Prior to working with Jordan, Suzanne met with everyone involved with him to find out the reason behind Jordan’s referral. It turned out it was due to his foster carer needing an operation after breaking her hip so she was unable to care for him. Suzanne then decided to help Jordan compile a life story book which contained information on his birth family and information about his background and history. This helped him to understand why he lives in foster care, where he came from and gave him his own identity.
Jordan currently lives with his foster parents, Bill and Bev, and using information about this has strengthened his relationship with them. It also emerged that Jordan had been told a different story about his father so learning the real story felt right for him. The fostering service ensured that an up to date case record was maintained, detailing the nature and quality of care provided and this contributed to an understanding of his life event. Relevant information from case records is made available to all children and to anyone involved in their care (OU K101, Unit 2, standard 24, p.19).
Suzanne and Jordan have been working on the life story book for more than a year and throughout, Suzanne has applied the 5 principles practice (OU K101, Unit 2, p.133). She has enabled him to maximise his potential by working with him on his book, listening to what Jordan has to say, including him in any decision about the content of the book, asking him questions such as where did he like staying. At the same time, she has put forward her own points of view so that he can consider other options and provided additional information to enable him to reach decisions.
She ensured that, at all times, she maintained eye contact with him and used straight forward language so that he would understand what she was asking and saying to him. This was important as his communications needs had to be taken into account and information be presented in a way for him to understand so that he could be fully involved in any decisions that needed to be made. She encouraged him to choose his own preferences for the content of the book and control over who was able to read it, thus ensuring and respecting his right to privacy. She also chose a quiet room for all their meetings as it was important to Jordan that he was able to express his feelings confidentially and feel confident that he would only be heard to Suzanne.
Jordan enjoyed compiling the life story book especially the parts about his father because he hasn’t known him long and wants to know more about him (k101 DVD unit 5 Activity 1 life story work). He learned negative things about his father from his mother but he wanted to get to know him and make his own mind up about him. This was important to Jordan and, by writing to his father, he is developing and maturing and this is important in assisting him to develop his own sense of identity.
The use of the life story book has provided an opportunity for Jordan to find out more about his background and allowed him to make his own mind up about his past and choose what he wants to believe. Throughout their time together Suzanne has encouraged him to express his feelings and be heard as often talking about the past has a healing effect on the person involved. She has worked at a pace suitable for Jordan, not at her own, as there have been quite a few issues for Jordan to deal with and she was aware that if she rushed him, he would not get all the details he wanted or needed. By working in this way with him, Jordan was more informed and his confidence grew and he expressed his enjoyment in working on the book.
As an aside, life stories such as these would be of equal value to foster parents, such as Bill and Bev, because there is very little information given to them about their foster children’s background. This would be an ideal way to provide them with an understanding as to why a child may be showing more challenging or worrying behaviour or why they behave in a particular way.
I believe by using this example of Suzanne and Jordan I have demonstrated the importance of the role of the care worker in supporting individuals in having a voice and being heard. Suzanne has acted as a positive role model for Jordan and encouraged him throughout the compiling of the life story to find out about his past and include any information which he considered relevant. She has encouraged him to express his own feelings about what has happened to him and supported him to reach his own decisions regarding his father and where he would like to live. This has enabled him to find and embrace the positive aspects of his life which will assist him in his journey towards adulthood and greater independence and a better quality of life.
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REFERENCES:
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY (2011) Unit 1, K101 An Introduction to Health and Social Care Milton Keynes: The Open University
Tony Ryan and Rodger walker (2007) why do life story work? In K101 An introduction to health and social care, Resources, Milton Keynes, The open university
Part B Care skills: Barriers to communication
Physical environment
Environment barrier could have occurred because they did the interview in a hospital it could have been busy it could have cause problem if they were disturbed and distracted they would have an uninterrupted conversation there be no privacy.
Howard overcomes this by going to James room for the interview no interruptions and James feels room comfortable in his own room.
Disability impairment
It is noticeable how James has a speech impairment he admitted himself he has a disability of some sort he didn’t say what he said that if meet strangers he don’t talk to them for too long but he look very comfortable with Howard
Howard overcome this because he didt rush James in way at all he did pressure him let him take his time to answer thing she didt patronize James especially when u couldn’t understand what he was saying speech was poor.
Emotional feeling
James get a bit upset when talk about his father just dropping him of and don’t want to be remember so Howard overcome this by not pushing him by talking more he respect his privacy he make the in view a light one not too much pressure for James listen carefully to James too.
This essays was good reading I enjoy life story work interesting it was for me I did rush this this essays I wrote lots of notes made plans took my time to read understand everything even though I did find it hard to understand some parts most difficult is the referencing found this very hard still can’t get my head round it but am sure I will get there with more work as am not sure if I have done it the right way I have looked at the guide to referencing but find it very confusing.