Defining the Evolution of Duties Among Social Workers - Essay Example

?Essay Defining the Evolution of Duties Among Social Workers Word Count: 3044 Introduction The social welfare system is one which continues toalter and change according to government policies and initiatives which are taken. This is followed by values and ethical principles which reformat the expectations within social work. The alteration of policies and procedures further alter the way in which social welfare is approached with those who are working in specific positions with welfare. Specifically, it alters the expectations and procedures for professional social workers, statutory agents and employees working in conjunction with a local authority. The changes which are made through the social welfare system change levels of accountability as well as legal approaches taken to working with others. The alterations made through each of these continue to evolve, specifically because of cases associated with rights as well as actions taken for or against social workers. Examining the various roles and how these have altered in recent years for social workers then creates a deeper understanding toward the current expectations of those within the social justice system. Professional Social Worker Duties The professional mix which is created for those working as a professional social worker continues to alter because of regulations and policies which are implemented. The alterations are specific to finding innovative ways and measures of working with other professionals as well as with the duties which are expected by workers. It is noted that there are dual roles which are carried by social workers. The first is to the interest of the social work, specifically with the judicial and legal roles as well as the expected duties which need to be performed in relation to the judicial system. The second role is based on meeting the client needs and expectations while assisting with the social and personal values that are expected among social workers. The duties then become based on making ethical decisions that best serve the interests of both roles while developing a sense of value neutrality toward both sides to ensure that the correct human rights and alternative goals are met (Dolgoff, Loewenberg, Harrington,2012). The modernist approach which is taken is further defined because it is a state mediated profession within the statutory sector. The result is that there is a set of discrete behaviors that are performed within the profession and which are expected to match with the state regulations that are performed. This is followed with the professional treatment model. This shows that as long as one is able to follow the state expectations, there is not difficulty in meeting the agenda of the state and in regulating specific aspects of the judicial system (Brayne, Carr, 2010: 57). Even if there is a sense that a client needs a different aspect relating to a case, a sense of subordination begins to appear, specifically to begin to change and alter the way that the social workers look at the organization and expectations which appear. Structural and ideological changes, modernization agendas with New Labor and Human Rights Acts and other legalities change the entire structure of the social work and the professional duties, creating alterations with the code of ethics, performance and the restrictive use of Fair Access to Care Services. These dilemmas are then created by asking professional social workers to continue to meet the agenda, demands and judicial duties within the social worker system (Harris, White, 2009: 132). The changing government regulations then meet with the expectations for codes of ethics that are defined for social workers. It is noted that there are two sets of ethics that are defined among social workers, including principle based and virtue based. The principle based comes with the judicial system, specifically which identifies each social act creating expectations and alterations to those that are going through the justice system. The judicial system regulates concepts such as human rights as well as how much involvement and neutrality should be taken with given cases. The virtue based code of ethics is based on the client assistance which is required in specific situations. The virtue based applications often require moving outside of the principle based ethics because of the situation which the client is facing. The approach is to offer the correct level of help to every client while creating and changing the specific associations of those that are in given circumstances (Fine, Teram, 2009: 60). A case study which relates to this shows how the code of ethics relates directly to the social expectations and the expectations in terms of the legal system. In one instance, a 10 year old girl is found with a large bruise on her foot. This is followed by a broken arm three weeks later. The continuous harm leads to questions by social workers, with the response that the girl has fallen down while with her friends. This follows with an examination of the girl and initial questioning by a social worker. The results indicate that Child Care Protection should interfere for possible abuse in the family. However, the investigation with the family and the 10 year old through the medical exam lead to inconclusive results. While the social worker has knowledge of the abuse in the family, the lack of proof and support from the legislative system does not allow the girl to receive the correct assistance. In this situation, the legislation requires more evidence. However, social pressures would indicate that social workers need to take more action while the beliefs in virtue would indicate the same. The balance with social workers then relies on finding a balance with these different codes of ethics (Denney, 2010: 1297). Duties of A Statutory Agent The duties of a professional social worker alter from the statutory agent and duties which are expected with this particular profession. The role of the statutory agent is to process the services in which one is required to go to a lawsuit or summons. The approach is to be a protection to liabilities while administering the legal service of processes that are a part of the lawsuit. The agents may work as third parties and are often associated with the service workers because of the number of legalities which are approached in the agency. The agents are not only required to follow the judicial proceedings and alterations which have occurred during a period of time. The Model Registered Agents Act also provides guidelines of how and when a lawsuit is filed as well as what is