Clinical social work

I would like to be explained to me the role of social workers and why I should meet with one in the context of my visits to the cystic fibrosis clinic. Do they have a particular role in a hospital environment?

The specificity of social work is still very unknown in the general population. Social workers are often associated with social control agents responsible for enforcing laws, particularly in the context of youth protection or the establishment of guardianship for an adult declared unfit. While it is true that our work includes a protection component for the most vulnerable populations, it would be greatly simplistic to think that social work is just that. Moreover, the role of the social worker varies enormously depending on the environment in which the professional is called upon to intervene.

The objective of hospital social service is to offer quality services to users who face physical or mental health problems as well as to their loved ones, in accordance with the values of respect, mutual assistance, human dignity, human dignity, self-determination, self-determination, self-determination, justice, equity and social commitment. Various problems may justify the intervention of a social worker working in the outpatient clinic of a hospital center:

— Psychological distress

-Loss of physical autonomy

— Grief

— Dependencies

— Situations of violence or abuse (physical, psychological, sexual, financial)

— Socio-economic precariousness

— Food insecurity

— Interpersonal, marital, family or work difficulties

— Difficulties in terms of therapeutic adherence

— Difficulties related to the process of adaptation to the disease

A social worker in a hospital environment can offer direct help with these problems and/or can refer you to other internal or external resources that may be able to help you. In addition, he can assist you by offering psychosocial support in the context of your visits to the clinic or externally if necessary. Solutions adapted to the difficulties you are experiencing may be proposed to you. He also works to ensure that these difficulties, if applicable, are taken into consideration by the entire medical team in developing the treatment plan.

Finally, it takes a global look at clinical situations. More than just a relayer of information, he is a resource person. The nature of the interventions carried out varies according to the situation of each user, but the objective remains the same: to find what the person needs to maintain or restore their social functioning.

Therefore, do not hesitate to ask for the involvement of a social worker when you encounter difficulties. The social worker assigned to your clinic will be able to establish with you a climate of trust, devoid of judgment, within which you will be able to develop a therapeutic alliance and receive listening, support, as well as possible solutions. —

By Marie-Ève Major

Social worker at the CHUM cystic fibrosis clinic

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