An Unfinished Reflexive Journey: Social Work Students Reflection on their Placement Experiences. [Online] Available at: www.parliament.uk/documents/fair-society-healthy-lives-full-report. Thank you! .HLNq 2Avv%%% w T-?(b`n1 885-902. Lishman, J., 2009. 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). I will seek to examine and reflect on my interactions with Alice, primarily by applying a reflective model to a critical incident. Teater, B., 2014. I will then explore my experience of reflection, and how reflective practice supported me to apply theory to practice. Graham, M. J., 2017. 4th ed. Reprinting & reuse, The Field Educator is published by the Simmons University School of Social Work. Housing, Care And Support, 18(2), pp. 1205-1223. Boud, D., Keogh, R. &Walker, D. This week I met with a social worker at Cherry Health which is located a few blocks from Heart of the City. As a social worker, I hope to have a profession that involves helping children; being a school guidance counselor, a therapist, or possibly even being a social worker in the pediatric ward of a hospital. Healing Eucharist Mass | Teleradyo (30 April 2023) - Facebook Care and Support Statutory Guidance. 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. I discussed how I engaged with different models of reflection, experienced power dynamics, and explored different interpretations of mental distress. 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). To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! 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. Schwartz, S., 1982. The difficulties Alice experienced at the hostel which culminated in such a troubled state of mind calls into question the place of adult safeguarding both within the organisation and in the wider context. Social Work Education, 18 (2), 121-132. This gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment. Inequalities in Child Welfare: Towards a New Policy, Research and Action Agenda. Boud (1999) describes how reflection can shape a reflective journal in a field seminar. I learnt that Alice had endured severe and multiple adverse childhood experiences. Tober, G. and Raistrick, D. (2004) Organisation of Services Putting it all Together in T. Peterson and A. McBride (Eds.) Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 809-824. Many of the service users that we worked with had a dual diagnosis (problems with mental health and addiction). Throughout field education, Brookfields guidelines can encourage the reflective process. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. If you are not used to being reflective it can be hard to know where to start the process. 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. In your role, youll engage with stakeholders and organizations to manage strategy, advocate for positive change and maintain relationships. By this point, I was able to reflect on my performance, address the negative concerns that needed to be worked on, and highlight my positive attributes and moving toward them. The strengths perspective allows social workers to assess and identify talents, strengths, and skills within their clients. Critical reflection is also part of this framework, making up the entirety of domain 6. Social Work Department of Education, 2018. It allows me to access different points of view, positive feedback, and constructive challenge.. British Journal of Psychiatry, 176(2), pp. Your subscription could not be saved. fTTF*nw^ulVK`493t75AL1[YMTc!A2{2ILk'MX@M~?6K^aFd%YBA k%;VD)\!Rm/WL}(ajSVCisO(?2GX#9jVF_Yh. Study for free with our range of university lectures! London: SAGE. Ixer (1999) recognises that focusing too much on assessing reflection can lead to a prescriptive approach to reflection that is uncompromising. British Journal of Social Work, 27(1), pp. The examination of your beliefs, values, attitudes and assumptions forms the foundation of your understanding. Although JK had a lead key-worker at my agency who was a permanent member of staff, I was responsible for the majority of the key working sessions with JK during my time on this placement. 1st ed. Taking a postmodern perspective that conceptualises the body as the site of power relations (Foucalt, 1977) leads to an understanding that the body is fundamentally implicated in mechanisms of domination and control. (Tangenburg & Kemp, 2002). Social Work, 57(2), pp. Journal of Integrated Care, 23(2), pp. However, I do not recall being instructed or advised to use the two collaboratively. My initial observations and impressions of the hostel were largely defined by the levels of socio-economic deprivation that dominate many of the residents lives. However, these power dynamics cannot be ignored, and underline all social work practice.I acknowledged the inherent power dynamics from the inception of my interactions with JK. To some extent this is an area that I found reflection lacking in. Schn (1999) introduced the concepts of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action in his book The Reflective Practitioner. London: SAGE. 579-626. S$QFOH5{H_>\*_PCM i{xRO+ba.u_ ? endstream endobj 148 0 obj <>stream WebAccountable: [the] social worker shouldnt be scared to ask for guidance and support. More time could have been spent on listening to JK and his perspective, rather than trying to fit him into a theory or model for the sake of evidencing my own case notes or reflective journals. 2; This is helpful in reconsidering an event, and determining whether something could have been done differently or better. Karban, K., 2017. Gibbs' Reflective Cycle Self-reflection is a vital part of evaluation of services and abilities. Three themes are identified: (1) No time for reflection, (2) Fear of reflection, and (3) Too much reflection. Maintenance of the Effect of Training in Communication Skills: A Controlled Follow-Up Study of Level of Communicated Empathy. East Brunswick, NJ: Nichols Press. 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) Atkins, S. and Murphy, K. (1994) Reflective Practice, Nursing Standard8(39) 49-56. 