Practicum Log # _7_ 1. Identify a critical incident in social work practice. This week while I was in the office, another worker and I were called by another worker and asked to respond to housing location we frequent often as a couple that is co-case managed by two of the workers had been involved in a domestic violence satiation. As we drove to the location of this couple we were again contacted and informed that in addition to the domestic violence, one of the couple’s children were struck by the father, and that the mother was being driven to the YWCA for emergency shelter. Once we had arrived the worker who had a greater level of rapport than I, began to process the situation with the male hearing his side of what had happened. As this worker and I began to leave I began to ask follow-up …show more content…
On a micro level, I feel that my informing the workers the need to report the incident may create an opportunity for the family to receive the support they need, while ensure that the members of this family are safe. On a mezzo level, I feel that the community in which these individuals live will be much safer, and that the temporary community where the mother and children will be placed with be more conducive to the overall health and development of the family. In regard to macro implications, I feel that by supporting the workers they we approach other situations with a more informed approach and will be better able to support others in the community. c.) Identify the relationship between social policy and human behavior in the social environment, and research. In this case, I feel that having policy that requires social workers to report such incidents not only increases the safety of those receiving support, but also ensures appropriate follow up. In addition, I feel that having policy within colleges that ensures social workers have such understandings is
The NASW Code of Ethics is the premier source of social work values, especially for students. It “is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve” (Code of Ethics - NASW, n.d.). These teachings are especially applicable in direct practice, no matter which client is being treated. Throughout the CSUB Social Work program, this worker is constantly reminded to “treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences” (Code of Ethics - NASW,
There can be some improvements in how the police system is involved with the child abuse investigation, in order to allow the child welfare workers to focus on providing services to disadvantaged families. Since caseloads are high, most child welfare workers have limited time span to work and focus on the families’ issues such as, financial stability, social and emotional well-being of all family members. Implementing successful prevention strategies will require the need to provide assistance to the entire family and focus both on the child’s safety and well-being, as well as the parents’ emotional and economic well-being. Child welfare systems can provide resources such as child care services for single parents who lack education, which limits their employment. Such services can help the family become financially stable, and hopefully get out of living in poverty.
National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. (1998). The New NASW Code of Ethics Can Be Your Ally: Part I. Retrieved from: http://www.naswma.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=96
Through this situation I learned that the human will can defy rationality, but as a Social Worker I must still strive to safely and efficiently handle these situations in a way that accommodates their rights.
Student outlines two social work interventions, including descriptions of the specific roles and tasks that a social worker would undertake to help to solve the problem.
The NASW Code of Ethics highlights the need for social workers to ensure they have proper education about social diversity. They should be well versed in the adversities that face discriminated groups (Workers, N.A., 2008). This standard applies to the case since it addresses sexual orientation. The Code of Ethics makes it clear that as part of their professional values social workers should seek to understand diversity among members of society. The standard means that it is ethically required of a social worker to assist groups that could face bigotry in any manner in society.
Why might endings be difficult in working with clients? Do you think they are difficult for the client, the social worker, or both? Why?
In this family, Mr. Sanchez is making most of the decisions and as a social worker it is important that I accept this because he knows what is best for his family. The members of the Sanchez family have goals they would like to achieve and as a social worker it is my job to guide them in achieving their goals while allowing them to be in total control of their destiny. In this family, I cannot ignore the fact that Mr. Sanchez is working extremely hard to provide for his family. Not only does he have to work, but he wants to work and I cannot make him any different.
Reflection has its importance in clinical practice; we always seek to be successful and that can be achieved by learning every day of our life through experiences we encounter. In that way we can reconsider and rethink our previous knowledge and add new learning to our knowledge base so as to inform our practice. Learning new skills does not stop upon qualifying; this should become second nature to thinking professionals as they continue their professional development throughout their careers (Jasper, 2006). According to Rolfe et al. (2001), reflection does not merely add to our knowledge, it also challenges the concepts and theories by which we try to make sense of that knowledge. Acquiring knowledge through reflection is modern way of learning from practice that can be traced back at least to the 1930s and the work of John Dewey, an American philosopher and educator who was the instigator of what might be called ''discovery learning'' or learning from experience. He claimed that we learn by doing and that appreciating what results from what we do leads to a process of developing knowledge, the nature and importance of which then we must seek to interpret (Rolfe et al., 2001).
An example can be such as assessing whether the family is having economic stressors. The fourth step is to encourage an exploration of feelings and emotions. The fifth step is to generate, explore, and assess past coping attempts. Step six is to restore cognitive function through implementing an action plan. Lastly, there are follow ups for three or six months later (Roberts, 38). All the social work values fit with this approach. Service and social justice is shown in this model because if a social worker is on this case, they are provided the service of helping the family through the social issue of domestic violence. Dignity and worth of the individual is shown because each member is being heard and assessed, whether it’s the abuser or the victim. This model also establishes making a rapport and building a relationship with the clients, which fits with the value of important of human relationships. Finally, integrity and competence fit with this approach because the worker must be trusted with the information and be honest with what the outcomes can be. And part of knowing the outcomes comes with needing to be
To be a professional social service worker, it should be respect for each other individual’s unique value and dignity. It should not judge or basis one’s abilities, such as gender, race, sexual orientation, age, family status and economic status. People who are living in the same place that should have an equal rights and appropriate
Advocating for vulnerable persons creates emotions and feelings that could lead to inappropriateness amongst clients. As social workers, we walk a very thin line sometimes in the aspects of helping a client. This makes it easy to stray away from policy and procedure and go with our own personal feelings. The consequences which can result from not establishing appropriate boundaries can be detrimental to my career as a social worker and to a client.
Due to the nature of what was being said, I learned that they did not seem to know each other. The observed male appeared to be confident and talkative. He seemed to lead the conversation by asking her a number of questions related to her background, marital status etc. He asked her: ‘where are you from?’, ‘How long have you been in London?’, ‘have you got a boyfriend?’ amongst other questions. The observed girl gave the opposite impression. The tone of her voice and her body language showed signs that lead me to believe that she was not entirely comfortable with the situation even though she did made eye contact with him and smiled on a couple of occasions.
All social workers are beholden to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Professional ethics are the main core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The code is composed of thematic sections that outline a social worker’s responsibility to clients, colleagues, employers, and the profession. Some responsibilities that a social worker has to a client are that the clients are their primary responsibility, fostering maximum self-determination in clients, respecting the privacy of clients, keeping information that has been shared during the course of their duties confidential and charging fees for services that are fair and considerate
• Social policy practice is a vital arena for social workers because social policy strongly impacts the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and society. • Human rights are universal and should be protected through social policy. • Social policies are social contracts based on societal values and commonalities. • Social policy should be based on the values of equity, access, dignity, worth of the individual, opportunity, and fairness. • Social policy should proactively promote social functioning through empowerment, client involvement, and prevention of social problems.