Agency Application of Social Policies - Essay Example

Assignment Agency Report Reflection on the agency Agency application of social policies (theories, values, legislation Literature view (x3 sources) Introduction Answer the question: what is social policy in social work in mental health? What are the advantages?: What are the dilemmas?: Recommendation: Social policy in social work and mental health are usually meant to address the various social ills and challenges that are encountered in various settings. It is a very core aspect of mental health care as it allows for the identification of gaps in patient care. Due to the diverse nature of problems encountered in mental health acre, several, diverse policies are at times employed. This therefore requires that that caution is taken so that they are in line with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. PLEASE SEE THE FIRST FILES FORWADED FOR THE OVERVIEW. PLEASE USE THE FIRST WORK YOU DID FOR ME BUT MORE CONCISE DUE TO WORD LIMIT. THANKS This report will focus on the affective disorder services that are also offered by the agency. It has a specific team and resources which are meant to offer these services. The affective disorder services entail a complete assessment of both long term and short term residential, respite and domiciliary care. It gives service to those who are having severe mental challenges and problems. Just like any other facility or agency giving this kind of services, the Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health relies on various guidelines and policies in care management and treatment approaches. Mental health and mental disorders are usually shaped by several socioeconomic and physical environments one experiences at different stages of life. Handling these life stages and risk factors is handy in proper treatment of the conditions. Care management process The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has various guidelines that assist in giving support to the patients so that distress is reduced and personal development is maximised. The guidelines are intended to ensure that the care providers offer the right kind of services that will enable the patients to recover so that they can return to or maintain independent living (NICE 2014). The NICE guidelines governing the affective disorder services are supported and complemented by several legislations and statutory provisions with the major ones being the safeguarding adults, Mental Health Act 2007 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. However, the new reform Care Act 2014 will replace….. The Care Act 2014 is a policy that seeks to modernise legal basis in adult care with the intention of encouraging the personalisation of services. The Act requires carers to give patients more choice and control over how they are treated and how the outcomes of the interventions are achieved (Payne 2014). The Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act also influence how patients are treated and dealt with in a health care facility. Theory..system Assessment process Definition of assessment: Research evidence: Assessment process is a very important aspect of the affective disorder services and it is guided by the Mental Health Act 2007. The Act redefines the circumstances and the conditions under which an individual can be subjected to compulsory assessment and treatment. Moreover, it gives out the rights of such people and ways through which these rights can be protected by those who are involved in the process. Human right Act… Data protection Act: Confidentiality: Social work values: Health care professionals are expected to follow and abide by these provisions which consolidate the various laws related to mental health care treatment (ref, Domain.. of the PCF:TCSW, 2012). Assessment theory… The Mental Capacity Act also plays a vital role in mental health care management. It is designed to protect and also empower people who do not have the mental capacity to make comprehensive decisions on the care and treatment which they may require (ref). These people may lack the mental capacity as a result of several reasons including mental disorders and memory loss. Research evidence All the decisions made prior, during and after the evaluation and treatments are always to be in the best interest of the person seeking the services (SCIE 2014). Research evidence Apart from these statutory requirements, the affective disorder services are also guided by the agency’s own internal regulations and guidelines which are in line with the NICE safeguarding adult regulations. It seeks to provide the best care and support by focusing on the needs of the patients to provide a holistic intervention (ref). Research evidence The teams always strive to comply with these guidelines. They use a holistic approach towards treatment whereby focus is not only on the condition but also on other factors which affect the wellbeing of the service user (ref). Research evidence This is done by employing a multidimensional view of the needs of the service user. Bio-psychosocial factors It encompasses the biological, social, cultural as well as the psychological needs. In addition, patient’s uniqueness is greatly emphasised. Based on these considerations, interventions and support plans are made by means of collaborative process. This practice is in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2007 which requires decisions to be made in the greatest concern of the patient. It also complies with the NICE Pathways and the upcoming Care Act 2014 which calls for personalisation of care. Research evidence Social work values Interventions Definition of assessment: Research evidence: This means that interventions are meant to ensure that the needs of those who are seeking mental health care services are met. The agency, therefore, spends a great deal of effort in rightly identifying these needs. Evidence