- Social Work with Children & Families
- Introduction
- Collaborative working between the agencies and professional disciplines can help to improve the social lives of different members of the community. Through working in collaborative multi agencies I have been able to learn several thing related to the service delivery on the social work. This report first outlines the experience that I have gained while practicing the collaborative multi agency. In relation to this, the report outlines first the various roles that a social worker is supposed to undertake. The report also presents the role of the multi-agency in providing consultation services. This report also outlines the importance of collaborative multiagency in the social work. In this case, the report presents factors such as building cohesiveness among the community members as one importance of collaborative working between the professionals and different agencies. Moreover, the report also outlines the weakness associated to the use of the collaborative multiagency in the social work.
- Experience gained in working with the group
- Working in the group has helped to understand the role of the field of children in the social work. In this case the field of social work comprise of people who are committed towards ensuring that they help improve the lives of people. The social workers are also known to assist people through helping people to try and cope with various issues that relate to their day-to-day life. Most importantly, the social workers help people to manage their relationship and solve issues related to their own personal and family problems (Ambrosino, 2008, p.5). In addition people within the profession of the social workers also help to people who are also faced with certain disability or people who have been affected by a life threatening disease. Some of the social works may also take the role of assisting the families that experience various domestic issues. In relation to the children the social workers help to ensure that they improve the social and the psychological status of the children. This in turn helps to maximize the well-being of the family and the academic functioning of the children.
- Moreover working in the multidisciplinary group can allow one to understand the how to provide consultation services in the abuse cases. In this case I have been able to understand the how to ensure that the interest of all the parties involved are addressed. Working with multidisciplinary has also helped to ensure that one is able to gain professional skills and knowledge. Working in multidisciplinary group has also helped me to understand the various reasons why the children are at risk of abuse and neglect in the society. In relation to this it is evident that the children who do not have adequate support from the relative or the community are in danger of being exposed to different risks. The children may also be in a risk in the situations where their parents are experiencing stress such as unemployment some form of illness, and isolation. In addition the children may also be in a risk in the situations where their parents may not have experienced good parenting themselves. In the situation where the parents are alcohol or drug dependant the children may also be exposed to various forms of risk
- Working in the collaborative group has also helped me to understand the issues related to family placement. In this case I have been able to learn the various ways of assessing the needs of the and making recommendation regarding the proposed childcare plans. In relation to this I have also been able to learn the various ways of providing counseling services for the birth parents. Working in the family placement has also helped me to understand how to carry out a comprehensive assessment of potential cares to ensure that the children are able to receive safe and clean environment hence enhancing the family experiences.
- Engaging in the group work has also helped me to increase on, my principles and practice of working in partnership. These principle are mainly based on the fact there should be an equitable, just and a free society as stipulated within the international declaration of the Human rights (Darraj, 2010, p.38). In relation to this I have been able to understand the current policies, which emphasizes on a three-way partnership. This is collaboration between the health care and the social providers and the service users. In this case there should be a joint agreement between community development and teamwork in order to ensure that everyone understands their role. Moreover, I have also been able to understand the various attribute related to the partnership. In this context I have been able to learn in partnership one needs to ensure that he or she shows confidences while in the case of collaboration the collaborators needs to have trust and respect with the fellow collaborators. In partnership one also needs to ensure that they have respect for the specialist, however in the case of the collaboration people need to ensure that there is teamwork. In addition I have also leant the importance of having professional boundaries in partnership. In addition it has also been evident that the members of the partnership share the same vested interest. However, in the case of the collaborative the members exercise nonhierarchical relationship. Most importantly, in the partnership there should be appropriate governance structure in partnership. On the other hand in collaboration people only work together in the on an agreed purpose.
- Partnership in the multidisciplinary approach can help in solving the social exclusion cases more effectively (Munro, 2008, p.20). Moreover, the use of the use of the partnership can help to ensure that there less chance for an agent producing services that are counter-reproductive to each other. In addition the use of the collaboration allows sharing of effort in order to solve certain social problems that may be affecting the members of the society. However, it is also important to note that the in partnership there is chance that there can be threat to confidentiality. In relation to this in partnership there might also be a chance that there is a certain threat to professional identity. Another major limitation of the partnership is the fact that there they groups may suffer from influence by the major focal groups.
