Social Work Values. Values and ethics have been of fundamental importance throughout the development of the social work profession.
“Values are central to being human: nothing we do is unconnected with values. If we want to understand, and be able to work with people, then we need to have an understanding of the complexities of values in people’s lives. Any attempt to understand people that does not consider the values dimension is doomed to failure as values are so central to everything we do, both as individuals and professional social workers.” Adapted from: Moss, B. & Thompson, N. (2008) Meaning and Values: developing empowering practice. Russell House Publishing The above statement is essentially saying that an individual’s set of values play an imperative part in every decision, action or behaviour in their everyday lives. A person’s value system can be made up of personal, ethical, cultural or political vales. Along with their own personal values, social workers must also adhere to a strict set of professional values outlined by the General Social Care Council’s (GSCC) codes of conduct. It can be difficult for a practitioner to find a balance between these often conflicting and opposing value systems. Values and ethics have been of fundamental importance throughout the development of the social work profession. Founded in 1869, the Charity Organisation Society is often identified as the roots of modern social work. (Smith, 2002) It was set up in response to the belief that
Examine an area of oppression and discuss how this manifests itself in institutions and societies and how it impacts upon the lives of individuals and communities.
Examine an area of oppression and discuss how this manifests itself in institutions and societies and how it impacts upon the lives of individuals and communities. This essay will examine disability as an area of oppression in society. When answering this question it would be useful, first of all to put forward a definition for the term disability. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) describes disability as 'a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities'. In Northern Ireland there are an estimated 201,000 Disabled Adults (Working with Diversity). Despite this high number, people with disabilities are treated as a separate homogenous group to the rest of society. I will examine how this oppression has manifested itself through institutions by drawing on the medical and the social model of disability. The medical model of disability is seen as being a discriminatory perspective that perceives disability as a personal tragedy. In contrast, Thompson (2006) regards the social model of disability as being an anti-discriminatory perspective that requires a change in how we view disability. Thompson (2006) refers to disablism as 'the systematic discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities which produces a milieu of oppression and degradation' (p.122). Lack of
Inter-professional Practice and Safeguarding Children
20042188 CYCC52 Inter-professional Practice and Safeguarding Children CYCC52 Inter-professional Practice and Safeguarding Children Different professional groups may each have their own priorities when it comes to safeguarding children. Giving examples of these, discuss whether it is possible for professionals to work together with the interests of the child to the fore. Essay: 60% of module mark, 2500 words, learning outcomes 1 & 3. First and foremost during this essay I will examine what inter-professional practice is and where it has come from. Furthermore I will analyse the different ways in which the agencies that I work alongside work together to help safeguard children and young people. I will discuss the priorities that they may have using examples which I have been involved in within my setting. I will then discuss whether it is possible to work solely child centred when it comes to safeguarding and analyse the difficulties we may come across while attempting this, mainly focussing on budget restraints and how they affect the young people we provide a service for. I will briefly divulge into the tragedies of both Victoria Climbie and ‘Baby P’ discussing why inter-professional practice was not successful. And finally I will discuss ways in which I believe inter professional practice could be improved across the board by introducing reviewing
This assignment will focus on the characteristics of the social and medical model of mental illness. The assignment will demonstrate professional judgement, accountability of a social worker and statutory requirements of protection and intervention for a
Assessment 2. Using the directed reading and other appropriate literature and research, compare and contrast the medical and social model of mental health and mental disorder. Critically evaluate how the identified reading and other literature can inform a social work practitioner's understanding and practice. This assignment will focus on the characteristics of the social and medical model of mental illness. This assignment will demonstrate an understanding of how adults and cares experience mental health and social problems. The assignment will demonstrate professional judgement, accountability of a social worker and statutory requirements of protection and intervention for a social worker working with people who are suffering from a mental illness. According to Golightley (2004) there are several theories about mental disorder but the two main theories are the medical and non-medical models. The medical model or disease model has been the dominant model of mental disorder from around 150 years ago when the state employed the medical profession to manage and treat mental disorder (Golightley 2004). The medical model views mental disorder as a physical illness, which can be medically treated in a medical institution (Beech 1991). Beresford (2002) pointed out that 'this approach is based on a deficit model that presumes health problems primarily arise from within the
Images of inequality - What evidence is there that older people are socially excluded?
