Power Issues And Case Analysis Imbalances Social Work Essay

Power Issues And Case Analysis Imbalances Social Work set aboutThis assignment will discuss the case study fall inn whilst for the first time flavour at the issues of agent as well as the hazard discourse and how this gutter be dominant in spite of appearance hearty pop off f be. Further to this a confinement centred approach will be explained and how it could be used when approaching this case study. Finally the susceptibilitys office will be explored and how this could effect switch over, and bring about societal justice principles.Thompson (2000) discusses that power hatful be a complex issue that operates on different levels. He further discusses that m all sustaining drug substance abusers who come into contact with sociable serve are generally in a relatively low federal agency of power, and that this could be due to, for example social divisions such as, class, race, ethnicity, gender, or religion.When looking at issues of power, it could be said that M s. Evans who defines herself as Asian is being oppressed by mevery power differentials that would motif to be considered. For example Ms. Evans is shortly living in naval married quarters and feels she has not been authentic into the fellowship. It could be argued that she is living in a predominantly male domineered, etiolate environment. Thompson (200056) highlights patriarchal ideology and how male dominance serves to maintain existing power relations between men and women, he also highlights how we should resist the crush to make hatful conform to white malestream norms (Thompson 2000141).Healey (2005) discusses anti-oppressive practice and how this looks at the personal, pagan and structural objects that poop shape the problems that profit users experience. Healey (2005) further discusses that through anti-oppressive practice social histrions aim to promote benefit user empowerment by encouraging them to talk about and share their feelings of powerlessness, to coop erate them understand how ethnic and structural injustices undersurface shape their experiences of oppression. thusly when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would gather up to incorporate anti-oppressive practice in frame to empower, and enable her to share with me her feelings and experiences of powerlessness in fellowship to gain a smash understanding of the families situation. withal Thompson (2000) highlights, social work intervention involves the maintain of power, which if used negatively substructure reinforce the disadvantages that service users experience. Used positively however power send away function to enhance the working relationship, the outcomes, and empower the service user, as Healey (2000202) writes postructuralists project power as an ever-present and productive feature of social relations, and Foucault cited by Healey (2000) highlights the emergency for us to choose the productivity of power, and argues that by tensionsing on power as only being oppressive ignores the positive dimensions of power.Ms. Evans has been referred to social services via the wellness Visitor this could be making her feel disempowered and anxious(p) about the forth coming intervention of social services. Therefore when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would take aim to recognise the power imbalances between us, (Thompson 2000). I would need to be sensitive to the issues of power and imbalances by being sack up with Ms. Evans on my role and purpose, explaining professional boundaries and responsibilities (Trevithick 2005). I would also need to consider my use of language and how as Dalrymple (1995) cited by Healey (2000184) explains the way in which language can reflect power differentials and draw an impact on the people with whom we are working.As well as recognising power issues and imbalances, as the social prole l would also need to undertake a risk assessment. As Thompson (2000) highlights, to assess the degree and nature of each risk to which Ms. Evans and her family could be heart-to-heart to. Assessing exposure to risks or a person, who is vulnerable to it is central to assessment at bottom social work practice (Davies 2005). Stated in the Codes of Practice, as a social sympathize with worker, you must respect the rights of service users while want to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people (GSCC 20074). This acknowledges following risk assessment policies and procedures to assess whether the behaviour of service users presents a risk of harm to themselves or others (GSCC 2007 4.2).Therefore when working with Ms. Evans and her family I would need to be aware of my organisational and statutory duties as there are break ined policies, guidance, and frameworks to inform my practice on risk assessment. When working with children and families as Brayne (2005) highlights, I would need to be aware of the law, which under the Children Act 1989 states my primary office wo uld be when working with Ms. Evans and her family to that of the child, or children.Ms. Evans has stated that on occasions she and her family allow experienced verbal abuse, which would need to be investigated further to decide on both risks this may pose to the family. However she has been described by the Health Visitor as suffering from post natal depression, and finds it backbreaking to tutorship for her children, aged seven, five, and a ten week old baby who has spinal bifida. Therefore it could be said that my primary statutory concern would be, to what result is her post natal depression effecting the care and welfare of her children, and does this pose any risks that need to be identified.Risk assessment and the management of risk have scram dominant in all areas of social work. Kemshall (1997123) cited by Davies (1997123) highlights that inside social work risk assessment and risk management have become key issues and are often central in the decisions, to dole out resources, to intervene in the lives and choices of others or to limit the liberties of activities of clients. Risk assessment has become a dominant discourse within social work because social workers are employed within a risk society, which searches for ways to trace and manage risk effectively. (Higham 2005182)However as stated in the codes of practice, social workers should also recognise that service users have the right to take risks, and help them to identify and manage emf and actual risks to themselves and others (GSCC 2007 4.1). Higham (2006182) discusses how service users strengths that are promising to diminish the predicted risks should be assessed in keeping with the social work comfort of empowerment. Pritchard (1996) cited by Davies (1997124) discusses how service users should not be denied the opportunities to take risks or exercise choice, and states that, risk-taking is an important feature of all our lives (Davies 1997124). However, as Thompson (2000) explain s, the balance between care and control within social work can be difficult to maintain.By approaching this case with a job centred approach would as Healey (2005) explains, toy with focussing on enabling Ms. Evans to make small and pregnant changes in her life, that she has recognised, acknowledged and wanted to work on. Coulshed (1998) highlights that within this approach the service user is the main change agent, helping the worker to assess what the priorities for change ought to be. She further explains that because the worker is as accountable as the service user in carrying out agreed tasks this lessens the sense of powerlessness that the service user maybe feeling.A task centred approach works on a specific set of procedures whereby the service user is helped to carry out problem-alleviating tasks (Coulshed 1998). Healey (2005) explains that it consists of the pre-intervention stage, followed by