Cass, E., 2015. In this social work reflective log, I will focus on the social work. Both of her parents committed suicide, she was raped and endured physically abusive relationships with two consecutive partners. 18, 197-295. British Journal of Social Work, 27(1), pp. Reflection can help increase students awareness of their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences and therefore build a greater capacity for empathy with clients. Developing and building self-awareness is important so you can recognise areas for improvement and identify your learning needs to make positive changes. So I stay in the background. Teater, B., 2014. Practice: Social Work in Action, 24(3), pp. Did my upbringing, that instilled and encouraged a deference to authority and professional figures, blunt my critical faculties in relation to the care and support offered by individual staff members? Critical reflection is also part of this framework, making up the entirety of domain 6. Marmot, M., 2010. Task: The Assessment Process An Exploratory Analysis of Unhealthy and Abusive Relationships for Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses Living in Supportive Housing. WebBrookfields areas of reflection can be adapted for social workers and implemented in several areas of field education. BASW, 2014. Although I met his CPN and his drug worker, at no stage was a multi-agency meeting held that I was invited to. Reflection forms a central part of social work practice and education, and it is particularly important for social workers in placement settings or newly qualified social workers (Dcruz et al, 2007; Parker, 2010). Whilst there is not universal agreement (Ixer, 2016), the central importance of critical reflection to the profession of social work is widely accepted (Thompson, 2010, p. 183). Department of Health, 2014. Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice, London: Routledge. (2010) An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Maidenhead: Open University Press. WebIn this webinar we explore reflective writing in social work, providing hints and tips. However, a judgment will ultimately need to be made as to whether the rights and needs of a vulnerable service user are best served by advocating for Alices wishes or actively encouraging another course of action that is safer for Alice (Kemshall, et al., 2013). Instead, there should be an acceptance that uncertainty and complexity are inherent in human interaction and therefore consideration should be given not only to negative risk but also to the benefits of positive risk (Macdonald & Macdonald, 2010). Cambridge: Polity Press. The two-stage reflective model developed by Fook & Gardner (2007) seeks to examine power relations and structures of domination, which in turn intrinsically challenges oppressive and discriminatory thought processes and practice (Graham, 2017, p.49; Fook, 2012, p.47). Boud and Knight (1996) equally describe how reflection has come to be seen as self-evidently worthwhile without significant critique (p.32). Maidenhead: Open University Press. When I met with the social worker we did a role playing exercise. Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working between health and social care services, Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice. It allows me to access different points of view, positive feedback, and constructive challenge.. The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct, An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Practicing Social Work: Meeting the Professional Challenge. Although these moments appeared to be traumatic for Alice she said on many occasions that she wanted to speak about her past. Schwartz, S., 1982. However, it soon became clear to me that the fast-paced working environment, where at times paperwork was promoted over practice, meant that reflection could potentially be ignored in favour of bureaucracy and targets (DCruz et al, 2007). JK clearly appreciated my anti-oppressive approach, where I tried to work with him in partnership, and he was always keen to know when we would meet next. Department of Health, 2015. I learnt that Alice had endured severe and multiple adverse childhood experiences. It has to be noted that reflection is not always recognised as a self-evidently positive mechanism. Tarrell Clark, BSW, is a May 2020 graduate of Stockton University and works with adults with developmental disabilities. *aaL]5 w{X}qQJsG=8HY3^IwL68/ zRsb@MzzBAA3>8>[o]{z?