Poverty, Social Inclusion, and Social Work - Coursework Example

Introduction The complications that continue to be a part of social work are now leading into different issues with service users and what is expected in terms of eliminating poverty. The benefits that are a part of poverty, such as what those that are living in this condition are entitled to, are creating different complications for social work. Specifically, there are concepts of social exclusion based on the ideals and terms that come with the family’s income, jobs or levels of education. The New Labor has continued to change this power, specifically by changing the terms of poverty and social exclusion. To change the way that poverty is looked into is also the need to have alternative services and interventions that are provided through multi – disciplinary and inter-professional models, both which are designed to eliminate social exclusion. Even though these different methodologies and philosophies have been made as a specific component of poverty, it doesn’t help to promote and assist those that are suffering from poverty and social exclusion. Instead, this is creating several other blocks that can lead to more social exclusion and negative responses while working for the elimination of poverty. Defining the Roles of Social Work and Poverty The concept of social work is one that is defined first by the roles of those that are involved in this position. When looking at poverty, the social workers responsibility is to first assess the needs of people and families who require a dependent means for resources. At times, this is dependent on those who are financially dependent on one individual or who are not making enough of a certain amount of money because of a lack of career opportunities. The main aim of social workers is to focus on the promotion and safeguarding of their welfare while assisting them with monetary needs and resources. More importantly, the idea of social work and responding to poverty is one that is based specifically on developing community and the needs that are a part of the greater good of a specific area. Planning and development from those involved in social work is a part of the process that is associated with those who are in poverty. From this, workers are able to find the right assistance through the assessments and lack that those living in poverty have (Clarke, 2000). The practice of social work and the involvement of assessment and development then moves into the responsibility that those have in social work, specifically which relates to finding validity in what is offered by those in this arena. The only way to measure social work and the responses to poverty are to have evidence – based practice that is involved in the different movements that are created. When there is not evidence created after working in the social arena, it can lead to positivistic methods and determinate judgment that entraps social workers into mechanisms of explaining how they are eliminating poverty. The main problem with this is that it doesn’t provide logical or realistic responses to what is needed with poverty and limits the rationality of what is being done in terms of legal work. The results that are a part of social work should show changes in the levels of poverty, specifically through the assessments and development that is a part of poverty. The hindrance that occurs without this is one that links directly to social exclusion and the assumptions that prevent progress from being made (Webb, 2001). For individuals to take a sense of responsibility with social work is also the need to understand what constitutes poverty as well as what creates the social exclusion. Poverty is technically defined by individuals that live at a certain income level and that are dependent on other means to live. However, the complications of poverty lead to definitions that are related to political, cultural and historical context. Even though the core of poverty is based on material means, the larger context is defined by the environment that one lives in, social differences, such as isolation and low self – esteem and respect as well as living situations that those in poverty are subjected to. For those in social work to properly assess and respond to those in poverty is also the need to conceptualize the multi – dimensional aspects of poverty and the way that is needed to respond to the different aspects of society (Lister, 2004). Social Exclusion and Social Work The concept of social exclusion is one that has developed from France and was created from an understanding of those who were able to receive more benefits and material options than others in society. The modern use of the term has moved to define specific benefits or areas in which groups of individuals have more means or are able to receive alternative options or privileges in society. The socially excluded were those that were no longer subjected to social insurance systems and methods that were designed to protect the state and the laws that were a part of this. The main concept is now related to the underclass, which is defined by unemployment, the inability to work and those that are considered as permanently unable to work. The social exclusion is one that results from two extremes of living, one which leads the underclass to have less access to resources. However, the complications begin to arise from this as many in this category are able to receive benefits as a part of being unemployed and not having the same resources. “Responsibility for the plight of the underclass tends to be placed primarily on the individuals themselves – their perceived antisocial behavior and lack of willingness to seek employment – but also on a benefit system which encourages dependency and penalizes work” (Hills, Agulnik, 2001). The complications that arise from the social exclusion of those who are unemployed and at a level of poverty have created a sense of dependency on different systems and at the same time have placed specific pressures on social workers to create the right types of dependencies, as opposed to encouraging individuals to live in a state of welfare. The complications that arise with social exclusion and the responses that are a part of those in welfare, as well as those that are in social work, than lead to questions on how to respond to the dependency of those in poverty. The first part that has been defined with this is the social aspects of social exclusion. Those that are living in poverty often are not only unemployed or have a specific dependency on the system. Instead, there is a sense of social identity that is related to the behaviors and aspects that are a part of social exclusion. The social relations and patterns that begin to emerge in terms of social exclusion become a main measurement that leads many to continue to live on the social work and systems. The modes of measurement are further defined by the amount of dependency on welfare and the social systems for survival and multi – faceted means that are related specifically to welfare. The more that is understood about the social and economic behaviors of those in poverty, the more that a true definition of social exclusion and the double sided extremes that are created can be processed for different policies (Pantazis et al, 2006). Changing Legislation and Social Work To respond to social exclusion, are several movements in legislation and social work that have been created. The New Labour movement that is a part of the social work is now creating a different sense of ideologies that can be used for those that are facing social exclusion and poverty. The main focus is to create a sense of inclusion and to begin finding ways to enhance those that are in the welfare system instead of keeping them in a state of poverty. Intervention of the different levels of poverty is required for this to work effectively. More importantly, the focus has to be on providing those that are living in poverty with a sense of protection and enhancement that will be able to address both social exclusion and the different ways that individuals