four sequential but overlapping steps. Therefore firstly I would need to unde rstand and establish the source of referral (the Health Visitor) and negotiate with them any expectations and views. However as Healey (2005) states, by understanding the views of the referring agency does not mean that this has to be the focus of work, as I would need to work with Ms. Evans on defining the butt problems.Mutual clarity between Ms. Evans and me would need to be selled, discussing any limits or boundaries, explaining confidentiality, my role, as well as any statutory or other obligations. Working in collaboration with Ms. Evans I would taste to explore and prioritise Ms. Evans views of her problems, as the service user involvement in identifying the target problems are critical to concentrating their efforts on change (Healey 2005119). Epstein and Brown (2002) cited by Healey (2005) suggest a maximum of three target problems, as it is not necessary to address all problems identified. Success in a fewer can have a knock-on effect for other problems in a service us ers life that may enable them to live with these problems or to deal with them (Healey 2005113).However as Healey (2005) writes, although within a task centred approach the service users definitions of their problems should prevail, in circumstances where the worker is duty bound to insist on considering certain problems, or a judgement has been made of a potential risk that the service user may pose to themselves or others, than these issues should be clearly raised.An explicit agreement (contract) would need to be mutually clarified. This would include times, location of meetings, and detailed information on the goals of intervention, whereby the service user should be responsible for deciding the order in which problems should be addressed (Healey 2005). It should also include any goals the social worker has on behalf of their agency or statutory duties. For example when working with Ms. Evans, goals for intervention might include her health status to be investigated in relation to her post natal depression.As well as this a statement of tasks would be listed to address target problems and to develop the service users problem-solving skills (Healey 2005). This is the key intention of task centred practice, hence we must resist any temptation to do for, instead than do with the service user (Healey 2005122). An example of one task could be Ms. Evans to gain to a greater extent information on spinal bifida and then forward this to her associate, as she feels that he has not accepted their daughters condition, and this could be a fear of the unknown.In financial backing Ms. Evans in her task performance I would encourage, and help build on her strengths maybe through rehearsing set tasks with her in the form of role dramatic play (Healey 2005). This would enable for any strategies necessary to be put into place to help Ms. Evans overcome any obstacles that she may feel could hinder the completion of a certain task.Task centred practice is a systematic pro cess, therefore throughout my work with Ms. Evans I would need to regularly review performed tasks in order to acknowledge any gain made, as well as address any tasks that have not been performed. This would give me the opportunity to address any issues with Ms. Evans and to explore ways if deemed necessary to revise our contract.Finally integral to the task centred structure is the need for a well planned verge. Healey (2005124) writes that a clear and looming deadline is vital for concentrating worker and service user efforts on change. Within the termination meeting I would review with Ms, Evans the overall progress of our work, and how in the next she might maintain any progress that has been made (Healey 2005).Healey (2005) explains that a task centred framework provides a shell in which other theoretical positions can be incorporated. Incorporating a strengths perspective would, like task centred practice focus on, building a service users capacity to help themselves and to promote a mutual learning partnership between workers and service users, (Healey 2005158) keeping within the social work values of empowerment, respect and service user self-determination. jibe to Healey (2005) the strengths perspective concentrates on enabling service users and communities to work towards their future hopes and dreams, instead than looking at past or present problems.Saleeby (19974) cited by Healey (2005152) states that the strengths perspective formula is straightforward, where workers are required to mobilise service users strengths in order to enable them to achieve their goals and objectives, which would lead to the service user having a better quality of life on their terms (Healey 2005152). Some of the key assumptions of the strengths perspective are, all people have strengths, capacities and resources, and people generally demonstrate resilience, rather than pathology when facing adverse life events. (Healey 2005157).Healey (2005) discusses the practice p rinciples and how the social worker should slang a positive and optimistic attitude towards service users, working in partnership with them so solutions to problems are developed collaboratively. Healey (2005162) further states that the formation of a good working partnership can increase the resources available to cypher the problem at hand. Therefore when working with Ms. Evans I would focus on listening to her story, identifying her capacities, strengths, and resourcefulness which could contribute to positive changes. I would clarify any strengths with her as Healey (2005162) explains, service users can grow when others particularly helpers actively introduce and support their capacity to do so.My role as the social worker would be to facilitate Ms. Evans capacity to acknowledge, and use existing strengths and resources which would enable her to develop new ones. These strengths could be for example the skills she has developed from parenting, most of which due to her partner being in the Navy she may have done independently. Ms. Evans defines herself as Asian and that Islam is important to her, therefore, another strength could be that of adaptability, and having the inner strength to explore new experiences, as she may have moved from an Asian community to be with her partner in the naval married quarters. check to Saleeby (1996) cited by Healey (2005164) belonging to a community is the first step towards empowerment. Therefore by working towards social justice principles I would explore with Ms. Evans what statuesque and informal help was available to her within the community. For example, a mother and tot group, which would enable her to become part of the community that she feels she has not been accepted into. Healey (2005164) explains community support can build and draw on the capacities of service users to help themselves and to help others.I would also discuss with her the help she is already receiving in relation to her baby and her diagnosis of spinal bifida, which could mean the family are authorize to both financial and practical help. This could include a family support carer to give some respite, which would allow Ms. Evans some time to pursue her own interests, such as her religion. Further to this I would need to recognise any strengths and assets within Ms. Evans social networks, such as people she may feel can be supportive, maybe discussing with her possible personal support from family and friends (Healey 2005).In resultant this assignment has discussed the issues of power and how social workers need to be sensitive to and recognise power imbalances. .Following this, risk discourse has been explained, as well as a task centred approach to the case study. Finally the strengths perspective was incorporated which focuses on the capacities and potentialities of the service user.