My Placement at Manchester Council for Community Relations - Assignment Example

My Placement at Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Placement Report: Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................3 2.0 MCCR & its existing Projects.......................................................................3 3.0 My involvement at MCCR............................................................................4 4.0 Key issues I faced at the placement (MCCR)................................................6 5.0 The Skills employed at MCCR.....................................................................12 6.0 Conclusion....................................................................................................13 7.0 References......................................................................................................14 Placement Report: Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) 1.0 Introduction My placement at Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) was one of a kind. This is attributed to the vast experiences and expose that I was entitled to when I interacted with the members of MCCR. Indeed, the placement was able to give me an occasion to be a component of the wider society in service, as well as to employ various skills in psychology in addressing the issues that arose. Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) gave me an exciting opportunity to work with people through two main projects. In addition, it also gave me a chance to develop my theoretical understanding on the concepts of interpersonal relationships, as well as, psychology in working with other people. This placement left me an extraordinarily knowledgeable person, with skills and expertise to undertake many other projects, as well as, to practice various theoretical concepts of psychology. 2.0 MCCR & its Existing Projects MCCR is Manchester's Community Relations Council. The council is committed in promoting quality community relations, boost community cohesion, as well as, excellent race relations among Manchester city residents. It also is concerned with promoting equality throughout the city and amongst all its residents. Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR) has been there from 1966. It was set up in partnership between the Home Office, Manchester City Council, and the local ethnic minority communities. The council operates as a charity in the voluntary sector. In addition, its functioning is based on nonparty political and nonsectarian basis. This is to fulfill the requirements captured in the Race Relations Act with its current amendments. The council has a management committee of 40 people. They have been picked in a manner that reflects Manchester's diverse communities. This is to give the council a reasonable basis by which to engage in civic affairs, run many of its projects, address inequalities, and improve the quality of life of Manchester resident's (MCCR, 2012). The council has invested in many projects. They include the Elderly Women’s Group Project, the BME network, and “Asian Parent Carers Project.” In my placement, I was actively been involved in two projects (the Asian Parent Carers project and the elderly women’s group). The council had many projects; however, the Government cuts have caused various projects to be terminated (Human Rights Watch, 1997). 3.0 My involvement/Roles at MCCR As mentioned above, MCCR has had three principal projects. However, for my case, I was involved specifically within the “Manchester Asian Parent Carers Project” and the “Dual Carers Elderly Women’s Care Service.” This project boasts of attributes like self-help group within the city of Manchester. It was established to support any Asian parent carers with disabled children(s). The “Dual Carers Elderly Women’s Care Service” project has been developed to promote healthy living awareness of Asian elderly ladies and specifically looking after their general wellbeing. My placement at MCCR was in the capacity of a student volunteer. My role while at MCCR was to provide a central coordinating point for effective volunteer efforts jointly to provide services that were reasonably productive. In this case, my involvement within the organisations included aspects of common administrative duties ranging from paperwork, photocopying, answering the telephone, replying to emails and other administrative tasks. In addition, I was actively encouraged to take part in meetings and conferences with other staff members. At the beginning of my placement, I was requested to attend a symposium, which was based around the subject of "Domestic Violence.” This was an exceptionally exciting, yet rewarding. On-site at the place, I was often invited to attend meetings with staff members in order to brainstorm on strategies, which could be introduced to improve services and activities of MCCR (Pnina, 2009). As a student volunteer, I have been supremely confident in expressing my thoughts and ideas with the rest of the staff members, and in return, I have received some positive and negative criticism which I have taken on board and used this to help develop myself. In the past, Manchester Council for Community Relations used to provide food to users of the “Dual Carers Elderly Women’s” group. However, Manchester Council for Community Relations had to stop this due to funding issues, found that the women were not happy with this, and wanted something to be placed into action (Michael, 2003). I took the initiative at the meeting to present my ideas forward although I was slightly reluctant at the beginning. However, overcome the hesitation, and put forward a strategy for the staff to ponder. The strategy that could be implemented into the organization consisted of a pilot scheme based around charging the service users a small contribution fee for the food each Wednesday afternoon. This was discussed and confirmed with the users. They had no problem contributing a small fee because they were aware that they would still receive outstanding value for their money. Despite belonging from a different generation and having a vast age difference, I was still able to speak to the users. I feel that this was because the users being comfortable around me. This developed due to my adept interpersonal skills and by the fact that I could speak to them in a fluent Urdu and Punjabi. 