#wfi a(e@hVqj!q*1N!)m y.DJ Theorizing Social Work Practice. It has been noted that the theory base of social work is dominated by euro-centric discourse, meaning that certain paradigms or perspectives may be excluded unintentionally (Trevethick, 2012). As noted above, people experiencing problems with addiction tend to have other issues in other areas of their lives (Tober and Raistrick, 2004).I was able incorporate specific applications of systems theory for the service user group I was working throughout my placement, and in particular with JK. You have subscribed successfully. The new legislation was adopted into Company policy, statutory guidance makes it clear that there is an onus on employers to ensure that staff working in a housing environment are adequately trained in recognising signs of abuse or neglect, which includes self-neglect under the terms of The Care Act 2014 (Department of Health, 2014). Critically reflective practice. Reflective Thinking in Social Work: Learning from Student Narratives. Bywaters, P., 2015. British Journal of Social Work, Volume 43, pp. Ixer, G., 2016. Finally take a critical look at my practice, and suggest things that I could have done differently. I discussed how I engaged with different models of reflection, experienced power dynamics, and explored different interpretations of mental distress. Avoiding the traps: Seeking good practice in the use of self assessment and reflection in professional courses. All material published on this website Copyright 1994-2023 White Hat Communications. Yip, K. (2006)Self-reflection in reflective practice: A note of caution British Journal of Social Work, 36(5), 777-788. It would also be remiss to discount the influence of gender and class on the assumptions I may have held. We identify, evaluate and integrate multiple sources of knowledge and evidence. In the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) in adult services, Newly Qualified Social Workers are expected to work on a portfolio which includes reflecting on their practice.Critical Reflection Log Part 1: Beginning the ASYEThis example of a critical reflective log is the first of four reflective logs required for the ASYE portfolio.Consider Risk management can be seen as a continuum (Nolan & Quinn, 2012), so whilst service user vulnerabilities must be taken into account when assessing risks there is also a balance to be struck. Many of the service users that we worked with had a dual diagnosis (problems with mental health and addiction). Different models of reflection supported me throughout the reflective process. This culminated in Alice being admitted to various psychiatric institutions in order to treat her schizophrenia and personality disorder. British Journal of Social Work, 39(1), pp. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Reflection is a process of people exploring their understanding of what they are doing, why they are doing it, and the impact it has on themselves and others (Boud, 1999, p. 123). My work with Alice has taught me many things, most notably the impact of personal and structural processes of oppression and discrimination. This relationship-based work (Woodcock Ross, 2011) with Alice highlights the importance of partnership working and emphasises the need to avoid top-down structural models (Hudson, 2015, p.102). Opinions expressed on this site are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Despite the dogged insistence of the dominant medical model discourse, contemporary evidence points to a causal link between social factors and a diagnosis of schizophrenia (Read, 2010). Although JK had a lead key-worker at my agency who was a permanent member of staff, I was responsible for the majority of the key working sessions with JK during my time on this placement. The Social Work ASYE: Guidance for NQSWs completeing the ASYE in adults and child settings. London: HMSO. Parton, N. & OByrne, P., 2000. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Example - Medium reflection Today I spent time with James (client) and his family on the ward. (Eds.) JK also had a substantial history of criminal activity, which he said became necessary in order to maintain his addiction to certain illicit drugs. Care and Support Statutory Guidance. 145-154. The number of professions and agencies involved with this single client illustrates the multiple points of contact and potential challenges that operating in this contemporary inter-agency environment presents. I recognized what I was good at and pushed myself in that direction. My placement was based at a not for profit mental health agency, where we provided psycho-social support for people who have experienced mental health difficulties. Our agency worked with some of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society, and engaging in uninformed work with these types of service users is a dangerous undertaking (Collingwood et al, 2008). Foucault M. (1967) Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason, London: Tavistock. WebSocial workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a cultures structures and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power. Champney-Smith, J. Reprinting & reuse, The Field Educator is published by the Simmons University School of Social Work. & Burke, B., 2006. (2010) Effective Practice Learning in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. & Baker, K., 2013. 