Social Work - Welfare Agenda - Essay Example

An essay on the impact of ideological values on social work policies in Wales. ASSIGNMENT: There a few basic principles that drive the welfare of a region. This includes the prevailing organisational structures, the regulatory controls that are to be implemented and, of course, the reduction of inequality. However, when it comes to Wales, ideological principles play a pivotal part. Here, the local authorities take responsibilities for social care services. This includes creating policies for the general health and social welfare.

There are new models of trust frameworks for children. These are all within local authorities. Wales allows directors of social services to be responsible for activities related to child care and social services for adults. Wales also introduced Childrens Commissioner into the social welfare network. This was later to be implemented by Scotland as well. However, Wales did not limit itself to Children’s Commissioner but rather went a step ahead and introduced the Older Peoples Commissioner.

The chairperson of this new post would be bestowed with the primary job to consider and promote interests of the senior citizen in Wales by removing discrimination and modifying legislations among other things. The Welsh Assembly actively participated in these programs. Only in England and Wales has the Mental Capacity Act 2005 been implemented. An adult mental health plan is also in the pipeline as the Welsh Assembly is working on it. The Councils in Wales also take part in the development of the social sector and also helps in the development of the social services workers and volunteers.

A Social Services Improvement Agency has also been introduced in Wales in order to develop the services rendered by the local authority. This is done by informing the workforce about the prevalent policies, research and various legislations in practice. Since 2007 the Welsh Assembly government facilitated the amalgamation of two bodies into a new Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). The purpose of the CSSIW was to develop the existing facilities for social services. In the future, one may foresee two possible scenarios1.

Qualified social workers are most important to attend to the welfare of the society. Over the years, the demand for social workers has increased leading to an imbalance and which is likely to remain for the next few years to come till there are more qualified social workers pitching for the job. This leads to the consequence wherein there is lack of local authorities to deliver social work services. The challenges thus presently existing the local authorities are the two R’s: recruitment and retention.

Expensive agency services has, of late become prevalent in Wales. The statistical report on sickness is relatively high and so the associated turnover rates are also higher as there exists a relationship between high sickness levels and the workforce capacity2. There are also various social work education provisions in Wales3. This involves the participation and inputs from employers who are in an advisory role. As the new education system is introduced, there is a requirement that the education process involves full partnership with employers in matters of selection with regards to inputs and matters related to assessment and management4.

One can also peruse the contents in Jacob Hacker’s notion of ‘drift’ that emphasises on institutionalists and analysts of welfare programs who are concerned with the betterment of the society. There are myriad of reasons why these drifts occur. It could be either when a policy fails to adapt to the changing society or it could be because of any conscious efforts made by the politicians to modify or develop the presently implemented social programs. It is always important to view institutionalists on the policies from an angle of ideologies in order to attain the best possible outcome in the field of welfare5.