4.0 Key issues I faced at the Placement (MCCR) MCCR faced a number of issues that affected its day to day functioning, as well as, my placement while in the organization. The key issues I faced while at my placement include the challenge of reduced funding by the government, and the problem of confidentiality within Manchester Council for Community Relations. I also came to see Health and Safety problems within the centre of Manchester Council for Community Relations. Lack of professionalism within Manchester Council for Community Relations, and finally the problem of some members of staff who were not counsellors being denied the opportunity to home visits that provided emotional support to Pakistani women. Health and safety issues within the centre of Manchester Council for Community Relations; was a big problem, yet the management cannot ignore these areas. In this regard, MCCR is obliged to ensure that health and safety issues are looked unto in their environment, as well as, in implementing the projects of the council (Sylvia, 1995). The issue of health and safety is such a core area of concern since the project of the organization involves attending to people. In the two projects I was involved in, including Manchester Asian Parent Carers Project” and the “Dual Carers Elderly Women’s Care Service.” This project worked like self-help group within the city of Manchester, and thus the issue of health and safety cannot be evaded. This project involved giving support to Asian parent carers with disabled children. This support can be effectively realized if the issues of health and safety are fully addressed. Hahnemann & Schwarz (2003) advance on the importance of addressing the issues of health for it promotes the well-being of the individuals. In this case, it is a challenge for Manchester Council for Community Relations to ensure that it addresses the issues surrounding health and safety of both its members, and the beneficiaries of its projects (Hahnemann & Schwarz, 2003). The mothers especially of the disabled children need to be taken care well, and provided with a good environment that satisfies the basic health and safety requirements that are required (Dinisi & Griffin, 2011). Poor health and safety measures being taken by any organization may end up being costly, and may subject the organization to great risks and losses. This may be a tricky situation for Manchester Council for Community Relations, which already is battling with other challenges of funding for its projects. The other issue in Manchester Council for Community Relations is the issue of negligence that has been offered to the well being of the workers of the council. As I mentioned earlier, personally I felt I was not attended to by the existing members of the council as I had expected or as it ought to be. However, I also overheard complaints by some of the members of the council who felt they were not well treated, and thus the workplace was not offering the best for their workers. Manchester Council for Community Relations lacked a good system that can push for the well-being of the workers (Wind & Gunther, 2006). McNaught (2011) in her book, ‘Understanding Well Being’ refers well being as a state that is beyond one being happy. It simply refers to the state of a person that is acceptable, good, and works well for the individual. She goes further and explains that ‘well being’ takes on various perspectives including the ‘mind’, ‘health’ and ‘psychological’ state of a person. In this regard, then it is argued that one’s well being is often influenced much by culture, food, information, and education. These are among other external factors that are either objective to the person, or are subjected to them by the virtue of the state of environment (Knight, 2011). In addition to this, it is important to note that there has been a high demand for health and wellbeing initiatives and strategies in the workplaces. Organizations have from time to time made strides in engaging their workers in all the issues regarding their well-being. It has been noted that organizations have put up initiatives to improve the well-being of their staff. Today, many organizations have heavily invested on resources that are aimed at improving the well-being of their staff. This is because of the many research studies conducted on the relationship between the wellbeing of workers and their output revealed that organizations with staff that have been provided by facilities that improve their well-being perform much better than those that have put their emphasis on task performance. In today’s globalized market place, there has been increased pressure for organizations to employ initiatives that builds up the well-being of their staff. MCCR may be compelled to embrace some of the strategies employed by other organizations (Hahnemann & Schwarz, 2003). Manchester Council