Therole of a Social Worker relating to Older Adults with dementia in the communityThis assignment will explore the role of a social worker considering older adults with dementia in the community. It will identify the intervention and services available and the impact of social work within this service user group, taking into consideration social, political and economic factors. Socialwork is thought to have been influenced by the middle ages, when there was abreakdown in this feudal system due to famine and war; therefore, resulting inan increase of those in need. To resolve this problem, England passed severalPoor Laws between the mid-1300s and mid-1800s. The most significant was theElizabethan Poor Law 1601 (Zastrow, 2009, pp.11-14), which was designed tomaintain order and contribute to the general kingdom. This law gave the localgovernment the power to raise taxes and use the funds to build/maintainAlmhouses (Hansen, 2011), to provide sheltered relief for the less fortunateand vulnerable. This law set the pattern of public relief under governmentresponsibility in Great Britain for the next 300 years, shaping the social workof today.Socialwork is aimed to bring about positive change in peoples lives for individuals,families and the community (Adams, 2010, pp. 4-6). It is a profession thatpromotes social change and problem solving, to empower and enhance thewell-being of service users (SU). Social work is an extremely diverseprofession that works with a diverse range of service users; therefore,requires many to work in key specialisms such as children and families, youngoffenders, learning disabilities and older people (Beckett and Horner, 2016,p.36), they must therefore ensure they have the adequate knowledge relating totheir specific area, such as dementia. Dementia is a progressive cognitivecondition resulting in it becoming increasingly difficult for an individual tomaintain their level of independence (Lymbery, 2008, p.28). Manysocial workers do not perform one single role but in fact participate in acombination of roles and may work in a variety of settings within a frameworkof relevant legislation and procedures to support individuals, families andgroups within the community. The Professional Capabilities Framework applies to all social workers in all settings (BASW,2018). It provides a shared understanding of what is expected of social workersacross the profession and at different levels. The framework consists of ninedomains which sets out how a professional social worker should practice.To be able to practice effectively, the social worker must use essential knowledge, skills and values to respond effectively to peoples needs and aspirations (Marshall, 1990). Social work assistance may be required when an individual becomes physically or mentally unable to cope with everyday independence (Adams, 2010, p.156). Their aim is to provide practical and emotional support and to identify services that the SU and their family may require, maximising their quality of life and identifying possible safeguarding issues. It is a social workers duty to protect vulnerable individuals from risk, abuse and neglect.In2014, the Care Act was introduced, which condensed many existing laws regardingsafeguarding adults. This gives professionals a statutory responsibility to protectadults to have the right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect(Skillsforcare, 2014).Communicationplays a vital role in effective social work practice both with the SU, familyand other social workers/professionals. It is important that social workershave the capacity to adapt their communication skills to different contexts, asit is central when assessing, planning and coordinating a case (Adams, 2010,pp. 141-146). Communication skills include verbal, non-verbal and writtenaspects. When working with individuals with dementia, it is important torecognise non-verbal communication, as the SU may be unable to expressthemselves verbally. Such situations should be approached in a sensitive manoras the SU may be aware of their increasing vulnerability; therefore, a level ofrespect and empathy should be used, this may also help aid the forming of trustbetween services and the individual.Effectivecommunication skills will also be useful when applying basic aspects ofcounselling. Although a social worker is not a qualified counsellor, it will beinevitable when providing emotional support for individuals, as they are likelyto be experiencing high levels of stress at the point that they require socialwork assistance (Adams, 2010, p. 156). Although, it is important to recognisethe limits of ones knowledge and professional role within such aspects. Asa social worker, it may be required that they need to act as an advocate forthe SU to represent them by ensuring their voice is heard to share their views,perceptions or wishes. Empowermenthas become a significant concept in social work practice. It involves givingthe SU choice and control in their lives (Maclean and Harrison, 2015, p.33). Itsorigins lie in seeking to connect the personal problems in peoples lives,including personal issues, to wider social and political issues whilstaddressing inequalities. Empowering individuals can be carried out by promotingindependence where possible, this will promote self-esteem and generalwellbeing of the SU using a holistic person-centred approach (Maclean andHarrison, 2015, pp. 33-36). Socialwork theories are general explanations that are supported by evidence obtainedthrough the scientific method. Having the knowledge of a range of theories mayhelp to understand why a person may be behaving in a particular way. Using theoriescan help to explain practice to the SU/families and can specifically relate totheir current situation (Maclean and Harrison, 2015, pp. 9-11). For example,Eric Eriksons (1950, cited in Maclean and Harrison, 2015, p. 97) developmentaltheory argued that there are eight stages in human development. Stage eight(integrity vs despair) specifically focused on older adults, stating that atthis stage they may reflect on past life and feel a sense of satisfaction ordisappointment, which may affect the emotional/psychological being in laterlife. This is particularly useful to consider when working with older adults ata specific stage in their life to understand how they may being feeling.Theway in which these roles are carried out can involve direct work, in which asocial worker uses their interactions with the SU as a means of facilitating positivechange by acting as an advisor, mediator, educator and catalyst. Another way inwhich it can be carried out is by taking an executive role, which draws onexternal resources therefore acting as a gatekeeper, care manager,responsibility holder, control agent, co-ordinator and service developer(Beckett and Horner, 2016, p.20).Theroot of the profession is underpinned by core professional values which relateto human, legal and civil rights of the SU, the equality, dignity and worth ofthe individual to protect from discrimination and prejudice whilst maintainingperson autonomy, independence and freedom of choice (CommunityCare, 2010). Theytherefore must be sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to enddiscrimination, oppression and other forms of social injustice such as Ageism. ThePCS Model, defined by Professor NeilThompson (2005) refers to the need to