"Every Provider Saw My Role Differently" : Interprofessional Perceptions of Social Workers' Roles in Behavioral Health Care

Background and purpose: Clear role description and well-defined professional boundaries within interdisciplinary teams are essential for effective collaboration. Yet, little is known regarding the perception of social workers roles by other team members in behavioral health settings. This study explored social work students’ perceptions of how their team members viewed their roles and skills within behavioral health care settings.

Methods: Data were derived from a mixed-method study that evaluated the federally funded Opioid Workforce Expansion Program for MSW students. This study focused on qualitative responses to the following questions: What if any misconceptions did you encounter as a social worker providing behavioral health care? Did the other providers you work with understand the role of a social worker in your setting? Participants were MSW students (N = 52) in North Carolina from 2019–2022. An anonymous, internet-based questionnaire developed by researchers was administered via Qualtrics. A deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative responses. Authors independently reviewed the responses, developed initial codes, and finalized overarching themes. Discrepancies were addressed through discussion among all coders until consensus was reached.

Results: Two major themes emerged from the responses: misunderstanding of social work roles and positive experiences of role acceptance. In the theme of misunderstanding, participants highlighted several challenges: 1) Counseling misconceptions: some providers did not understand that social workers can provide counseling independently, without the presence of a psychologist. 2) Role overlap: at times, providers misunderstood social workers' roles, assuming they were primarily for case management, "grunt work," or other administrative tasks. 3) Task delegation issues: participants felt their role was overextended to cover tasks other providers did not want to complete. In contrast, participants also indicated the positive experience related to role acceptance. Facilitators of role acceptance included: 1) Collaborative environments: many social workers reported feeling valued in settings where their roles were clearly established and respected; 2) Effective team integration: participants thrived in integrated teams that understood and valued their contributions; and 3) Shared understanding of substance use complexity: providers had similar perspectives on the multifaceted nature of substance use, fostering appreciation for social work expertise.

Conclusions and implications: Findings from this study reflect the significant variation in how the role of social workers is perceived by other providers in behavioral health settings. To address the persistent misconceptions, social workers need to proactively articulate their roles, tasks, and practices within the interdisciplinary teams. Ongoing interprofessional education is essential to help other professionals better understand and integrate the social work roles. Additionally, behavioral health administrators should foster integrated care environments that support team communication, promote shared understanding to achieve high-quality collaborative behavior health provision.