for Community Relations also faced the issue of how to balance the challenges of the individuals they serve and the members of the organizations. In modern management practices that have been embraced in many parts of the world, attending to the needs of the workers of the organization have been given priority after various research studies revealed that much energy is lost in the context that organizations do not attend to the needs of its members (Kaplan & David, 2009). Evidently, unlike in the past, the staff in many organizations are treated as social beings, with social needs that if met would boost their performance at the work place. The legal frameworks such as the labor laws, which have demanded that employers provide a good working context for their employees (Jane, Todd & Luther, 1999), have supported this. A study of many of the workplace in the United States for instance, reveals that large corporate have invested in provision of services such as Gym, games, and offered medical insurance as a way by which they can be able to improve the ‘well being of their staff’ and thus boost their performance (Kleiman, 2000). This is because the employees got motivated, and felt a sense of ownership into the companies that they worked. This resulted into increased worker’s engagement and thus led to improved performance by these organizations (Syrett, 2007). Funding by the Government was the central issue in Manchester Council for Community Relations. We are all aware of the coalition government and its strategic planning to make Britain recover from its previous debts. This makes Government cuts not a surprise. However, this cuts had gross implications on MCCR. This is because Manchester Council for Community Relations is a public sector organisation funded by the government. In this given context, the lack funds or the funding cuts have started taking its toll on this organisation and in the next few weeks will it will be worst hit (Kleiman, 2000). Reduced funding by the Government has been detrimental to MCCR. This is because Manchester Council for Community Relations has seen a significant cut in its funding. This has led to not only reduction of services in the past few weeks the organisation may be closing down entirely. The closure is expected to take place in summer this year (2012). As a result, the current staff members are essentially considering setting up the facility privately. However, this decision has not been finalised presently because there are other issues, which will be generated if the decision of going private if carried forward. Issues such as trustees, wages, location, transportation as well as other aspects still need to be looked at and taken into consideration. a. Confidentiality within Manchester Council for Community Relation All volunteers are required to maintain confidentiality with regard to the internal matters of Manchester Council for Community Relations, and when dealing with issues affecting individuals or organisations. Indeed, Manchester Council for Community Relations has a confidentiality policy; however, as a student volunteer, I have felt that this policy is not thoroughly maintained within the organisation. The reason above is based on my observation. Often I observed a few women speaking to the volunteers discussing some of their private matters. Shortly thereafter, I would hear the conversation being discussed in the staffroom. I felt that this was the wrong approach to take and that the confidentiality policy was underestimated and ignored. In a few instances, a few women told me about their problems/concerns involving their private life. As a student volunteer, I made sure that all concerns/problems they mentioned were kept too confidential. I also made sure that I did not advice or be too involved (Kleiman, 2000). b. Health and Safety within the centre of Manchester Council for Community Relations Whilst my placement at Manchester Council for Community Relations, I found that the Health and Safety has been neglected. First of all the front door was always kept ajar as the door required maintenance, and throughout my placement, this was not sorted. In such an environment, I feel that safety should be one of the prime factors taken into consideration (Michael, 2003). For instance, one of the instructors who take the Wednesday elderly women’s group uses the fire exits to exit from the car park. This became a “norm” to anyone who had used the fire exits. During the exercise program, the instructor has not disciplined the users or educated them towards making sure that the users wear appropriate footwear. This lack of appropriate education has risked the organization to slips and falls, which may cause problems for the organisation (Knight, 2011). Women have also had challenges regarding the need to wash and clean before performing one of their daily prayers. This is because the floor gets wet whilst the users wash their feet and arms leading to slippery floors and accidents. Obviously, the organisation does not have the capacity or the funding to cater for a definite area for users to use. However, the users just seem to avoid any of the instructions and continue as they wish. c. Lack of professionalism within Manchester Council for Community Relations One of the crucial key issues has been the lack of Professionalism within the Manchester Council for Community Relations. Lack of professionalism is evidenced as follows. After a number of weeks since being involved with the placement, I felt that there was a lack of planning and preparation into the activities, which were provided, to the users. In order to resolve