The Conflict Theory as It Applies in the Social Work Practice - Term Paper Example

Critically evaluate one social work theory of relevance to your most recent practice placement Introduction Social work practice includes a wide range of services and strategies which are meant to ensure that all individuals receive the proper services in the hope of living quality lives. In some instances however, the delivery of services runs into various problems and issues and its application may also impact significantly on the implementation of its policies. There are various theories which may apply to the social work practice. This paper shall critically evaluate a social work theory which is of relevance during my most recent practice placement. My most recent placement was at a homeless charity based in Calderdale with a charity called Smartmove. Specifically, this paper will critically evaluate the skills, methods, strategies, and perspectives within social work practice across service user groups. It shall also critically evaluate the use of research evidence in social work practice. The concept of being a reflective practitioner will also be considered in this paper. An evaluation of the role of social work in a collaborative working environment would also be discussed. Finally, an evaluation of issues which relate to anti-oppressive social work practice would also be assessed. Body Social work theory: conflict theory One of the social work theories which apply to my most recent practice placement is the conflict theory. This theory establishes that society is often defined as a “struggle for dominance among competing social groups (classes, genders, races, religions, etc). When conflict theorists look at society, they see the social domination of subordinate groups through power, authority, and coercion of dominant groups” (University of North Carolina, 2004, p. 1). In effect, this theory points out that the most dominant groups establish the rules for success and opportunities within society and in the process, they often deny the subordinate groups their own success and opportunities. This practice often leads to the powerful members of society monopolizing power and authority. According to these theorists, the main cause of the occurrence of social issues is the exploitation and oppression of less dominant groups by the powerful and authoritarian groups. They perceive oppression as deplorable practices (University of Northern Carolina, 2004, p. 1). Karl Marx is one of the theorists explaining conflict theories and he claims that capitalism often leads to inequalities in society; however, it seems to be an inevitable part of the progression of society. Such capitalism also includes two groups – the bourgeoisie, who have the means of production and the proletariat or those who must sell their labour for wages (University of North Carolina. 2004, p. 1). For the bourgeoisie to stay competitive they usually exploit their workers in order to gain surplus value and such surplus value often helps them stay in power. Workers are often exploited and become commodities or products, and in these instances, they sometimes become estranged and disconnected from the process of labour. Consequently, conflicts and disparities in terms of access to services, resources, and other commodities are often seen. Experience in the placement During my placement, this conflict theory became apparent. During my placement with the charitable institution Smartmove, I became witness to the gross disparities between the rich and the poor – the have and the ‘have-nots’ or the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. I witnessed that many of those needing assistance were the workers who were very much exploited by their employers and by the dominant authorities in society. I saw how workers often had to work long and stressful hours, doing hard labour for minimum wages only. And these wages were barely enough to support their needs. As a result, they were often subjected to health issues and various problems, mostly stemming from limited financial resources. A family of four was assessed as malnourished because their father barely made minimum wage while working as a janitor at a large pharmaceutical company. Since he was also very sickly, he often took days off to recover. The father was on a subcontract which was often renewed every 5 months. Since he was considered a casual employee, he was not entitled to any benefits. My placement in this charitable institution established that there is a gross disparity between the different social and economic classes, and more often than not, the dominant classes are those who have more than their share of financial resources and political power and influence. These resources and political positions often dictate the standing and the opportunities for the members of society. I noted that many of those whose circumstances were depressing within the community setting were also those who were minorities, who were financially disadvantaged, and those who did not have political connections. This experience taught me that the conflict theory can adequately explain the societal disparities which people have. In order to establish adequate and appropriate social services, these conflicts must first be resolved or reduced because for as long as these differences dominate the system, those who occupy disadvantageous positions will continue to experience significant difficulties in their lives. Skills, methods, strategies, perspectives within social work across service user groups There are various skills, methods, strategies, and perspectives within the social work practice across service user groups. The application of these skills