“Covered in Paperwork”- Social Workers’ Perspectives on Bureaucracy

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative study that highlights the effects of bureaucracy on social workers and beneficiaries as well as the support factors that help social workers cope with bureaucratic demands. The focus on administrative tasks and the large volume of paperwork hinders the work of social workers, reduce the time dedicated to beneficiaries, delay their access to resources and services and decrease trust in the system. Digitalization, simplification of procedures, and coordination between institutions can help reduce bureaucracy in social work.