Placement at the Jewish Community Service - Essay Example

CRITICAL REFLECTION PLACEMENT My placement at the Jewish Community Service was aimed at obtaining information regarding driver license and the consequences of loneliness among Jewish older people and the Jewish tradition and culture. When visiting clients during my placement at the Jewish Community Service (JCS), I realized that being a social worker is a task that requires skills and capabilities. I also noticed that therapy sessions are based both on theory and practice. Combining theory and practice can be deemed as a very effective method which will enable better understanding of the client and also ensure that better care is provided for the client. This can be evidenced during my first day of placement where a 90 year old woman with her daughter who assisted her in walking visited the Jewish Community Service for consultation. The client claimed to have problems with walking and also having complex respiratory problems. Apart from that, she also has problems in seeking medical help. The client was advised on the steps she needs to take and in addition she was provided with an updated exciting care plane. I was then tasked to bring out the walker and assembled the walker to make sure it is safe. Instructions and demonstrations on the proper ways to use the walker were also offered. I always believed that, gaining competence through experience and practice rather than learned theory was the way forward. Although I have built up my psychological theoretical knowledge by undertaking various subjects in the psychology field, which has offered me with ample knowledge in psychology history and various theories, thus providing me with alternative ways of thinking, I was nervous during my initial days of placement, but I somehow I had to overcome my nervousness as being a social worker, requires a lot of verbal communication with clients. What are the requirements of providing the best care for clients? It is true that the application of psychological principles in solving problems assist in generating best outcomes in work placement (William, 2007). Psychological principles are very useful for one's personal and professional development, and above all, such principles are in particular efficient for understanding and communicating with other people in both personal and professional situations (William, 2007; Kantor, 2009). In the Jewish community service, there was use of counseling approach in dealing with clients who visited JCS for consultations. After the counseling, an assessment plan was written down in which the services are required for the client. However, only the positive remarks were written down and this was aimed at inducing positive thinking among the clients. Furthermore, there was the use of effective communication skills. These are very vital whilst dealing with old people as most of them have hearing problems. During my placement, I experienced such a case where I was supposed to interact with a client with hearing difficulties. Although she had hearing aid I still hard to raise my voice and repeat the sentence so she could understand what I said. In addition, I understood that showing positive personality and positive verbal response is very vital while dealing with a client as such clients may feel comfortable and at ease during consultation as it promotes positive mental health. The group exercise program was part of the developmental activities. It helped the clients to increase their reflexive skills as well as keeping them fit and mentally healthy. Furthermore, this activity would promote positive thinking and social- interactions among them; therefore it would alleviate loneliness among elderly. It is apparent that, culture varies from one ethnic group to the other. Integrating and accepting others people’s culture is therefore a prerequisite for ensuring effectiveness in workplaces (Chryssochoou, 2004). Being culturally competence is important to understand a different culture like the Jewish culture. Other theories may input in this event are social psychology and Cross –cultural psychology. Both of these theories will look into the human behaviour and mental process, under diverse cultural conditions. Based on my readings on the news and books; the Jewish people have a very “vibrant” history. From the holocaust to the current issues of Palestine and Israel conflict has made me to think otherwise. When I came to JCS, I was being told by the placement officer that her aim was to change my perception on the common stereotypes of Jewish people such as being violent and rich. And indeed, I got a grasp on what is like being in the Jewish community and my perception of the Jewish people is that they are just normal people like any other culture. Culture is delineated as a learned way of life which is shared by a group of people who are bound jointly due to their professional status, ethnic origins, gender, religious convictions, or a shared interest (Chryssochoou, 2004). It is apparent that each culture has its own way of carrying out activities and set guidelines. Studies have proven that most individuals usually experience feelings of confusion or discomfort when working in a different ethnic group where we are faced with behaviours different from our own (Chryssochoou, 2004). This particularly occurs when such behaviours do not follow the regulations of our own culture. In most circumstances, individuals always believe that their culture is the best which always results to conflicts and misunderstandings particularly when other people’s behaviours offend our individual values. Cultural awareness involves understanding that individuals belong to a different array of cultures and as a result, they will hold diverse values behave in diverse ways, perceive the globe in different ways and have different life styles (Tierney, 2007). Cultural awareness offers individuals resources which assist them, link optimistically to persons from different cultural backgrounds and also value the contributions made by people form other cultures (Tierney, 2007). Two practical resources to support cultural awareness are knowledge about other cultures and the development of a range of skills that will assist us to interact efficiently with clients, colleagues, and members of our community from a range of backgrounds (Australian National Training Authority, 2002). During my placement at the Jewish Community Service I was excited and delighted to attend and volunteered for the Jewish New Year. It was my first time in experiencing a Jewish culture. The guests were friendly and one of the guests named told me a lot of the Jewish