Constructive Criticism For Social Work

In this essay I will discuss what learning from K216 materials has been useful to me whilst working with vulnerable and/or disadvantaged service users in my student placement, and what learning I have applied to my practice. Throughout I will look at how my learning informed what I decided to do, how I went about doing this and my understanding of the practice. I will discuss learning in respect of two areas of social work, which are ‘Communication’ and ‘Working collaboratively’. For ‘Communication’ I will focus on communication with service users with disabilities and/ or additional needs and I will explore a case of a mother who I had a telephone call with who was in crisis and in a highly emotional state. With ‘Working collaboratively’,

This particular client was very withdrawn, quiet, fearful of telling the truth, fearful of mother reactions to services and not familiar with working with lighter skinned people. This client was hesitant initially with treatment and services and seemed to not be aware of the unhealthy situation she was in. She did not have ambitions, plans, or hopes for the future. The client was compliant to the mother’s requests, and did not stand up for herself when being attacked verbally or physically. This all presented a challenge for me as her social worker to make connections outside of the obvious fact that we were from completely different worlds. Building trust with this client seemed impossible at first.

According to Duffy (2016), there are two different types of social work practice when it comes to working alongside a disadvantaged population. The first kind, is used more often and is called conventional social work approach, which focuses its attention on undertaking assessment and ensuring that individuals are families are received the correct support through organised services and support. On the other hand, critical social work, the less utilized approach aims to challenge the inequalities and oppression in society, by targeting the societal structure via activism and research, in order to bring forth criticism and questions on discourses attached to particular marginalised groups. The author proposes that both social work practices are important, however, critical social work should be emphasized on more frequently, especially with groups such as the ageing population as it targets the stubborn discourses (Duffy, 2016). Mattsson broadens critical social work, by relating it to critical reflection. Critical theorists have proposed critical reflection as a method to understand how social work practices can uphold oppression due to seemingly everyday actions, words and attitudes. Therefore, this can have an implication on how social workers execute their practice, as ordinary and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies may senselessly abide social workers to uphold and reproduce social oppression, even though they might be well-intentioned. Critical reflection

The class SW 6030 Human Development and the Social Environment has brought new insights and makes me see some topics in a different perspective. The critical reflection paper number one will integrate different concepts that I learned so far in this class.

The time when I received constructive criticism would be when I started my first part time job. I work at a grocery store in my home, called Country Mart. When I first started, I was not as fast as the other cashiers when it came to checking the customers out. I was still learning how to work the register. I would also get caught in conversation with the customers causing the transaction to take more time. My manager, Garry Brown, noticed this and talked with me. He commended me on being extremely social and friendly, but wanted me to limit my social interactions with the customers. Mr. Brown did not want to keep customers waiting too long while at the check outs. Mr. Brown also asked I practice on becoming faster on register. After the talk

Before beginning the Master of Social Work program at Laurier I figured I had a strong understanding of what social work was. However, I quickly learned that I had only scratched the surface. I knew oppression existed, but I never understood the depth of it. I now know that I was afraid of it. It was easy for me to stay silent, because it was such a comfortable position to be in. Doing nothing meant I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. This was influenced by the privilege I had.

My interest in the social work profession became apparent during the fall semester of my junior year when I was enrolled in Social Work 205 and sociology. I had finally found subjects that I thoroughly enjoyed and academically excelled in. The events and experiences in my past and the current activities in which I am involved, have helped me narrow my studies to solely social work and has took part in shaping my hopes and plans for my first entry-level position in my chosen career after receiving my degree from WKU.

Critique of a Research Study: MSW Social Work Students and Attitudes/Phobias Towards the LGBTQ Population

When working with women of color, as social workers, we have to be able to understand where they are coming from to help them. We will never fully comprehend what or where they come from, of the struggles they face on a daily basis. For me, a middle-aged white male, I most definitely will not be in a position to recognize those strains they face in their lives.