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). BASW, 2014. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 46(9), pp. Reflection on Development of Professionalism for Social Work Specific guidelines are useful for field educators in encouraging student reflection. I observed the patience and empathy that Alices social worker demonstrated during the interview process. Reflection forms a central part of social work practice and education, and it is particularly important for social workers in placement settings or newly qualified social workers (Dcruz et al, 2007; Parker, 2010). (2010) Effective Practice in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. Knowledge and skills for child and family practitioners, London: HMSO. Tangenburg, K. M. & Kemp, S., 2002. %PDF-1.6 % Content from this Guide should be attributed to James Cook University Library. Banks, S. (2006) Ethics and Values in Social Work, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Am I wasting my time? Critical Reflection to Identify Gaps between Espoused Theory and Theory-in-Use. JK also had a substantial history of criminal activity, which he said became necessary in order to maintain his addiction to certain illicit drugs. I was able to be more honest with my supervisor about what I thought of my work. University of Kentucky, Become an independent learner and problem-solver. Alice has been exploited by fellow residents who target her on the days when she receives benefits, this form of oppression takes place at a personal level and is often experienced by adults with serious mental illnesses in the forced intimacy of supportive housing. (Forenza & Bermea, 2017). Munro, E. & Rumgay, J., 2000. The Code of Ethics for Social Work, Birmingham: BASW. He had an allocated community psychiatric nurse (CPN) who would visit occasionally, and at times he also met with a psychiatrist. Often I lose confidence in what I am doing. A degree of scepticism about existing knowledge, beliefs and values. This type of difficulty and uncertainty around reflection is common in placement settings and when starting a new role (Knott and Spafford, 2010). International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 1(23), pp. 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. Specialist Communication Skills for Social Workers: Focusing on Service Users Needs. The case study will explore core social work tenets including relevant knowledge and skills, critical reflection, processes of oppression and discrimination, communication and partnership working. 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). hVmO0+^%] !v6-D%R_P6s6tHh{9'JJ"Di"U@T0.90|aI9auxiA8hp:: \Ih%T1*r|5M^-S/;q-?xg!Y^4r;Na#:yJWkrN7|O_b/\?QeN-W<>W\ Friedli, L., 2009. Am I going to be any good at this? After having many struggles in my field setting, I began to reflect more and more on myself and my performance. 145-154. I know what I need to do, but doing it regularly is tough. (1999) Critical reflectivity in education and practice in B. Pears and J. Fook (eds) Transforming Social Work Practice: Postmodern Critical Perspectives, St Leonards: Allen and Unwin, 195-208. 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). 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. WebSocial workers need to be prepared to critically reflect on the theory that they are bringing to practice. As I enter my MSW field placement, this is very important to keep in mind. I recognized what I was good at and pushed myself in that direction. (Eds.) 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. Moss, B., 2017. Professional Categorization, Risk Management and InterAgency Communication in Public Inquiries into Disastrous Outcomes. Brookfields areas of reflection can be adapted for social workers and implemented in several areas of field education. Social workers are provided with some guidance in practice to support this process. The importance of iatrogenic health, the process whereby possibilities and opportunities are acknowledged and explored, is part of a constructive narrative approach founded on a postmodern perspective (Parton & OByrne, 2000). 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. 7-19. Alices deteriorating mental health led me to conclude that her social worker needed to be informed of the situation. For example, part of an encounter with a client/service user that you were involved with; a meeting you were part of as a participant or observer; an activity you were part of for example a group activity or assisting a client in Typical triggers include poverty, adverse childhood experiences, rape and physical or psychological violence (Read, 2010; Burns, et al., 2014). Constructive Social Work. Is there a schizophrenic language?. Maidenhead: Open University. Find targeted resources for research and referencing, Professional Experience and the Investigative Imagination: The Art of Reflective Writing, Reflective Writing. 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. 18, 197-295. Effective Approaches to Risk Assessment in Social Work: An International Literature Review. Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice, Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. The application of critical reflection challenges accepted modes of thought, social organisation, dominant discourses and assumptions (Graham, 2017; Savaya & Gardner, 2012; Thompson, 2010). This relationship-based work (Woodcock Ross, 2011) with Alice highlights the importance of partnership working and emphasises the need to avoid top-down structural models (Hudson, 2015, p.102). hWO8WUiU Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Reflection leads students to be curious about the human condition, and to challenge their existing assumptions. It has been recognised in literature around theory in practice that overly focusing on theory when working with service users can actually hinder the work being done, as the service user can feel depersonalised (Parker, 2010). (Brookfield, 1998, p. 197). y~u <=ZVYIY8[Sr7RtK Davis, A, (2007) Structural Approaches to Social Work in J. Lisham (Ed.) In more recent times reflective practice has been developed further into a concept of critical reflection (Payne, 2014). Savaya, R., Gardner, F. & Stange, D., 2011. Healy, K., 2012. 