Social Work in Theory and Practice - Essay Example

Defining Social Work Each individual that enters into the social work field needs to understand that each person that comes to them for assistance is in some form of need. Many times this means that they are in a crisis and they require specific treatment in order to realize where they are in their lives and what they need to do next. The role of the social worker should be to help an individual move forward with their lives with dignity. According to the Department of Health, social workers: "…form partnerships with people: helping them to assess and interpret the problems they face, and supporting them in finding solutions. They have to know how the law works and are fully up to speed with the social welfare system."(Department of Health) With this in mind it is necessary that each social worker is able to understand the essential components of a successful anti-discriminatory practice. It is quite impossible for an individual social worker to be able to relate to every single person who comes into their practice. It is important however that they understand that their idea of what life is about is different than what other people may think. This is the basis of understanding a practice that is multi-faceted and includes a variety of different pieces. COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE Although there is a lot of literature on the subject of discrimination it doesnt always help the social worker understand what they need to do in many situations. Some of the components that are needed include: 1. An understanding of other cultures - the greatest understanding is that one culture is not the same as another. People from within a culture can also differ in their attitudes and thoughts and ways of being human. 2. An openness to understand-- social workers must have a willingness to understand from their clients point of view which is not necessarily their own. 3. Listening to the client -- a social worker must learn to listen to a client and they must have an openness to listening to all clients whether the social worker is biased against a client or not. 4. Treatment of all clients fairly regardless of race or ethnicity -- a good practice treats all clients fairly. Human nature does not allow all people to be treated exactly the same so what social workers can expect is that it will be within the framework of fairness. Social workers must work within this framework if they are to establish rapport with a client. If they do not approach a client in help they will have a poor result for the client. Clients are in a state of upheaval when they are working closely to get their needs met and life becomes extremely stressful if they do not have someone who they can relate to in a positive way. According to Ely and Denny (1987) discrimination goes along with what people experience who are disadvantaged. When an individual comes from poverty and lacks education and some of the opportunities that mainstream people have will automatically be placed in a position of discrimination. Because of this it creates problems for both the social worker and the individual. This discrimination affects how the individual sees themselves as a disadvantaged race and how they perceive the assistance they will get from the social worker (Ely and Denny, p. 68). Although these researchers apply this information to black clients only it would seem that any race would have similar feelings because of the way discrimination is felt by those in the minority. Ely and Denny also suggest that if discriminatory practices are not dealt with they create mistrust in the client. Van Wormer (2005) suggests that oppression is one of the reasons why people continue to be discriminated against in social work practice and because society is already oppressive to everyone, social workers must offset this practice (Van Wormer, p. 4). CASE STUDY: THEORIES OF NEED According to S.W. Learning, all behaviour has three assumptions: "Behaviour has a starting point, a direction and a stopping point. [The] focus [must be placed] on voluntary behaviour under the control of the person and behaviour is not random it always has a direction. (S.W. Learning, slide 6). This is important when working with clients because they do have basic needs that create certain behaviours. With this idea in mind this researcher decided to take a look at James (not his real name) and how he came into the social work arena. James is an African American male who came into the social work organization because he needed food and shelter for his children. He was one of the many people who were wiped out because of the economic crisis in real estate that some people have faced across the world. He was unhappy and upset about what was going on and he was not sure where he was to turn. He was approached by one of the social workers in the organization who immediately made him angry. The social worker did not understand that he needed to have his needs met so that he could calm down. Instead, he was made to feel as though he did not need the services. He asked to speak to a supervisor who assigned him to a different social worker. In the second experience he was able to get his needs met by getting food immediately and then having referrals for shelter. All people have basic needs whether they are for food and shelter or for prestige and dignity. When an individual is from a minority group and is in need of social work intervention, they usually have very strong needs. Murray suggested that needs are more psychological in nature and have more to do with the personality than biological need. He suggests 27 needs that form the personality but that the needs for power, affiliation and achievement are what moves most people. For James the basic need was for shelter and food which were met after the second social worker helped him. His psychological needs seemed to be pushed to the background until he was able to secure the biological need of food and the safety need for shelter. Herzberg (Changing Minds, 2009) would suggest that when James went into the social workers office he was immediately in a state of dissatisfaction. He needed to find food and shelter in order for him to calm down and become satisfied. In both of these theories of need James had his basic needs identified and assisted. Abraham Maslow suggests that an individual must satisfy their basic needs of food and shelter before they can be motivated to move towards self-actualization. (Huitt, 2004). While an individual is in a deficient situation they are unable to fulfil higher growth needs like self-esteem and belonging. James was definitely in a deficit situation when he first entered the shelter. He needed the basic needs in Maslows Hierarchy of physiology (food) and safety (shelter). James was already feeling as though he was not loved or wanted because he lost his home and the first social worker did not take this information into consideration. When asked about this situation later, she suggested that she was feeling overwhelmed. Although this is true with all social workers today with the economic crisis, James needs still had to be met. Once he had secured food for himself and his family and they had referrals for shelter, James seemed to relax. His esteem needs were being met and he was beginning to get some assistance with the need to know and understand. Had the second social worker not been assigned to him, he might have walked away angry. PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES IN SOCIAL WORK ASSESMENTS Each social work program creates an assessment to make sure they meet the needs of clients. The National Health Services (NHS) has several assessments that include disability, social care with the elderly, and caring for a loved one in home. Their assessment seems to be comprehensive in nature. When an individual first enters the NHS they are automatically scheduled for a needs assessment before they can start services. It is very important to match each individual to the appropriate needs. Where appropriate a team of social workers and healthcare practitioners will be put together in order to help the individual. This assessment seems to be very clear and it is done on an individual basis. It is clear that National Health Services was created to also give information to the people who come to their website and to the people they assist. The website is full of information that is created for individuals who may be looking for care and there is a wealth of information for all types of people. The National Health Services seems to have a policy of including all different types of people in their programs and in their assessment. References AllPyschonline. Psychogenic needs. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/murray.html. Changing Minds. (2009) Herzbergs Motivation-Hygiene Theory. Argosy University. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from http://changingminds.org/ explanations/needs/herzberg_needs.htm. Department of Health. n.d. Social care and social work network. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from http://www.socialworkcareers.co.uk/ Ely, P. and Denney, D. (1987). Social Work in a Multi-racial society. England: Gower Publishing. Huitt, W. (2004). Maslows hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from, http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/regsys/maslow.html. National Health Services. Health and social care assessments disability. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/ HealthAndSupport /ArrangingHealthAndSocialCare/DG_4000436. S.W. Learning. (n.d.). Chapter 7 Motivation: Need Theories. Powerpoint Presentation. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from www.swlearning.com/management/ champoux/powerpoint/ch07.ppt. Van Wormer, K. (2005). Concepts for contemporary social work: Globalization, oppression, social exclusion, human rights, etc. Social Work and Society, 3(1). Retrieved January 7, 2009 from http://www.socwork.net/vanWormer2005.pdf. Read More