The Delivery Of Social Work Services

The Delivery Of Social Work ServicesThe second part of the communicate concentrates on to understand process of maturement. It give hence assess the region and function of social toy within wider socio-political social class _or_ system of government context especially in basis of poverty and inequalities. Finally it will be demonstrated how the determine issues may inform the policy and organisational context and the points raised will be summarised in the conclusion. jibe to World Health Organisation, most developed world countries cook accepted the age of 65 years as a definition of elderly or overageder person. (WHO 2012) However, in the United Kingdom the Friendly Societies come 1972 S7(1)(e) defines old age as, any age after fifty, where pension schemes mostly ar used age 60 or 65 years for eligibility. (Scottish authorities 1972) Ageism rotter be defined as process of discrimination and stereotyping against population because of their age. It affects legion (predicate) institutions in society and has a good turn of dimensions much(prenominal) as job discrimination, loss of habitus, stereotyping and dehumanization. Ageism is about assuming that all erstwhile(a) volume are the same despite different life histories, necessarily and expectation. (Phillipson 2011) According to Erikson (1995) psychosocial stages of life older age has been defined as the period of integrity versus despair. This stage involves the acceptance and reflection on ones life.The authors describe older heap as a sort out of marginal concern that has moved to one of central impressiveness in social gain profession (Phillipson 2011) This is caused by the speed of demographical interpolate that is most remarkable in its expand. The number of older people is increasing both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the integrality population. The ageing of the population indicates two master(prenominal) factors such as the d causeward trend in the birth ra te and improvements in life expectancy. (Phillipson 2011) In Scotland in 2010 there were an estimated 1.047 million older people age over 60, where older people are one fifth of Scottish population. (Age Scotland 2012) In the last hundred years Scotlands life expectancy has doubled from 40 in 1900, to just over 74 for males and just over 79 for females in 2004. By 2031 the number of people aged 50+ is projected to rise by 28% and the number aged 75+ is projected to increase by 75% (All our upcoming 2007) It has been estimated that in the UK in 2005, 683,597 people suffered from dementia, the number is expected to triple by 2051 to 1,735,087 people. (Alzheimers research trust 2010)The issue require to be deeply analysed in terms of how society will be able to respond effectively to the complex of necessity of older people.Look beneath the surface the needs and issues of older peopleThe policy All our future (Scottish Government 2007) indicates the age over fifty as a stage where li fe circumstances start to change in ways that can be significant for the future. An example of this can be children leave home, change in work patterns, people take in less work and more time for themselves and perhaps more money. It is worth pointing out that caring responsibilities for elderly relatives at this stage can also increase. The time fifty upward is a time when physical health can deteriorate causing possible health occupations such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or coronary kernel disease. What is more, the state of health after that time decrease substantially and become greater in its extend. plurality mustiness face changes in appearance such as wrinkles, hair lost or change of hair colour to grey. In addition, they physical state deteriorates and they are not as fit as they used to be. Form psychological point of view this must be difficult to accept it. However, ageing can also concerns some psychological cause such as changes in memory function, decline i n intellectual abilities or even memory loss. As a result of a chronic condition of brains nerve cells or brain disorders many people may suffer dementia, Alzheimer or Parkinson disease. Wilson et al. (2008) who draws attention to physical, biological and psychological effects of the ageing, pointing out that ageing is not itself a disease plainly some specific diseases may be associated with this process. (Wilson 2008)Social work underwent funda mental changes from the 1960s following broader ideological, political and sparing developments. To understand the genuine role of social work within society and wider policy framework, particularly with older people, it is important to analyse the past socio-political and economic trends that have reflected on modern-day practice. By the 1960s, more attention was beginning to be paid to the social consequences of capitalism that started to be seen as the economic order of an short and unfair society. The strong critique of that syst em is kn have as radical social work that grew on the ideology of Marxism. (Howe 2008) The publication of the Kilbrandon (1964) consequently led to intromission of Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, which embedded social work firmly within state sector with the voluntary sector as complementary. (Ferguson Woodward) Social work wanted to be seen as unified profession that offered generic run, to overcome earlier fragmentation and overspecialisation of services. Social workers were obligated by law to assess needs and uphold social eudaimonia by providing services. However, the government of Margaret Thatcher began to weaken state welfare responsibilities to suspensor people in need leading to the major ideological shift in 1980s called neoliberalism. As a result Barclay Report (1982) intended to clarify the role and task of social workers employed within statutory or voluntary sector, the ulterior Griffiths Report (1988) were