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Social work assessment as a process and a product
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This essay aims to explore the characteristics that make a good quality social work assessment in child care. Martin (2010) stated that there was “no single agreed definition of social work assessment.” Coulshed and Orme (2006, p24) did not offer a formal definition but they described assessment as “…a basis for planning what needs to be done to maintain, improve or bring about change in the person, the environment or both.” According to the Maclean and Harrison (2015) good assessments must be “purposeful and timely.” This is because practitioners need to be clear about why they are carrying out assessments and what it is they wish to achieve at the end of that assessment. For this assignment, I have decided to focus on what makes a good quality …show more content…
However, Ferguson stresses that social workers and other practitioners often fail to do so as they prioritise what is going on within their organisation than taking time to know the child and their needs. Calder (2012) also supports Ferguson by stating that the “outputs outweigh outcomes”; this means that agendas that are provided by organisations now dictate the outcome of the assessment and not the child’s …show more content…
If the local authority establishes that the child is a child in need or at risk of harm, it has a duty under section 47 of the Children Act (1989) to make a care plan or child protection plan to provide support which involves adequate supervision and checks to ensure that the child is no longer at risk. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) promotes empowerment for children as they can exercise their right to express their views and be heard and their best interest would be at the centre of the intervention and social workers need to ensure that decisions made are not affected by the influence from family or professionals they work with (Lee & Hudson,
My research study was stimulated by my personal interest in social work, particularly services devoted to children. Exploring what issues affect the quality of these services can assist social workers, and society in general, to find solutions. This research attempts to highlight how
Under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to assess the needs of a child in their area who may be deemed to be a Child in Need. Guidance stipulated by section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Particularly part 1 (a) and (b) of the Act states that local authorities have a duty to: “safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need” (Children Act 1989).
The aim of this assignment is to analyse the development of British social policy, in relation to the development of children services. The author will explore the social policy responses to child protection from 1842 to 2011. This topic of social policy was chosen by the author because it is his area of social work he would like to practice in the future. In the beginning of the assignment the word will describe what social policy and child protection means in her/his own words linking it to other definitions. The essay author will analyse how child protection has develop looking at past legislation and how children’s deaths have influenced the way children services work today. Using different research the essay author will evaluate the benefits and challenges offered by inter-agency, inter-professional partnership working with children and families. In the conclusion, the authors will a brief description of what he/she have written.
Parton, N., Thorpe, D. and Wattam, C. (1997) Child Protection Risk and Moral Order, London: Macmillan
Parker, J. and Bradley, G. (2003). Social Work Practice: Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Review. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd.
Maclean, S. & Harrison, R. (2008) Social Work Theory: A Straightforward Guide for Practice Assessors and Placement Supervisors. Kirwin Maclean Associates, Staffordshire
...is shown in the Ian Wathey and Craig Faunch case of 2006 where social workers believed that it was wrong to probe the couple about their family histories and Judge Sarah Cahill (2006) explained how she was appalled that the police were not involved at an earlier date. In addition to this, the case of baby Peter Connelly illustrates how some practitioners can get too emotionally involved and compassionate towards clients. The NSPCC’s Ten Pit Downfalls (2010) suggests that this specific case illustrates how unfamiliar society is culturally with the idea that mothers can be perpetrators of physical abuse. Therefore, it can be seen that compassion was shown towards Peter’s mother during in depth questioning when practitioners decided she merely needed support, as explained by the Independent (2010) where Tracey Connelly seemed fairly caring but inadequate as a mother.
Agencies working together to safeguard children must be aware of the maltreatment of a child. To ensure the Children Act 2004 is maintained in settings there will be policies and procedures that practitioners must follow. The Children Act 2004 was introduced as a result of the death of Victoria Climbié and was the introduction to the Every Child Matters 2004 agenda. The ECM 2004 aims to give the best lifestyle to children through its five outcomes. Settings sharing information with other settings and working co-operatively together helps to protect children from harm due to the influence of the Every Child Matters 2004 framework. The Every Child Matters 2004 framework has influenced settings by giving them and othe...
Commission for Social Care Inspection (2005) Making Every Child Matter, Commission for Social Care Inspection
When looking at social work it’s usually associated with the assessment of bad risks. In my allocated cases it’s about reoffending. • I must be aware that through highly publicised failures to protect service users and the public from dangerous people this has led to policy and practice in relation to risk and its focus on dangerousness (in relation offenders) and significant harm (in relation to children).
Munro (2003) states child abuse is treating a child in a way that is harmful or morally wrong however, goes on to explain it is hard to find a universal agreement of the definition of child abuse. NSPCC (2010) further explains child abuse as maltreatment of a child. This can be done directly by inflicting harm or indirectly by failing to prevent harm from happening. Abuse can be perpetrated by an adult or another child. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013) states that it’s the responsibility of everyone who works with children to make sure that a child is safeguarded and their welfare promoted. The Purpose of this essay is firstly to discuss risk factors posed to Simone and Sasha through the scenario provided and highlight ways a professional should assess whether a child is suffering from an abusive or neglectful situation. Secondly the appropriate action that needs to be taken, and the support that needs to be given, and what services will be involved with the family in order to prevent a family brake down while safeguarding and protecting the children’s welfare, will also be discussed. Lastly this essay will draw on current legislation, guidance and procedures that promote multi– agency working in order to effectively safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
This can be quite simply put as that social workers fail in regards to understanding the reasons behind the assessment (the underpinning legislation and case study), instead social workers have more of an ‘organizational’ understanding to completing assessments (time boundary and a completing
The centrality of holistic assessments to effective social work practice will be attentively explored in the first part of this summative reflective review. The second part of this paper will have as a focal point a succinct and concise exploration and evaluation of my own practice with reference to professional body (Health and care professions Council) Standards of Proficiency. These two different areas will be approached, explored and discussed separately, in order to confer more clarity and
I made the decision to enter the social work profession due to the challenges that I witnessed persons from economically disadvantaged communities encounter. Youth are unintentionally directly impacted and intergenerational patterns continue due to the normalization of abnormal behavior by the youth from the adults. Everyone should be given a fair chance at success and societal normalcy, especially when situations are out of the control of youth. The first and most important socializing unit an individual's encounters is their nuclear family. It is key that youth have secure, safe, and nurturing family units preferably their biologicals ones when it is an option, but if not an alternative family unit can be just as beneficial.
This approach has much future promise particularly in the context of economic challenges and resource constraints. Since the African continent has problems with lack of resources it is wise that countries adopt this approach and move away from the remedial one which is costly. The developmental approach is highly friendly with social work’s historical values and commitment to achieving social justice and human rights (Midgley & Conley, 2010). However, there are limitations facing the developmental approach in social work.