this matter, there was a meeting held in which issues such as planning and preparation were discussed. It was decided that there would be regular meeting held to overcome the issue and ensure that the users were given the best available activities (Heuerman, 2000). Within these meetings, activities were decided upon along with the timings and any appropriate materials that were needed. Personally, I feel that the meetings did not change much as the impact of the meetings were merely successful for roughly a week and then I saw things falling back into the usual way. In addition, I tried my level best to inform the volunteers and staff members of new strategies, which the organisation could implement. In this case, I ensured that my ideas and concepts I came across as ideas of improvements rather than telling them exactly what to change and the way to implement them. Notably, the volunteers of the organisation were not professional with regard to confidentiality. As mentioned above some of the issues spoken by the users to the volunteers often became staffroom gossip amongst staff members (Michael, 2003). I must acknowledge that often I went home being slightly depressed at times, but overall I am exceedingly glad that I was given this unique experience, and I feel that to a certain extent the placement has taught me the way and method towards ensuring that I do not get involved. Evidently, Manchester Council for Community Relations has faced among other issues, the issues that have been discussed. It is important for the organization to come out clear in addressing some of the issues that have been identified. As per my case, the issues that I face which have been discussed gave me an opportunity to learn so many things, as well as to gain different skills and knowledge in the area of psychology. 4.0 Skills employed, developed and achieved at MCCR Throughout this valuable and hands-on experience of a student volunteer, I have developed and achieved many skills, which I feel have assisted while at my placement. The conferences and meetings I attended helped me gain and enhance professional growth whilst realizing that lectures were insufficient in enhancing my personal and professional development. I have now been able to apply some of the concepts and theories taught during lectures into working practice without any hesitation. Confidence has been an outstanding asset towards my overall performance. Because of the placement, I feel that I have also increased my confidence towards speaking up and not hesitating whilst putting my professional ideas forwards. Professionally, I feel that I have gained hands-on experience through meetings, conferences and speaking to users directly, and this has helped me to identify some of the issues, which counselors have to deal with on a daily process. The conference, which I attended, based on domestic violence was an ardent eye-opener and provided details on what the victim may suffer and strategies which may be used and implemented in order to help build the victim’s life again. Skills of empathy/interpersonal Development I was also empathic towards them when I showed understanding and support to the service users. I did this by making them feel that I was experiencing their array of emotional challenges. I also used unconditional and positive regard because they felt I was listening to them in a nonjudgmental warm way easing the way we related. These three core conditions guided me well in the period I have been at the placement whilst providing support to women and made me develop counseling skills. Conclusion Evidently, the placement at MCCR was terrifically exciting, and informative. This is by the fact that it exposed me to a new experience with people, and groups. I was able to undertake both social and managerial role which benefit to my theoretical background I have in psychology. The placement enabled me to learn new values, as well as, build my capacity in the use of theory I learnt into practice. References Dinisi, A. & Griffin, R. (2011). Human Resources, 1st ed. Mason, OH: Southwestern Cengage Learning. Hahnemann, D. & Schwarz, N. (2003). Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Heuerman, A. (2000). “Using Performance Management to Energize the Results Act.” The Public Manager journal, pp. 17-20. Human Rights Watch. (1997). Racist Violence in the United Kingdom. London: Human Rights Watch. Jane, J, Todd, J. & Luther, P (1999). ´Empowerment’, Peacock Publishers, Chicago. Kaplan, R. & David, P. (2009). “The Balanced Measures that Drive Performance.” Harvard Business Review, Volume 70, Number 1, January/February 1998, pp. 47-54. Kleiman, L. (2000). Human Resource Management: A Managerial Tool for Competitive Advantage. Cincinnati: South-Western College Publishing. Knight, K. (2011). Understanding Wellbeing. London: Lantern Publishing Limited. MCCR. (2012). retrieved from/: http://www.mccr.org.uk/public/index.htm Michael, C. (2003). ´Empowerment as a tool of success. California: University of California press. Noe, R. et al (2006). Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Pnina, A. (2009). Black and Ethnic Leaderships. London: Routledge Sylvia, S. (1995). ´People and Work: Some Contemporary Issues’, British Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 32, No. 4, p. 93-101. Syrett, M. (2007). Successful Strategy Execution: How to Keep Your Business Goals on Target. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Wind, Y. & Gunther, R. (2006). The power of impossible thinking: transform the business of your life and the life of your business. London: Pearson Prentice Hall. Read More