- Participating in the collaborative work also enabled me to understand some of the legal and procedural framework governing the child and family group works. In relation to this I have been able to understand the various acts that relate to the children for instance I have been able to learn the children act (1989). This act mainly emphasizes on the importance of ensuring that the children are put first while cooperating and sharing the various parental responsibilities ( Kirton, 2008,p.18). Another act that supports the children is the children act (2004). This act focuses mainly on the various shared programs of national change to help provide the services around the need for young people. This in turn helps to ensure that the children are given better health care; they stay safe and are able to achieve and enjoy their lives. In addition, this act also helps to ensure that the make positive contribution in the communities where they live. Most importantly this act also help to ensure that the children are able to achieve an economic well being state. The education act (2002) is another act that can help to emphasizes on the various reform that need to be affected in the children service delivery. This is because the act helps to stipulate the duty of the local authority toward promoting the welfare of the children. This act also stipulates among other things the need to develop the various local arrangements to help in safeguarding the welfare of the children.
- Analyzing the inter-professional collaboration practice that I have undergone it is evident that I can now be able to describe what happens when people from different professions work together to meet the target needs of the community. Moreover I have also been able to learn the various strengths and weakness associated with working collaboratively
- Importance of collaborative working
- Collaborative working has various benefits when applied in the social work. In collaborative working the partnership holds the concept that the every child matters (Alsop, 2010, p.124). This therefore implies that all the partners working together are committed towards ensuring that they add value to the lives of children and improve the learning of the young people. The collaborative working has some benefit these include.
- Improving the outcome of the children
- Collaborative multi-agency working helps to improve the outcome of the children and the young people (Pycroft & Gough, 2010, p.112). This is mainly through offering Joint services to support the growth and development of the children. In addition, these multiagencies collaborative working helps in offering advice and support whenever necessary to the young people.
- Building of the consensus
- The collaborative working helps to build consensus between people of different professions. In relation to this the collaborative working helps in strengthening the partnerships between people in different professions. Most importantly, the collaborative working helps to breakdown the professions that hinder people from interacting effectively. This consensus in turn help to ensure that the children overall well being is catered.
- Help to enhance scale of coverage
- Various studies indicate that the collaborative working also help to enhance the scale of coverage in relation to the childcare. This is because in the collaborative working people work together for the good of the children and the young people. The joint collaborative also help to ensure that the there is a pooled budget to cater for the different projects that one wishes to accomplish.
- Building a cohesive community
- Collaborative working also plays a role in building a cohesive community. This is because through collaborative working all the stakeholders involved in the community development are able to work together. This in turn helps to ensure that the various needs of the local community are addressed jointly to avoid duplication of the services. In relation to this the collaborative working has also helped to improve coordination of various services. This in turn helps in building of the better relationship in the society. Moreover, collaborative working also helps to offer a broad perspective or focus to the working practice.
- Increase the levels of trust in the existing between the partners
- The collaborative working has help to build trust among the existing partner. This in turn helps to ensure that all the members of the society are able to work as a team. In relation to this it also helps in facilitating joint planning for the various multiagency developments. It is also evident that collaborative working also helps to promote an increase in the staff morale. This is because it help the staff to understand that they do not work in isolation and hence various issues and problems can be resolved collaboratively.
- Involving users and cares in different services that they receive
- The collaborative working can also help one to understand the importance of involving the service users in the health care. This is because service users in many cases are the expert in their own ways and hence need to be involved in making health and care decision. Moreover, it is important for the health care professionals to listen and analyze the needs of their client. This can help to ensure that the clients are mainly advised on the various issues that they may be facing. Involving all the inter-professional dimension together with the user may help to ensure that a permanent solution is found on the on the problem affecting the client.
- Another important point to note is that the service users needs to be treated as someone who is an expert about themselves and their own mental health. This can help to ensure that the professional are able to understand the needs of the clients. The professionals also needs to be aware of the all the elements of distress and anxiety that can accompany the entry of the patient into the treatment session. In addition it is also important for the health professionals to ensure that they ask the users their opinion in order to ensure that their views are taken into account when the decision are being made. In this case therefore the service uses should be made to understand fully the plan involved in the treatment.
- Involving the service users in the strategic development of services
- In order to ensure that the collaborative service developed is effect it is also important to involve the service users in the initial stages of the service development. In this case it is therefore important for the professionals to ensure that people are given opportunity to give their own view at their own rate, however, it is also import for the professional to advice or recommend where necessary.