tradition and culture. He understood that I came from different culture; and he is willing to help me when I asked questions on the Jewish celebration. I knew that, in order to cope effectively and therefore attain my goals, I had to obtain some knowledge and awareness regarding the Jewish culture as this could assist me to relate effectively with people and especially my clients. Also through this, I could learn some values and integrate them with my own values. During my placement, I encountered various challenges which nevertheless I was able to overcome, thus did not limit my task in JCS. Some of these challenges included the following. As required by my placement supervisor, formulating at least ten proper questions on the consequences of losing the driver license in the future and the effects on loneliness was quite a challenge. Also the questions had to be based on the elderly and at time it turned out to be quite difficult to figure out a question. Nevertheless, I managed to find the information needed for my questions and worthy to be asked to the clients. I was also nervous to speak out to the clients initially as being a social worker, requires a lot of verbal communication with clients; however, I managed to overcome this obstacle after being encouraged by my supervisor. At times, I also found myself in a cultural- shock in Jewish tradition as it is very different to mine. For example, if I prepared food for the Jewish people, the food will no longer be kosher as it has not been prepared through the Jewish tradition and by a Jewish person. I found this to be very awkward and do contradict my own beliefs. Despite the above challenges, I also achieved and learnt a lot during the placement. Firstly, through observation, I learned to be able to communicate confidently as well as effectively; which is imperative as a social worker. From creating questions and communicating with my first client enabled me to think like a social worker or a psychologist. It helped me to communicate succinctly and as well broaden my horizon. Moreover, I also learned a lot from the role-play for example, what are the appropriate questions that I can ask the clients; being open -minded; able to think critically and how to communicate professionally to the clients. The group exercise program was indeed a great opportunity for me to explore the specialized exercising program for the elderly. The exercise program showed me the importance of exercising for the elderly. It also enabled me to think further on ways to make improvements and suggest new activities for the elderly. The training assisted me to get a better insight on how to improve the lives of older people as well as other vulnerable people. Through the training, I was also able to learn that I should be non- judgmental and look for windows of opportunity as a social worker. Communication is defined as the procedure by which we assign and transmit meaning in an effort of creating shared understanding (Barnlund, 2008). Effective communication is vital and it only occurs when the receiver comprehends the exact idea or information that the sender aimed to transmit. Many predicaments that occur in workplaces are a result of ineffective communication, which results to confusion and misunderstandings leading to the failure of achievement of goals and objectives (Malcolm, 2000). Effective communication ensures cooperation and collaboration. Studies have proven that, communicating effectively and succinctly usually reduce the barriers to effective communication some of which includes culture, ourselves, perception and stress (Malcolm, 2000). Culture: the communication process can be adversely affected by our background, culture and bias. These can change the intended meaning of information thus interfering with communication. As expected, It’ fairly understood that elderly people can be quite racist towards a particular race. I learned this after talking to a client who claimed that aboriginal children destroyed her fence even though she did not actually saw them doing so. Racism is very evident in many work places whereby people of one colour are looked down upon by other races. Apparently, I was able to attain my goals in regard to loneliness during my placement and also, I was able to formulate recommendations for my future approach. One of such recommendation is helping older people to gain skills in the current technology, whereby communication with friends and family will be done virtually. This method is very useful especially for clients who have mobility issues. Introducing mobile phone designed primarily for the elderly (a simple phone with large keypads and screen) would help those clients who have vision problems to keep in touch. Furthermore, it is possible to introduce portable gaming devices like Nintendo ads which produce games for the elderly. This device may not only help to curb loneliness, but also improves mental alertness as a well cognitive function of the brain in which it may help to alleviate dementia sufferers. Throughout history graduate programs have attempted to attain the practice aspect of training through supervised practical placements or internships. It is noted that taking this approach is required to convey the relevant understanding and knowledge for Psychologists. However, to achieve this, effective supervisory models should be put in place to ensure this yield best result. Various issues have however been raised regarding such supervisory models. In spite of the issues raised, it is evident that practical training is a significant aspect of a Psychology training program. Evidently, theory is the foundation of the performance of all tasks and this is usually demonstrated through practice. During my placement I learnt that developing competence and experience through a practical experience with the opportunity of applying the theory learnt during the undergraduate program results in offering the best service provision to the client. References Australian National Training Authority (2002). Work in a Socially Diverse Environment Unit THHCORO2B Learning Resource Barnlund, D. (2008). A transactional model of communication. In. C. D. Mortensen (Eds.), Communication theory. New Brunswick: Transaction. Chryssochoou, X. (2004). Cultural diversity: its social psychology. Wiley-Blackwell. Kantor, J. R. (2009). Principles of Psychology, 3rd Ed. Principia Press. Malcolm, W. (2000). The Handbook of Management Thinking. Thomson Business Press. Tierney, S. (2007). Accommodating cultural diversity. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. William, J. (2007). The principles of psychology. London: Cengage Learning. Read More