Keeping connected: Family therapists' experiences of working online during the COVID‐19 pandemic

For this qualitative study, eight family therapists were interviewed about their experiences of practising online during the pandemic. Findings are organised using a framework of problems, possibilities, resources and restraints (PPRR, Neden & Burnham, 2007). Despite variation in therapist confidence in online practice, all participants found new possibilities in this way of working, including connecting family members across distance, increased co‐construction within therapeutic relationships and engaging clients who would not usually attend appointments. Therapeutic alliance was generally possible to establish online, though felt more challenging with whole families than individuals. Problems and restraints included therapist fatigue, risk and safety management, and attuning to nuanced expression of emotion. Implications for practice and future research are proposed. It is suggested that systemic practice has unique qualities to offer the field of online psychotherapy.

Evidencing best practice for teaching empathy skills to healthcare professionals: literature review

Introduction: Research into patients' perception of empathy has revealed that patients with stomas feel unsupported by healthcare professionals, who can lack an understanding of how it feels to live life with a stoma. A literature review was undertaken to explore what is the evidence for best practice for teaching empathy skills to healthcare professionals and how this can be applied to caring for people with a stoma. Search strategy: Included studies were required to explore teaching empathy or measuring levels of empathy in pre- and post-graduate nurses and in healthcare professionals caring for patients with a stoma. Excluded studies were those involving paediatric and mental health nursing, as these domains of nursing were considered to differ in clinical specialism and any other healthcare professional discipline outside the nursing profession such as doctors or allied healthcare professionals. Results: Given the number of articles reporting that empathy is lacking in stoma care, it is remarkable that so little original research has been carried out in this area, specifically the lack of qualitative research. A variety of interventions were used to assess empathy in pre- and post-graduate nurses, from multiple nations with diverse cultures. Conclusions: Results from the data revealed several themes for the best practice of teaching empathy skills to healthcare professionals, including essential nurse attributes, innate nurse characteristics, nurse experience and the contribution of experiential learning.

Changing English Local Authority Duties by the Adoption of Easements in the COVID-19 Pandemic, Findings from an Interview-Based Study

This article reports findings from a study on the effect of the adjustments or 'easements' that were made to the 2014 Care Act when measures to manage the impact of COVID-19 were introduced in England in 2020. Only eight local authorities (LAs) implemented the changes permitted. The experiences of five are explored in this article. Data were collected in 2021 through interviews with Directors of Adult Social Services and other senior managers in these LAs and analysed using a thematic approach. Participants referred to the challenges under which they were working pre-pandemic, including resource pressures and problems recruiting and retaining staff. Despite the conditions attached to adopting easements these LAs had done so because of the uncertainties they were facing. All ceased to use them within a short time because they could manage without them. They had been shocked by the concerted opposition to easements and the time necessitated in responding to this. They contrasted their experiences with the apparent ease with which NHS colleagues had been able to change their practices. The experiences of these LAs may contribute to planning for the continuity of social care in any future emergency.

Social Workers Response to Domestic Violence and Abuse during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The rapid global spread of COVID-19 has put increased pressure on health and social service providers, including social workers who continued front line practice throughout the pandemic, engaging with some of the most vulnerable in society often experiencing multiple adversities alongside domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Movement restrictions and stay-at-home orders introduced to slow the spread of the virus, paradoxically leave these families at even greater risk from those within the home. Utilising a survey methodology combining both open- and closed-ended questions, this study captured a picture of social work practice in Ireland with families experiencing DVA during the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings highlight both the changes and challenges in work practices and procedures that limit social work assessment and quality contact with families, changes to the help-seeking behaviours from victims/survivors, as well as emerging innovative practice responses with enhanced use of technology. Implications for practice include an increased awareness of the risk and prevalence of DVA accelerated by the pandemic. Conclusions assert that social work assessment and intervention with families experiencing DVA must remain adaptive to the changing COVID-19 context and continue to develop innovative practice approaches.