91-105. The worker expressed a great deal of frustration at the lack of inter-agency communication, written or otherwise, and a failure to disclose key pieces of information. Marmot, M., 2010. An Exploratory Analysis of Unhealthy and Abusive Relationships for Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses Living in Supportive Housing. Supported housing for adults with psychiatric disabilities: How tenants confront the problem of loneliness. I was able to address issues that I saw and to offer interventions. Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice, Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. Source: Reflective Writing. Revisiting the assumptions that I outlined above has helped me to explore how I experienced the initial incident. Doctoral Student Stressful Encounters with Social Work Clients: A Descriptive Account Based on Critical Incidents. 1= A endstream endobj 147 0 obj <>stream Did I view her mood swings and depression as simply emanating from her diagnosis of schizophrenia? Toseland and Rivas (2008) define group work as a goal directed activity aimed at accomplishing tasks. PCF domain 7: Intervention and Skills. & Baker, K., 2013. Group work assignment. Tober, G. and Raistrick, D. (2004) Organisation of Services Putting it all Together in T. Peterson and A. McBride (Eds.) Lightening: What came as a surprise? For this example reflective log, I will use Gibbs reflective piece to unpick the learning gained. British Journal of Social Work, Volume 43, pp. Schon, D. (2002) From technical rationality to reflection-in-action in R. Harrison, F. Reeve, A. Hanson and J. Clarke (eds) Supporting Lifelong Learning: Perspectives on Learning, London: Routledge. British Journal of Social Work, 39(1), pp. Typical triggers include poverty, adverse childhood experiences, rape and physical or psychological violence (Read, 2010; Burns, et al., 2014). Anti-Oppressive Practice: Emancipation or Appropriation. Although I engage with and explored multiple models of reflection during my placement, the model of reflection that I found most useful was Schons theory of reflection (Schon, 1983; 2002). Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) Reflective Practice, Nursing Standard8(39) 49-56. Postmodernism rejects overarching general theories, instead adopting an approach that acknowledges individual narratives, social context and recognises multiple identities that may intersect (Graham, 2017; Fook, 2012). I then moved on to look at how reflection promoted me to engage with theory in practice, in particular in relation to systems theory. Yip, K. (2006)Self-reflection in reflective practice: A note of caution British Journal of Social Work, 36(5), 777-788. Support from colleagues and supervisors was also invaluable in this process (Ruch, 2002). Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. I recognized what I was good at and pushed myself in that direction. 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). (Brookfield, 1998, p. 197). The Journal of Adult Protection, 15(1), pp. The group members develop feelings of mutual interdependence and a sense of belonging. However, I do not recall being instructed or advised to use the two collaboratively. more than 1 year ago, The fear of being rejected and incorrect has been with me as long as I can remember. Brookfields areas of reflection can be adapted for social workers and implemented in several areas of field education. [Online] Available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/doc/194419/0052192.pdf. In addition to this, Alice also has contact with a psychiatrist and regular medical reviews with her GP. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! October 2011 Alices disclosure was deeply concerning and very challenging for a number of reasons. Critical Thinking and Professional Judgment for Social Work. 145-154. 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. Reflective: Knowing when to say sorry and learning from your mistakes Motivated to care for them: [to] navigate difficult paths [in my life] and make time for me. Points and Questions to aid critical reflection: Arriving at an understanding of the multiple levels of oppression and discrimination that have shaped and distorted Alices life has not only heightened my awareness in this particular case but it has also changed the way I will approach practice situations in the future. It would also be remiss to discount the influence of gender and class on the assumptions I may have held. Social Work Perspectives on Human Behaviour. The people with whom we worked usually had a multitude of presenting issues and concerns, and I was aware from the onset that complex settings like this require social workers to be reflective in their practice in order to be able to deal with a variety of situations (Fook and Gardner, 2007). Maidenhead: Open University Press. Social Work Education, 18 (2), 121-132. Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. Parker, J. Knowledge and skills for child and family practitioners, London: HMSO. Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice. I think that is [an] important [value]. Department of Health, 2014. London: SAGE. The importance of recognising multiple perspectives and social contexts in a non-linear, fluid and multifaceted way leads to more bottom up practice that in turn empowers marginalised people by recognising and legitimising their experiences and voice (Fook, 2012; Graham, 2017; Parton & OByrne, 2000). I found this to be the case, as I did not move through stages of refection one after the other, but moved between them, often returning to my conceptual starting point multiple times before settling on a holistic understanding of an event or situation that incorporates all systems influencing that scenario. Findings. What qualifies as a critical incident is not rigidly defined but the event should be important or significant in some way to the practitioner and should offer the opportunity for professional learning (Fook & Gardner, 2007, p. 77). This reminded me that I was more than capable of being an effective social worker. Due to the limits of the current medium, I will be focusing mostly on reflection-on-action. Karban, K., 2017. In 2021-22, Social Work England changed their requirements for social workers CPD (Continuing Professional Development) following a public consultation. Avoiding the traps: Seeking good practice in the use of self assessment and reflection in professional courses. An important part of reflection in social work is the application and consideration of theories in practice (Trevethick, 2012). Thank you for sharing! I found this to be the case at times, when I was expected to write my reflections at a certain time, and have reflective supervision in a certain way. WebSP620 The Social Psychology of the Individual Exam 2013, Questions, Final Gibbs Reflective Report Formulae - Formula Drug-List - A list of all drugs required for the exam including they receptors, action, Effect of Potassium Bisulphite as a Food Preservative Unit 7 Human Nutrition and the Digestive System Presentation Notes Cell bio report 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). In relation to Session A, one area that I reflected on was that I may have focused too much on theory when working with JK. I have discussed my work with JK, and reflected on specific incidents and issues with him. 1st ed. Graham, M. J., 2017. I am going back to school for Social Work. What am I most proud of? He received depot injections monthly for his mental health difficulties, and he found these instances particularly distressing. Some of us are capable of much more than our field supervisors would expect, yet, let our inner negative thoughts overpower the positive ones and prevent us from reaching our true potential. It would be interesting to see if student performance could increase if the combination of these two subjects were integrated into student assessments and self-assessments during their experiences. Role of risk assessment in reducing homicides by people with mental illness. I introduced the placement setting and the case study, and then looked at my experience of reflection within this setting. Like this article? Towards a Biopsychosociopolitical Frame for Recovery in the Context of Mental Illness. 