must be based on the clients themselves, the resources available, and the particular qualities of the clients (Trevithick, 2000). The complicated nature of social work is based on the fact that it involves the process of coordinating and working across various classes, race, genders, age, religion, culture, geography, and expectations (Trevithick, 2000). Differences are usually apparent in the different ways that issues are communicated and perceived by individuals in relation to solutions which are being sought. Differences can sometimes be seen in how other disciplines and professions assess and resolve issues. And it is not often easy for individuals who seek help to express their needs, thoughts, or feelings into words, especially when these are often related to feelings of confusion, fear, humiliation, and despair (Trevithick, 2000). It can be difficult for individuals to consider their strengths and capabilities which have assisted them in their activities. In this set-up, misunderstandings can sometimes occur and can cause more issues among individuals involved. I found out that in working with the charitable institution, it is important for me to know how to work clearly with other people and to clarify how to work effectively with these individuals. The process of working with each other under this set-up is a continuous process and is often never complete or adequate (Trevithick, 2000). There are constant changes within the system which often can make the implementation process inconsistent. And yet, such is the nature of individuals under difficult situations. Each individual or family is different and the circumstances which may have brought them to such a place is different from other people. Moreover, dealing with them may require different skills, methods, and perceptions. The learning process is ongoing and must never be considered complete. I found out that, it is important for me to remain open to change and learning; the sooner I would heed that part of the practice, the better it would be for me and for the social work practice itself. Research and social work practice Research is an important part of the social work practice because it supports evidence-based applications of the practice. Evidence-based practice is the way of carrying out one’s practice, in terms of assessing, intervening, and evaluating according to assumptions and values (Mullen, Bledsoe, and Bellamy, 2009, p. 326). It used to be part of the health care practice as a way of training medical practitioners in terms of new forms of medical practice. It was meant to strengthen the scientific basis of interventions in order to assist physicians and other health practitioners in making efficient decisions. Research in the social work practice is supported by the fact that learning is a continuous process, one which is unlikely to ever be complete (Mullen, et.al., 2009, p. 326). It is also a means for practitioners to learn from their interactions and to verify research support for their actions during these interactions. I found out that there were times during my placement when I was not sure whether what I was practicing was appropriate or not. During these times, I often had to review my actions based on my current knowledge and based on further research which I felt compelled to carry out. While doing so, I was able to reassess my actions, make appropriate evaluations, and note future improvements I could apply. I saw the value of research in terms of providing proof and evidence for the applicability of my actions. I found evidence-based practice as an effective addition to the social work practice. Reflective practitioner There are various benefits of being a reflective practitioner. First and foremost, it allows a review of one’s actions, assessing these and evaluating them in relation to the standards of the practice and in terms of the improved outcomes they have brought and they can potentially bring to clients and service users (UK Centre for Legal Education, 2010). Secondly, reflection allows practitioners to learn from their mistakes. It allows practitioners to evaluate their actions, and based on its outcomes and its prospective impact, to make the necessary adjustments in the current or the future setting. Reflective practitioners are those who are skilful and competent, but also wise and contemplative; and their activities involve intuition and insight (UK Centre for Legal Education, 2010). Based on individual intuition, people base their actions on what they feel is right; this is an emotional process which guides the knowledge and a person’s understanding of a subject; it allows individuals to act in various situations based on their intuition. Lastly, a reflective practitioner uses intuition to establish learning and developing meta-cognitive skills (UK Centre for Legal Education, 2010). This is a more advanced version of cognitive skills which are applied in learning. During my placement, I was able to reflect on my practice and my actions. These reflections sometimes did not present a favourable picture of my actions and my decisions. But as each activity progressed, I learned to be more careful and to be more reflective and intuitive in my practice. I was able to gain a significant amount of improvement in my practice by being more reflective. Collaborative work environment Collaboration is the cornerstone of any practice or profession. In a system where various individuals and agencies are involved, the social work practice can either be burdened or helped by all these agencies involved (Weinstein, et.al., 2003, p. 3). Collaboration within the practice is however based on the integrated relationship of the different agencies and professionals