Understanding Community Work - Essay Example

Journal Report Name Institution Date Understanding Community Work Introduction The development of services and initiatives plays an integral role in ensuring that the community is successful. Working with communities helps in creating a better understanding of the world. New experience is gained while working with the members of the community. Social care professionals are usually involved in working with the communities for the purposes of improving the livelihoods of the community members. Through working with the communities, it is possible to address the social inequalities that are usually common in the society. The wellbeing of the community members can be improved through the process of working with the community members (Quick, et al, 2010). Social and economic wellbeing determines how long the people will live. Working with the communities therefore ensures that the social determinants are addressed. Working with the communities ensures that the health and social problems facing the community members are addressed. Various principles are in place for the purposes of ensuring that the members of the community benefit from the process. Partnerships are also important during the process of working with the community (Lamie & Ball, 2010). Various organizations may be required during the process. The paper critically discusses the lessons learnt on the concepts of working with the community. Discussion Understanding communities Community work involves establishing networks of relationships with an aim of enabling the community to achieve its needs and aspirations. Strengthening the individuals to achieve their aspirations is also an important concept of community work. Community work can be carried out in different ways. One way that the community work can be carried out involves the work of the social workers helping the community members to improve on their health (Shackel, 2014). Community health is also an important aspect and it requires a lot of social work. Social work in the community health is important in providing health information and also ensuring that the community members are mobilized to promote hygiene and environmental protection. Maintaining a clean and safe environment promotes community health. Such activities require the involvement of the community health workers. It is also important to note that working with communities requires an understanding of the social determinants of health. This is considering that the quality of life of the members of the community is dependant on the social determinants of health. The life expectancy within a community is affected by the social determinants of health. Inequalities exist in the community and it impacts negatively on the community members. Women and children are disadvantaged as they are exposed to violence and hence affecting their wellbeing. On the other hand, race affects the equality in the society. In Australia, the Aboriginals, Africans, and Asians are exposed to poor quality of life as compared to the people of European Heritage who are English speaking (Naples, 2012). Community work is thus required for the purposes of ensuring that the livelihoods of the people who are disadvantaged are improved. Community work plays an essential role in reducing the incidences of racism, discrimination, child abuse and violence against women. This is considering that such problems impacts negatively on the health of the community members. When working with the community, two key principles are important in making sure that the work is successful. Understanding the community is one of the most important principles. On the other hand, it is also important to establish and maintain effective relationships and working with partners. Becoming part of the community is important for the purposes of developing a full understanding of the community. It is thus important for the community workers to be immersed in the communities that they work with. Working with the community also plays an important role in ensuring that the potential of the community is brought out. Bringing out the potential of the community is important in ensuring that their wellbeing is improved. It is also important to note that a community is a system and the members share common characteristics. Understanding the needs of the community is therefore important in ensuring that their livelihoods are improved and their aspirations are met. Community interaction theory is also useful in providing information with regards to the structure of a community. Some of the communities like the Aboriginals may have complex structures and hence the importance of understanding the community. This makes sure that a good relation is established. Community work may also be challenging and complex due to the nature of the community structure (Linley, et al, 2011). The community workers therefore need to act professionally in order to deal with challenges that may arise. The capacity and strengths of the community should also be understood for the purposes of ensuring that community work is fruitful. Different communities have different strengths and capacities which may be used for the purposes of improving their livelihoods. It is also vital to understand the roles that different stakeholders can play in order to assist the community meet its objectives. Approaches to working with communities Different approaches can be used when dealing with different communities. This is because the need of the communities differs from one community to the other. The contributions approach involves professionals who carry out different activities that are useful to the community on a voluntary basis. This approach can also be considered as top to down approach. The instrumental approach involves using the program or project as a means to an end. Instrumental approach can be used in improving the health of the members of the society. The approach can also be useful in terms of dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes affecting members of the community. The community empowerment approach is also useful in the society in terms of ensuring that the community members are able to utilize their resources (Skerratt & Steiner, 2013). This approach is important when dealing with the marginalized communities like the Aboriginals. It is also important to note that the empowerment of the community ensures that the community members can utilize their resources for their own financial, social or economic wellbeing. Information is also required for the purposes of ensuring that the community members are empowered. The empowerment of the community members also splays an important role in ensuring that the community members can develop their own knowledge and skills. The empowerment approach has challenges as the professionals or the government may not give the community the opportunity to make important decisions that affects them. Empowerment has also been politicized in most the communities and hence failing to improve on the wellbeing of the community members. The development approach ensures that the community is involved in every process or step when carrying out different activities. Unlike the empowerment approach, the development approach ensures that the local people in the community are involved in the decision making process. Different practical frameworks can also be used when working wit the community members. The interactional community development framework plays an important role in terms of ensuring that the people work together for the interest of the community (Doctor, 2014).. On the other hand, the participative development framework is important in ensuring that the community members are fully involved in every aspect of the project. Building capable