Research in Social Services: enhancing the professionalisation of in the sector
How does the vocational rehabilitation of people with mental health problems contribute to society? What impact does a harm reduction program have on homeless people? How does sport improve the well-being of adolescents with behavioural disorders? How does the design of spaces affect the lives of people with disabilities? What effects does art have on vulnerable people?
These are some of the questions that the team at Clariane seeks an answer to through social services research. If society and its needs change, the responses need to follow.
Social services are a fundamental pillar for ensuring well-being and equity in any society. Their main objective is to meet the needs of people in vulnerable situations, promote inclusion, and improve their quality of life. For these services to be truly effective, it is essential that they are backed by rigorous and continuous research.
Data is the tool that enables reliable decision-making. Research helps to obtain data to understand realities, to identify which strategies work best in different contexts, to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and policies implemented, and to optimize available resources—in short, to improve current interventions.
Hence why, when society and its needs change, responses need to change as well.
For instance, in our ever-changing society, we expect social problems to follow a similar pattern. Against this backdrop, research is key to detecting emerging needs and helping to anticipate the responses that professionals can offer. In addition, research provides access to methodologies such as participatory action research, allowing social services users to become involved in identifying solutions, resulting in more inclusive and democratic outcomes.
Research allows social workers to move away from do-goodism and charity enhancing the professionalisation of the sector by certifying methodologies or good practices that are based on scientific evidence. This is because interventions in the social environment involve a substantial change in the way public and private resources are managed, generating positive and long-term social impacts for vulnerable people. This rings true for the entire society, as research allows us to understand diversity as a precious resource for our communities.
Conclusion: between assuming and knowing
At Clariane, we are aware that research in social services is not a luxury, but a necessity for building fairer and more equitable societies. Only through a data-driven approach, continuous evaluation, and active participation can efficient services that are adapted to changing realities be guaranteed. Investing in social research means investing in collective well-being, in people's futures, in the sustainability of the system in general, and of our company in particular. Finally, there is one last question that the team at Clariane asks itself daily, and that is how we can improve the lives of the people we serve. Luckily, our answer is clear, as our understanding of social intervention is shaped by a clear differentiation between “assuming” and “knowing”.
To learn more about the answers to Clariane’s questions, visit https://www.grupo5.net/conocimiento-grupo-5/
Philippe Morin
CEO Clariane España