A recent news article by Nicholas Timmins (2008) entitled 'Labour's drive to reduce poverty has stalled, according to study' highlighted the failure of Government policy to reduce poverty and exclusion for the elderly. Statistics show that for the first time ever there will be more pensioners in the UK than under 16's (ONS, 2008), but what are the implications of this for Britain's care system, does this mean more socially excluded pensioners, and is age a cause of social exclusion on its own? This essay will argue that age itself is not a cause of social exclusion, but contributing factors such as poor health, social back ground and poor services will increase the risk of being socially excluded. Although some older people may be excluded, one cannot say all older people are. The essay will also investigate the social position of older people in British society, how they have come to occupy this position and also the varying views of old age. The increase in older people in the future will have important implications for social care. According to Wilson et al (2008, p.616), what has been termed a 'demographic time bomb' will constitute a major problem for the provision of services, with the problem being "how to produce services that respond better to the needs of older people while being affordable at the same time." The balance between those of working age and the
In this essay I will define client empowerment in planning care as it is applied to adults, especially adults at risk of neglect and abuse, and explore how care management policy aims to empower clients. There is a dilemma in Mr Bankss case which appl
Planning Care for Adults Balancing risk management, and client empowerment in planning care In this essay I will define client empowerment in planning care as it is applied to adults, especially adults at risk of neglect and abuse, and explore how care management policy aims to empower clients. I will then look at the notion of risk management, and explore what risks are associated with care and support for older people, using the example of Mr Banks as my case study. I will evaluate how risk can be minimised, managed and monitored, including risks to the health and welfare of informal carers. Care planning is a way of agreeing, arranging and managing the services or help needed to enable a person to live at home or to move into a residential or nursing home. It is the process of developing an agreement between the client and the social worker, where client problems, outcomes to be achieved and actions to be pursued in support of a goal achievement are identified. It involves noting both formal and informal services and intended results in a written document. In the assessment stage of care planning, each service user receives an assessment of their care needs and must meet appropriate criteria for the services to be provided. When a service or services have been arranged, a care plan will be written and a copy given to the user. This will contain details of what services
Youth Work Essay - we shall look at the history and development of youth work
Youth Work Essay Patricia Farrell December 2012 “The concept of youth work has evolved both nationally and internationally. It has grown from the historical notion of young people coming together in association for the purpose of social activity, to the current notion of young people being prepared to have the necessary skills to act towards an objective of social transformation.” With regard to the above statement, we shall look at the history and development of youth work in order to determine the accuracy of the statement. As a guide to my personal conclusion on the matter, I shall also discuss some key theoretical studies of youth work. These include the personal development model and the Social Education Model, selected for their relevance in Irish policy progression, as we shall look at later. First it is important to clarify what is meant by the term ‘youth work’, and to whom it is applicable. The concept of youth work is one which has developed and evolved significantly over the past century. An ever industrialising society brought about the first forms of youth work, in a casual sense, focusing on young people’s social lives. However, since then, it has earned a more significant and formal role in our society. As a result, youth work has been structured through legislation, and more clearly defined. Ireland saw the introduction of the Youth Work Act
Since all sorts of gender inequality continues to exist today, and some of the people and institutions that perpetuate the inequality appear unwilling to change, the contemporary family structure could be the starting point to remedy gender inequality in
Obtaining gender equality has been a constant struggle in the United States. Society in America naturally treats men and women differently, with no regard to equity. Consequently, gender inequality is repeatedly taken for granted, whether in the workforce or in the home. It is considered not only an expected social response, but one that is a basic component of social relations. The contemporary family structure is the most fundamental arena where gender inequality and equality are produced and reproduced. It is a central place where children are first taught gender roles and where influential associations built around gender are introduced. Since all sorts of gender inequality continues to exist today, and some of the people and institutions that perpetuate the inequality appear unwilling to change, the contemporary family structure could be the starting point to remedy gender inequality in the United States today, yet this does not occur. Thus, family structure is primarily constrained today by the continuation of gender inequality in society. Gender inequality may well be one of the greatest puzzles of modern society in the United States. We know that males and females are biologically different from the moment of conception and that these differences determine an individual's sex. Individuals' chromosomal and hormonal differences are what physically construct the male and
The literature I will be critically reviewing is an article entitled, Parental substance misuse and child care social work: findings from the first stage of a study of 100 families. It was written by Donald Forrester and Judith Harwin.
A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW ON PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND CHILD CARE SOCIAL WORK: FINDINGS FROM THE FIRST STAGE OF A STUDY OF 100 FAMILIES. BY DONALD FORRESTER AND JUDITH HARWIN, CHILD AND FAMILY SOCIAL WORK 2006, Vol. 11, pp325-335 The literature I will be critically reviewing is an article entitled, "Parental substance misuse and child care social work: findings from the first stage of a study of 100 families". It was written by Donald Forrester and Judith Harwin. Donald Forrester was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Social Work at the time the article was published in January 2006. He has written a number of articles on the subject of Parental Substance Misuse (PSM) of which three are included in my 50 literature search. The second author, Judith Harwin is a Professor of Social Work, Department of Health and Social Care at Brunel University in the UK at the time of publication. One of the aims of this article is to address the lack of British research on the topic by reporting on the first stage of a study of all cases allocated for long-term work in four London local authorities over one year. The study focused on cases in which there was alleged misuse of drugs and/or alcohol by parents. The findings address some important questions that have received little coverage in British research so far. These include: what is the extent of parental substance misuse
Poverty- idantify the factors that have resulted in Margaret living in poverty and describe how they have affected her.
IDENTIFY THE FACTORS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN MAGARET LIVING IN POVERTY AND DESCRIBE HOW THEY HAVE AFFECTED HER Poverty is not just about the shortage of money. It is about rights and relationships; about how people are treated and how they regard themselves; about powerlessness, the exclusion and loss of dignity. Yet the lack of an adequate income is at its heart. (Cited by: Carey Oppenheim, 1996) Margaret has so many factors that contributed to her situation, one of which was her teenage pregnancy. It is an indication of how she lacked the proper knowledge that can be gained from a proper sex education. This is a factor that should have being dealt with at a younger age than she was as she needed to understand the risks involved with being sexually active. Her parents and teachers needed to take responsibility and teach her the things that she needed to know regarding protection during intercourse and all the disadvantages that come from being sexually active from a young age. The fact that Margaret was staying with her parents instead of living by herself meant that the benefits that she should have been entitled to like, income Support Benefits, Child Tax Credits etc would then be more limited because they would be assessed by using her parent's yearly earnings. This and the fact that she could not find employment that could support her and her child made it tougher for
