Characteristics of Long-Term Clients of Social Work in Municipalities in the Vysočina Region

Jana Gabrielová, Markéta Dubnová, Martina Zámková, Martina Černá, Vlasta Řezníková, Martin Prokop

Jana Gabrielová is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Work, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. She focuses on social work with older people and the connection between health and social issues.

Markéta Dubnová is the head of the Department of Social Work, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. She lectures and guarantees students’ internships within the Clinical Social Worker study programme. She focuses on mental health care.

Martina Zámková is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. She specialises in mathematics, statistics and economics.

Martina Černá is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Work, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. She specialises in social psychology and volunteering for selected target groups and also works as a psychotherapist.

Vlasta Řezníková is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Work, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. She focuses on mental health care.

Martin Prokop is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, The College of Polytechnics Jihlava. He specialises in statistics and physics.

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The paper aims to map socio-demographic indicators of long-term clients of social work in municipalities in the Vysočina Region and, in connection with this, verify whether there is a dependence between the record time length and selected socio-demographic indicators (age, sex, target group according to the prevailing social problem) for long-term clients of social work in municipalities. THEORETICAL BASE: Social work in municipalities is a vital tool to help vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens and people in an adverse social situation. Since 2014, the number of social work clients in municipalities has declined, but the work intensity with long-term clients has increased. METHODS: A quantitative analysis of 1,554 Standardised Records created by social workers of all authorised municipal offices of the Vysočina Region was performed. OUTCOMES: Based on the analysis of the obtained data, the basic socio-demographic characteristics of long-term clients are described. The research results show no statistically significant relationship between the record time length and sex. However, a statistically significant relationship between the record time length and age and between record time length and the target group was demonstrated. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: The paper provides valuable and unique information about long-term social work clients in municipalities in the Czech Republic.

Keywords
long-term client, municipality, social work, Vysočina Region, correspondence analysis

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