Correlation between Risk and Social Justice - Essay Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 My experience of working within an inter-professional context in the evaluation of the aspect of risk was based on the experience of adults with disabilities. The objective of my analysis as a social worker, as will be highlighted by this particular presentation was to evaluate the effects of risk on the nature of social justice and the nature of service provision within the inter-professional context. My analysis will also evaluate the various models of risk management and assessment that should be applied in this context. In addition the various policies, legislations and research, which were beneficial in the evaluations of risks associated to this particular marginalized group, will also be examined. I worked with Luke a 56 year old man with severe hearing impairment. I collaborated with the Audiology Department, Care mangers, a specialist team of social workers and a BSL language worker who provided advice and information based on assessment in order to assess disabled adults for sensory impairment equipment and recommend the provision of equipments if the person was eligible as indicated by the council’s Fair Access to Care Services criteria (2003). In cases were the risks were estimated to be critical and substantial, the equipments to limit or lessen the risks were provided at no cost. Luke met the requirements and the equipments given to him were funded by the council, after his record history, communication assessment and case history were eligible to the criteria. However I got to work with many other service users who did not fit within the eligibility criteria, as a result the responsibility of funding the equipments and care was solely to be from their families. The impact of this element is that some of the disabled adults may lack equipment and home care services due to financial constrains. Different professionals use different measures to give a description of disability and the estimated level of risk associated to a particular form of disability. When working with different professionals I discovered that there is a difference in the approaches applied in the evaluation of the aspect of disability as a result contention may arise due to the difference in perception of the idea of risk, which may intern affect the service user in terms of unequal service provision. For instance Parker (2007, p 14 ) highlights that the medical model describes disability as being attributed to physical or mental impairment which results to lack of ability to perform certain functions. The social approach on the other hand takes a wider perspective of disability, whereby they view disability not as impairment but a socially constructed phenomenon that is as a result of exclusion and negative attitudes by people in society. The social model recognizes the fact that a person may have intellectual, physical or sensory limitations however this does not lead to the aspect of disability. In order to carryout effective assessment for the eligibility of an individual for free installation of equipments there was practically a need for me to inquire information from professionals of both models in order to make a comprehensive decision of whether the individual should freely receive the equipments or be given advice on the equipments need and later be sent to purchase the equipments at their own expense. My experience was the integration of the varied views from the various professionals may be a contributory factor to some extent of discrimination in terms of service provision for disabled adults with hearing impairment. It is vital that services rendered to each disabled individual are without any form of discrimination as required by the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Adults with disabilities such as hearing impairments face various risks such as injury and death due to inability to detect danger such as fire and other forms of risk. Risk can be given a description as the possibility of harmful and beneficial outcomes that may occur in a particular stated timescale. When making an evaluation of the various models of risk assessment in the context of provision of equipments for some disabled adults freely while other are left to fund their own equipments , my experience was that there are different structures , criteria of working financial priorities and systems of finance that exist among different professionals working with adults with disability. In my experience I realized that the medical model tended to emphasize more on professional working codes as opposed to socially outlined principles. The social model on the other hand based their judgment on provision of reassurance to the client, building relationships, trust and practicing empathy towards the service user. The 2006 SCIE assessment guide highlights that the key essence of the assessment framework should be identifying and managing of risks, however the guide also acknowledges the fact that the nature of risks are usually different and the concerns linked to the risks are also different. As a result the guide proposes that there should be a breakdown of the application of each professional framework in order to come up with decisions that can best serve the service users. My judgement was that in order to not discriminate service users due to diversity in professional opinion, there was need for effective communication between professional and also the service user in order to resolve the difference in opinion that exist fundamentally to support appropriate risk assessment and management. The department of health (2005) highlights that in despite of the existence of models of risk assessment it is sometimes rather difficult to eliminate risk despite of the adoption of various defensive risk management strategies. Attempts have been made to put in place tendencies of risk assessment that are person centred, Doria (1992, p 45) argues that although the person centred type of care is based on attributes such as treatment of people as individual entities, valuing people, looking into the world of the disabled individual and the development of a positive environment, discriminatory tendencies still arise in service provision for disabled individuals. The objective of risk management should be to devise strategies that will assist in moving risks from the category of` ``likely and harmful’’ to the category of ``beneficial or unlikely’’ category. I therefore came to a conclusion that professionals should be made aware that the strategies that enhance effective risk management through the concept of safeguarding incidents should be well tackled without any form of discrimination which arise from differences in professional opinions. GSCC Code of Practice is very much applicable to the context of this scenario because it highlights that one of the vital codes practice is that social care workers should promote the interests and rights of the service users. Luke my 56 years old client was very much concerned about the fact that he had to take a loan to facilitate the payment of the equipments offered to him, I however assured him that the social service department will cover all the bills. Several other adults with hearing impairment turned out to not be eligible for free treatment however if the professionals