community framework plays an essential role in ensuring that the community members are aware of the factors that empowers or disempowers them. Building collective capacity in the community is also important in ensuring that the government can work closely with the community members. Asset based community development framework plays an important role in ensuring that the community can utilize its resources. This plays an important role in ensuring that the community is able to sustain itself through the use of resources at its disposal. The government is responsible for policy making that affects the daily lives of the members of the society. It is important to note that the government can play an important role in improving the livelihoods of the members of the society. The government policy in the community can be shaped by the community development and experience of the practitioners. Dialogue between the community and the government can be useful in ensuring that the government is able to understand the needs of the community members (Cook & Wills, 2012). The government can also finance the activities of the community and hence ensuring that the service provision is improved. Community engagement is also important when it comes to the provision of services to the community. This approach is commonly used by the government for the purposes of ensuring that the needs of the community are identified. Community engagement also plays an important role in terms of ensuring that the community is empowered. The empowerment of the community is essential in ensuring that the relationship between the government and the community is improved. Skills in working with communities Decisions making is one of the most difficult task when working with communities. However, the decision making skills are required for the purposes of ensuring that the community is satisfied with the work being carried out. During the decision making process it is important for the professional to understand that not all the members are on the same page. Different types of organizational structures can be used during the process of making decisions. Developing a community advisory group is important in ensuring that the decisions can be made with the involvement of the community members. A board of management can also be formed for the purposes of enhancing the decision making skills. The board of management plays an important role in the decision making skills in the non-governmental organizations. The decision making process in community controlled groups is also faster due to the involvement of the community members. Forming community partnerships is important in ensuring that the community work can be carried out effectively (Shulman, 2011). The community workers therefore require skills that will enable them to form partnership with the community. The working group is also strengthened through the formation of partnerships. The formation of partnership is also important in ensuring that the needs of the community are addressed. The formation of partnership may also be challenging to the professionals. However, it is important to ensure that the partners can be trusted. A clear reason for the partnership is also required for the purposes of ensuring that the partnership is trustworthy. The professionals therefore require diverse skills in order to ensure that the partnership is successful. Different types of partnership can be formed with the community members. However, it is important to note that communication plays an essential role in determining the success of the partnership. The professionals should therefore have good communication and interpersonal skills for the partnership to be successful. It is also important to ensure that the community is motivated in order to make the partnership fruitful (Hardina, 2013). This means that the professionals working with the community should have knowledge and skills that are useful in the motivation of the community. Leadership skills are also important while working with the community. This is considering that the professionals have to offer leadership to the community. Leadership is important in ensuring that the community members are guided towards achieving their goals and objectives. The community members should however be prepared for challenges as leaders. The professionals should also have planning skills as community planning is one of the important aspects that are required of the professionals working with the community. Planning plays an important role in terms of ensuring that all the needs of the community members are addressed. Planning must also involve the community members in order for the project to be successful. Different techniques can also be used for the purposes of ensuring that the planning is carried out successful. The use of the techniques requires a lot of knowledge and skills. The success of a community project is heavily dependant on planning. Building knowledge is also important when working with the capacities. Different methods can be involved in the process of building knowledge. On the other hand, it is important to note that skills in research are required for the purposes of building knowledge. In some instances, specialists’ skills may be required for the purposes of building knowledge (Warburton, 2013). Evaluation skills are also required for the purpose of ensuring that the initiative of the community can be evaluated. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that working with the community is a complex process. Understanding the community is essential in ensuring that their needs can be addressed. Community work is also important in ensuring that the inequalities in the community are addressed. It is evident that different approaches can be used when working with the community. The approach that is used in a particular community is dependant on the objectives that needs to be achieved. It is also evident that the professionals working with the community require some knowledge and skills. The relationship between the community and the professionals is dependant on their skills. It is also evident that the government has a role to play in the development of communities. References Quick, L. et al. (2010). Scope of practice of occupational therapists working in Victorian community health settings. Australian occupational therapy journal, 57(2), 95-101. Lamie, J., & Ball, R. (2010). Evaluation of partnership working within a community planning context. Local Government Studies, 36(1), 109-127. Naples, N. (2012). Community activism and feminist politics: Organizing across race, class, and gender. London: Routledge. Shackel, P. A. (2014). Working with communities. Places in mind: public archaeology as applied anthropology, 1. Linley, P. et al. (2011). Strengthening underprivileged communities: Strengths-based approaches as a force for positive social change in community development. In Positive psychology as social change (pp. 141-156). Springer Netherlands. Skerratt, S., & Steiner, A. (2013). Working with communities-of-place: Complexities of empowerment. Local Economy, 0269094212474241. Doctor, L. J. (2014). Philanthropy’s role: working alongside communities to support social change. Community Development, (ahead-of-print), 1-7. Cook, T., & Wills, J. (2012). Engaging with marginalized communities: the experiences of London health trainers. Perspectives in Public health, 132(5), 221-227. Shulman, L. (2011). Brooks/Cole Empowerment Series: The Skills of Helping Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities. Cengage Learning. Hardina, D. (2013). Analytical skills for community organization practice. Columbia University Press. Warburton, D. (2013). Community and sustainable development: participation in the future. London: Routledge. Read More