similar to Barclay Report in terms of promoting great er survival of the fittest, participation and independence of service user and carers. However, neoliberalism undermines the role of welfare professionals, allow the rich become richer and marginalise the poorest and most vulnerable individuals. Woodward and Ferguson (2011) argue that neoliberal trend has been continued under New labour government, leading to managerialism and bureaucratisation. thitherfore, contemporary practice is drawn by extreme pressure done the forces of marketisation, managerialism and consumerism, that led to profession dominated by stress, frustration and strongly focus on showdown deadlines. The labour government has also been driven by the development associated with consumerists ideas such as personalisation that place service user at the centre of service determination and delivery or direct payments that emphasise independence and individual choice through giving service user their own money to buy own services. For a tenacious time neoliberal eco nomic and social policies in the UK speculated a very different concept of what social work should be about. The changing Lives report of the 21st Century Social Work Review (Scottish Government 2006) has brought significant shift within social work polices through an expression of dissatisfaction of social work that was mainly caused by lack of opportunity for relationship found work with service user.The policy has reshaped social work practice towards providing social workers with supererogatory space to develop good social work practice. There have been initiatives to improve recruitment and increase professionalism and standards within workforce as well as improve integration in the planning and provision of social work services. Integration has been developed through Modernising residential area Care An Action Plan (1998) and Community Care Joint Future (2000) that introduce Single Shared Assessment (SSA). In Scotland Joint Future is the driving policy on joint working bet ween local authorities and the NHS. The other constitute policy themes are personalisation, self-directed actualise, early intervention and prevention as well as heterogeneous economy of care on the grounds of more effective partnership. (Scottish fantan 2008) Another significant report that brought about change in policy and later in Scottish legislation is the Sutherland Report (1999) that extendd informal personal and nursing care on the basis of assessed needs. (Petch 2008) The above review of social work policy framework is a good illustration of constantly changing role and function of social work. Social work operates within socio-political framework of constantly ontogenesis policies and legislation of health and social care. The reality and ideology constantly has changed people and society faceing new challenges. Social work makes a key contribution to face these issues by working with other agencies to deliver coordinated support and to increase the wellbeing of old er people.The critical analyse of needs of older people and current issues in the delivery of social work services.The first issues when working with older people is partnership of health and social care within four main areas mind, care management, intermediate care and hospital discharge. (Wilson 2008) The main enigma is tight cipher this is in particular importance especially in statutory setting. (Wilson 2008) The problem increases when local authority must, as normally is a case, work in collaboration with other bodies. This raises an external question who are going to pay for services? That causes unnecessary delays and constraints. superstar might expect that new Integration of Adult Health and Social Care identity card (Scottish Government 2012) will resolve problem by the joint budget and equal responsibilities of Health Boards and Local Authorities. Wilson et al. stresses the importance of rationing services in social work due to low budget that lead to delays in prov ision of services and lack of time to develop more creative forms of practice.The next issue is the assessment process that is seen as eternal sleep between needs and resources. A major element during assessment is the relationship with service user and appropriate methods of communication to understand and be understood. Practitioner must take the time to get know the older person and resist pressure from other professional to do a quick assessment. (Mackay 2008) The problem of autonomy and protection is the other one in relation to work with older people. This raises the question of capacity, consent and the deprivation of liberty of older people. This group of service users is a great deal a subject of legislation that deprives their rights and liberty, this is because they are likely to be affected by cognitive disorder such as dementia. The term dementia accommodate Alzheimers disease, vascular and unspecified dementia, as well as dementia in other diseases such as Parkinso ns. It has been estimated that in the UK the number of patients diagnosed is 821,884, representing 1.3% of the UK population. (Alzheimers research trust 2010) The assessment of incapacity or mental disorder is not straightforward and ethically and morally difficult for both service user and social worker. Social workers have to manage the balance between acting in accordance with the wishes of the individual and their trump out interest. It has been suggested by policy and legislation that the views and wishes of people expressed through self-assessment would inhabit at the heart of intervention. (Department of Health 2005)The another issue is abuse of older that may have many forms and can be very severe in its extend. Older people are vulnerable to abuse or to not having their rights fully respected and protected. The problem came to public awareness not as long as few years ago. Despite the fact that legislation came into force through Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Ac t 2007 it is estimated that elder abuse affects 22,700 people in the Scotland each year. (Age Scotland 2012) Older people are a subject of physical, psychological abuse, neglect, sexual or financial harm, that normally takes place at home, in hospital, residential care or day centre.Age discrimination is next issue to consider around 24 per cent of older adults in the UK report experiencing age discrimination. (Age Scotland 2012) The new NHS policy that came to force 1st of October this year, states that it is unlawful for service providers, policy makers and commissioners to discriminate, victimise, or harass a person because of age. A person will be protected when requesting and being provided with services. If anybody will be treated less favourably because of their age, they will be able to take organisations or individuals to court and may be awarded compensation. This mainly relates to health boards individual clinicians such as consultants, GPs or other health professionals. (Department of Health 2012)Older people are separate based on the relatively low socio-political and cultural status in contemporary society. They are repeatedly presents as a drain on resources as they no longer actively contribute to grow of society. They do not work and do not pay taxes anymore. Older people are systematically disadvantaged by the place they occupy within society. Wilson et al. (2008 p. 620) rightly suggests that old age is socially constructed. A good example of this is retirement that makes people officially old and unavailable to work, despite factual physical and emotional state of the individual. Other forms of social construction that significantly affect the experience of old age is class, gender, ladder and ethnicity. (Wilson 2008) An illustration of this can be statement that older people have much more in common with younger people from their class then they do with older people from other classes. (Philipson 2011) Disadvantages and inequalities exper iences during life can magnified the process of ageing through differences in access to health facilities, health status and lifestyle that may influence life expectancy. There is no interrogative sentence that experience of ageing is subjective and depends on many factors but it seems to be a matter to consider class, gender and race at first place. When discussing poverty and inequalities the things that have to be in mind are issues of discrimination of older women who are less likely to have as a great pension as male due to the fact many women are paid a lower wage then men. Moreover, women tend to live longer than men so they are more vulnerable to live alone and in poverty. (Age UK 2012) There are many forms of disadvantage associated with older people in poverty such as low income, low wealth and pension, debts or financial difficulties, aspect worse off, financial exclusion, material deprivation and cold home. The first three are experiences by around 20% of older people, half of older people experienced at least one of the nine forms of poverty described above, and 25% had two or more. A minority 3% suffered from three or more forms of poverty. (Age UK 2012) In terms of ethnicity and race there are significant inequalities in the process of ageing. An illustration of this can be the black community of older people who are more likely to face greater level of poverty, live in poorer housing. In addition, they are more susceptible to physical and mental illness due to often heavy manual work, racism and cultural pressures. (Phillipson 2011)Most of older people want to say at home as long as possible this is supported by policy All Our Future (Scottish Government 2007) that helps people through services such as free personal care, telecare development programme, care and repairs services or travel scheme free bus passes. The policy aims to improve opportunities for older people, foster better reason towards this group of service user, create better l inks between generation to work together and exchange experiences, to improve health and quality of life promote well being and active life within community, improve care support and protection, housing and transport as well as promote womb-to-tomb learning.The role of social work in working with older people is described by Marshalls text (1990) and cited by Scottish Government (2005) It has been suggested that a key issues are communication, including sensitive listening and awareness of non-verbal communication, taking time to assess needs always in the presence of service user. Supporting people in managing crises that arise through loss or change such as bereavement, mental health issues or physical constrains like illness or disability. crack cocaine practical help and organise resources. Working with other professionals and people involve in the process of intervention and together combat ageism.Ageing can be defined as discrimination against older people mThe current trend s in adults social care have began through Green paper Independence, social welfare and Choice (Department of Health 2005) and the subsequent White Paper , Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (Department of Health 2006) these documents set out the agenda for future. This is based on the principle that service users should be able to have greater control over their own lives, with strategies that services deliver will be more personalised than uniform, this is referred to as personalisation. Personalisation enables the individual to get into and to be actively involved in the delivery of services. Personalisation also means that people become more involved in how services are knowing by shaping and selecting services to receive to support that is most suited to them (Scottish Government 2009) Personalisation is a wide term covering a range of approaches to providing severalise services, choice and control. The