skills described were the qualities of the professionals, technical skills, and specific knowledge. Discussion: Most of the studies were literature reviews, did not define specific skills, had very small samples, and had issues with bias. We discuss implications for practice in social work as well as the gaps to be covered in further research of family support.