PS/MS 96 ACT, School of the Arts, Collaboration and Technology is a Pre K - 8 Community School located in East Harlem. The school offers counseling services for all students through designated Department of Education funding. The school social worker and school counselor split the caseload. The school social worker focuses on the middle school students and the school counselor focuses on the elementary school students. Each conducts group and individual sessions, with both mandated and at-risk students. Additionally, their teachers refer some students. When a teacher becomes aware of a possible need for counseling, that teacher refers the student to either the school social worker or counselor. The social worker can also refer students to outside agencies. The school social worker is also involved in the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) team, the school’s wellness team, and the attendance team. Generally, the social worker, in connection with the school psychologist, determines the needs of the students and which services will be provided. As a social work intern, I work with the school social worker to provide counseling, crisis intervention, conduct group sessions, and, connect students and families to community resources. As a social worker intern I am responsible for managing a student caseload, preparing case notes, making classroom observations, assisting with the high school admissions process, and sitting in on the various teams the school social worker is apart of.

The journey towards the attainment of the Bachelor of the social work degree has been an enlightening and educational experience, as the individual is exposed to the realities of many social and political issues in the society. As a student, I ventured into the degree, with minimal insight as to how the degree can influence and shape the way I perceive the social world, and the way I relate these matters to myself. However, throughout my endeavour, which encompasses years of theoretical studies, and two intensive placements at two drastically different organisations, I believe I have accumulated the bare minimal knowledge to possess a solid foundation about the unfairness and inequality that people in disadvantaged conditions face. Social workers are predominantly found in welfare organisations which Howe (as cited in Limber, 2015) suggested largely influences the practice, direction and values of the social worker, and impacts on their ability to act autonomously (Lymbery, 2015). During my placements, there was a dominant theme that frequently stood out and enticed my attention. This was the accepted practice of focusing on the individual’s problem, as opposed to the social problems that existed and the lack of acknowledgement about the social restrictions of the human agency that limited self-determination. The realization that organisations were managed this way was important in ensuring that I made a proactive effort to understand and untangle the reasons behind such

Select a social work journal and critique it, using the structure of a research report presented in the chapter as a guide.

When admission acceptance was offered by Concord University’s Masters of Social Work (MSW) Program, the main goal from that honorary point was to learn how to serve at-risk populations, micro and macro specifically, enhancing well-being and restoring empowerment within others. Mezzo practice also incorporates both micro and macro levels to address issues of clients but on a larger scale. Micro and macro levels of practice can also be executed concurrently. The motives behind enrolling in the HBSE course was to acquire knowledge on how to interpret in-depth analysis about human behavior on all practice levels, evaluate archetypes of culture & environments, examine different theoretical approaches, and assess and adopt various assessment models to incorporate in individualized practice. Field practicum experience in community organization, treatment counseling, or working with socially disadvantaged individuals and/or families is preferred. Specific skills and knowledge on diversity, individual & (intra-/inter-) group dynamics, and determining clinical treatment for psychological factors are skills that are wanting to be gained from this course.

The main points to this article were how to incorporate various concepts, and strengths perspective within all theories in the social work arena. One must combine theory and perspective to explain a situation or concept. Having a definite concept to each theory, and perspective will help one to understand all its entities to each situation. Theory and perspective fall under a larger umbrella with many entities helping to find a solution to a specific matter or a vast concern.

There are times when finding the things to say here, comes naturally. There are times where the words seem to flow into my fingers and onto the screen without me having to give them much thought at all. It’s funny how those times are never when I need them the most. My last entry here, I claimed was the hardest, but the reality of it all is that I missed the most important part of it… and I am sorry. I thought honestly that what I posted before covered what needed to be covered to satisfy the assigned topic. I was wrong. It is my own fault I suppose. I did not really ask for any clarification to what it was that Master wanted from me for the assignment. I truly thought that I understood what he wanted from me. I can admit that I was wrong