The adult mental health social work may be considered complex and challenging due to the issues it faces. The practice entails the involvement of a certain number of professionals which have the authority to make an immense impact on the service users’ lives. The association with the social services may initiate within the service users a certain amount of discomfort and vulnerability. This may be because it could carry with it a certain degree of unwarranted labelling and prejudice. Apart from the impact that the involvement of the social services have on the service users, it is worth noting that there are further challenges which may be encountered, and they do not only arise from the complexity of the service users’ situation alone, they may also stem from the social worker’s capacity and experience to practice, laws, policies, funding and other factors that cannot always be controlled. The social workers have many tools to help and support the service users, however, been entrusted with authority as well as an element of power to make decisions through their assessments, they are also expected to practice responsibly because of the immense impact their evaluations have on people’s lives. These together with the legal accountability and the professionally required, ethical and moral congruence may be a fertile ground for conflict of interests. For example, a discrepancy between the views of the social worker and the service user regarding needs of services. The arguments presented in this essay take a strong stance in agreement with the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) as well as the guidelines to practice offered by The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) therefore any matters that are discussed are in conformit... ... middle of paper ... ...irical studies and surveys in an attempt to improve the service providers’ mindfulness regarding the service users’ satisfaction and wellbeing as well as any requirements for further improvement. In the context of mental health, the social workers are important because they take the role of linking the services available within mental health and other services provided by the Local Authority. Due to their varied practical knowledge, they can signpost and guide the service users on different matters pertaining to their entitlement to housing, care, and other benefits. One of the issues which those involved with social services are faced with is excessive expectations from the adult service user stemmed from the presumption that adulthood refers to the ability to meet their own needs, be financially independent and more capable rather than a stage in the life course.
Social workers level the playing field for individuals and families that have experienced hardships, terminal illnesses, mental health disorders and other adverse environmental situations that inhibit their ability to thrive within society. Social workers accomplish this by providing individuals and families the resources necessary to ensure that their needs are being met. Social workers serve an essential role to the functioning of our society, as they are committed and dedicated to increasing the quality of life for underprivileged community members. I fully intend on actively contributing to this endeavor, as I believe social workers have the responsibility to ensure that all community members have their needs met and the opportunity to
The book called ‘The Days in the Lives of Social Work’ by Linda May Grobman contain an article called ‘Involuntary Admission: A New Worker’s Introduction to the ‘603’’. The article introduces a person called Beth Boyett working in the therapy to help the patients with mental issues. The article teaches me lessons about being a social worker for example a core value called the called the “Importance of Human Relationship” that social worker try to form a good relationship with patients. Then the articles teach me about ethical standard that involves in “Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to Clients” to make a commitment to help patients. Finally the articles teach me about the social work practice that involves social work counseling with
In this essay, I would like to explore a limited number of key concepts within Adult Social Work, pertaining to Mental Health Services and their users. Unfortunately, due to the certain word count restrictions imposed, and the complexity of the subject, I have decided to critically analyse a complex and divisive policy within mental health social work. I am predominantly concerned with the impact the personalised care approach has on those involved with the social work. I am going to discuss the theory surrounding it, the circumstances in which it was received and comprehended by the professionals and lay people alike in order to facilitate a better understanding of the subject at hand. Having an understanding of the process of application, the carers and service users’ perception as well as the challenges this concept has brought within the Social care system opens the mind to questioning the base value supporting Personalisation.
The demand of a constantly developing health service has required each professional to become highly specialised within their own field. Despite the focus for all professionals being on the delivery high quality care (Darzi, 2008); no one profession is able to deliver a complete, tailored package. This illustrates the importance of using inter-professional collaboration in delivering health care. Patient centric care is further highlighted in policies, emphasising the concept that treating the illness alone whilst ignoring sociological and psychological requirements on an individual is no longer acceptable. Kenny (2002) states that at the core of healthcare is an agreement amongst all the health professionals enabling them to evolve as the patient health requirements become more challenging but there are hurdles for these coalitions to be effective: for example the variation in culture of health divisions and hierarchy of roles. Here Hall (2005) illustrates this point by stating that physicians ignore the mundane problems of patients, and if they feel undervalued they do not fully participate with a multidisciplinary team.
