Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The main research aims of the study were to discover: 1. the extent to which social workers used volunteers, the nature of their relationships with them and the types of activity in which they were engaged; 2. how social workers themselves perceived the role and contribution of volunteers, and their assessment of their experiences, if any, of working with them; 3. some of the factors which were significantly associated with the use of volunteers.

Main Topics:

Behavioural/Attitudinal Questions The extent and scale of volunteer use by social workers in the statutory personal social services (local authority and probation services); the reasons for use and non-use; the kinds of activity undertaken by volunteers; the kinds of clients helped by volunteers; the patterns of collaboration between social workers and volunteers. The main variables found to be significantly associated with volunteer use were the designations of the professionals or paid workers involved and the type and size of their caseloads and the division of labour within the relevant departments. Background Variables Information was also collected about members of the social work profession; their ages, gender, designations, length of experience, qualifications, etc.

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

structured on the basis of local authorities, social service department area offices, and social worker designations. The same or equivalent administrative areas selected for the probation service

Postal survey