- Involving users in the research
- Through collaborative working I have also been able to learnt the importance of involving the user in research. This is because according to research by people like (MacDonald, 1997), the evidence-based practice is the now seen to be at the heart of effective planning and service delivery in health and social care (Weinstein, Whittington, & Leiba, 2003, p.67). Involvement of the user in the research can therefore help in the development of an effective plan to solve the problems that may be affecting the users.
- Weakness of the collaborative working approach
- Working in the collaborative multi agency has also some challenges. These challenges are mainly due to the complexities that are involved when the practitioners engage in variety of collaborative ventures. The following are some of the main challenges involved in working in the collaborative multiagency.
- Funding
- Funds play a critical role in ensuring that the multi agency is able to achieve its objectives. Lack of funding may therefore pose a challenge in the function of the multiagency (Whipple, et el .2006, p.106). In relation to this there might also occur some conflict that are related to funding various agents and use of the funds. Lack of funding may also affect the training and development activities carried out by the agency.
- Time limitation
- Time is an important element in the service delivery while working in a collaborative multi agency. This is because it is only a finite amount of tine is available to respond to the various different issues to be tackled. This therefore implies that if there is no proper planning and adherence to strict guideline than some of the service in the list may not be accomplished.
- Communication
- In order for any group to be successful there must be effective communication strategies. In this case communication can become a challenge while working in a collaborative multiagency. This is because there must be a clear two way communication strategy between the different educational setting. The agency and the practitioners must ensure that they exchange information. Communication can also prove to be a challenge in such a setting since the background information of all the people involved is different.
- Adapting with new working condition
- Adapting to working in a collaborative multiagency also proves to be a challenge while working in such system. This is because it requires one to accept the idea and different view of people in the group. In addition one is also required to adapt in the new working context within the shortest time possible. This is to facilitate faster service delivery. In relation to this the staff resistance to change may also prove to be a challenge while working with a multiagency. This is because all the staff working in a multiagency must ensure that they understand what the change process entails and the various benefits that the process can bring when working in a collaborative multiagency.
- Competing priorities
- The competing of priority is another challenge that one is likely to experience while working in collaborative multiagency. One of the major reason why this is a challenge is the fact that when different people are working together there is a chance that they may have competing ideas of how to solve a certain problem. In relation to this there might also be a challenge in understanding each other professional languages and protocols. This therefore creates challenges since a consensus must be reached to ensure that there is smooth service delivery within the multiagency.
- Conclusion
- From the above it is evident that collaborative working approach has helped me in several ways. In this case I have been able to learn the role of the social worker in the community. Moreover, I have also been able to understand the application of the some of the legal and procedural framework governing the family and children social work. Working in a collaborative multiagency has also allowed me to understand the family placement issues. It is also evident that the collaborative multiagency approach also has some strength. This is because it allows help to create consensus among the community members. In addition the collaborative multiagency helps to ensure that different members of the society are accorded their respective social rights. Most importantly collaborative multiagency also helps in improving trust among the members of the community. However, collaborative multiagency has also some limitations, which include lack of enough funds to runs its activities. Adapting in the new working condition may also prove to be a challenge in collaborative working. This is because it requires one to be flexible in order to work with other people effectively in the service delivery.
- Reference
- Alsop, A. 2010. Collaborative working in end-of-life care: developing a guide for health and social care professionals. International Journal Of Palliative Nursing, 16(3), 120-125
- Ambrosino, R. 2003. Social work and social welfare: An introduction. Australia: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
- Darraj, S. M. 2010. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.
- Kirton, D. 2008. Child Social Work Policy & Practice. London: Sage Publications.
- Munro, E. 2008. Effective child protection. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
- Pycroft, A., & Gough, D. 2010 Multi-agency working in criminal justice: Control and care in contemporary correctional practice. Bristol: Policy Press.
- Weinstein, J., Whittington, C., & Leiba, T. 2003. Collaboration in social work practice. London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Whipple, E., Solomon-Jozwiak, S., Williams-Hecksel, C., Annette Abrams, L. L., & Bates, L. 2006. Preparing Social Workers for Child Welfare Practice: An Innovative University– Agency Learning Collaborative. Social Work Education, 25(1), 92-107.
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