Organization by the Social Workers in a Move to Improve Service Delivery - Case Study Example

Human Service Organization and Social Workers Due to the sensitivity of quality matters in our societies, this paper is structured to explore underlying issues related to human service organizations. The paper will start by introducing superficial concepts of human service organization, after which it dig to importance of disclosing operations of human service organizations to the social workers. The paper will continue with analyzing dilemmas and challenges faced by social workers in strive to better their performances in their respective fields of specialization. The paper will continue further inn exploring particular qualities that are expected from organization by the social workers in move to improve service delivery. Introduction Human service organizations are bodies created within societal setup with sole mandate of addressing human conditions in the working environment, community and groups that exist within the environment. Human service organizations establish their plans, provisions and evaluation of services in offer and fabricate measures of preventing occurrence conflicts at societal, personal and interpersonal level. The work and purpose of human service organization structures in the direction of addressing problems faced and encountered by specific groups and communities in relation to their immediate environment. Human service organizations are also mandated to assume the responsibilities of recruiting social workers. Social workers operate in the hospitals, schools, clinics among other social amenities and public facilities. It is worth noting that human services organizations functions under different missions and structures. It follows then that some human service organization are profit oriented while others are non profit. Some human service organizations operate under full supervision of the government. Despite the differences existing in different human service organizations, all tend to share similar purposes of dispelling suffrage occasioned by health, socials conflicts, environmental degradation, family conflicts and the plight of the minority groups in the society. Since human service organizations are located at the grassroots level of the societies, they play a vital role as the channel through which the governments pass funds aimed to assist the certain groups (Jones & May, 1995). Human service organizations are also charged with allocation of the received funds for various projects in the grassroots and prepare particular reports concerning areas of shortage. In addition, Jones and May (1995) mention that human service organizations serves the responsibilities of accounting for the government allocated funds for particular projects and even preparation of financial spending reports. In such a case, it is with great significance that social workers track and obtain deeper understanding of the operations of the human service organizations in order to sense and vex any attempts of corruptions. Close watch and understanding of the operations of the human service organizations by the social workers is also important in keeping the organizations accountable and up to tasks over which particular funds are destined (Jones & May, 1995). Commitment to obtain deep understanding and close watch on the operations of the human service organizations by the social workers enables the workers to have slight grasp concerning the situation and status of things in a particular organization with regard to its environment. This helps social workers in clarifying which particular departments require amendments and reinforcement to improve the quality of services offered to the key workers. Furthermore, understanding of the operations of the human service organizations by the key employees makes it possible for the practical workers to identify particular areas and programmes that may need further innovation and creativity (Jones & May, 1995). Appropriate innovation and creativeness may be employed by social workers in the efforts to improve quality of services offered to the particular society and consumers. Human service organizations acquire the sole prerogative of structuring the performance of the social workers and establishment of goals ought to be necessary in improving the health conditions of the citizens in a particular society (Gardner, 2006). In addition, human service organizations do have vested responsibilities of controlling certain resources in a given area of operation. Clear understanding of the operations and the ways in which human service organizations handles the resources avails an appropriate ground field for eliminating misuse and grabbing of the resources by specific top officials in such organizations (Gardner, 2006). According to Richard (1975), getting elaborate understanding of the operations of the human service organizations assists social workers in a particular organization to replenish their commitments to their employers and the specific organization. In addition, understanding principles and operation mode of a particular human service organization enables the social workers in working towards improving the policies and ordinances of the employing agency in line with fostering the effectiveness and efficiency of their services to the public (Richard, 1975). Moreover, having substantial knowledge of the operation and functions of the human service organizations creates avenues that can be used by the social workers in passing information of their ethical obligations to the heads of the organization. This will also create confidence among the social workers to share perceived implications that specific ethical obligations may have on effective operation of the employees. It is very fundamental that human service organizations identify their true operations with the social workers to enable easy control of the effects that organization’s policies may have on the ethical rights of the workers (Richard, 1975). In addition, discerning operation of the human service organizations by the social workers provides room countering administrative orders and regulations and reshaping them in a way that they comply with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics. When human service organizations disclose the true nature of their operations in the society, social workers will stand a good opportunity of drafting framework among them for fighting discrimination and prejudice within the working environment (Zastrow & Ashman, 2009). Employees will also be able to liquidate any existing elements of favouritism in the assignment of responsibilities in order to motivate and improve the performance of the key workers. In addition, exposure of social workers to the operation and mandates of the human service organizations enables employees to structure viable preparations in case of any field placement (Zastrow & Ashman, 2009). It is also imperative to note that exposing lines of operation of a particular human service organization to its social workers repairs the attitudes of the workers towards the organization. Such attitudinal change may witness transformation of workers from negligence to responsible stewards of the organization who work towards conserving resources and protecting the environment. Social workers will always get attracted to particular organizations they to fell exercise justice and positive practices in their operations and to the employees. A tolerable organization must exhibit signs of providing freedom for creativity to its employees (Ritter et al, 2009). While in field and practicing the knowledge gathered during training, social workers may encounter particular incidences that require creativity in order to devise viable solutions. When provided with substantial freedom and resources for creativity, the specific social worker may come yup with impressive ideas that may work towards lifting the performance of the organization. A good organization should have flexible work schedule to alternate with different uncertainties that may occur in the organization. A development focused human service organization should be in a position to accept risks and scarcity of resources as well as understanding turgidity of people when responding