Reflective Practice And Risk Analysis Social Work Essay

Reflective Practice And Risk Analysis Social Work EssayThe objective of this essay is to full of invigorationly evaluate the following story with case to personal normal experience when assessing and managing encounter. As my practice experience was establish in a Children and Families Area team up, this essay will therefore explore the statement from this berth.A good bump decision requires both good risk of infection assessment and good risk wariness. (Carson Bain, 2008, p.156)This essay will, initi in ally, explore and demonstrate a critical understanding of the key concepts of risk assessment and risk management. It will then provide an analysis of the political, cultural and social contexts that shape practice in notification to risk management. Following this, a critical appreciation of the concept of risk decision making will be considered. Finally a reflective word of a case study drawn from my practice will be evaluated in relation to risk. This reflective disc ussion will be set in spite of appearance a theoretical framework of upbraiding.In order to critically understand the concept of risk assessment, the question of what risk is ought to be defined. According to Alaszewski Manthorpe (1991) risk whitethorn be defined as the probability that a course of action will not achieve the desired result but instead or so unacceptable circumstance or event would prevail. McCarthy et al (2004) furthers this vizor as they besides suggest that the term risk implies the possibility of undesirable or proscribe outcomes. gainto a greater extent, McCarthy also indicates that within the concept of risk it is also implied that these outcomes push aside be avoided. (McCarthy et al, 2004).It is additionally pointed out that risk has both an objective and subjective dimension. For example, when viewing risk objectively it is possible to unwrap that both surroundings or environment will be hazardous and associated with danger. Defining risk from a subjective perspective means that the possibility of danger or an unacceptable event taking place will vary from individual to individual as nearly as social groups. (Aleszewski Manthorpe, 1991). Nevertheless, Houston and Griffiths (2000) question the validity of the objectivist paradigm that they identify as the basis of risk assessment and point to its failure to provide valid and reliable measures of risk. (Houston Griffiths, p.1) They postulate for a egg on toward a subjectivist paradigm, and a return to the concept of relationship as the rationale of social work intervention.On the other hand, there washbasin be value in taking risks. Indeed, risk taking elicit be seen to have beneficial as well as harmful outcomes to the life of an individual. (Titterton, 2005 Carson Bain, 2008). As Titterton points outRisk taking is a course of purposeful action based on informed decisions concerning the possibility of positive and damaging outcomesand levels of risk appropriate in c ertain situations.(Titterton, 2005, p.25)Consequently, the concept of risk assessment is a core activity within social work and further to this minimising risk has perish a central element. Indeed, Calder (2002) describes risk assessment as a systematic collection of information in order to identify if risks ar involved and identify the likelihood of their future occurrence. It is further suggested that risk assessment should be understood as collecting information and assessing any information gained regarding risk elements. These two elements, which are central to risk assessment, are consequences (or outcomes) and likelihood (also known as chance or exposure). (Carson Bain, 2008).As most of the situations social workers deal with contain considerable dubiousness about the meaning of events, the reasons for referrals, the accuracy of assessment, and the consequences of taking one course of action instead of another, it is reasonable to assume that assessment of risk is not an exact science. Further to this, the possible outcomes or consequences could be infinite and consequently impossible to predict with absolute certainty. Therefore, the element of uncertainty must(prenominal) be acknow takeged as a core feature of professed(prenominal) understanding. Certainly, it is suggested that when considering the possible outcomes (including beneficial outcomes), a risk assessment should only require that reasonably predicted outcomes are met and that a lawful, moral and headmaster objectivity is upheld at all times. (Titterton, 2005 Carson Bain, 2008 Macdonald Macdonald, 2010). As Webb (2006) points out social workers havean ethical disposition to do the best for clients and insofar as they have the resources to do so(Webb, 2006, p. 203)Within risk assessment literature, Titterton (2005) also argues that the emphasis remains on assessing for the risk of harmful or adverse outcomes but how this is completed can depend on which assessment framework is use d. For example, within Criminal Justice Teams a more actuarial assessment is utilised. An actuarial assessment is based on statistical calculations of risk and, for example, uses scales to assess recidivism. Within a Children and Families Area Team the assessment framework used could be described as a holistic and inclusive assessment which is tike-centred and addresses three domains developmental needs, parental capacity and environmental factors. The GIRFEC practice model therefore aims for early identification of risk in all three domains as well as analysis of evidence, decision-making and planning. ( sparing Government 2008) Furthermore, it allows the practioner to utilise a developmental-ecological approach which is grounded in theories of pincer development and emphasises interaction between child and environment as well as taking a resilience approach which weights strengths as well as vulnerabilities. (Local Authority Risk Assessment raising Handout, 2009).However, what all risk assessment tools have in common is that all information gathered is analysed to allow an understanding to be developed which then allows a professional judgement to be formed. Further to this risk assessment should draw off into account risk factors and protective factors that can anticipate and justify strategies of risk ginmill as well as risk management. (Kemshall, 2003 Parton 2006). This should enable