O impacto da COVID-19 em profissionais de serviço social portugueses e brasileiros: Um estudo exploratório

Marina Monteiro de Castro e Castro; Sónia Ribeiro

doi:10.31211/rpics.2022.8.2.275

Authors

Marina Monteiro de Castro e Castro Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Serviço Social, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9027-4659
Sónia Ribeiro Instituto Superior Miguel Torga, Coimbra; Universidade Lusófona do Porto, FCESE, TRIE, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3404-467X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2022.8.2.275

Keywords:

COVID-19, Impact, Pandemic, Social Work

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the professional reality of Portuguese and Brazilian social workers. Social workers were challenged to perform their professional practice, as an essential service, under conditions of great uncertainty and high risk, as was the case of the pandemic. The objective of the investigation is organized into three axes of analysis: 1) impact of the pandemic on the direct beneficiaries of the social work; 2) difficulties, challenges, and new practices and methodologies in social intervention; 3) reconciliation of personal/professional life and future concerns of these professionals. Methods: Data was collected through a sociodemographic and professional questionnaire and an interview guide. In Portugal, the videoconferencing platform Zoom was used to conduct 20 interviews with social workers, and in Brazil, 17 interviews were carried out in person. Results: Social distancing during the pandemic involved adopting virtual technologies in social work practice. In a professional practice where face-to-face is central to the relationship, confinement and isolation were major constraints. Social workers operated with insecurity, difficulties accessing personal protective equipment, intensifying work, and adaptation to a new work dynamic. Conclusions: The social workers surveyed, although exhausted, expressed that they were resilient and able to quickly adapt to new practices, refusing to abandon the values and ethical principles of the profession. Moreover, in a context of great uncertainty, little information, fear, and even with few resources, they kept in mind the sense of mission and solidary commitment that defines the profession to ensure people's access to rights, well-being, and safety.

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