First off, clinical social workers work one-on-one with individuals by utilizing psychosocial casework to improve their client’s lives. Social workers at the micro level typically provide case management by coordinating and monitoring services, developing a treatment plan, advocating for new services, providing psychoeducation, and by helping clients learn more about their specific disorder (Marx). They also provide psychotherapy through three major therapeutic approaches- psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic (Marx). When it comes to the mezzo level social worker work with groups and families. They may initiate therapy groups, support groups, psychoeducational groups, and socialization groups all in order to uplift their clients about their mental disorder (Marx). On top of that, social workers also offer family therapy with the goal of helping families learn and function effectively by meeting the needs of a family member with a mental illness (Marx). Finally, social workers also work on a macro level through advocacy and policy changes, and in an administrative setting. Through advocacy, social workers may lobby for policy changes on a local, state, or national level in order to promote positive
Clinical social workers represent the largest group of behavioral health practitioners in the nation. They are often the first to diagnose and treat people with mental disorders and various emotional and behavioral disturbances (NASW, 2005). Clinical social workers are essential to a variety of client centered settings, including community mental health centers, hospitals, substance use treatment and recovery programs, schools, primary health care centers, child welfare agencies, aging
Social work as a profession strives to help the welfare of those within the community whether its persons or families through advocacy. Often times clients are those who may be vulnerable and disadvantaged. Social workers aim to help people fulfill basic needs in their everyday lives and assist them by providing beneficial resources and intervention counseling. They do more than just help them in their current situation, it’s about helping them to survive and set attainable goals to live a fuller and better life for themselves, and most time for their families.
This paper aims to establish the reason why Social Circumstances Reports (SCRs) are needed in the Mental Health Tribunal, and how social work knowledge, skills and values are being utilised in planning and producing these reports. The paper will also discuss the legislation, policies and procedures and the social work theoretical frameworks behind the reports. The dilemmas which may be faced by the social workers in writing the report and how the recommendation in the report is justified will also be explored in this paper.
The sample generalist assessment used focuses on the client’s: living skills; health and disability; educationemployment; legal issues; housing; significant relationships; understanding of the issue; demographics; and crisis management (National Council of Social Service, 2006). The social worker has the opportunity to delve further into those areas if deemed necessary by their agency (National Council of Social Services, 2006). The competency-based assessment is a complex assessment tool developed for use in mental health settings. Gray and Zide (2007) wrote the book to foster and build on the human focus of social workers and to provide a counterbalance to the deficit focused Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM) when working in mental health settings. Several theoretical frameworks are evident in the competency-based assessment and clearly articulated in the provided excerpt from Gray and Zide (2007).
This essay will identify key issues facing the client system and will demonstrate an intervention plan. Followed by defining the purpose of social work and the identification of the AASW Code of Ethics, in regards to the case study. Lastly, key bodies of knowledge will be identified and applied to the case study.
Social work is a multifaceted, ever adapting profession, which has had many purposes and identities through the years. It is imperative for the vocation to constantly evolve alongside the social climate and the new ways in which we identify and treat those who are in need of support. Social workers can be required to take on the role of counsellor, advocate, case-worker, partner, assessor of risk and need, and at times (as the government seeks to push social work further and further towards the health and education sectors) a servant of the state. The profession is dramatically subject to affection by societal change, thus demanding social workers have a duty to be up to date with the latest developments in understanding how and why people get to the point of requiring social work intervention, and how best to prevent and cater for it.
"The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession's focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living" (NASW code of ethics).
Social workers are concerned with social problems such as world hunger, domestic violence, child abuse, adequate benefits for veterans and much more. The profession of social work is necessary because without it, there would not be people dedicated to helping other individuals in our world. To dedicate your profession and life to one specific problem in regards to the social work field, is something very few have the will to do. Therefore, social workers are necessary to keep the social justice system afloat. Social workers must have educational background in social work, in order to be familiar with the types of settings they will be exposed to. Social workers must embody excellent social skills, as well as communication skills. Being able
Case work is not only the basic practice in professional Social Work but rather, a common practice followed by all. The traditional definition defines case work as “a method of helping individuals through a one-on-on relationship’’. Every individual trained or untrained indulges in case work. The difference is made by theoretical understanding and professional ethics, practices involved in professional case work. Mary Richmond in 1915 explains casework as “the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve at one and the same time their own and society' betterment.” Social Case Work can also be defined as “an art in which knowledge of the science of human relations and skill in relationship are used to mobilize capacities in the individual and resources in the community appropriate for better adjustment between the client and all or any part of his total environment”.
Social work is a profession which promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and enhance well-being. It is important to acknowledge the history of social work and the purpose of social work and why it exists. Social work is a questioned theory with different perspectives on what it is and how it should be practised. Social work helps people to deal with personal and social problems so that people can overcome or adjust to any personal difficulties. Social work is a combination of social stability and social change. Social stability promotes individual and social welfare and social change seek to change negative aspects of society. Values are implicit within the law and policy and these tend to reflect the values within society. Personal values can influence the way social workers interpret and implement their profession.