the social worker to utilise all appropriate interventions and/or decisions. Analysis of information, therefore, is an authoritative factor when considering outcomes, likelihood and suitable action and accordingly, social workers require a good grasp of probability and statistical reason to interpret research and assessment information, organise their idea and be able to draw sound provisional conclusions which are open to change in the light of youthful information. (Helm, 2009 Macdonald Macdonald, 2010).Risk management, in its simplest sense, describes the developme nt of strategies to restrict the severity and frequency of identified risks and adverse outcomes. This involves discovering and controlling the dimensions of a proposed risk into a plan which involves implementing, monitoring, controlling and reviewing the risk decision. Further to this, at an ecesisal level, risk management requires a service that is adequately staffed with personnel who are fully trained and sufficiently familiarityable and skilled in identifying problems or opportunities and to make appropriate interventions. (Vincent, 1995 Kapur, 2000 Carson Bain, 2008). The Scottish Government (2008) further suggests that risk management should be understood as risk reduction and that collectively professionals should have confidence, through defensible decision making, that measures implemented will reduce risk sufficiently.Taking these definitions into account, risk management suggest ways in which a decision whitethorn best be target into practice. What also should be i ncluded within a risk management strategy is the embracing of opportunities which could arise from any potential risk decisions. Another point which is important is that in order to make and manage a risk decision the quantity and quality of knowledge available to the social worker should suitable the requirements needed to make a sound decision. Accordingly, before making a decision, consideration should be given to what is already known and its worth as well as reflection and contemplation of what is not known and any implications arising from this. Included in this should also be the consideration of any opportunities which may arise which may have the prospect of potential benefits. (Carson Bain, 2008).Littlechild Blakeney (1996) further suggest that the management of risk should be adaptable. This refers to the notion that families and their lives do not stay stable and changes can take place in their ability to cope therefore the risks can change too. Monitoring, for these reasons are important as is communication with the family and other agencies who are involved. Littlechild Blakeney go on to state that this is where the professional expertise of the social worker should be directioned and not in an ineffective attempt to anticipate every potential risk. Consequently, the principles for risk management should be the need to ensure that the ongoing shared plan manages the risk, records decisions that shows how and why decisions were reached and ensures that decisions made have actions with named persons, clear timescales and review dates and also ensure that any agreed timescales may be reduced if new risks/needs become more apparent.Beck (1992) suggests we are living in a risk society in which he believes that late modernity, as a reflexive social order, manufactures new risks and uncertainties. Furedi (1997) also determines that we live in a populace obsessed with risk and that gum elastic has become the fundamental value of our times. (Furedi, 1997, p.1).Furedi (1997) further suggests that the risk aversion culture we live in today is based on the way that risk and its negative effects are represented in the media and by politicians. Barry (2007) extends this claim by arguing that child protection work has become more reactive since the shoemakers last of Maria Coldwell in 1973 which has resulted in a preoccupation with culpability, blame and retribution. This, has allowed social work practice to becomevery defensive, overly proceduralised and narrowly concerned with assessing, managing and insuring against risk.(Parton OByrne, 2000, p.1) ballpark (2007) upholds this notion by suggesting that governments, and the excessive number of regulatory agencies, are anxious to control the identification and deployment of risks, in particular within the context of high-profile media stories such as reports of child abuse cases and deaths of children previously known to social work departments.In retrospect, this socially accepta ble requirement to minimise risk if not avoid taking risks altogether, has led to a social work profession that has become increasingly risk averse. (Scottish Executive, 2006). This approach to risk assessment and risk management has led to the introduction of more and more formal procedures to guide practice which could be argued is denying the freedom of the social worker to work in an empowering capacity. Working in an empowering capacity allows the professional practioner to focus on prevention and more centrally tackle issues of poverty and social inequality. What is also needed is a culture which is open for professional practioners to enable them to vowelise concerns and being able to discuss errors and therefore learn from mistakes. (Stalker, 2003 Barry, 2006 Ritchie Woodward, 2009). However, the Changing Lives Report (2006) has signified that one of the key areas identified was the need to develop a new organisational culture and approach to risk management and risk asses sment which would promote excellence.Within risk decision making Macdonald Macdonald (2010) argue that a focus on high-profile cases of low-probability events distorts decision making and this makes for a larger number of children taken into care after such cases. They advocate that decisions about childrens lives should be based on professional judgement rather than media vilification and political pressure.When social workers make a professional judgement within risk decision making, the starting point must be the collection of information through professional observations and enquiries as well as from past information and information held by other professionals. It is that judgement that is carried transport into the decision making field. (Hollows 2003). However, the expression error of judgment is offered as an explanation for most of the high-profile