Beyond the Stereotype: Another View of Supplementary Benefits Officers

Summary This paper outlines a series of staff development courses runfor the DHSS under the auspices of Leicester University Schoolof Social Work. The two-week courses for Unemployment ReviewOfficers offered an introduction to social and psychologicalinfluences on human behaviour with special reference to thework situation of UROs, and a review of aspects of the socialservices with which the URO has contact. As a result of these courses another view of Supplementary Benefitsstaff emerged which conflicted with current stereotypes. Theauthor offers some suggestions regarding the sources of roleconflict inherent in the work of UROs and argues for betterunderstanding of the operation of the social security system