suggests that the service users who benefit from these services value the kind of relationship they have with the social workers (AMHP) and health care specialists. The relationships are therefore a key starting point for offering support and help. The service users view the relationship they develop with the care in terms of empathy, respect and warm. The reliability of the care is also a vital component. Social work values: Approaches that reduce the contact between the users of the service and the carer are greatly discouraged by the agency. Due to the focus put on the relationship it is not surprising to find the various services users talking to the carers in a friendly manner since they at times confuse the professional relationship with a more informal one. However, the outcome is typically positive. Research evidence Social work values: Services users at the agency seem to value the idea that the social workers (AMHP) and support worker can offer emotional and practical support to them. They always hope to get some kind of relief when they visit the agency for the services provided. The support and intervention plans are, therefore, made to incorporate the offering of counseling, therapeutic support and practical help and guidelines. Moreover, they can be referred to relevant agencies and other service providers which will be essential in meeting these needs so that they can get the help they need. Research evidence Social work values: The interventions seek to offer continuity and flexibility based on holistic and social aspects of the patient’s lives. Through this, the carers are able to connect with the personal, social, political and emotional needs of the serve users thus ensuring the right kind of support is offered. The interventions opted for by the agency rely heavily on the adult attachment theory and the social cognitive theory. The attachment theory refers to a psychological model that describes the long term interpersonal relations between people (Francis, O’Connor & Curran, 2012). Since the relationship existing between the practitioners and the service user is of great importance to the general outcome of the intervention, the teams strive to ensure that they build a good relationship with the patient right from the start. They do this by connecting with the personal needs of the patient and giving personalized care and support. Basing the interventions on this model has several advantages. Research evidence The main one is that it helps in developing trust between the practitioners and the care giver. It also permits the client to contribute in the identification of his needs and in formulating the best care plan which will suit them. The only main shortcoming of this attachment theory based model is that in some instances, the service users are not able to draw a line between informal and formal relationships they have with the carer (Griffiths, 2012). This manifests itself when they strive to have the overall control in the type and nature of plan to be used in dealing with the mental and social health problem in question. Research evidence Social work values: The other theory evident in the agency’s interventions is the social cognitive theory that suggests that behavioral change results from various personal and environmental influences (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2012). In using this model, the agency physicians carry out behavioral health screening for the clients which is then followed by best practice protocol. The treatments are also based on these behavioral change factors (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2012). It is done by providing the right kind of environment both in residential and domiciliary treatment. Research evidence Social work values: Measuring and Evaluating Impact Measuring outcomes gives estimates of the changes that have taken place after an intervention has been used or applied (Griffiths, 2012). Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health focuses on the positive changes, the benefits and the learning effects which result from the interventions given for various health care challenges. The measures give information that is used in making several decisions relating to future care and interventions for efficiency, durability and cost effectiveness. Just like most care givers, it relies on the guidelines provided by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on cost effectiveness and the standards of care. Measuring outcome according to the NICE standards in social care takes into account the cost effectiveness, experience of the service user, safety concerns, cost impact during development as well as equality. (What are the exact requires for measuring this outcome according to NICE ). Routine outcome assessment is the major way through which the impact of the interventions is evaluated. It entails looking at various outcome domains which include quality of patient wellbeing, cognition, emotional balance, patient behavior and physical health (reference ). Interpersonal and societal outcome aspects are also considered since the wellbeing of the patient may at times be subjective, it takes into account the life domains of the individual as well as other global outcomes. This goes a long way in removing any kind of bias during the monitoring and evaluation process so that a true reflection of picture is obtained (Kumar, Sinha, Khanna1 & Kar1 2013). What is the Research evidence that it is effective? The monitoring and evaluation process at the agency is designed to allow for two major activities. First it is supposed to show and asses the changes which have taken place in relations to the desired outcome. The desired outcomes include the achievement of patient needs, physical wellbeing and quality of life. According to Kumar et al. (2013), monitoring evaluating interventions on the basis of the changes which take