This case study will draw on a practice case from a statutory Children and Families Intervention Team. The work focused on a family, whose four children had been removed from their home, and an assessment of parenting skills. The main areas of work include the first initial visit to the family home, the outcomes of the Child Protection Conference, and observing contact supervision. The themes running throughout the essay and its composition are; power, empowerment, professional/personal conflicts, removal of children, impact of neglect, gender violence and attachment theory. The primary objective of the statutory agency I work within is the provision of intervention to prevent family breakdown and reduce the number of children and young people going into care. As a result of the agency intervention it aims to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people and their families, by promoting healthy lifestyles, building capabilities and strengthening families’ relationships. The main Legal and Policy Mandate the organisation works within is the Children Act (CA) 1989-2004 and section 17’ Child in need’. Assessment and Purpose Furthermore, from this visit, I have learnt that no lecture, or text book reading can really prepare for you for the situation I walked into and the highly expressed emotions felt throughout. Lipskey (1980) argues what social workers learn in school or training is different to what they have to do in the street. He adds they need to take everything they have learned and apply it to particular situations relatively quickly without full information. In addition it is argued that ‘social workers are faced with many uncertain and complex situations that are emotionally provoking and therefore cannot ... ... middle of paper ... ...(2012.) Social work skills and knowledge, a practice handbook. Berkshire: Open University Press. Turnell. A. (2012). The Signs of Safety Comprehensive Briefing Paper. Resolutions Consultancy Pty Ltd. Turner, M.T.K. Dadds, C.M. and Sanders, R,M. (2000). 2nd ed. Facilitator’s manual for group triple P. Milton: Triple P International Pty.Ltd. United Nations Population Fund (2008-20011). Strategy and Framework for Action To Addressing Gender-based Violence. UNFPA: New York Woodcock,J. (2003) The social work assessment of parenting: An exploration, British Journal of Social work, 33, 87-106. Working Together to Safeguard Children .2013. A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. HM Government. Wilson, K. Ruch,G. Lymbery, M. and Cooper, A. (2011). Social Work: An introduction to contemporary practice. 2nd ed. Essex: Pearson Longman.
According to Claridge (2016) ‘From April 2006, education and social care services for children in each local authority have been brought together under a director of children's services.’ This states that several changes were made to important services. The Children Act 2004 also works closely with other professionals for the benefit of a child whom a professional may feel is not being treated with the right care/support. Claridge (2016) ‘in the throes of reform are the levels of Inter-Agency co-operation when it comes to matters relating to the wellbeing of children.’
While at university I developed knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and how to apply them in practice along-side other legislation required children and family social worker. The Children Act 1989 allocates duties to local authorities, courts, parents and other agencies to ensure that children's welfare is paramount and are safeguarded. This legislation supports children being brought up by their families and making provisions for families that are experiencing challenges and when families cannot co-operate with statutory bodies.
'Social workers have a professional and ethical responsibility to (...) interact and intervene with clients and their environments' (Teater, 2010, p.4). According to this premise, the ecological approach in social work interventions offers an effective method of relating children, young people and their families to their environment. It is an approach that allows social workers to intervene in cases where a child is abused or neglected, while providing a good theoretical framework for social workers' direct work. This essay is going to assess the ecological model within a social work practice directed at children. It will stress the importance of this model, and explain its application in today's child protection work. Firstly, the text will introduce the ecological approach by introducing its origins and a theoretical framework. Secondly, it will be described how social workers carry out an assessment within the given model, and how it is applied in practice in a direct work of practitioners. Finally, significant strengths and deficits of the approach will be contrasted in order to assess importance of the ecological perspective. 'It is (…) important to be aware that the abusiveness of any act cannot be understood except in context' (Beckett, 2007, p.16), and thus ecological approach allows social work practitioners to explore environmental and social causes of children’s maltreatment in an afford to consequently eliminate these.
Dorfman, R. (1996). Clinical social work: Definiton [sic], practice, and vision. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Thompson, N (2005) Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice, Palgrave, MacMillan (Second Edition) Hampshire (Supplementary Course Reader)
Partnership working means each professional; whether it’s the police, NHS, educations departments, NSPCC or social workers; “may need to have an input in any one case and each should be considered when discussing issues around safeguarding.” Each of these professionals may have one snapshot and a concern that may, on its own, not necessarily need intervention. The common assessment framework provides a way for early intervention for children, before it reaches crisis point. It is a shared assessment and planning framework for all communication and that information is shared between different professionals and organisations. The assessment framework centres on child safeguarding and promoting welfare. By working in partnership, creating a working party and sharing information about the child, the bigger picture evolves and informed decisions about how to move forward can be made in the best interests of the
...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.
Galpin, D. and Bates, N. 2009. Social work practice with adults. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd.
Within the current child and family welfare system, the role of DSW has transformed from response and rescue to prevention and early intervention. This shift in perspective means that social practitioners, within this area of practice, will take on new roles. Social workers whose relationship with families in the old child protection system used to be adversarial will now work closely with families and communities to assist them find solutions to child welfare problems and improve the wellbeing of children. Social work within the new system takes on a developmental approach, where practitioners work with families and communities to enhance their capacity to care for children and prevent the occurrence of violence, abuse and exploitation.
Commission for Social Care Inspection (2005) Making Every Child Matter, Commission for Social Care Inspection
Chenoweth, L & McAuliffe, D 2012, The road to social work and human service practice, 3rd edn, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne.
Wilson, K. et. al., 2011. Social Work ' Introduction to Contemporary Practice'. 2nd ed. Essex, England.: Pearson Education Ltd .
In my previous positions, I had conducted psychosocial assessments, held family meetings and provided support and counseling sessions to vulnerable children and families with complex needs. By applying a working knowledge of child development and current psycho-social theories, I was able to ensure the best outcomes for children and their families. In addition, I have been responsible for developing and implementing the Family Group Conference service in the child protection system in B&H, based on family systems theory and systemic perspective. At a current work, I select, use and review appropriate evidences in order to develop social intervention programmes for children and youth at
The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen
The work of a social worker is complex and all encompassing. Social workers work in many capacities seeking justice, liberation, and equality. There work is global, as they work to put policies in place to govern practices. To keep up with societal shifts and generational changes there learning is continuous. As new questions rise so does the need for the continuation of research, not only to answer these questions but to implement into