Exclusion manifests in different dimensions. Individuals or groups suffer from one or more forms of exclusion ranging from low income, low wealth, poor health, lack of production activity to social isolation and political disengagement (Dowling,1999).Different organizations strive to alleviate poverty and contain social exclusion by implementing income generating projects within the communities, offering advocacy services,counseling,caring for the old and the disabled, giving opportunities to the children and the youth, supporting victims of domestic violence and drug addicts among others (NHS,2009).The table below is an extract from the NHS Information centre showing the number of people who sought community based care services in the year 2007/2008.
Table 1. Number of clients estimated to receive services from April 2007 to March 2008.
Table1 above,shows the number of clients of all ages and from different groups who were booked for community based services in England between during the mentioned period.A client may get more that one type of service simultenously(therefore the figure may not add up to the “Total number”).It acts as a good indicator of the social needs of the different groups.Chart 1 is a vivid comparision between the number of people seeking different forms of care and support.
Chart 1
A comparision of the number of people booked for community based services in England between 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008 by client type and component of service.
Looking at the above trends closely, it is evident that the need for feeding, home-based care and supportive equipment is urgent, because the physically disabled seem to be amongst the most excluded by virtue of their infirmities.Upto a half of those who were booked for services were physically disabled with 36% being in need of equipment and adaptation. The mentally disabled needed professional support more than anything else. People with learning disabilities made up nearly 10% of the total and mainly needed day care and professional help and support. Substance abuse registered the lowest turnout for nearly all the services. This may indicate a serious need for social workers to reach out to the alcoholics and other drug addicts. Those who abuse drugs may not easily come out to seek help and support and it may be upon their family members, friends and social workers to double their efforts in guiding them towards seeking professional assistance.
This data primarily relays information about the turnout of people seeking different community based services based on their situations. It gives insight into how much needs to be done to really cater for the central needs of different groups based on their numbers.
It can act as a basis for policy and social practice to enable responsive groups to plan and come up with the best strategies and methods of alleviating poverty and reducing social exclusion. It can be used as an effective tool for need assessment, project appraisal and situation analysis.
From a social perspective, quantitative data assists in detecting social gaps in the community using research figures and identifying the actual social issues that need to be addressed. It also aids in impact analysis where there are already existing interventions and certain projects have been implemented. With good social practice, the disadvantaged have a hope for a better life in which their social and economic needs can be well met.
References
Dowling, M. (1999) Social Exclusion, Inequality and Social Work: Social Policy and Administration. Volume 33, Issue 3, Date: September 1991, Pages: 245-261
The NHS Information Centre (2009). Social Care .Retrieved June, 4, 2009.
from
RDINFO (2009)-Support Services for researchers. Retrieved June 4, 2009,
from
Walker, A (1997), Introduction: the strategy of inequality.A.Walker and C.Walker (eds),
Britain Divided: Growth of social exclusion in the 1980s and 1990s, London: Child Poverty Action Group.