241-259. Working with Risk. 146 0 obj <>stream Social Work Education, 18 (2), 121-132. Child and Family Social Work, 10(2), pp. Karban, K., 2017. This rather simple statement camouflages the multi-layered nature of the exchange which involves an array of subjective attitudes and feelings which are projected onto the communicated information both from the perspective of sender and receiver (Sarangi & Slembrouck, 1996). Thompson, N. (2009) Practicing Social Work: Meeting the Professional Challenge, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Milner, J. and OByrne P. (2002) Assessment in Social Work Basingstoke: Palgrave. Stephen Brookfield, a health educator, says: Critically reflective practitioners constantly research [their] assumptions by seeing practice through four complementary lenses; these lenses are: the lens of their own autobiographies, the lens of learners eyes, the lens of colleagues perceptions and the lens of theoretical, philosophical, and research literature. What am I still working on? Barry, M., 2007. a{Yk@p}r5h|yiPV8Gzc 4g@&S*/NNVw1{@F:db{1iQl9b:iA::~tTUkKGR?# !)oSb=\wI/#%tAJ Leung, T., 2011. Alice wishes to live independently and this is the preferred option for the social worker. As well as this, having someone essentially assessing my reflection made this even more difficult, as I was not able to reflect in a way that was personal for me. 885-902. Critical Reflection to Identify Gaps between Espoused Theory and Theory-in-Use. I then realized that I was being challenged to do things outside of my comfort zone, and when underperformed, I would lose confidence. In virtually all cases the people that live at the project either have an underlying mental health condition or experience drug or alcohol misuse, often there are a combination of these factors. Stephanie also advises young people to improve their situations and gives her professional consultations. More time could have been spent on listening to JK and his perspective, rather than trying to fit him into a theory or model for the sake of evidencing my own case notes or reflective journals. Tannebaum, R. P., Hall, A. H. & Deaton, C. M., 2013. h27U0Pw/ He was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, and dealt with significant anxiety and depression. Planned risk-taking can and should promote a good quality of life, develop new skills and expand life experiences (Barry, 2007). Inequalities in Child Welfare: Towards a New Policy, Research and Action Agenda. The reflector makes sense of what has been learnt from the experience and what future action might need to take place. What was challenging? This often means that residents have little consistency and no control over who they live with, resulting in an enforced togetherness that can lead to feelings of insecurity, anxiety and fear (Bengtsson-Tops, et al., 2014). 280-298. 1st ed. Biosemiotics, 4(3), pp. 541-553. The intersection of Alices gender, her adverse experiences both as a child and as an adult, her diagnosis of schizophrenia and the fact that she has experienced poverty for the entirety of her life has led to oppression and discrimination at multiple levels. Social Work, 47(1), pp. 91-105. Suter et al (2009) have found that a willingness to communicate is a key characteristic needed for effective collaboration, and after the other professionals were not active in engaging with me, I lost this willingness, potentially to the detriment of my work with JK. An example could be recognizing that an individual facing housing troubles has a strong support system of family and friends who can help. Oppression and discrimination also takes place at a wider level. I now recognise the ensuing conversation as a critical incident that changed my learning and the way that I thought about the staff and my placement setting. JK had a long history of substance misuse and mental health problems. Whatever approach one takes, being critically reflective involves a number of key things (Brookfield, 1998), including: An analysis of our assumptions. British Journal of Social Work, Volume 47, pp. An awareness of the social context, for us and for people who use services. Kemshall, H., Wilkinson, B. Specialist Communication Skills for Social Workers: Focusing on Service Users Needs. It asks the student to consider: How could I improve? The Six Cornered Addictions Rescue System (SCARS) was useful in that it took into account a person who was dealing with an addictions situation holistically, rather than just focusing on the addiction in isolation (McCarthy and Galvani, 2004). Yet risks remain, in essence, unpredictable phenomena that defy reliably accurate outcomes (Munro & Rumgay, 2000). In social work, reflection has strongly encouraged students and practitioners to increase awareness of the self in working with clients in practice. The Learning Centre - UNSW. Adopting this process has helped me to identify possible assumptions that I suspect I may have held. Anti-Oppressive Practice Social Care and the Law. London: SAGE. London: SAGE. Values and Ethics The way in which students articulated their perceptions of values and ethics in the field indicated that this Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. Moss, B., 2017. Community Mental Health , Volume 53, pp. 2nd ed. In your role, youll engage with stakeholders and organizations to manage strategy, advocate for positive change and maintain relationships. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Parrish, M., 2014. Schon advocated 2 types of reflective practice. Reducing the gender pay gap: Could more women in STEM be theanswer? Teater, B. Can Poverty Drive You Mad? 2; 7-19. For example, could my knowledge of Alices dysfunctional relationships in the past have resulted in me making assumptions about inherent personality traits? Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. Maidenhead: Open University Press. WebExample of reflective writing *In some texts the Analysis and Discussion stages will be fused in one paragraph/section; in longer assignments they might be written as two separate sections. HCPC, 2017. Reflection also allows social workers to link theory to practice. (2004) Dual Diagnosis in T. Peterson and A. McBride (Eds.) Risk assessments are an integral aspect of work with vulnerable people (Parry, 2013). In Session A this allowed me to see how JKs addiction and mental health problems were also linked to issues with accommodation, physical health, relationships and employment. Schn, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner, New York: Basic Books. 207-216. Yip (2006) aptly notes that models like those described above are most useful when starting out the reflective process, and I quickly adapted and developed a model of reflection that was most appropriate for me. Throughout my social work education, the difference between the medical model and the social model of experiencing mental illness has been stressed to me, and I clearly saw this when working with JK. Often Alice would experience what appeared to be moments of psychosis during which she seemed to be transported back in time to a particularly traumatic event which resulted in repetitive phrases and sentences being used to describe what had happened. Before we came together and realised we still had a lot of work to do, I was quite happy and thought we had been smart when we divided the work between us. Your autobiography as a learner . For example, she can help the young clients keep guardianship over their children, continue to help administrations, soften the punishment for young convicts, or free them from imprisonment (Rivera-Ayala, 2021). This aspect of partnership practice was and is very pertinent in the relationship between Alice and her social worker. Data analysis indicated that critical reflection is not a priority for direct practice social workers in the context of privilege. I introduced the placement setting and the case study, and then looked at my experience of reflection within this setting. 55K views, 2.4K likes, 2.7K loves, 2.5K comments, 240 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABS-CBN News: Healing Eucharist Mass | Teleradyo (30 April 2023) Friedli, L., 2009. Tangenburg, K. M. & Kemp, S., 2002. You may be required to have a take charge attitude as an advocate for your clients. 721 Words3 Pages. Ingram, R., 2013. [Online] Available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/doc/194419/0052192.pdf. From a postmodern perspective, practitioners should not seek to totally eliminate risk by a scientized, calculated approach because this is doomed to failure (Parton, 1998, p. 23). Adrian is studying for an MA at Anglia Ruskin University and he was nominated by his lecturer Dr Wendy Coxshall. Others time? Fair Society, Healthy Lives: Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post 2010. Social Work Methods and Skills: The Essential Foundations of Practice. Maintenance of the Effect of Training in Communication Skills: A Controlled Follow-Up Study of Level of Communicated Empathy. Parker (2010) has noted that reflection is not something that can be assessed based on traditional reductionist techniques. Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) Reflective Practice, Nursing Standard8(39) 49-56. Miles, A. Graham, M. J., 2017. After a heavy session with a client who has experienced trauma, social workers should take time to reflect on their own feelings about the situation to ensure that they are working effectively and objectively with the client. (1985). Maidenhead: SAGE. I observed the patience and empathy that Alices social worker demonstrated during the interview process. When we realised we couldnt hand in the assignment like it was, I got quite frustrated. Did I view her mood swings and depression as simply emanating from her diagnosis of schizophrenia? Supporting Lifelong Learning: Perspectives on Learning. 1st ed. 4th ed. This article aims to demonstrate being reflexive and doing reflexivity through reflection where, within the research, for example, the first author addressed the difference between meanings of research participants perceptions of their experiences and her own interpretations of the meanings. These questions can guide the student in reflection before, during or after an interview with a client (Boud, Keough & Walker, 1985; Schon, 1987). 1205-1223. Although I will discuss my involvement with JK more broadly,I will focus on one particular key working session that we had, where JK was most descriptive about all his concerns and the issues that were effecting him (session A). JK had clearly been the subject of this stigma throughout his life. WebSocial workers critically reflect on their practice, use analysis, apply professional judgement and reasoned discernment. Handbook for Practice Learning in Social Work and Social Care: Knowledge and Theory, London: JK.
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