can respond to the several levels of problem. For the social inclusion to work in poverty, the assessment by social workers has to look past the monetary needs of individuals and instead requires an implementation of policies that will change the behaviors and social expectations that are enhanced by those that are living in poverty (Percy – Smith, 2000). To change the problems that arise with poverty is not only the need to create an alternative assessment for those that are living in poverty. The main focus on the behaviors and social attitudes is one that is created first by the understanding of those living in poverty. The attitude that is developed by most in poverty is what they can expect to receive from the state with cash and care, as well as what they need to give in return (Becker, 1997). However, the approach that is being used in the UK is to focus on policies, such as the 2004 policy CA and Care Matters. These programs and policies are being integrated to offer a different perspective on poverty and anti – poverty policies by developing interventions for those that are in poverty. It is expected that, by creating a sense of intervention through jobs, development and reform, the poor will be able to move out of the main mentality of receiving cash from the government and relying on outside sources for monetary means (Alcock, 2004). Limitations of Policies Related to Poverty The main concept of the new policies is to create market related programs that enhance those on welfare, with the main consideration of ending welfare through the new policies. However, the opportunities that are available to those on welfare can easily inhibit those that are using the different programs into more complexities and problems. The first way that this may result in a poor result is based on the concepts of social work and the way that most are set up as an organization. The main approach that is taken with social work is to have private providers that are able to help with welfare and to create programs for those that are not able to move into the labor market. The new approach is one that won’t allow private providers to have opportunities to donate to social workers and programs that are a part of poverty elimination. More importantly, those that can’t enter the labor market won’t have as many means for survival. If the donations are limited, then so will the abilities for those that are in need of assistance. The inability to receive help from the other programs is one of the main hindrances of the new programs and the functions that they have in helping social work and the elimination of poverty (Taylor – Gooby et al, 2004). The next problem that is associated with poverty and the ability to reform welfare and social work is based on the simplification that many are noting with the policies. The state of welfare is known to be multi – dimensional, with social workers having the obligation to assess individual situations to find specific means and needs of different individuals and families. The new policies that are being implemented under the development goals and Poverty Reduction Strategies are not looking at the different dimensions that are related to poverty. Citizenship neglect, conflicts of interest and the inability to define the targets that can use the policies are some of the problems that are associated with this. Poverty is one that is not only inclusive of welfare and monetary means, but also relates to social and cultural concepts. If the policies don’t define the targets of who can use the new opportunities then it won’t provide the correct opportunity. More importantly, many on welfare and those in social work will have a conflict of interest, specifically because there is neglect over the complication of problems and the way that it is associated with the socio – economic concepts of poverty (Maxwell, 2004). While the policies are designed to provide advantages to help those on poverty to move into the market, the limitations are creating a further sense of inequality between those in social work as well as those that are defined as belonging to the socially exclusive class. The limitations are not only on social workers and those that carry the several dimensions of poverty. More importantly, the responses of the policies are not taking the economic changes into account. There are higher amounts of unemployment because of economic changes as well as higher standards of living that are a part of the economy. When comparing this to 1996, for instance, it has been found that the economic living has doubled. Average incomes and the distribution of income is becoming limited because of this and is creating a sense of inequality with the amount of funds that are available for those in society. The changes in proportions of income and living leads to other problems with providing opportunity for those on welfare, as it may lead to more that are living in poverty because of the cost of living and economic situation. In this instance, the idea of creating policies to reform poverty may lead to the opposing effect, which drives more individuals to live below poverty level while not having the assistance that is needed from social workers (Brewer et al, 2007). Conclusion The concepts of poverty and social work are intertwined with multiple dimensions and complications that are related to social and economic situations. The reforms that are a part of the government and society are designed to approach poverty by creating opportunities that are more substantial to those living in poverty. However, it has been found through this particular development of policies and programs that more problems are arising, as opposed to opportunities for those in social work and in poverty to eliminate poverty. The complications are leading to misunderstandings of the dimensions of poverty, behaviors associated with this and the social relationship to poverty. More importantly, there is not an understanding of the external components that create welfare, such as the economy and the targeted lifestyles that are in need of different types of assistance. Even though the policies of the government are designed to create new opportunities, it is instead limiting social work and the available means to end poverty. More importantly, those in social work are becoming limited because of the policies with the inability to assess those on poverty at different levels and from alternative perspectives. The New Labour that is a part of the government and the association with social exclusion and poverty is leading to misunderstandings of poverty and what is expected by those that are dealing with the complications of social work and welfare. References Alcock, Pete. (2004). The Influence of Dynamic Perspectives on Poverty Analysis and Anti – Poverty Policy in the UK. Journal of Social Policy (33), (3). Becker, S (1997) Responding to poverty:the politics of cash and care. Harlow: Longman. Brewer, Mike, Alissa Goodman, Alistair Muriel, Luke Subieta. (2007). Poverty and Inequality in the UK: 2007. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (73). Clarke, Stephen. (2000). Social Work as Community Development. UK: University of Wales. Hills,J. LeGrand, J and Piachaud, D. (2001) Understanding Social Exclusion. Oxford University Press. Lister, R (2004)Poverty. Cambridge: Polity Maxwell, Simon. (2004). Heaven or Hubris: Reflections on New ‘New Poverty Agenda.’ Development Policy Review (21). Osborne, S et al (2006)Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook. London: Child Poverty Action Group. Pantazis, C Gordon, D and Levitas, R (2006) Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain. Bristol: Policy press Percy-Smith, J (2000) Policy Responses to Social Exclusion: Towards Inclusion? Buckingham: Open University Press. Taylor – Gooby, Peter, Trine Larsen, Johannes Kananen. (2004). Market Means and Welfare Ends: The UK Welfare State Experiment. Journal of Social Policy (33), (4). Webb, SA. (2001). Some Considerations on the Validity of Evidence Based Practices in Social Work. British Journal of Social Work (31). Read More