The 5+1 Practice Research Model in Health Social Work: The "Eye of the Storm"

Purpose: The 5 + 1 Collaboration is an initiative where five teaching hospitals and a leading Melbourne university collaborate to promote and strengthen research, clinical practice in health social work, teaching, and collaboration. This collaboration fosters greater connection between academics, practitioners, and social work students. The 5 + 1 Collaboration provides a unique platform for the advancement of effective practice, practice-driven research, and student field education placements. Method: In a prospective study (2020 through 2021), employing the 5 + 1 model, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 100 frontline hospital social workers from five Melbourne hospitals participated in this study to determine, in detail, how the pandemic had affected their work. Results: This provided at a granular level, significant insights relating to the impact of the pandemic on the provision of social work services in the acute hospital setting. Additionally, during the study period, academic social work student placements were made at the five participating hospitals, with the students actively participating as part of the research team and providing feedback about their own experiences. Discussion: The study documented the challenges to hospital social work practice because of the pandemic, how hospital social workers rose to the challenges, and, importantly, adapted their practice and acquired new skills. This information may inform future hospital social work practice. The study also demonstrated that effective on-line student placements were possible, even in the setting of a pandemic.