changes (Ritta et al, 2009). A good human service organization should always poses strong entrepreneurial skills and understanding areas that require changes in the given community. Human service organization that focuses on development should show the capability and readiness to work with every individual from diverse cross sections of the society. In the views of Ritter et al (2009), for any human service organization absorb and swoop the trust of a particular community, it must exhibit signs and skills of conducting thorough assessment of a community’s desire. Successful human service organizations should be in possession of techniques of determining power patterns in a community and methodologies of motivating and empowering citizens to work in line with interest of the community (Ritta et al, 2009). A well directed human service organization should be creative in addressing change of particular significance to the community. Additionally, a well structured human service organization should in acquisition of mediation skills that can be used to absolve conflicts within the communities and creating coalitions among rival parties (Ritter et al, 2009). It is important that human service organizations adopt and demonstrate different cultures and languages that are appropriate for a particular community. Still to mention, a well intended human service organization should be employ efficient technological advancements in the lines of communication, accessibility, and ready services to the consumers. A growth focused human service organization should be transparent and collaborate with the consumers in decision making processes of the organization. According to Ritter et al (2009), an appropriate human service organization should advocate for minimization of power differences between the consumers and social service providers. Human service organizations should promote capacity building and democracy of its social workers and allow political power among various constituents of the organization (McDonald, 2011). A sensible human service organization should target on motivating employees by providing incentives and benefits in order to boost the performance of the employees. According to McDonald (2011), human service organization should also operate towards appreciating and acknowledging diverse cultural values of particular societies in which they operate. Performance appraisal is an important tool in constructing and nurturing creativity and innovative skills of certain hardworking employees. Performance appraisal when adopted by organizations results into improvement in quality of services delivered to individuals. Another most important development contributor of a mature human service organization is staff development. Training of workers while in the field keeps social workers updated with regard to the emerging social issues and technological shifts (McDonald et al, 2011). Social workers have reportedly been faced by strong ethical dilemma that have tended to diminish their effort in attaining the goals of improving quality of services rendered to consumers and meeting favourable objectives of the organizations (Gardner, 2006). Usually the conflict arises between the organization and particular professionals and consumers of the services and the products. A viable illustration of such dilemmas occurred in a health organization that sacked its financial manager with claims that the organization suffered losses under the service of the financial manger (Gardner, 2006). It followed that the organization had to employ a new financial manger to oversee on its financial performance. The new manager had to carry investigations to aver the areas where the organization was making losses (Gardner, 2006). The new financial manager came to realize that the mistake relied upon the receptionist who at times happened to sympathize with the consumers thereby failing to collect money from them but then allowing access to the services. The manager also realized that some clinicians also sympathized with the community at particular moments could offer health services without scrutinizing check books of the patients. Despite these sympathetic revelations, the manager had to prove his capability by repairing financial history of the organization. In this context, he started making follow ups with the health records of the recurrent patients and ask those who owed the hospital to pay their bills before they undergo further treatments (Gardner, 2006). This compelling action witnessed the flight of particular patients. Fellow workmates who initially had euphoria of asking for medical payments for fear of losing the patients developed cold attitudes towards him in spite of his creativity and professionalism. Social workers have been faced with various challenges that have stood on their paths towards attaining desirable missions and goals in the execution of their services. It is undeniable that social workers have been exposed to racial and colour prejudices in their operations in foreign societies (Ritter et al, 2009). They have also faced interpersonal and intra societal racial, religion and cultural prejudices among various communities. Additionally, social workers have faced oppressions from their employing organization as related to poor income and housing facilities. Some social workers have also encountered security threats especially during operations involving rival communities. Despite of their intensive commitment to perfect health and living standards of families, social workers have progressively faced cases of child maltreatment. Moreover, Ritter et al (2009) compliment that, social workers have faced challenging moments in their struggle to harmonize and pacify families, effort that has been demeaned from time to time. Social workers have also faced hard moments whenever they meet individual consumers who are untrustworthy and lie bout their personal status. In addition, social workers have been faced with accruing from growth of population accompanied by stiff competition for resources. Competition for resources has left most human service organizations at the verge of poverty due to lack of sufficient funds thereby unable to balance between quality service and spending. Furthermore, social workers have faced problems associated with political patterns of particular community (Ritter et al, 2009). In some circumstances, social workers have encountered challenges of uniting particular communities and pulling them together towards focus on a common goal. Some social workers have also met distrust in particular communities of their operations. In some situations, individual social workers have been assigned the responsibilities of conducting community assessment and making of decisions applied by the entire community (Ritter et al, 2009). This has seemed as an unbearable burden to most of the social workers for fear of practical failure. In conclusion, human service organizations are fundamental component of the job sector in most countries. Human service organizations play major roles in shaping and modifying the quality of services offered by social workers to the communities. For any human service organization reach specific development goals, it must abide, conform and address various issues that ‘arise among the employees and the society in general. It is also very important for human service organization address its employees on its true operational activities. This is significant in that it opens roads to exploitation and innovation of ideas that are of great importance to the growth of the organization. It is worth stating that social workers have faced numerous challenges and dilemmas in their operations within different communities. References Ashman, K. & Zastrow, C. (2009).Understanding Human Behaviours and the Social Environment. Belmont, CA: Cencage Learning Press. Gardner, F. (2006). Working with human service organisations. New York: Oxford University Press. May, J. & Jones, A. (1995). Working in Human Service Organisations: A Critical Introduction. London: Longman Publisher. Richard, Y. (1975). Human service organizations: a book of readings. Detroit, MI: Michigan University Press. Ritta, J. Et al (2009).101 Careers in Social Work. New York. Springer Publishing Company. Read More