Community Work and Community Action - Essay Example

Community Work By 24th, November, Community Work Introduction A community influences or determines life in a society. Thus, the community represent a basic element for social studies. Throughout this study, the group focused on older people living with cerebral Palsy. Cerebral palsy is a class of mental disorder that interferes with a persons learning ability and mental development. The disorder nearly affects all human senses including sight, hearing and sense of smell, thus making it difficult for victims to respond to environmental stimuli. Cerebral palsy is usually characterized by its ability to make individuals unable to perform simple tasks. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, United Cerebral Palsy and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) are some of the organizations that provide support to people suffering from cerebral palsy. I had the opportunity to work with a volunteer organization that provides support to people with cerebral palsy. The organization was based in Borough of Havering and funded by the Local Authority. The organization provided services and support to people suffering with the condition to enable them cope with the problem. This essay focuses on community work and, how it relates to older people. The essay also analyzes how the concerned group has benefited from the activities of the group. According to Alan Twelvetrees (2008), a community is a social element bigger than a family that shares common values and has social solidarity. The study also describes a community as a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. Therefore, a community has no geographical limitations, since individuals who share common interests form it. However, geographical factors usually influence formation of a community. For example, individuals suffering from a particular impairment such as, adults with physical disability may come from nearby surroundings. Community members struggling with the same condition nurture a form of attraction or affection that unites them. Community work enables individuals to do things by themselves, which benefit them and the community. Assisting communities to help themselves necessitates paid and non-paid workers. Such workers are employed or work under different community organization as workers or volunteers. Community workers can also be categorized as Social Workers, Education officers, medical workers and church leaders. The main objective of community work is to ensure that people get better deals through shared action, skills development and building of self-esteem (Popple 1995). Community work also imposes solutions to problems without the involvement of their supposed beneficiaries. However, if the society is anxious to develop the quality of life for its citizens, methods need to be established to create, support and strengthen community groups. This will ensure that communities are effective, significant, comprehensive self-governing and sustainable. There are different approaches and dimensions to community work. Community development aims at promoting self-help programs, community integration and mutual support. Such activities are best done at neighbourhood level to help individuals struggling with a certain condition. In order to create a program that benefits both the members of a social group and the community, it is necessary to access community needs and alternative planning strategies (Pierson 2008). Thus, the community work helps to create a forum that benefits both its members and people struggling with cerebral palsy. ADF Community development workers acts as facilitators to enable individuals realize their shared goals. Members of the group are not expected to make decisions for a person but enable them to make their own decisions. For instance, we are not expected to choose a lifestyle for an individual struggling with cerebral palsy, but propose a lifestyle that fit their medical condition. Another role of the worker is to initiate projects, liaising and working directly with service providers to make them aware of the needs of particular communities. This helps to improve service delivery and adjust policies to suit the needs of the community. For instance, our organization works with healthcare providers to ensure that the target group get adequate medical attention. The group also works with legal officers to ensure that the rights of vulnerable communities are observed. Community activities such as sports and voluntary visiting schemes can also be used to help members of the group regain their self-confidence (Somerville 2011). Projects or activities carried out by our members are based on a set of principles that promotes justice, respect, love and getting a better deal for the community. In the mid 80s, there was a widespread fear of oppression to ethnic minorities, older people, disabled people and many others who were methodically deprived of prospect by both public and private organizations work and by personal prejudice. This made the local authority to developed equal opportunities polices through direct involvement of community work. Polices developed in the 90s were concerned with equality, discrimination and injustice. The policies also emphasised on restoration of confidence among members of oppressed groups to equip them with life skills and building on their lost confidence (Pierson 2010). The group has supported some individuals cultivate desirable social behaviours and lead an improved life style which has not only benefited their families but their community at large. It is also evident that individuals who have close ties with the group have better chances of dealing with life threatening disorders such as heart disease. It has also been established that beneficiaries of the group’s activity often recover faster from extreme traumatic situations than those without strong links and systems. Although the group has limited capabilities, its activities benefit many people. Individual workers involved in community work, in most cases lose money because some take unpaid leave from the main job and for some, getting involved in a group can cause marriage break downs, stress and are very exploitive (Somerville 2011). However, the group has brought change in older people who now view the world from a different perspective. Female members of the community who are questioned occasionally of their roles as mothers, housekeeper and wives or for the men who take time off work to look after children while their wife goes to work. It is common to find older people who worked all their lives been labelled as a burden or non-contributors. The group spread awareness on the need for individuals to become self-sufficient and develop desires to learn new skills (Nominally 2006). According to