Ruth Stark Social Worker Manager SASW/BASW & IFSW Human Rights Commission Reflections on Practice Governance Framework

“The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well- being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work” Para 5 Practice Governance Framework - Role of the Social Worker International Definition of Social Work

Recognising that change has to happen Making the changes The user was ‘difficult’ – carer’s perspective Making the connections to be the catalyst for change So good at working the networks and communicating at all levels – it was a real help The support for me (the carer) prevented me becoming ill Perspective of a person using services

 assess how to meet need,  recognise and manage risk to themselves and others  in the context of balancing often competing rights and responsibilities.  Through their relationships, social workers help people analyse where they are, work out where they want or need to be, and can be the catalyst for change. To make changes in their lives people

 Competing human rights  Mother with mental health problem; child in need of protection – which legislation do you use?  Article 19 to protect, 18 to support parents; 7 to live with parents? Ethical Practice Balancing need, risk and rights?

Codes of ethics remind social workers that because they possess particular knowledge and skills, and work on a daily basis with people living in poverty and suffering rises and problems, they have a duty to inform governments and agencies of inequity, lack of resources or the need for policy changes Banks, S. (2006, p.99) Code of Ethics

 Work within the law, carrying out statutory duties including recommendations about people’s liberty  Self awareness of own prejudices and assumptions  Strategies for service user participation and empowerment  An understanding of cultural competence and ethnic- sensitive practice  How to work alongside and advocate on behalf of disadvantaged groups.  Humanitarian law and international and regional human rights instruments Issues for social workers

 Ensuring competent, confident professional practice  Managing finite budgets  Planning and working towards integrated services that may require structural change  Trying to make sure that the skills, knowledge and expertise of social work is still available to people in the next phase of public service reform Issues for Senior Management

 Managing workloads  Supervising practice and encouraging, supporting good practice  Managing finite resources  Contributing information and knowledge in both directions between people and those who plan and run the services. Issues for first line and middle managers

 Whistleblowing  Confidentiality  Respect and dignity  Finite resources  New structures with different historical patterns of funding and different levels of decision making Some of the issues to consider