involved with the processing, specifically which creates legal procedures for social work to be followed to determined guidelines that communicate specific messages about the proceedings in court (Model Registered Agents, 2006). The roles of the statutory agent lead to different codes of ethics and governmental demands used with social work. This is one of the complexities between the work of professional social workers and the approach taken with the legal demands of statutory agents. If an aspect of social work meets the judicial system and the laws, then specific boundaries and divisions are created according to the necessary legal proceedings (Laird, 2010: 413). The duties of the statutory agent are based specifically on the principles and laws defined within the judicial system, as opposed to looking at the unique aspects of a case or the alterations which are associated with the demands created for social workers knowledge and skills. The knowledge and skills of the statutory agent dismiss the context of specific cases and the virtue which is regarded in specialized cases because of circumstances. Instead, the proceedings are based on the latest legal provisions as well as the code of ethics which is to be followed by communicating and writing the laws and acts which are pertinent for the case and time (Swain, 2010: 5). The contrast which is made with the codes of practice is followed by the standards used for statutory agents and the tasks and roles which are associated with the work. The ethical theories which are associated with the statutory agents are based on bringing a sense of justice to those who are clients of social workers, specifically with the approach to providing justice and morality to the given situation. In this particular philosophy, there is the need to find reasoning and logic behind a given situation that allows the law to step in and offer the correction of the situation. It is this particular standard with the code of ethics that leads to different expectations and statutory agents and the approach which is taken with the law. This is specifically done by providing pertinent information based on the law that assists those that the statutory agent believes is immoral or wrong. The division then becomes one based on the need for the statutory agents to create a specific approach to the social work that is able to provide an understanding of the value and morality of the situation (Gray, 2010: 1794). While there is an association with the morals and values determined by legalities and statutory agents, there are also alterations that come with the public image. If there is media coverage, expectations behind a specific legality and changes which occur among the agents, then it leads to changes which take place among the decisions and legal proceedings that take place among statutory agents. There is the ability to begin changing and altering the expectations with the legal proceedings according to the outlook and coverage of the media and the public. This pushes and instigates changes that are expected within the legal system and with the proceedings that are taken. As this is done, the value perspectives begin to change by those in society as well as others which are looking at values and judicial proceedings. The pressure which comes from the social relationship is based specifically on the value perspectives and the judicial expectations (Gray, Webb, 2010: 15). Another aspect of statutory agents which changes the approach to the legal proceedings is with the partnerships that are created with others. Statutory agents work as a mediator between the judiciary system and social workers that are associated with a given case. The communication which works between these two then develops a different sense of value perspectives, legal proceedings and moral values that are used. This is combined with the social pressures and expectations for the statutory agents in creating the right framework for the legal proceedings. The concept of creating a medium point between both the judicial system and the social workers creates more complexity in approaching the legal duties with the right perspective. If not, then the judicial system may see this as a violation of rights and duties by the agent. If the social workers are unable to receive the right communication and perspective with the moral and value indicators, then there is also difficulty in finding the right regulations and changes with those who are looking at specific cases (Dickens, 2009: 17). The question which arises with those who act as statutory agents is based on how the power can be used with those in this specific position as well as how it is regulated among social workers and the judiciary system. The necessity is to create controlling behaviors by individuals in society and in specific positions through the use of acts, legal proceedings and standards that are required. By allowing the proceedings by statutory agents to follow the main code of ethics while providing applications to the legitimacy of various cases then provides statutory agents with a sense of balance as a mediator between powers. More important, there is the need to create and develop the right sense of balance of powers through statutory agents, specifically with the legal duties and expectations toward virtue that occurs among social workers (Gast, 2012: 57). Duties of Employee of a Local Authority Another factor which relates to the code of ethics, judicial system, social pressures and expectations of social needs comes from those who work as employees of a local authority. The current duties have formatted through policies and acts based on inclusion and development of justice with those that are in various situations in society. The government acts and provisions began with statutory acts, such as the Local Government Act of 1972, specifically which outlined the expectations from employees working with local authorities. This changed in 1989 with the Local Government and Housing Act, specifically which restricted the posts of those working in political stations. The approach with this was to create political partiality while balancing out powers that were among local authorities. This was followed with twin tracking, which led each local authority to being responsible to another who ensured that the correct duties were followed with given agendas. Restrictions were then followed by how one could move into a post while being expected to move through specific procedures and rulings with cases that were presented or were a part of the duties of the local authorities (Local Government Employers, 2012). The government initiatives which have