programme directly response to wants and wishes of service user regarding se rvice provision. Personalisation consists of person centre approach, early intervention and prevention, is based on an empowering philosophy of choice and control. It shifts power from professionals to people who use services. (Department of Health 2010) However, it could be argued that approaches extending service user control in realty can be seen as transferring risk and responsibilities form the local authority to the individual service user (Ferguson 2007)Another option recently promoting by government is Self Directed Support (SDS), a Bill has been introduced into the Scottish Parliament last year and recently has passed stage three. The bill seeks to introduce legislative provision for SDS and the personalisation of services and to extend the provisions relating to direct payments. (Scottish Parliament 2012) The SDS approach before has been brought into Parliament were reflected in many reports and policy initiatives such as Changing Lives, Reshaping Care for Older People. SD S let people to make inform choices about the way support is provided, they can have greater control over how their needs are met, and by whom. Social worker working on behalf of local authority will have a duty to offer SDS if the individual met eligibility criteria. The four options to consider are direct payment to the individual in order that that person will arrange own support, the person chooses the available support and local authority will make arrangement for services on behalf of that person, social worker will select support and make arrangement for provision, the last option is a mix of the above options. (IRISS 2012) There is no doubt that the ideas of SDS are glorious because express a great opportunity for service user to expand their control over services provided. However, this raises a question of how many people will be ready to utilise option one of SDS, if a ordinary person who use services will have skills and intimacy to take responsibility for own care suc h as to employ own carers or personal assistance and to buy own services. One could opine that it could be possible if the role of social worker will change from care management to brokerage and advocacy. The new model of care requires also to support communication, have experience in employment practice, manage record keeping and pay roll services. A potential care broker will provide assistance to obtain and manage a support package, drawing on individualised funding. It can be questioned if social workers who are mostly employed by local authority and accountable to statutory agencies are reliable to perform this task working across three sectors.Service User InvolvementDalrymple and murder (2006) discuss issues that influence contemporary social work such as social justice, empowerment, partnership and minimal intervention. The service user participation has began in 1990 through NHS and Community Care Act. (Ray, 2012) There is still increasing acceptance that people who recei ve services should be seen as own experts in defining their own needs. This is in accordance with exchange model of assessment presented by Smile and Tuson et al. (1993), where social worker view the individuals as experts of own problems. The role of practitioner is to help service user to organise resources in order to reach goals that are define by the service user. Government policy addressing to older people highlights the importance of developing services that focus on maintaining independence, encouraging choice and promoting autonomy such as Independent living in Scotland (2011), Reshaping Care for Older People (2011), All our Future(2007). The policies highlights the importance of user participation in risk management and risk taking within independent community living for older adults. One of the action enhance independent living is direct payments. This has been seen as a way of improving choice and autonomy of older people. Social workers have a moral obligation to ensur e that direct payment, when offered, do in fact provide better opportunity for this group of service user to meet their needs in creative way. (Ray 2009) One may expect that active involvement and participation in service provision will have a all-important(a) role not only in exercise more control and choice but also in challenging social exclusion. Shaping our lives is a notional independent user network that aims to make sure the voice of older people are heard so they have equal materialize in defining outcomes in social care. (Crawford Walker 2008)It could be argued that one of the main needs of older people is the importance of active listening of this group of service user, who are often because of age ignored or disregard. This is supported by Kydd (2009) who highlights how important it is for older people to feel that they are being listened too.In social work there is constant need to evidence based practice on the grounds of empirical knowledge that guide decision qua lification process. An example of this can be three stages of theory cycle presented by Collinwood and Davies. (2011) There is no doubt evidence based practice is important but the view undermine relationship based practice that is equally important. Rightly Wilson (2008) refers to relationship-based as a main feature of social work practice that shape the nature and purpose of the intervention. It is a unique interaction between the service user and the practitioner that help to obtain more information and define the best way of intervention.A fundamental part of working with older people is to recognise and respond to the way in which they may be marginalized. An example can be the role of social worker as advocate that seek to provide accurate information in relation to the services the individual is empower and to enable the person to live where she/he wants to live. (Dalrymple Burke 2006)