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Purpose: Moral distress (MD) refers to the psychological disequilibrium that emerges when institutional policies and/or practices conflict with an individual's professional values and ethics. MD has been interrogated frequently in health care and ancillary medical settings, and has been identified as a critical barrier to enhanced organizational climate and patient care. However, little work has investigated experiences of MD among members of the intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) workforce. Methods: This study investigates MD in a sample of IPV and SV service providers via secondary analysis of 33 qualitative interviews conducted with service providers in the summer and fall of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic response was unfolding. Results: Qualitative content analysis revealed multiple overlapping vectors of MD experienced by IPV and SV service providers related to institutional resource constraints, providers working beyond their capacity and/or competency, shifting responsibilities within service agencies creating burdens among staff; and breakdowns in communication. Impacts of these experiences at individual, organizational, and client levels were identified by participants. Conculsions: The study uncovers the need for further investigation of MD as a framework within the IPV/SV field, as well as potential lessons from similar service settings which could support IPV and SV agencies in addressing staff experiences of MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed social realms and professional fields of practice including social work. Research is lacking on informal ICT use and its impact on clinical social work. The purpose of the current study was to examine social workers' informal ICT use with clients between sessions as an adjunct to face-to-face practice, and thus contribute to the paucity of literature on this phenomenon. An online survey, #socialwork, was distributed among social workers with direct client contact, across Canada (n = 2609) and the U.S. (n = 1225), to capture informal ICT use. Findings indicate that informal ICT use by social workers is ubiquitous and consistent across both countries. Older and more experienced practitioners, and social workers in private practice settings and who provide psychotherapy were among the highest users. The findings related to social media and increased interaction outside of work hours reveal that ICTs are impacting the working relationship. Many of the social workers were not aware of a workplace policy on informal ICT use and report that they do not talk with either their supervisors or peers about their informal ICT use with clients. Given the frequency of informal ICT use within social work practice, significantly more attention is required in research, education and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) (including mobile devices) are characterized by the integration of technology into communication, and have revolutionized how individuals interact. ICTs have led to transformative changes in social work and other disciplines including education and psychology. Despite becoming increasingly popular in traditional face-to-face social work practice, research is lacking on informal ICT use by practitioners with clients, which typically occurs between sessions, but also within, as an unplanned (and often unsanctioned) adjunct to traditional face-to-face practice ( Informal Intersession ICTs). As social work practitioners grapple with the rapid expansion of ICTs, there is a need to address the ethical, legal, systemic and professional benefits and challenges that inevitably arise. Such knowledge is necessary to inform practice and policy. Thus, the purpose of this practice update is to elucidate a framework for theoretical understanding of informal use of ICTs in social work, and draw attention to how ICTs have expanded and altered existing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]