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The Cooperation among Social Workers and Education Welfare Officers
ŠRÁMKOVÁ, Klára
High-school students' behavioural problems are caused by a number of factors. These include individual genetic dispositions as well as family upbringing and other environmental influences. Recently, adolescent problem behaviour has become an increasingly discussed issue. It therefore seems necessary to be able to respond to this challenge in the best possible way and look for appropriate strategies that may effectively remedy the situation. It is therefore useful to have a team of multidisciplinary experts available that is equipped to face such problems and able to guide the child through the entire process. The first one to notice problem behaviour may be the parent, teacher, or class-mate. The list may also include education welfare officer who is typically in charge of handling such issues at school. Their role in tackling problem behaviour is in fact essential. The same applies to the other experts involved in work with students namely social workers from the child's legal protection and social welfare department unit, court employees, police officers, employees of institutions dealing with children's behavioural disorders etc. The social worker that assist families to manage adolescent problem behaviour or other family issues often plays an important role in the struggling young person's life these days. The thesis is based on a qualitative type of research, interview being its main data collection method. The individual case studies this thesis works with were identified beforehand and included social workers, education welfare officers as well as students. The data have been obtained through semi-structured interviews. The actual data collection took place from March to April 2016. For the sake of maintaining their authenticity, the interviews were transcribed literally, with no further editing. In this particular thesis, the social workers and educational consultants involved in dealing with students of vocational and professional high-schools were specifically targeted. These workers were identified according to the schools location, namely in Břeclav District. Another researched unit were the apprentices of the Břeclav District vocational school. There are two objectives of this thesis; the first one tackling mutual cooperation of the education welfare officers and the social worker, the second on focusing the students and their interest in the support services at their school. The conclusions of the research indicate that education welfare officers and social workers are fairly satisfied with their cooperation. Both groups work under significant time pressure that does not allow them to deal with a specific case beyond certain limit and they welcome if problematic cases are first investigated by the institution that primary deals with them. The most common problems are absenteeism, students' inappropriate behaviour, study problems and personal troubles, bullying, school performance and family financial problems. In case of the second research question that focuses on students, the research conclusions indicate that most often, the apprentices prefer to handle their problems at home with their parents or at school with their class-mates, friends, teachers, head-teachers or with an actual education welfare officers as well as with a psychologist. Trust is being regarded as very important in such situations. Most of the respondents were able describe the role of a welfare officer with success. With the exception of one female student, all respondents indicated they would be willing to contact the education welfare officer if they had problems.
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Senior´s Subjectively Perceived Quality of Life in Mikulov
ŠRÁMKOVÁ, Klára
The aim of this thesis is the quality of life subjectively felt by senior citizens living in the town Mikulov. For the elderly, a high-quality life is very important. It is usually a consequence of how the senior citizens are prepared for their own old age. The level of self-sufficiency and autonomy is equally crucial, as well as the extent of changes connected to ageing. Presence of an illness that limits the senior citizen also plays an important role. The thesis consists of two main parts. The first one is theoretical and deals with the above mentioned quality of life and factors that might influence it. Terms such as old age and ageing are defined in this part and also the periodization of old age and categorization of senior citizens are given. This part also describes the changes connected with ageing. The practical part of the thesis aims to determine the impact of different lifestyle on the quality of life and in general the factors influencing it. The method used is SEIQoL. This method uses direct answers of respondents, who give themselves five life goals (34). The necessary data was received on the bases of an additional method ? the semi-structured interview, which enabled to profoundly treat the different goals and to get to know the respondents better (understand their values). The data were then analysed using the pattern (gestalt) recognition method. The nature of this method is to detect certain patterns and structures that are more general and that based on similarity or diversity (21). The respondents were chosen intentionally according to certain criteria (21). For the purposes of this research, male and female senior citizens of very various ages and with various lifestyles were chosen. More precisely, the senior citizens chosen are four women between 67 and 80 and four men between 65 and 83. According to the research, the main factors affecting the quality of life of senior citizens are health and family. Different lifestyle of respondents is apparent once regarded their social life (family structures, friendships) in a closer perspective. As for the senior citizens that do not live in their own house or apartment, the research didn?t indicate any important differences. Three (out of eight) respondents are in this living situation. They affirm to have gotten used to the current living situation and be happy about it in the present. The living situation is also connected to the financial situation of the senior citizens. In case of respondents living in their own house or apartment, the monthly payments are reduced only to the overhead costs. In case of those living in a nursing home or home for the elderly, there is also the rent. I therefore suppose that different lifestyle of the senior citizens is not that important overall. What is more important, it is the level of satisfaction of senior citizens? needs and different factors affecting the quality of life in general. Among the most important ones can be mentioned: family, health and financial security (8). The respondents also agreed on the importance of their leisure time and of the way they are spending it. The void that comes naturally after the children leave home is generally filled by some domestic animal to keep the senior citizen company. Two of the respondents equally mentioned contentedness among other factors affecting their life. On the basis of this research we can assume that senior citizens in Mikulov are generally happy and the level of their subjectively felt quality of life is high. This thesis can serve as a source of information for those who are interested in related topics. Moreover, it can be used as a bases for creating measures that would improve the life quality of senior citizens in Mikulov.
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