The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) developed these practice guidelines for liaison social workers in nursing home and community settings in response to the distress, hardship and grief caused by the Covid-19 crisis. A similar model of practice is already used in hospital and palliative care settings and is adapted here for use in nursing homes and community residential settings to ensure equity in access to social work support for all people and families regardless of their location of care and death.
This guidance has been developed alongside the IASW document “The Liaison Social Work Role in Nursing Homes and Residential Settings: A Model for Practice”.
This document provides practical guidance on the role of the liaison social worker in nursing
home and residential care settings. Drawing on key messages from research and building on
feedback received from liaison social workers who have been providing services in nursing
home and residential care settings throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, this model provides
clear guidance which supports the delivery of a comprehensive social work service to
vulnerable adults and their families.
Importantly, this guidance reflects the feedback, queries and concerns expressed by
residents and families to liaison Social Workers already in post, reflecting the IASW view that
the learning from the lived experience of recipients of care and services must inform practice.
McGarry, S., Cuskelly, K., Reilly, P., Coffey, A., Finucane, N., O’Loughlin, A., Casey, L., The liaison Social Work role in nursing homes and residential settings: guidance for Social Workers. Dublin, Irish Association of Social Workers, 2020, 34 p.
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