child cases as well as in other professional activities. It is for this reason that judgement making should be viewed as a ser ious task.Hammond (1996) advocates that there are different kinds of judgements, made under different conditions. These different conditions are the time available, the kind of knowledge available and the judgement task itself. Hammond went on to develop a cognitive continuum of judgement making. This recognises that there are different approaches to judgement making. Examples of these are on the spot processing of information and knowledge, known as intuition peer-aided judgements where two or more people will share their knowledge and discuss outcomes and likelihoods. Finally, there are system-aided judgements that are supervisor or manager aided. Accordingly, application of the Cognitive Continuum allows the practioner to utilise the highest knowledge available and further enables the practioner to ensure that the acknowledge goals of efficacy, accuracy and consistency can be promoted. (Hollows, 2003 Carson Bain 2008).However, risk decision making is also subject to personal va lues and subjective perceptions of risk and dilemmas which continue to quarrel social workers. Low-probability events such as child abuse or extreme violence can make prediction difficult. In these circumstances social workers can be challenged by risks that are high profile but typically infrequent and therefore, have a tendency to either overestimate risks because of anxiety or to underestimate risks which they are unaccustomed to. (Kemshall, 2002). From this perspective it is crucial that reflection, continuous review and the opportunity for regular supervision is supported particularly when research by Janus Mann (1977) prepare that stress generated a limited capacity to make a judgement as well as, and more crucially, an inability to make a decision.BL was referred to the Children and Families Area Team by his school. This was after a meeting with his primary carers regarding BLs increasingly emotional and angry outbursts and lack of attendance at school. The referral was ma de with agreement from his primary carers. BL is 12 days old and lives with his maternal grand induce, step-grandfather and his maternal aunt and has done since he was 18 months old. His step-grandfather is paraplegic as a result of an accident when BL was 3 years old. BLs maternal aunt has Prader-Willi Syndrome, she is 40 years old. BL has to share a bedroom with his aunt as the house only has two bedrooms and is privately owned. BL maintains contact with his mother and her long-term partner on a fortnightly basis and also goes on holiday with her but he has no wish to live full-time with his mother as she lives approximately 50 miles away. BL stated both to his grandmother and to me that his home is with Gran and Gramps. Mrs. L independently confirmed that BL had no wish to move to the city as did Ms. L (Bens mother). Ms. L has no other children.In order to understand Bens emotional frustration, I undertook some research on Prader-Willi Syndrome. I discovered that disordered nigh t-time sleep patterns as well as emotional outbursts of rage were part of the symptoms. Coupled with this obsessive and/or compulsive behaviour including argumentative or oppositional behaviour were also predominant. (Clarke et al 1996). I also spoke with Mrs. L at length about her other caring commitments and discovered that she also drives to England on a monthly basis to figure her father, who is 90 years old, to make sure that his financial commitments are paid as well as making sure his carers are supporting him. Contact was also made with the social worker assigned to BLs aunt whereby I was informed that his aunt was in the process of being allocated a home of her own. This would take at least three months as adaptations had to be made to the house and suitable care arrangements had to be put into place. The social worker realised that these circumstances were affecting BL and we arranged to contact each other on a weekly basis regarding supersede of information. This was ag reed with the L family.I placed my assessment and intervention practice within a developmental/ecological approach which has links with a strengths based approach. This allowed me to consider BLs protective factors as well as risk factors. BL has a secure base and has remainder bonds with his grandparents. He also had two very close friends from primary school and who continue to good friends. BL admitted that he was frustrated he had to share a bedroom. This meant no privacy in his home and he nominate it difficult to complete his homework or even relax as carers for his aunt came in at different times to get her ready for bed. This meant that he had to go to bed when his aunts carers were getting her ready for bed. BL also admitted that he felt that he sometimes had to compete for his grandparents attention. His absences from school appeared to coincide with the times his grandmother returned from her visit to England.After analysis of potential risk factors to BL such as possib le self-harm, withdrawal from his family and friends, I made a referral to the local young carers group. This would allow him to lapse time away from the family home with other young people who lived in similar circumstances as well as broaden his social network. This organisation would also be able to support him on a one-to-one and group work basis. Support was also made available to his primary carers, particularly his grandmother. Through the use of a personal diary I supported BL to talk to his grandparents about the frustration and emotional anger he felt which was comparatively successful in the short term.In conclusion, Kolbs Reflective Cycle (1984) and Hammonds Cognitive Continuum (1996) allowed me to take into consideration BLs whole situation and promote protective factors and minimise risk. With reflection and supervisory discussion I believe I used my analytical skills and utilised my professional judgement to the best of my ability. However, as has been pointed out un certainty is an important element in any risk assessment and/or decision and has to be taken into account when managing risk. Taking all these concepts regarding risk and reflective practice into consideration when I start to practice should enable me to better support service users in the future.2,995 words