been created combine with the values and ethical principles associated with local authorities. An agenda that has taken place in the government is based on the “Big Society” and is inclusive of incentives, contracts, targets and micro – management that is within the social order. The local authorities working with social work are required to look at ways not only to reach the judicial system. The movement is also based on developing participation, empowerment of communities and increasing collective action. The force is based on changing the social perspectives of the justice system while creating alternatives and expectations that are associated with the current social welfare. By doing this, there is the ability to create different associations with the equality and justice that is a part of the government initiatives while focusing on combining the powers and job duties with the balance of empowering the communities with the local authorities (Jordan, 2011: 10). The codes of practice and standards that are withheld by local authorities are noted to come specifically from the cultural standards that are within a workspace. The culture is one which creates an understanding of which policies should be practiced in given situations while ensuring that the codes of conduct for various situations are continuously looked into for the needs of those that are within a given situation. The ethic – informed leadership that takes place among local authorities is one of the most essential components of those that are looking at these specific attributes. This is combined with the practice of ethics toward the community. This is based on what is expected among local authorities as well as what principles and legal procedures apply to every situation. The dynamics which are created among local authorities are based on a balance of powers that question and regulate the action of employees after performing duties or while looking at specific attributes that are associated with the duties that are created (Shoot, 2011: 177). The exercise of legal duties and powers as well as the balance which is created is continuing to change the roles and tasks which are created. The local authorities are required, more than ever, to change and develop the expectations that are taken with the legal duties that are created. This is combined with the level of professionalism which is taken as well as the expectations that are approached with powers that are expected. The examination of specific circumstances combined with reacting according to legal proceedings is the basis of the exercise of duties and tasks. However, this is combined with the understanding that given circumstances prohibits the specific application of duties while allowing other performance to take place to assist with the situation. Similar with other forms of social work, there is the need to have both value based and principle based expectations that are associated with the given duties and tasks (Adams, 2010: 71). A case study which shows the conflicts with local authorities and the roles highlights not only the basis of the expectations with codes of ethics but also with social expectations. In a current case study, it was noted that a local authority was called because of potential violence in a household. The local authorities followed the protocol of arriving at the house to find that the situation is no longer creating any risk. The incident is reported and the local authorities leave. A second reporting is called in later in which the same incident arises. The local authorities report to social workers about the incidents for a further investigation with suspected abuse in the family. The call about suspected abuse; however, may turn into a near miss. This means that the local authorities do not carry forward with the correct analysis, leading to social workers creating a scenario which may have developed from other alternatives. The local authorities then become responsible for the code of ethics in stating that the analysis is because of potential abuse. The question which arises is based on safeguarding those in the home with reporting the incident or following a code of ethics which cannot respond or make assumptions because of the lack of evidence reported (Adams, 2010: 71). Conclusion The duties among social workers, statutory agents and local authorities all differ according to the changes which are made at a governmental level. The actions and changes for human rights as well as responsibilities among social workers drive forward different approaches to those that are looking at the specific demands and expectations among social work. This is combined with an overall understanding of what is expected in terms of the duties and codes of ethics that are within the social work arena. The code of ethics is defined by legal principles and actions that are expected as well as alterations that are defined by the value based actions taken. These are furthered with the code of ethics that are dependent on the job duties and descriptions which are a part of each of the jobs. Each of these is furthered with social pressures that are created as well as responses from families that are working with social workers. The various levels of responses which take place from the government and legal changes as well as the pressures from procedures and society then create alternative approaches to those who are looking at the duties of those working in social work positions. References Adams, R. The Short Guide to Social Work. UK: Routledge. Brayne, Hugh, Helen Carr. 2010. Law for Social Workers. UK: Oxford University Press. Denney, David. 2010. “Violence and Social Care Staff: Positive and Negative Approaches to Risk.” British Journal of Social Work 40 (4). Dickens, J. 2009. 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Laird, Siobhan. 2010. Practical Social Work Law: Analyzing Court Cases and Inquiries. New York: Longman. Local Government Employers. 2012. “Political Restrictions on Local Government Employees.” [Online].Retrieved from: http://www.lge.gov.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=119739. Ma, JLC, TKY Wong, LK Lau. 2009. “Perceived Family Functioning and Family Resources of Families: Implications for Social Work Practice.” Journal of Family Social Work 37 (2). Model Registered Agents. 2006. “Model Registered Agents Act.” National Conference of Commission on Uniform State Laws. Shoot, Michael. 2011. “On Administrative Evil – Doing within Social Work Policy and Services: Law, Ethics and Practice.” European Journal of Social Work 14 (2). Swain, Phillip. 2010. In the Shadow of the Law New York: Federation Press. Read More