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. Ixer, G., 2016. 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. Dewey (1993) recognised the importance of discovering new information in reflection. I then realized that I was being challenged to do things outside of my comfort zone, and when underperformed, I would lose confidence. K.4/=aT!Ji7bQJn2B Please try again. Example of Critical Reflective Log | Values and KW\Q>RMFV! Thank you Tarrell for this! PCF domain 7: Intervention and Skills. Bengtsson-Tops, A., Ericsson, U. Department of Health, 2014. I continued to learn more about Alices life over the following weeks. I now recognise the ensuing conversation as a critical incident that changed my learning and the way that I thought about the staff and my placement setting. Hudson, A., 2015. Healy, K. (2005) Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Furthermore, a social worker uses self-reflection to analyze personal and emotional feelings about a case or situation. Fair Society, Healthy Lives: Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post 2010. Risk assessments are an integral aspect of work with vulnerable people (Parry, 2013). 96-103. It has been noted that the theory base of social work is dominated by euro-centric discourse, meaning that certain paradigms or perspectives may be excluded unintentionally (Trevethick, 2012). 146 0 obj <>stream Fook, J., 2012. Social Work Perspectives on Human Behaviour. Web Transparency: Reflective social workers who sense an ethical issue share their concern with supervisors, colleagues, and appropriate administrators. The Case for Keeping COVID Modifications: Community Care: A Field Education-Based Model For Police Social Work in Rural Communities, Gatekeeping in Social Work Field Education, The Conversation: The ASWB Licensing Exam Pass Rates and Bias. Brookfield, S. (1998). & Padgett, D., 2017. An Exploratory Analysis of Unhealthy and Abusive Relationships for Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses Living in Supportive Housing. Below are brief outlines of four of the most popular models arranged from easy to more advanced (tip: you can select any of the images to make them larger and easier to read). Finally, as reflective practice encourages students to stay in touch with their own responses and personal needs, it is a vital component of self-care and professional development. 63-72. 1st ed. My inexperience, the fact that Alice has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and the gravity of what she was saying all contributed to a feeling of unease. (2010) An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Maidenhead: Open University Press. Firstly, reflection-on-action, which involves reflecting on an experience that you have already had, or an action that you have already taken, and considering what could have been done differently, as well as looking at the positives from that interaction. WebReflection In Social Work. Both of her parents committed suicide, she was raped and endured physically abusive relationships with two consecutive partners. WebReflection involves thinking about what needs to be changed to improve future outcomes. Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. 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. more than 2 years ago. 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. Reflective Practice in Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters. In 2021-22, Social Work England changed their requirements for social workers CPD (Continuing Professional Development) following a public consultation. This article aims to demonstrate being reflexive and doing reflexivity through reflection where, within the research, for example, the first author addressed the difference between meanings of research participants perceptions of their experiences and her own interpretations of the meanings. Communicating misunderstandings: Multi agency work as social practice. (1987) The Mentally Ill in Contemporary Society, Oxford: Blackwell. Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice. Critical reflection: how to develop 679-687. Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services. Others time? No plagiarism, guaranteed! Critical Thinking and Professional Judgment for Social Work. 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. Anti-Oppressive Practice Social Care and the Law. I will start by outlining my practice setting, and the details of the particular case study. Reflection The examination of your beliefs, values, attitudes and assumptions forms the foundation of your understanding. In the case of Alice there are three primary agencies involved. 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. Social Work Methods and Skills: The Essential Foundations of Practice. Although usually this would mean either in our office or in his room, sometimes we went for a walk and I accompanied him to appointments at times also. Cameron, A., Lart, R., Bostock, L. and Coomber, C. (2012) Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working between health and social care services, London: SCIE. 291-307. I observed during my early conversations with Alice that she often seemed subdued and that her mood fluctuated unpredictably. Working with Risk. McCarthy, T. and Galvani, S. (2004) SCARS: A new model for social work with substance misusePractice, 16(2), 85-97. Keeping a reflective diary of critical issues and my own thought process encouraged me to construct my understanding of the work I was doing, and justify what actions I had taken (White, 2001). The background to this case study, and my involvement with him, will now be discussed. WebThe value of peer reflection. This case study has demonstrated the complexity and breadth of contemporary social work.