Social workers are facing increasingly complex client needs during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because of the social distancing requirements of the pandemic, social workers have undergone transformative changes in practice with the rapid uptake of virtual technologies. The objective of our study was to understand the experiences of social workers during the first-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey, comprised of close-ended and open-ended questions. Survey participants included social workers who were the members of a provincial social work association in Ontario, Canada. With n = 2,470 participants, the response rate was close to 40 per cent. Descriptive statistics were conducted on the close-ended questions. Two open-ended questions were coded using the thematic analysis. Nine themes were identified on the impact to social worker’s employment status: increased work-load; loss of employment; redeployment to new settings; early retirement; concern for personal health and safety; social workers in private practice seeing fewer clients; personal caregiving responsibilities; limiting recent graduates’ employment potential and social workers experiencing new opportunities. There were five themes on the impact on social work practice: clients with increasing complexities; challenges with transition to virtual care; benefits with transition to virtual care; adapting in-person services and personal well-being.

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COVID-19 大流行对前线社会工作者的影响：对加拿大社会工作者的调查

在 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行期间，社会工作者面临着日益复杂的客户需求。由于大流行对社会疏远的要求，随着虚拟技术的迅速普及，社会工作者在实践中发生了变革。我们研究的目的是了解社会工作者在第一波 COVID-19 大流行期间的经历。我们进行了一项基于网络的横断面调查，包括封闭式和开放式问题。调查参与者包括作为加拿大安大略省省级社会工作协会成员的社会工作者。当 n = 2,470 名参与者时，回复率接近 40%。对封闭式问题进行了描述性统计。使用主题分析对两个开放式问题进行编码。关于对社会工作者就业状况的影响，确定了九个主题：增加工作量；失业；重新部署到新环境；提前退休; 关注个人健康和安全；私人执业的社会工作者看到的客户较少；个人看护责任；限制应届毕业生的就业潜力和体验新机会的社会工作者。对社会工作实践的影响有五个主题：越来越复杂的客户；向虚拟护理过渡的挑战；过渡到虚拟护理的好处；调整面对面的服务和个人福祉。私人执业的社会工作者看到的客户较少；个人看护责任；限制应届毕业生的就业潜力和体验新机会的社会工作者。对社会工作实践的影响有五个主题：越来越复杂的客户；向虚拟护理过渡的挑战；过渡到虚拟护理的好处；调整面对面的服务和个人福祉。私人执业的社会工作者看到的客户较少；个人看护责任；限制应届毕业生的就业潜力和体验新机会的社会工作者。对社会工作实践的影响有五个主题：越来越复杂的客户；向虚拟护理过渡的挑战；过渡到虚拟护理的好处；调整面对面的服务和个人福祉。