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. British Journal of Social Work, 45(1), pp. Ameican Educational History Journal, 40(2), pp. 721 Words3 Pages. Assessing a clients strengths and limitations. 840-850. Although these moments appeared to be traumatic for Alice she said on many occasions that she wanted to speak about her past. 191-198. 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. People diagnosed with schizophrenia are often stigmatized by a discourse of otherness which portrays people with mental health challenges as a problem who must be controlled by bio-medical, biogenetic models (Beresford & Wilson, 2002). What was successful? DCruz, H., Gillingham, P. and Melendez, S. (2007) Reflexivity, its meanings and relevance for social work: A critical review of the literature British Journal of Social Work, 37, 73-90. Banks, S. (2006) Ethics and Values in Social Work, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Unequal power dynamics, concerns around oppression and issues with stigma are all societal problems that social workers need to engage with not just on a micro-level, but also a macro-level. 6-23. 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. Inequalities in Child Welfare: Towards a New Policy, Research and Action Agenda. The Munro Review of Child Protection, Final Report, A child-centerd system, London: The Stationary Office. 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. Through active engagement with reflection, I was able to work with JK using an eclectic theory and knowledge base, but was also careful to note if JK was not comfortable with some aspects of my approach, and adjusted the approach accordingly. London: SAGE. 15-25. Disability & Society, 17(5), pp. Social workers need to be prepared to critically reflect on the theory that they are bringing to practice. Can Poverty Drive You Mad? Maidenhead: Open University Press. Am I going to be any good at this? 9-18. WebAccountable: [the] social worker shouldnt be scared to ask for guidance and support. Tangenburg, K. M. & Kemp, S., 2002. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. 553-573. 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. My vague sense of unease and concern about Alice and her general well-being crystalized early one morning as I arrived at work to find Alice upset and in tears in the communal lounge. 175-188. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Content from this Guide should be attributed to James Cook University Library. The Development of Reflective Practice in American Education. Reducing the gender pay gap: Could more women in STEM be theanswer? We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and acknowledge Traditional Owners of the lands where our staff and students, live, learn and work. This assignment is based on my work with one particular resident who I will refer to using the pseudonym Alice. Throughout field education, Brookfields guidelines can encourage the reflective process. As the initial phase of my placement progressed I became increasingly aware of Alices persistent and chronic low self-esteem and her tendency to depressive episodes. The other type of reflection Schon notes is reflection-in-action, or reflecting on your actions as you are doing them, and considering issues like best practice throughout the process. Social workers are provided with some guidance in practice to support this process. Please try again. For example, could my knowledge of Alices dysfunctional relationships in the past have resulted in me making assumptions about inherent personality traits? WebThere is something called reflection and it has value, but it also has limits, which need to be understood if we are to achieve a deeper appreciation of the complex nature of social work practice, the demands the work makes on practitioners and the implications for service users. Reflection leads students to be curious about the human condition, and to challenge their existing assumptions. Dedicated to your worth and value as a human being! Parry, I., 2013. That is to say, communication is not neutral and does not necessarily have a universal meaning to each element of the agency or profession (Hall & Slembrouck, 2009). Is there a schizophrenic language?. 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. Wilson, A. British Journal of Social Work, 30(1), pp. Parton, N., 1998. Reflection on Group Activities Reflection is equally important in group tasks as in individual tasks. When working with JK, I was made aware of his engagement with mental health services, usually provided through the medical professions. Constructive Social Work. The historically oppressive nature of mental health services is widely recognised in literature (Szasz, 1961; Foucault, 1967), and JK expressed to me at times that he felt that he was not listened to by medical professionals, and just moved from service to service having things done to him, rather than with him. However, appropriate use of this type of reflection should inform future practice, and encourage appropriate reflection-in-action when presented with a similar situation again. Oppression and discrimination also takes place at a wider level. When we realised we couldnt hand in the assignment like it was, I got quite frustrated. Whilst the idea of partnership suggests equality and collaboration, practitioners should still manage power relations with service users carefully, especially where a lack of confidence inhibits the service user from taking on the responsibility of partnership (Dalrymple & Burke, 2006). I worked with JK very much in isolation. However, I believe the key lesson that I take from my professional relationship with Alice is to try and show the same level of astonishing resilience and generosity of spirit that Alice has demonstrated throughout her life to the present day. (2010) Getting Started in C. Knott and T. Scragg (eds.) Abingdon: Routledge. This type of situation, with all its complexities and difficulties, is described in the seminal work of Schn (1983) as the swampy lowlands of practice (Schon, 1983). 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. Critically reflective practice. WebBrookfields areas of reflection can be adapted for social workers and implemented in several areas of field education. Social Work, 47(1), pp. Beresford, P. & Wilson, A., 2002. The background to this case study, and my involvement with him, will now be discussed.