Communication Skills and Values in Social Work

talk Skills and Values in Social passDiscuss the call of discourse skills and determine in sociable micturateThis assignment sets out to explore the use of communication skills and value in cordial grow according to three interconnected dimensions. The starting signal incision discusses the importance of communication in the dedicate of social reckon including construction a sonorousness with help drug users and c arrs, and the importance of empowerment. The second section identifies and explains the centrality of rough-and-ready communication skills such(prenominal) as negotiation, questioning and self-awareness. After this, die three considers the intrusion of personal and master copy value on communication. This includes traditional and radical set in social work out go for and the effects of communication in ethical dilemmas. The code of practice (CCW, 2002) in the Welsh context is considered throughout.This first section discusses the importance of commun ication and empowerment in social work practice with operate users, carers and former(a) schoolmasters. Communication is defined in the Oxford side Dictionary (2013) as the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium. It seatnot be described in such narrow terms within social work be grow of the distinguishable techniques twisty in working with different service users in a face pack of situations. This involves social role players making judgements and getting to know the service user in order to communicate efficiently to the service users preferred method of communication (Wilson et al, 2008). Communication in social work practice is central to exclusively inter-agency working and to building relationships with service users and carers. Good communication as a social worker requires the expertise to be both sensitive and savvy of their situation in order to build rapport with the individual (Trevethick, 2000). resonance is how the social worker contacts and engages with the service user and carers. Developing a rapport starts with an introduction which forms the basis of the relationship, particularly as it is in-chief(postnominal) to crystallise an pinch of the service user. This involves discussing their background, values, culture and commodes, which ordain back up develop the rapport (Knapp, 2009).The rudiments of communication in social work are voice and speech, form row, hearing, observing, encouraging and call up. These skills base be used in introductions with service users and their families/ carers. Introductions can be un homey and worrying for the service user if they are diffident what a social worker is there for and it depends on their previous possesss, if any. To assuagement this offshoot an introduction exercise can be implemented for warning a genogram can be drawn by asking the family to jointly describe all(prenominal) family member in the house and those they wo uld describe as their support and closest to them. Put simply, a genogram is a very tiny family tree using symbols to represent relationships (Parker and Bradley, 2010). This result help build a relationship with the service user as well as gain information and observe their reactions (body talking to) when working together and when talking about family and friends. This will show some key skills on the social workers behalf such as, listening, speech, remembering and encouraging.Active listening uses a combination of talking and listening skills to rile the service user looking you understand their situation, and encourages them to redact trust in the social worker (Cournoyer, 2011). It involves positive body actors line and speech to view/enable the service user to express themselves. More specifically, body language is expression through movement and facial expressions which convey emotion. Social workers should use body language to make service users feel to a greater e xtent comfortable but also pay attention to whether the service user is present signs of aggression, trying to hide something, or seems happy in the situation.Empowerment is a process promoted by skills and should involve the service user. It aims to emphasise the rights and needs of heap who may be oppressed by society (Lead better, 2002). Empowerment can be delivered in many forms, for example, personal, organisational, community based, family, theme or squad empowerment. Personal empowerment helps service users to gain run into over their situations and boilers suit empower themselves and others to enable change. Organisational empowerment supports staff in an organisation, promoting morale and motivating in workers so they are happy to off on more responsibilities and go to work. Community based empowerment supports the community to challenge inequalities and projection so everyone who lives in a certain society can feel a part of the community and take control of the ir environment. Family, group or team up empowerment focuses on take into accounting separately person in the group to help each other and themselves collectively. They can call on each other for support and help if they need to fight oppressive demeanor (Adams, 1996).The second section discusses effective communication skills and how they support anti-oppressive practice. Skills are the aptitude to carry out a particular activity effectively and consistently over a period of time (Thompson, 200581). Skills that shape the way social workers communicate are interviewing, negotiation and partnership and self-awareness (Thompson, 2005). An interview is a intercourse with meaning and the havening of change (Trevethick, 2000). Social workers use interviews to collect selective information and to build a face to face rapport with service users. An interview should be natural and the service user should not feel desire they are being actioned according to a checklist just exhalat ion through the process, as this could be seen as oppressive if service users are not treated as individuals. The service user should have an rationality of why the social worker is there and has the right to know the process that has taken place to get to the interview. A key skill of interviewing is directing, this instrument although there should be a steady flow the social worker needs to keep the conversation on the subject that they are there for in a subtle way. This can be done by using phatic conversation as glue to keep it social and help keep a relationship going but redirecting to the main electrical outlet so it is a