in the social work setting. It is also based on open and honest communication with each other and also with the client (Yeager, 2006, p. 12). Listening to each other is one of the main requirements of a collaborative practice. Listening may both be in terms of what is said and what is not said. The process of actually putting feelings and thoughts into words is important in the practice because it helps clarify what professionals and what service users are expressing. For service users, listening helps to establish strengths and limitations, as well as their capacity to cope. Among social workers, listening means that the different professionals are willing to consider the suggestions and expert advice of these professionals – that they are willing to make adjustments in their practice in order to ensure a collaborative and complete practice (Yuen, et.al., 2003, p. 213). In the collaborative working practice, different professionals may sometimes clash with each other in terms of their perspective for a particular case or client. In these instances, compromises have to be made for these professionals based on the client circumstances and preferences in an effort to ensure that the welfare of the client is protected and supported at all times (Dolgoff, et.al., 2011, p. 113). During my placement, I had many opportunities to collaborate with other professionals and agencies. In some instances, there were conflicts in our decisions and opinions regarding our clients and decisions in their care and well-being. Issues anti-oppressive social work practice There are various issues which can sometimes be seen in the social work practice. Some of these issues are also apparent in the anti-oppressive social work practice. Racism is one of the issues seen in the anti-oppressive social practice. This means that despite its policies on safeguarding against discrimination, racism can still be an issue within the practice. Such racism can be seen in terms of the allocation of resources, which can sometimes be skewed towards the majority, away from the ethnic minorities (Maidment and Egan, 2004, p. 7). In effect, racism hinders the efficient application of anti-oppressive practice and it prevents the achievement of basic goals which would have negated the applicability of the conflict theory. Another apparent issue in the application of the anti-oppressive practice is the fact that the practitioners themselves do not apply non-discriminatory practices (Maidment and Egan, 2004, p. 7). They sometimes do not understand and respect the concept of diversity and the fact that their clients may come from different cultures and traditions, and that their practice must be adjusted accordingly based on these particular qualities and traditions (Maidment and Egan, 2004, p. 7). The importance of client-centred care is a concept which has not been sufficiently understood by practitioners and in as a result, they do not appreciate the diversity of their clients. In effect, many clients feel shunned, embarrassed, humiliated, and are driven away from the social practice. In some instances in my practice, I was witness to this racial bias from other practitioners. Sometimes, the stereotypes about clients can also dominate my thoughts, but I tried my best to be objective at all times. Objectivity is a learning process, but is a worthy and necessary practice nonetheless. Conclusion The above discussion specifies the conflict theory as it applies in the social work practice. Based on this theory, conflicts and differences in power and financial conditions often dictate the conditions of individuals needing social work services. During my placement in the charitable institution, I was witness to the unfavourable plight of the minorities and those who were less fortunate in terms of economic and political resources. I was also able to learn about the value of research, coordination, communication, and the healthy collaboration among social workers and related agencies. Research provides the necessary gravitas for any decision in the social work practice. It provides the necessary support and evidence-base to the practice, helping to ensure the application of clear and informative processes. All in all, my placement was able to provide the necessary tools to improve my current and future practice, by making me more intuitive, more informed, and less discriminatory in my decisions and my actions. Works Cited Dolgoff, R., Loewenberg, F., Harrington, D. 2011, Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice London: Cengage Learning. Maidment, J. & Egan, R. 2004, Practice skills in social work and welfare: more than just common sense, London: Allen & Unwin. Mullen, E., Bledsoe, S., & Bellamy, J. 2008, Implementing Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Research on Social Work Practice, 18; 325 Trevithick, P. 2000, Social Work Skills: A Practice Handbook, Open University Press, viewed 01 November 2011 from http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/openup/chapters/0335206999.pdf University of Northern Carolina 2004, Conflict theory, viewed 01 November 2011 from www.unc.edu/~kbm/SOCI10Spring2004/Conflict_Theory.doc UK Centre for Legal Education 2010, What is reflective practice?, viewed 01 November 2011 from http://www.ukcle.ac.uk/resources/personal-development-planning/what/ Weinstein, J., Whittington, C. & Leiba, T. 2003, Collaboration in social work practice, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Yuen, F., Skibinski, G., Pardeck, J. 2003, Family health social work practice: a knowledge and skills casebook, London: Routledge. Yeager, K. 2006, Foundations of evidence-based social work practice, London: Oxford University Press. Read More