recognise discrimination and thefocus of anti-discriminatory practice. It is presented at three separate, butinterrelated levels known as personal, structural and cultural which linkspersonal experience, beliefs and attitudes with the wider social group. Itrecognises that discrimination is not just an individual issue, but is alsopresent within cultural and social structures and networks. This attempts toexplain how and why discrimination occurs and therefore leads to internalisedoppression (Coventry, No date).Socialworkers that specialise in working with dementia, must first acknowledge howdevastating it can be for both the SU and their family. Usually when a referralis received, it will be at a point when the SU and their family are near totheir limits of coping (Dobrof, 1986, p. 56). It is therefore important toconsider both SU and their family/carers when assessing, to ensure all needsand circumstances are identified, evaluated and responded to adequately(Davies, 2012, p.278). Assessment under the Mental Capacity Act (2005, cited inWalker and Crawford, 2014, p. 160) is essential for the SU, as it is importantnot to deny them their right to make unsupported decisions, even when theliberty of the individual is at stake. The SU should be at the heart ofdecision making (McDonald, 2010, p.137). Socialwork with older people takes place in various settings; such as, shelteredhousing, residential homes, nursing homes, day services and domiciliary care(Adams, 2010, p.154). The SU and their carers should receive person-centredcare and services which respect them as individuals and which are arrangedaround their needs (DoH, 2001). Althoughthe SU is at the centre of the social work intervention, it is legal policy toconsider the carers needs within the process. The Care Act (2014) sets outthese obligations to consider a carers assessment to highlight caringcapabilities and any support they may need including emotional, practical andfinancial.Theprocess of intervention should identify the most appropriate ways of achievingthe objectives set out in the assessment of need, for both SU and carers(McDonald, 2010, p. 72). It is likely that as a result of an assessment, a careplan will be considered to identify service providers, relevant resources andpositive outcomes. Thereis a vast amount of interventions available for both SU and Carer/family, they may include a variety of group activities or day servicesrun by charitable organizations such as Outreach UK (OutreachUK, 2017) orAlzheimers Society (AlzheimersSocietyUK, 2017). Day centres providequality time for the person with dementia and invaluable respite breaks for theircarers (SkillsForCare, 2012). There aremany support services available to enable the SU and their carer to keepsocially included by attending events such as a Dementia Café, this gives theopportunity to meet new people and speak freely to others in a similarsituation (BPS, 2014). All the above examples enable the SU to maintain a senseof independence, improve physical functioning, increase confidence and continueto participate in society (Kerr, et al. (2005). Sometimes changes to the socialor physical environment can be effective at improving well-being and reducingunwanted behaviors. The main focus for the SU is to allow them to stay athome for as long as possible, but when the needs of the SU and family/carerbecomes too great, the social worker will assist to get the SU home help in theform of domiciliary care, to help aid their independence (Berkham, 2006,p.123). As a persons dementia progresses, they will need more support andcare, and there may come a time where full-time residential or nursing care isneeded. Care homes give people with dementia the chance to live in a homeenvironment with trained staff on hand to look after them day and night. Acare home can offer similar kinds of care to what family members/carers provideat home, such as help with washing, dressing and providing meals (NHS, 2015).Working in collaboration is essential practice in socialwork to allow individuals to be offered the range of support they require(SCIE, 2010). The Health Act (1999) introduced new partnershipflexibilities to enable health authorities and councils to improve services ofhealth and social care. Its aim was to bring together the public, private,voluntary and community sectors, service users and their families in effectivepartnership. Multi-disciplinary/agencyteams play a vital role in ensuring that all aspects of the SUs needs areconsidered, so that effective advice, skills and interventions can be given. Itaims to bring together professional agencies, SU, Carers and service providersto work together to promote better quality of care to achieve the same outcome.The demographic shift as older people live longer meansthere is an increasing demand for services; therefore, collaboration can helpaddress financial strains; as social work has moved beyond the lone socialservices departments and has now incorporated a range of charitable/voluntaryorganizations to aid support for SU and their families/carer (CommunityCare,2009).Therecan be major implications for individuals who require interventions, asservices arranged by a Local Authority is not always free. People with dementiaare currently spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on their care, as localauthorities are increasingly unable to provide people with the support theyneed because of the lack of money in the system (AlzheimersSociety,2017). TheCare and Support Commission, led by Andrew Dilnot, published its report (GovUK,2013) in July 2011, its recommendations included the introduction of a cap onsocial care costs and a more generous means-test to protect people fromextreme care costs. On 17 July 2015, the Government announced a four-yeardelay on the introduction of the cap, as the proposals to cap care costs wereestimated to cost the public sector £6 billion over the next 5 years;therefore, the government decided it was not the right time to impose thesecosts (Jarrett, 2015). Therefore, there remains an uncertainty towards thefinance of social care in the future. Toconclude, social work aims to empower, safeguard and provide services to help promotesomeones wellbeing. Social work is continually evolving with changes tosociety, laws and policies. Social work requires an individual to bewell-informed, confident and competent in practice whilst having a strongethical and value base.Word Count: 2197ReferencesAdams, R. 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Available at: http://www.scie.org.uk (Accessed 12 January 2018)SkillsForCare (2012) Supporting dementia workers Dementia: workers and carers together. Available at:http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-library/Skills/Dementia/Dandctog-final-versionndd.pdf (Accessed: 11 December 2018)Skillsforcare (2014) The Care Act 2014. Available at: http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Standards-legislation/Care-Act/Care-Act.aspx (Accessed: 18 January 2018)Walker, J. and Crawford, K. (2014) Social Work and Human Development. 4th Edn. London: Sage Publications LtdZastrow, C. (2009) Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People. 10th Edn. USA: Cengage LearningGet Help With Your AssignmentIf you need assistance with writing your assignment, our professional assignment writing service is here to help!Find out more
