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Submission information
Submission Number: 225
Submission ID: 1378
Submission UUID: d4c3444f-05fa-4b62-9c1f-45b284b13670
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Sun, 06/29/2025 - 12:47
Completed: Sun, 06/29/2025 - 13:19
Changed: Wed, 07/30/2025 - 19:57
Remote IP address: 82.79.210.177
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Presenters
Ms.
Ferent
Florentina
University of bucharest, doctoral school of sociology, social work field
Ferent Florentina is a PhD student at the University of Bucharest - Doctoral School of Sociology, Social Work Domain, and a social worker, in a emergency intervention team, with over 20 years of experience working directly with vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on the intersection of professional burnout in social work and the effectiveness of interventions for people experiencing homelessness. Today's presentation explores the critical role of supervision as a protective factor against systemic failure in supporting this population."
Breakdown of key terms:
Asistent universitar doctor: Translated as "Assistant Professor," which is a common equivalent in many systems, or you can use "Lecturer" or "Teaching Assistant" if it fits better.
Populații vulnerabile: "Vulnerable populations."
Epuizare profesională: "Professional burnout."
Persoane fără adăpost: "People experiencing homelessness" (this is modern, person-first language preferred in the field over "the homeless").
Eșec sistemic: "Systemic failure."
Factor de protecție: "Protective factor."
Breakdown of key terms:
Asistent universitar doctor: Translated as "Assistant Professor," which is a common equivalent in many systems, or you can use "Lecturer" or "Teaching Assistant" if it fits better.
Populații vulnerabile: "Vulnerable populations."
Epuizare profesională: "Professional burnout."
Persoane fără adăpost: "People experiencing homelessness" (this is modern, person-first language preferred in the field over "the homeless").
Eșec sistemic: "Systemic failure."
Factor de protecție: "Protective factor."
No
Abstract
The Cornerstone of Care: Why Supervision is Critical in Supporting Social Workers and People Experiencing Rough Sleeping
THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SUB 2.3 Work with special and vulnerable populations (children, families, women, older persons, LGBTQIA+ etc).
Oral Presentation
Title: The Cornerstone of Care: Why Supervision is Critical in Supporting Social Workers and People Experiencing Rough Sleeping
Abstract
This research addresses the systemic failure of social services to effectively engage individuals experiencing long-term rough sleeping. It builds upon findings from a one-year observational study in Bucharest, which documented a population marked by severe mental and physical deterioration and highlighted that interactions with social services are "minimal and unproductive," leading to widespread client distrust.
This paper argues that this service delivery breakdown is intrinsically linked to a critical, yet often overlooked, factor: the inadequate professional and personal support for frontline social workers. By synthesizing the study's empirical observations with established literature on professional burnout and secondary trauma, this analysis demonstrates how the immense emotional and psychological burden of this work directly impairs a worker’s ability to build rapport and trust. Without proper support systems, social workers are highly susceptible to burnout and feelings of helplessness, which translates directly into the ineffective client engagement observed.
Therefore, this paper concludes that robust clinical supervision is not an administrative luxury but a core component of any effective response to homelessness. Effective supervision provides a vital reflective space for workers to process trauma, develop strategies for engaging resistant clients, and navigate systemic barriers without becoming demoralized. To build the coordinated and more humane approach that is urgently needed, we must first invest in the resilience, skills, and well-being of the professionals tasked with its delivery. This foundational support is the essential first step toward meaningful and sustainable change.
Key words: Social Work Supervision, Homelessness / Rough Sleeping, Professional Burnout, Secondary Trauma, Client Engagement, Workforce Resilience / Support
Abstract
This research addresses the systemic failure of social services to effectively engage individuals experiencing long-term rough sleeping. It builds upon findings from a one-year observational study in Bucharest, which documented a population marked by severe mental and physical deterioration and highlighted that interactions with social services are "minimal and unproductive," leading to widespread client distrust.
This paper argues that this service delivery breakdown is intrinsically linked to a critical, yet often overlooked, factor: the inadequate professional and personal support for frontline social workers. By synthesizing the study's empirical observations with established literature on professional burnout and secondary trauma, this analysis demonstrates how the immense emotional and psychological burden of this work directly impairs a worker’s ability to build rapport and trust. Without proper support systems, social workers are highly susceptible to burnout and feelings of helplessness, which translates directly into the ineffective client engagement observed.
Therefore, this paper concludes that robust clinical supervision is not an administrative luxury but a core component of any effective response to homelessness. Effective supervision provides a vital reflective space for workers to process trauma, develop strategies for engaging resistant clients, and navigate systemic barriers without becoming demoralized. To build the coordinated and more humane approach that is urgently needed, we must first invest in the resilience, skills, and well-being of the professionals tasked with its delivery. This foundational support is the essential first step toward meaningful and sustainable change.
Key words: Social Work Supervision, Homelessness / Rough Sleeping, Professional Burnout, Secondary Trauma, Client Engagement, Workforce Resilience / Support
Reviewer ONE Feedback
Dr
Mariette
van Straaten
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted
Reviewer TWO Feedback
Dr
Nontombi
Velelo
Yes
Practice
Pending Review