involved would have reexamined their cases more intensely without imposing different professional opinions, there would have been a possibility of equal service provision to all adults with hearing impairments who needed equipments that facilitated safety from risks. Consequently in order to maintain social justice it is essential for each professional to consider the view point of the other field and integrate opinions in order to come up with decisions that can best service clients (Keady & Nolan 2004). My experience was that professionals within the medical model based their facts more on medical analysis which gave the main evidence of eligibility. The social model on the other hand based their analysis of eligibility for on social issues such as the service user’s financial position, family members and the individual’s case history. I however noted that both models had the aim of elimination of risks in despite of the varied opinions. Berry (2006,p 15) highlights that may social workers entered the social work field out of the commitment of social justice as a result the most essential priority for them is to bring positive change in the lives of the people they serve. However in most cases Berry (2006, 15) highlights social work has been transformed by aspects such as managerialism, financial restrictions, increased bureaucracy, fragmentation of services and lack of resources. The major concern for social work managers is basically to control budgets rather than effectively catering for the welfare of service users, such trends have greatly affected the service users such as adults with disability. Berry highlights that unless such a direction of social work is changed neither the Social Care Councils nor new workers in the field will change the situation. I came to a realization that it is essential for professionals to redefine their commitment to the aspect of social justice which involves effective communication and accommodation of the opinion of the service users and other professionals. When making an evaluation of the application of human rights in this particular context it is essential to take note of the fact that in various respects there are certain rights that practitioners should consider as basic or even exceptional to the service users, as a result by giving this rights to service user, practitioners will be upholding human rights (Bob 2006). If adults with hearing impairments are provided with equipments to assist them deal with risks even in situations were they can not finance the installation of the equipments, social care service providers will actually be promoting the right to life. In addition a situation whereby some of the service users are excluded from free health care services due to the difference in professional opinions, it is essential to that in order to promote empowerment service users should have the ability to challenge the decisions made by the department of social work, whereby if the client can provide facts to prove how vulnerable they are to risks and also highlight their financial constrains, the department should put into consideration the plight of the disabled individual. Research is a fundamental aspect that can be used in various ways to inform professional practice and policy formulators concerning a particular crisis through exploration of its cause and effects, as a result the outcome of the research may be a significant aspect of bringing change (Beresford & Branfield 2006, p 67). For instance The CQC carried undertook research on funding in social care. The findings illustrated that 72% of councils focus their funding for social care solely on people whose needs are substantial or critical. As the criteria are tightened there are increasing numbers of people who become ineligible for public funding. They have to fund their own care if they are able to, if not the responsibility falls increasingly to carers and families. I personally feel that this is an unfair system; people living in different areas are receiving differing levels of care and support. Last year the Government published Shaping the Future of Care Together and held the Big Care Debate. 68,000 people took part and the result was that people wanted a reform of care with a system that will effectively cater for the needs of marginalized groups. The government in 2001 produced a White paper referred to as valuing people which was basically an initiative to help citizens understand more about disability in the 21st centaury. The papers main aim was actually to radically transform how aspects of social and economic spheres of life perceive individuals with disability ( Government Action on Disability Policy - Part III, 2001).What is evident that even in recent years whereby there has been increased lobbying of development of policies that can protect the disabled adult from discrimination. Research provides essential information concerning how professionals can understand their role in service provision for people with disability. The aspect of discrimination against adults with disability is actually a subject area that is vast, this is because it extents beyond provision of services, it basically involves human rights issues and empowerment (Gerry & Huge 1990). Many departments have also expressed how difficult it is to define disability as a result research gives an introspective analysis of what it means to be disabled. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (2006) stated that disability should not be perceived as inability. My experience with Luke’s case was essentially very vital to me because I was able Integrate the application of practice and the theoretical aspects of human rights and empowerment of disabled adults. I realized that as outlined by the 1998 Human rights Act, values of respect for human dignity and fairness should be integrated in service provision for disabled adults. Bibliographies Bob, S, 2006, Social work with disabled people , Practical social work, Macmillan . Beresford, P & Branfield, F, 2006, Making user involvement work: supporting service user networking and knowledge, London: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Doria , P, 1992, Approaches to case management for people with disabilities Disability and rehabilitation series. The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Fish, S &Macleod, F. , 2005, Report 06: Managing risk and minimising mistakes in services to children and families, London: Social Care Institute for Excellence. Gerry M & Huge, B, 1990 , Law for social workers, Oxford University Press: London. Government Action on Disability Policy - Part III, 2001, Government Policy in England: Inclusion in Mainstream Healthcare, General Social Care Code of Practice .GSCC Code of Practice Human Rights Act, 1998. Keady ,J& Nolan J ,2004, Beyond 'person-centred' care:a new vision for gerontological nursing. Journal of Clinical Nursing vol 13 (s1) 45-53. Martin, J, 2007, safeguarding adults with disability, theory into practice, Russell House, 2007 National Care Homes Research and Development Forum/My Home Life (2007) Qualityof life in care homes: a review of the literature. London: Help disabled adualts. . Parker J, 2007, Working with Vulnerable Adults, Social work skills series, Routledge SCIE, 2006, Guide 18: Assessment in social work. Improving outcomes for service users in adults Read More