place allow for bridging the gap between what is to be achieved and what is actually accomplished. Moreover, it is vital in checking whether social care practitioners and clinicians are applying the right skills to ensure that the patient receives the needed intervention. (justify why this is important with research evidence and how it informs social work values). Research evidence Social work values Why data collection is important based on (NICE, PCF and Research) Collecting local data about the patient is a very important aspect of monitoring and evaluation. NICE identifies it as a key facet of improving quality services and care. It allows clinicians to have a more rounded and complete picture of care that is being given to the patients. The data collected about the patient after the intervention is therefore compiled and analyzed with focus being put in the relationship between the present state of the patient and the desired outcome. Secondly, it is designed in a way that allows for explicit comparison of the view of the patient on the outcome and that of the staff. It is achieved by involving the service users in the assessment process. This way, their views and that of the care giver can be captured. From the gathered information, an explicit comparison can be done. Information on the wellbeing of the patient is continually gathered during and after the support and care plan implementation. The practitioners assesses and interacts with the service users in various settings so that a clear picture and information on the impact of the various interventions used can be noted. The clients also give direct response on their wellbeing. This is through the prompted responses initiated by the agency (Ref.). Research evidence Social work values Routine outcome assessment has several advantages. First, it allows for constant reevaluation of the wellbeing of the services users. The method also focuses on outcome domains which impact on the overall wellbeing of the patient (Carrey et al. 2014 THANK YOU). Thirdly, it facilities explicit comparison of the staff and patient views on the impact of the intervention used. Finally, focuses on measuring treatment aspects which lead to desirable focus on the outcome of the intervention. This approach also has its own shortcomings. The major one is the subjective nature of the measures used. According to Rozental et al. (2014), measuring the outcome of an intervention based on service user defined domains is very subjective. The view that the patient gives concerning their wellbeing may not actually be the true picture. The second challenge is in the selection of the wellbeing domains to use. Every single patient is unique in his own way. This implies that they will have different wellbeing domains. As such, the use of a standardised domain definition may not give a clear picture of the intervention impact (ref). Despite these limitations, the agency has greatly benefited from its routine outcome assessment plan in evaluating the kind of support and care given as well as the effectiveness of the interventions (ref). The evaluations provide it with a basis on which it redefines future interventions and treatment plans so as to give the best care as per the requirements of the statutory policies and guidelines. Social work values Collaborative Relationships The national Service Framework for Mental Health (1999) and the NICE Pathways have continued to promote the close integration of social care with mental health care and trust (what are the principles and recommendations). It is recommended that the services are joined up for effective and quality care. Moreover, focus needs to be put on inter-professional collaboration as well as active participation of practitioners and stakeholders. The impact is the coming together of the mental specialist teams and interdisciplinary groups. Such teams play a big role in intervening quickly so that the crisis is avoided and to promote service users recovery after admission to hospitals and at their residence (ref). For example, the Affective disorder service provide interventions and support for service users with long term mental health problems by relying on the expertise and experience of different professionals. Research evidence Social work values What is multi-disciplinary approach? Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health has successfully embraced and employed multi-disciplinary approach towards mental health care. Multi-disciplinary approach entails drawing from diverse disciplines to be able to redefine a given problem outside the usual boundaries. A solution is then obtained on the basis of the new and more concrete understanding. It does this by emphasis on professional collaboration as well as integration of specialists. Training its social workers in mental health services has allowed it benefit by drawing from a wide range of social science. This underpins the social work competency values as It has adopted an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory approach to social work and in training the workers so that they are able to develop awareness on issues like power and oppression (PCF, Domain 2: TCSW) THANK YOU THIS IS HOW TO USE THE PCF(AMHP competency). The workers at the agency are more aware of their potential for oppressions. Various joint initiatives are also used by the Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health in achieving its mission and goals. Such initiatives are meant to set out its commitment to promoting health and wellbeing and also tackling the problem of health inequality in the area it operates in. A good example is the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (Department of Health 2012). The relationships with other stakeholders in the collaborative initiatives are based on the realisation that there are a wider range of factors which influence the wellbeing of the service users (ref). By implementing such plans, it achieves real and measurable improvements in the overall health and wellbeing of the various service users within the population area (ref). The efforts are always aimed at improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of the residents through various interventions which are designed on the basis of the needs. Social work values The collaborative efforts like the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy have evolved over time. They are a continuation of projects and undertakings which have been done for several years. Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health is always consulting and collaborating with several stakeholders and partners who are also interested in the issues being tackled. Feedback on the approaches is obtained on regular basis from the various service users and the stakeholders involved. It relies on measuring the positive changes and outcomes associated with the initiatives. Funding for projects comes from a range of partners who pool resources for the efforts. Summary Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health has put up the right structures and policies which have enabled it to comply with the national framework for safeguarding adults. It also operates in line with the NICE pathways and PCE domains. Agency workers are demonstrate professional commitment in their duties and practices. Moreover, they apply social work ethics and values including by initiating partnerships with the service users. Diversity is recognized in the agency and as such anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive policies and guidelines are applied. In terms of rights and justice, agency workers have always acknowledged the principles of human rights and complied with various statutory requirements like the mental health act in their practice. Since the agency understands the social, cultural and spiritual influences on patients, it uses the knowledge on social care and science to deal with such issues. Critical reflection and context organization is a very important domain. Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health ensures that its workers are knowledgeable about the application of various principles related to reasoned discernment. When intervening, the carers strive to use judgment and authority while at the same time trying to offer support and build effective relationships. Finally, professional leadership is quite evident through the supervisions, assessments, teaching and mentoring programs organized for the workers. The decisions which are made and interventions opted revolve around the needs of the service users. It does this so as to offer the best available care and effective solutions to mental health problems.  Does the agency meet the national framework for safeguarding vulnerable adults and the NICE pathway? Does the agency meet the 9 domains of the PCF Does the agency apply all social policies, guidance, legislation, theories and models in the best interest of their service users? Conclusion Stockton-On-Tees Adult Services & Health continues to provide quality mental health and social care to various service users. The interventions and treatment plans are patient centered so that the needs and uniqueness of the clients are captured and taken care of. It measures the outcome based on the wellbeing of the users. Moreover, it liaises with various stakeholders for joint initiatives to tackle relevant health care issues. It has strived to ensure that the services provided are in line with various statutory and regulatory requirements. Reference List Carrey, N, Curran, R, Greene, R, Nolan, A et al. 2014, ‘Embedding mental health interventions in early childhood education systems for at-risk preschoolers: an evidence to policy realist review’, Systematic Reviews, vol. 3, no. 84, pp.20-27. Available from [Accessed 11 March 2015] Department of Health (2012) Stockton-on-Tees Joint and Health and Wellbeing Strategy Guidance, 2012-2018. Available at: http://www.stockton.gov.uk/documents/839159/jointhealthandwellb.pdf (Assessed by 14/02/2015). Francis, J, O’Connor, D & Curran, J 2012, ‘Theories of behavior change synthesized into a set of theoretical groupings: introducing a thematic series on the theoretical domains framework. Implementation Science, vol. 7, pp.35. Available from [Accessed 11 March 2015] Griffiths, C 2012, ‘The theories, mechanisms, benefits, and practical delivery of psychosocial educational interventions for people with mental health disorders’,   International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 21-28 http://www.psychosocial.com/IJPR_11/Theories_Mech_Benefits_PS_Ed_Griffiths.html [Accessed 11 March 2015] Kumar, D, Sinha, C, Khanna1, A & Kar1, S 2013, ‘Multidisciplinary approach in child and adolescent depression: Experience from a tertiary mental health institution in India’, Open Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 3, pp. 8-14. Available from [Accessed 11 March 2015] Mikulincer, M & Shaver, P 2012, ‘An attachment perspective on psychopathology’, World Psychiatry, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 11–15. Available from < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266769/> [Accessed 11 March 2015] NICE 2014, Care and support of service users across all points on the care pathway. Available from [Accessed 11 March 2015] Payne, M. (2014) (4th Edition) Modern Social Work Theory. Basingstoke: Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Rozental , A, Andersson, G, Boettcher, J, Ebert, G et al. 2014, ‘Consensus statement on defining and measuring negative effects of Internet interventions’, Internet Interventions vol. 1, no.1, pp.12–19. Available from [Accessed 11 March 2015] SCIE (2014) Dignity in care. Available at: http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide15/factors/index.asp (Assessed by 02/02/2015). Read More