I discussed how I engaged with different models of reflection, experienced power dynamics, and explored different interpretations of mental distress. When I worked with him, he lived in a housing project that was specifically meant to house ex-offenders. This case study has demonstrated the complexity and breadth of contemporary social work. Williams, C. C., Almeida, M. & Knyahnytska, Y., 2015. He was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, and dealt with significant anxiety and depression. Become an independent learner and problem-solver. Reflection, and in particular critical reflective practice, forms a key part of this, as social workers are called on to reconsider and reconstruct the dominant social discourse. 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. Basingstoke: MacMillan Press Ltd. Payne, M., 2014. 1174-1191. 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. Self-reflection is an important part of figuring it out. I understand everything you experience is a teaching moment, good or bad. The Social Work ASYE: Guidance for NQSWs completeing the ASYE in adults and child settings. In this social work reflective log, I will focus on the social work. HCPC, 2017. I noted the way that Alices social worker handled difficult or emotionally salient passages during interviews (Goss, 2011), particularly the use of silence and the importance of being patient rather than asking superfluous questions to fill uncomfortable pauses (Trevithick, 2012). `pIs3o+& &;`KAarYP/B%,{gZQ"_nt~u\X]Jet{=s(hglWN_. Alices disclosure was deeply concerning and very challenging for a number of reasons. During the course of this exchange Alice disclosed to me that she felt trapped, bullied by a member of staff and other residents, and that she was feeling utterly powerless with no hope of moving on from the hostel. Stephanie also advises young people to improve their situations and gives her professional consultations. Inequalities in Child Welfare: Towards a New Policy, Research and Action Agenda. Of particular importance when working with service users who have a dual diagnosis was systems theory, and I found this theory to be particularly important when reflecting on Session A. Healy (2005) has recognised that systems theory have been highly influential on the knowledge base of social work. 679-687. Szasz, T. (1961) The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct, London: Harper and Row. The Learning Centre - UNSW, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International License, Identify weaknesses in your understanding, Gain a deeper understanding of course content. Maidenhead: SAGE. Reducing the gender pay gap: Could more women in STEM be theanswer? Nerdrum, P., 1997. Throughout field education, Brookfields guidelines can encourage the reflective process. 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). These service users particularly challenged me, as I found their intersecting issues usually stretch well beyond their dual diagnosis, to other areas like housing or physical health. 1st ed. (Eds.) A reliance on members of staff who are experienced as oppressive reinforces feelings of hopelessness, stigma, discrimination and disempowerment (Williams, et al., 2015). Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. Dewey (1993) recognised the importance of discovering new information in reflection. Dedicated to your worth and value as a human being! This type of difficulty and uncertainty around reflection is common in placement settings and when starting a new role (Knott and Spafford, 2010). Parry, I., 2013. 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. It allows me to access different points of view, positive feedback, and constructive challenge.. WebUnderstanding peer reflection and CPD. 6-23. 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. 705-722. The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Anti-Oppressive Practice Social Care and the Law. 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 y~u <=ZVYIY8[Sr7RtK 541-553. Child and Family Social Work, 10(2), pp. Ixer, G. (1999) Theres no such thing as reflection British Journal of Social Work,29, 513-527. WebSocial workers need to be prepared to critically reflect on the theory that they are bringing to practice. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 2; Social work will be a good fit for me as a helping profession because I believe I have a passion for seeing and helping people improve. However, I do not recall being instructed or advised to use the two collaboratively. Am I wasting my time? I have a career, not in social work, but I have an opportunity, at 47, to get free schooling. Social Work Methods and Skills: The Essential Foundations of Practice. 1st ed. Critical Thinking and Professional Judgment for Social Work. Learn more , 2023 Field Educator | Simmons School of Social Work, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 | T: 617.521.3970 | F: 617.521.3980 | [emailprotected], The Field Educator: A Scholarly Journal from the Simmons University School of Social Work, $1000 Prize for Excellence in Field Education Research, Experiential Learning in Preparation for Field Placement, Inauguration of Simmons School of Social Work Trauma Training Project, MSW Student Field Readiness: Boot Camp, Students and Field Instructors in Ongoing Supervision Groups, The Reflecting Team in Supervision of Social Work Interns. WebThe value of peer reflection. Journal of Integrated Care, 23(2), pp. 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) This involves revisiting your prior experience and knowledge of the topic you are exploring. The physical scars on Alices body as a result of these experiences can be understood from a postmodern perspective as embodied manifestations of power and oppression (Tangenburg & Kemp, 2002). 63-72. Thompson, N. (2009) Practicing Social Work: Meeting the Professional Challenge, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 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. Poetics in Schizophrenic Language: Speech, Gesture and Biosemiotics. I then realized that I was being challenged to do things outside of my comfort zone, and when underperformed, I would lose confidence. You may be required to have a take charge attitude as an advocate for your clients. Role of risk assessment in reducing homicides by people with mental illness. Social work has traditionally been constructed as the professional knowing best, and continues to be practised in a way where the practitioner holds most of the power (Holmes and Saleeby, 1993). 96-103. The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. The issues that social workers are engaged with, and that I have discussed here, do not only reflect the concerns of the service user, but are a reflection of the issues that are inherent in wider society (Davis, 2007). Working with Risk. The figure below shows that the reflective thinking process starts with you. Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice, London: Routledge. Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. 