Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

In this paper, initial findings from a cross national research study in Greece and UK examine why resilience is an important concept for social work practitioners. Resilience is a complex and culturally sensitive multifaceted construct that enables us to cope with stressful life events. In the literature it is defined as the ability to withstand adversity, recover from disruption and ‘bounce back’ by returning to previous levels of functioning. Recent research among social workers in the UK suggests that stress resilience enhances emotional well being, and helps staff cope with the constant flow of potentially traumatic events. In the current research with practitioners it was found that resilience was an important part of human capital that increased the sense of ‘organisational belonging’ expressed in terms of team loyalty, common values and intellectual bonds. This helped staff work more effectively and feel supported. In Greece the absence of clear legal structures meant that staff drew upon personal qualities and used informal support networks and peer supervision to promote resilience. In the UK resilience was enhanced by formal supervision which helped staff manage high caseloads and the pressure of meeting government targets, against a backdrop of growing inequality and exclusion. Overall, the conflicts experienced by practitioners were found to be similar, albeit arising from different factors that highlight the socio-cultural divide, but the human spirit that emerged from both countries emphasised the importance of nurturing the person in order to promote resilience.