Brown & Clough (1989), a group is a gathering of people who are co-dependent and share similar interests. The main reason why individuals come together or form a group is for participation. For instance music, games, educational classes are some activities that leads to formation of groups. These individuals continue to meet with each other over a substantial time cementing their relationship, which enables them to realize and use the possible available properties together or individually. This shelters the key ideas of a defined membership, interdependence and boundary. In our group, the shared interest relates the need to promote better lives for people struggling with cerebral palsy. A group is further determined by the level of communication among its members. Consistent patterns of collaboration based on a system of interdependence among its members also determine group’s activities. Whether the group is an educational or recreational experience, the first issue that emerges as people come together is about a sense belonging (Benson 2001). The main advantage of a group is that individuals gain a sense of relief. Involvement in a group also enables people to know that they are not alone in their problem. The group aims at building self-esteem among its members through self-recognition. In addition, the group creates a forum for self-expression among its members. Members talk about their experiences, which is a basis of liberation and helps to learn new ideas from other group members. Comments from other group members can be respected more than comments from professional workers who may not have experienced what the group members have lived through. For example, a Social Worker may not understand an adult with a disability as other group members can do (Brown & Clough 1989). Furthermore shared ideas from other adults with disability can help develop reflective thinking which in involves openness to challenges. This helps them release the reason why progression is failing and experiencing recurring difficulties. As a result, adults with a disability in the group will develop a positive role, feel able to contribute, break the dependency relationship and create equality. In addition, individuals from the minority groups such as disabled people and people with different cultural background can gain mutual support and benefit from meeting together (Brown 1986). The main weakness of group work is that, personal values do not form part of individual personalities and their emotional make-up. Questioning such behaviours can make members feel threatened and defensive. In addition, difference in values can make people angry and attacking. Furthermore, group work form prejudices and barriers that remains in the society. For example stigmatizing adults with disability that they are a burden to society and not contributing (Douglas 1983) Although group work is beneficial to some, it has boundaries, as some member’s needs might not be met. For example, individual might end up being labelled or seen awkward, selfish or not co-operative. In particular, individual convey that they are a group since that is the way services work (Mullender& Ward 1991). It is significant to identify a facilitator who is clear about issues to be tackled and, the one to move the team forward, monitor, follow reviews, and identify the aims of a group. Facilitators are required to set and maintain boundaries and make sure that all group members participate effectively. In addition, staffs need to be clear and realistic about the aims of the project as the aims of a group work program are influenced by values of the group. For example, the aim of our group was to promote independent living, to enable adults with disabilities free themselves from poverty and build their confidence (Doel 2006). Mullender & Ward (1991) suggest that group work theory is vital in the community and can be adopted in parts. This relates to what is happening in terms of relations within the group, and the benefits of overcoming weakness through group work. The group purposed in service provision since group work is a fundamental part of empowering individual adults with a disability in the society. In addition, group members are requested meeting for different needs such as educational, behavioural change. Tuckman, (1965) cited in Maclean & Harrison (2009), argues that individual members of a group begin to position themselves to test its limitations. Respect for group leaders in the group is dependent on the group’s success. The study continues to suggest that groups such as those formed by adults with disability experience a storming phase mainly when a new member joins the group. Conflict of interest may also arise as old members create resistance towards a new member. In addition, forming is the process in which group addresses conflict through identity. In this case, individuals express themselves and the roles are accepted. Another dynamic aspect of our group is performance. The group has worked successfully to fulfil its goals. This has enabled individual tasks become more adjustable and practical. Tuckman, (1977) argued that during the end of the group, adults with a disability acknowledge a sense of loss. He continues to argue that not all groups experience all these stages. However, the stages are useful to many groups and can be viewed in different group process. Self-help or mutual support model is a type of a group largely self-governing and delivers its members with a source of mutual help and support (Brown, 1992). Self-help groups have enclosed most of human need particularly those of socially oppressed minorities. For example, adults with disability can sometimes rely on professional Social Worker to negotiate with other agencies for resources on behalf. Such group mediations have facilitated the development cohesion in the group. Mediation has also promoted clarification of roles, and conflict-resolution. Community work aims to promote older to live an independent and dignified life at home and wherever feasible and sensible by promoting development of domiciliary, day and respite services and working in partnership (Vernon, 2005). Adams et al (2005, p.43) state that, “partnership approach can recognise an individual’s rights to autonomy, safety, inclusion and having their voices heard without denying power differentials”. Unlike the procedural and question model where the Worker would be the one in control and with power over the older person, in this exchange model the older person will equally have power and choice because the model encourages equal distribution of power. However, the care management creates power imbalances and has been criticised because need is hard to define and it is not defined by law. Older persons may have individualized priorities as needs that are urgent but to the