healthy balance for both taking part. It is better to use questions that will not give the service user the answer, specially children because this could create a story that is not exact. For example use, where did you get that cudgel? Instead of did your mum give you that bruise? Open ended questions allow service users to expand on answers and give i nformation that the social worker may not have thought to ask about (Hepworth et al, 2010). duologue and partnership is an essential part of interagency working. Working in partnership with other professionals requires a level of negotiation when both services have different/alternative ideas of what is best for the service user. Professionals who work together quite usually are social workers and health care professionals. Everyone involved in interagency team should have a clear role and have an understanding of each others place/responsibilities in the team and their point of view. Negotiation may take place in deciding the best solution for a service user. However, there may be a hierarchy between the professionals cause tensions in decision-making. This would need to be resolved in order to work in partnership. This can be achieved by building relationships and achieving trust and vernacular respect through communication (Atkinson et al, 2007). The code of practice (6.5) sta tes social workers should unendingly treat colleagues with respect and work openly and co-operatively with them (CCW, 2002). Negotiation also takes place with service users in the decision of the best solution for their situation. Keeping the service user involved with all decisions helps maintain the service users trust and combine in social services. This is anti-oppressive practice, which involves social workers empowering the service user to take control of their lives and help contact people in their society in correspondent situations. This is to help them feel part of society no matter their culture, language or lifestyle. It is seen as part of the social workers job to get liberate of oppression in society (Dominelli, 2002). For example, by using a language interpreter this will make the service user more at ease and allow them to get their point across better.Social workers need a level of self-awareness to convey attitudes, the correct emotions and self-control. Witho ut self-control personal issues and frantic attachment to a situation could be expressed which could cloud professional judgement. The situation should always be focused on the service user and the social workers thoughts of their personal perfect solution may not agree with the service user (Cournoyer, 2011). The code of practice (2.6) states social workers must state issues that may create conflict of interests and making sure they do not influence their judgement or practice (CCW, 2002). The skill of self-awareness grows overtime with experience in practice, it teaches social workers to think on their feet during communication and difficult situations, deal with stress and tackle all obstacles as completely different when dealing with different people (Cournoyer, 2011).This third, and final, section considers the impact of personal and professional values upon communication within social work practice, including how ethical issues arise in communication. Personal values need to be taken into account because they will frame many decisions its the social workers instincts about inviolablety and danger that decides, for instance, whether it is safe for a child to stay with their parents. However, personal values need to approve with professional values because social workers cannot let personal judgements shadow their professional obligations to help all service users and abide by the code of practice (CCW, 2002). For example a social worker cannot express their personal opinions to a service user through verbal or non-verbal communication. They have to treat them with professional courtesy despite their personal feelings towards them. Social work values are plump forned by traditional and radical values. Traditional values focuses on being non-judgemental, protecting confidentiality and treating the service user with dignity and respect (Biestek, 1961). This follows the anti-oppressive practice of treating everyone as individuals and to not compare two different cases. These values underpin the core principles of the code of practice (CCW, 2002). Radical values are more modern views of social work practice which involves the service users taking more action to solve their problems themselves. For example, empowering the service user to have more confidence to build a partnership with their social worker and give scuttlebutt into their own plans for the future (Thompson, 2000).According to BASW code of ethical motive (2012) professional ethics concerns matters of right and wrong conduct, good and bad qualities of character and the professional responsibilities affiliated to relationships in a work context. Ethical issues can arise because social workers promote the welfare and rights of service users but the end result may not coincide with what the service user thinks is the right decision for them. This could cause communication barriers/issues because social workers support service users to be a part of deciding their own lif e changes then in some draw this power can be taken away from them. For example, an elderly char wants to be able to live at home but she does not have the support and her dementia and mobility is deteriorating. The decision is made that she needs to go into supported accommodation, this effects the social workers relationship with the woman and the service users hearty demeanour changes towards the social worker including body language, attitude and facial expression.In conclusion, communication verbal and non-verbal resides at the core of social work. It is utilized in all areas of social work as an essential part of the job. Communication is used in services for elderly, children, people with disabilities, drug and alcohol guy and mental health. It is used to build relationships, create solutions and to negotiate plans for service users. It is important that social workers work to always improve these skills and complete training so they can learn from other professionals exp eriences of how different service users, carers and professionals like to work in partnership. This includes how to communicate with people who may not want to co-operate to begin with but can use negotiation skills to improve the relationship.