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. Even where social work is undertaken with the best of intentions, for example in anti-oppressive practice, there is a danger that the voice and knowledge of the service user is lost by the intervention of the expert practitioner (Wilson & Beresford, 2000). Thank you Tarrell for this! Contemporary Social Work Practice. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman Limited. British Journal of Social Work, 28(1), pp. reflective model, Gibbs reflective cycle and Kolb reflective model. Understanding the communication process requires an acknowledgement of the complexity and meaning of language itself. Referrals to the agency could come from social services, GP surgeries, and other not-for-profit organisations. There are several reflective models such as Rolfe et al. Theorizing Social Work Practice. 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). 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. Two subjects outlined in the undergraduate social work curriculum could help to increase confidence and the ability to advocate on behalf of clients and ones own capabilities: the strengths perspective and self-reflection. 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? Whatever approach one takes, being critically reflective involves a number of key things (Brookfield, 1998), including: An analysis of our assumptions. Can Poverty Drive You Mad? Holmes, G. and Saleeby, D. (1993) Empowerment, the Medical Model and the Politics of Clienthood, Journal of Progressive Human Services, 4(1), 61-78. 721 Words3 Pages. 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. The Student Work Reflection is a set of simple repeating questions to consider how they approach each task in school. Being from Nigeria originally, and coming from a different cultural background than myself, meant that I had to be particularly careful in applying theory to the work that I did with JK.However, it is also clear that practice cannot just be based on routine or habit, with no basis in evidence (Thompson, 2009). Hall, C. & Slembrouck, S., 2009. An Unfinished Reflexive Journey: Social Work Students Reflection on their Placement Experiences. Alice showed me a scar on her right wrist and stated that she had tried to commit suicide in the past and was now experiencing suicidal ideation once again. The Code of Ethics for Social Work, Birmingham: BASW. The Development of Reflective Practice in American Education. This is an example of a reflective log to help you think about your own reflective writing. New York:Basic Books. 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. Dewey, J. Knott, C. and Spafford, J. 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. His four complementary lenses can suggest a number of questions as social work students reflect on a challenging situation in field placement. Tarrell Clark, BSW, is a May 2020 graduate of Stockton University and works with adults with developmental disabilities. Abingdon: Routledge. Others time? The power dynamics are slightly different in a non-statutory setting like I was working in. Effective Approaches to Risk Assessment in Social Work: An International Literature Review. 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. Many of the people that we worked with had been subject to section 2 or 3 orders under the Mental Health Act 1983/2007, and were now experiencing aftercare under section 117. 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). 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). At the time of my critical incident Alice was failing to attend to personal hygiene on a regular basis, frequently appeared to be experiencing low mood and would often break down in tears even when engaging in mundane, everyday conversation. The social worker talked through the steps that needed to be taken by Alice and the support that she would need in order to achieve this goal, a process referred to as the amplification of personal agency (Parton & OByrne, 2000, p.60). 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. Lightening: What came as a surprise? For example, I utilize my time effectively. Munro, E., 2011. By deconstructing and resisting this binary thinking the practitioner can then go on to address how change might be achieved and what values and assumptions have been challenged (Fook & Gardner, 2007). Alices deteriorating mental health led me to conclude that her social worker needed to be informed of the situation. (1987) The Mentally Ill in Contemporary Society, Oxford: Blackwell. A closer critical analysis of the factors and experiences that have shaped Alices life expose the fundamental flaws and prejudices in my misplaced assumptions. The whole thrust of the conversations, whilst acknowledging the trauma of the past and the difficulties of the present, were very much focused on the aim of Alice moving-on in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Supporting Lifelong Learning: Perspectives on Learning. British Journal of Social Work, 40(1), pp. I found these to be very helpful in working with JK. Group work assignment. (Brookfield, 1998, p. 197). Values and Ethics The way in which students articulated their perceptions of values and ethics in the field indicated that this British Journal of Social Work, 39(1), pp. WebSocial workers often need their own psychiatrist first, in order to be the most efficient in their practice. 241-259. The assessment stage typically involves: Collecting, organizing, and interpreting data. Did I view her mood swings and depression as simply emanating from her diagnosis of schizophrenia? Transforming Social Work Practice: Postmodern Critical Perspectives. Communication can be seen as a process whereby information passes from one person to another and is understood by them. (White & Featherstone, 2005, p. 214). Tangenburg, K. M. & Kemp, S., 2002. %PDF-1.6
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Within the workplace, after receiving negative comments from a supervisor, the social worker should take the time to carefully consider these comments. Due to the limits of the current medium, I will be focusing mostly on reflection-on-action. & Bermea, A. M., 2017. In addition to this, Alice also has contact with a psychiatrist and regular medical reviews with her GP. Both of her parents committed suicide, she was raped and endured physically abusive relationships with two consecutive partners. I am going back to school for Social Work. Excellent article, Tarrell! I worked with JK very much in isolation. What am I still working on? Essential Guides for Early Career Teachers: Teaching Early Years and ProfessionalBehaviours, Observations and Reflections on my First Year Placement, Personal Value System vs Professional Value System, Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Education and Training, Actually trying to "observe" children- the third free extract. 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. All material published on this website Copyright 1994-2023 White Hat Communications. Before you can begin to assess the words and ideas of others, you need to pause and identify and examine your own thoughts.
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