The Professional Intervention for School Social Workers with the Phenomenon of Bullying

Background/purpose. The phenomenon of bullying in schools affects not only students but also the school, family, and society. Studies show that many school-based interventions directly reduce bullying, with better outcomes when multiple disciplines are involved. This article focuses on school bullying intervention by examining types of bullying, key contributing factors, the role of school social workers in prevention and intervention, and the challenges they face. Materials/methods. A purposive qualitative approach was used to achieve the study's objectives. The researchers interviewed 16 school social workers in schools across the Dhofar Governorate, Sultanate of Oman, to explore bullying among students. Results. The study analyzed the main types of bullying in Dhofar schools. The results show that the intervention of school social workers becomes crucial in providing support and strategies to address these challenges effectively. Conclusion. This study identifies physical, verbal, and social bullying as the most prevalent forms in schools. Several personal and environmental factors contribute to bullying. The findings reveal that school social workers perform various roles in supporting both bullies and victims through intervention. However, bullying remains a serious issue, and both school social workers and teachers face daily challenges in managing it. The study contributes original insights into how school social workers can collaborate with educators and implement targeted interventions to enhance school safety and address bullying.