"the Sky Is the Limit": Constructing the Social Worker's Role In a "Community Approach" Service for Family Caregivers of Older Adults

Background and Purpose: The community approach in social work strives to dissolve traditional methodological boundaries, integrating micro and macro practices into a single, holistic professional role. This study examines the role perceptions of social workers in a unique service for family caregivers of older adults, a program formally implementing an integrative community approach. The program's core mission is to make this population visible and ensure their rights are realized while improving the quality of life for both caregivers and the older adults they support. This advances social justice and the common good. Currently, a gap exists in understanding the implementation of community approaches and professional role construction in such services. This research utilizes Role Theory to analyze professional behavior and identity through a multi-perspective lens.

Methods: This qualitative study was based on a phenomenological paradigm. Participants (N=28) included 11 social workers in the service for caregivers of older adults, 6 managers, 2 headquarters staff, and 9 service recipients (family caregivers of older adults). Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed via inductive thematic analysis. Ethical approval was obtained prior to the study.

Results: Data analysis revealed three central themes:

1. "I need to learn a new language": This theme captures the transition from role-taking to role-making. Practitioners describe the metaphor of learning a new professional "language" to work with a "universal population" that extends beyond traditional elderly clients or classic welfare recipients.
2. "The story of the service is the movement between different methods": Social workers design their interventions by integrating micro and macro methods to provide optimal service. This involves a unique combination of individual, group, and community work tailored to the specific needs of caregivers.
3. "A population that doesn't know it is at-risk": Social workers identify that effective support requires facilitating client socialization. They help family members recognize their identity as "caregivers" who "need help," which is a prerequisite for service engagement and resource access.

Conclusions and Implications: Surprisingly, practitioners described multi-method work as role accumulation, an advantage, rather than a conflict. The ability to provide a broad response appears to reduce the frustration typical of single-method work and increases satisfaction through frequent role transitions between micro and macro methods that enrich the professional role. While such transitions are usually associated with role strain, it is possible that practitioners adopt an "extension" mechanism. They strategically expand their activities into micro and macro levels to manage pressure in certain areas, allowing them to focus on comfortable interventions without admitting failure, a view supported by manager reports of occasional inadequate responses.

Policy-wise, the study highlights the importance of formally recognizing micro-macro integration as a tool for social justice, helping "invisible" caregivers become recognized "role holders." Social work education should emphasize multi-method skills, enabling practitioners to adapt to client needs in the field and provide more precise interventions. Ensuring practitioners are trained as multi-methods specialists is vital for service sustainability, high-quality assistance, and the advancement of social justice.