local authority, these needs may not be priority because of the variations in local policies, changes in demand levels and availability of resources. Provision of services to older people in the community can be complex because of the eligibility criteria, which is guided by the Fair Access to Services (FACS) policy (Green paper 2003). Under these criteria, Local Authorities are not obliged to offer services to anyone who has no difficulties in carrying their usual daily living tasks. The criterion is a means of restricting access to services, to satisfy increasing demand. Conflict and dilemma arises when management policies, which encourage Social Workers fail to identify the needs of the society leading to low optimism (Taylor and Devine 1993). The Local Authority has a duty to promote the welfare of older people and to provide service without scrutiny. The use of eligibility criteria will limit the older people’s power as they will have little or no choice, instead the Local Authority will have the power to ration the resources. Each Local Authority tends to set up its own eligibility criteria which results in inconsistency in terms of access to social care for older people in the community resulting to inequalities. The community service White paper our health, our care, our say, (2005) recommend individuals to make their own choices and control by managing their own finances. However, some older people can have difficulties with assessing information on direct payments. Managing such benefits is also a problem to most people who often lack sufficient mentorship and financial management. The reasons for increased paperwork and lack of confidence is to enable older persons manage their finances. The older person can use service brokerage where they can get a broker to advise them or manage their finances on their behalf and provide practical help (Harris 2008). The main advantage is that the older person will have more rights, control, and control over their lives. The Local Authority has to ration and tailor their needs to meet extended demands of the group. The difficulty with the panel is that managers on the panel are not front liners to these cases; as a result, the panel seems not to understand the real issues at stake with the older person. The panel seems to be more influenced by the finances available, which is not a core principle of community. The Age concern commented that, eligibility criteria leaves people in need of services and care without services. Given the current financial situation and the inflation, the care package for the older people may be affected and, this often leaves older people in poverty (Green 2000). The Local Authority has discretionary power to charge service users in the community under section 17 of Health Services and Social Security and Social Services Act 1983. However, they have to charge reasonably and review an individual’s circumstances if necessary the Local Authority can waive the charge or reduce the charge so that provision of the service user cannot be withdrawn in the event of non-payment. The charges made by most local authorities have come under criticism due to inflation. Nevertheless, reasonable charges need to be promoted in order to sustain the group’s activities. In 2005, The Department of health published the Green paper (2005), for service user’s independence wellbeing and choice. The paper targeted individuals and Local Authorities. Originally Local Authorities had the full duty to control care management under the National Health Services and Community Care Act (NHSCCA) 1990 to assess individuals in need. However, the Green Paper (2005) introduced schemes like personalisation and direct payments as an aim of promoting and maintaining independence in terms of greater control and choice of services for individuals. This implied that the duties and powers of local authorities as well as Social Workers were reduced and left with individual management through self-directed support systems. For some service users who did not get brokers for their finances, the system of personalisation could be overpowering for service users because of the advance in information technology; as they need to have IT skills in order to make self-assessment as the Denise Harrison the Director of Liquid logic outlined in her challenges of personalisation agenda. This implies that Local Authorities and Social Workers will have less work to do in terms of individual assessments, community care and instead become more of administrators or managers. The personalisation agenda requires that Local Authorities re-examine their information technology (IT) strategies to support the procedures that will deliver quality services to older people in the community in future. Because of the changes, I believe that, my role as a Social Worker will be to promote and initiate self-assessment and provide the necessary information. Community work is disappearing into individualisation and, is only beneficial to a few people. However, community work is still an instrumental aspect of the society. The whole system of care management is changing from controlling and monitoring service users to empowering them through promoting independence, choice and control. Service users in the community can now be in position to self assess their needs, manage their risks, design their own care packages, set up their own care plans, monitor and review using government schemes like service brokerage, personalisation agendas. Independent living allowances entitlements and direct payments. Bibliography Adams, R., Dominelli, L. and Payne, M. (2005). Social Work Futures: Crossing. Benson, J. (2001), Working More Creatively With Groups, 2nd Edition; Routledge. Brown, A. (1986), Group Work, 3rd Edition, Ashgate Publishing Limited. Brown, A. & Clough, R. (1989), Groups And Groupings, Life and work in day and residential centres; Routledge. Department of Health (1998a), Modernising Social Services promoting Independence, Improving protection, raising standards. Department of Health (2005), Independence, wellbeing and choice: our vision for the future of social care for adults in England. London: Stationery office Department of Health and Home Office. Doel, M. (2006), Using Groupwork, London: Routledge/ Community Care. Dominelli, L. (2006), Women & Community Action, 2nd edition, Bristol: Policy Press/BASW Douglas, T. (1983), Groups Understanding people gathering together Rutledge. Green, R. (2000), Applying a Community Needs Profiling Approach to Tackling Service User Poverty’, British journal of Social Work, 30: 287-303. Harris, K. (2008), Neighbouring and Older People; an enfolding community? London: Community Development Foundation, Appendix A. Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2005). 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