Community Social Work Teaching Resource Powerpoint Slides

1. Community Social WorkTeaching ResourcePowerpoint Slides Martin O’NeillJanuary 05

2. Community Social Work Teaching ResourcePowerpoint Slides • Session 1 Group Work Question Which community do you come from? • Session 2 What is Community? Definitions • Session 3 Context Informing Practice • Session 4 Policy Context

3. Session 5 The Social Determinants of Health Session 6 What is Community Social Work? Session 7 What skills are required for Community Social Work? Session 8 Values, Skills Session 9 Benefits and Limitations

4. Session 10 The Role of the Community/Voluntary Sector Session 11 Stages in the Community Social Work Process Session 12 Current issues Macro Micro Session 13 (Group Exercise) Case Studies

5. Session One

6. Question. How can social workers avoid becoming a bureaucrat or a glorified administrator? Community Social Work approaches can help!

7. Questions 1. Which community do you come from? 2. What is community social work? 3. From your experience or knowledge can you identify any examples of community social work?

8. Session Two What is Community? Definitions

9. Community The term ‘community’ describes the nature of a particular series of connections between individuals which bind them together into a coherent group. The coherency of the group will depend on the number and strength of these connections between individuals.

10. Some of the connections which bind people together into a community are in two themes:- • For sociologists, a common geographical area, or a common interest, ethnic origin, disability etc

11. CommonPurpose Consistency of interaction/contact Common/shared values, beliefs, outlook Common perception of experience Interactive networks of relationships

12. Communities are not automatically:- Supportive Welcoming Empathetic Positive Empowering Caring Forgiving Enabling

13. Community Development Definition “Community development is directed in particular at people who feel excluded from society. It consists of a set of methods which can broaden vision and capacity for social change, and approaches, including consultation, advocacy and relationships with local groups. It is a way of working which is informed by certain principles which seek to encourage communities – people who live in the same areas or who have something else in common– to tackle for themselves the problems which they face and identify to be important, and which aim to empower them to change things by developing their own skills, knowledge and experience and also by working in partnership with other groups and with statutory agencies. The way in which such change is achieved is vital and so both the task and the process is important.” Monitoring and Evaluating of Community Development in Northern Ireland, Voluntary Activity Unit, DHSS 1996

14. Community Social Work Definition “By community social work we mean formal social work which, starting from problems affecting individuals or groups and the responsibilities and resources of social work departments and voluntary organisations, seeks to tap into, support, enable and underpin the local networks of formal and informal relationships which constitutes a basic definition of community (Barclay, 1982) “Community social work is about encouraging people to discover their resources and possibilities in order to work for positive change in their community….. People have the right to participate in the decisions affecting them but they grow through taking responsibility for their own success or failure”. “Community is founded on a sense of belonging and worth… People are diminished if they are excluded from decision making. They are enhanced by recognition and responsibility. The means and ends of community social work are not merely to provide people with services or resources, but to make possible the process of discovering and learning together by which communal life is created”. Amended from Wendy Godfrey (1985)

15. Session Three Context Informing Social Work Practice

16. Context Informing Practice Before starting a comparison it is important to be clear about the context. A key date sheet for Social Work History in Britain provides a short overview of the history of social work and community development issues, which inform practice.

17. 4. Macro Context • A key date sheet for Social Work history in Britain provides a short overview of the history of social work and community development issues. • Paternalism/Populism • 1800–1850 - Victorian Self Help, Laissez-faire doctrine, Poor Law and Workhouses. • 1869 - Charities Organisation Society 1869 led to the setting up of Almoners, as the first social workers. • 1893 - Settlement movement • 1893 - middle class involvement in social work and community work.

18. 1915 - Glasgow rent strike, working class action. Church of England, 1900, reforms end evangelical trend in the Church. • 1918 - Suffragettes, led to votes for women 1918. • 1914 - 1918 First World War – “a land for heroes” • 1930s - The Great Depression • 1939 -1945 - Second World War • 1945 - Labour win a landslide victory, a new consensus and welfare state established 1948

19. Crisis Management 1950s Expanding economy, Local councils of Social Services established Community Centres and community workers established in new and expanding council estates 1960s Poverty rediscovered 1968 Gulbenkian Report promoted Community Work 1968 Seebohm Report led to reorganisation of Social Services Departments, Community Social Workers recognised and supported

20. Technocractic Management • 1968 Riots, Vietnam protests, CND, • Civil Rights Movements, • Northern Ireland Conflict • Urban Programme • established, 4,000 projects • supported, The rise of radical • social work. • Community Development • Projects broke with • pluralist concerns, criticised • capitalism as the source of • poverty, Home Office withdrew • funding • Thatcher Government elected, • Welfare State criticised and • “dismantled”

21. Managerialism/Social Development • 1982 Barclay Report • supported community • social work, just as the tide • turned against this idea • Griffiths Report on Community Care promoted • better support for carers and a self help ideology. • 1990s Contract culture promoted in H&SS, renewed interest in community development approaches • 2000 Community social work and rhetoric assimilated by management and Community Development “mainstreamed”

22. Session Four Policy Context

23. Policy Context • The Review of Public Administration in N Ireland 2003 • - integration • - local government • 2. Investing for Health 2002 – Partnerships in Health • A N.Ireland Anti-Poverty Strategy to replace TSN? • Equality Agenda and Section 75 • N.I. Act

24. HPSS Regional Strategy to 2005 – 2025 A new DHSS 20 year strategy published December (04) • SHSSB Community Development Strategy 2000 – CD Teams in SHSSB. All Trusts in SHSSB have CD policies. Other Boards and Trusts have a range of interest in community development. • Current HPSS Funding cuts and efficiency savings. EU funding cuts. • Voluntary and Community Sector squeezed in the middle. • 8. Equality schemes, Human Rights and Policy Impact

25. Government Policy The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to promoting a community development approach which is linked to community social work. The broad goals include, amongst others:- · tackling social exclusion; · promoting the principles of social justice in all policies and strategies for health and wellbeing; · tackling inequalities in health and wellbeing and their root causes; · creating healthy environments; · partnership with the voluntary and community sector; · promoting volunteering.

26. Session Five The Social Determinants of Health

27. The Social Determinants of Health The Social Gradient WHO (04) • Those further down the social ladder experience more disease and shorter lives than those near the top. • Poor social and economic circumstances affect health and social wellbeing throughout life. • Stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, social isolation have a negative effect on health and social wellbeing. • The foundations of health are laid in early childhood. • Poverty and social exclusion also results from racism and sectarianism, discrimination and exclusion.

28. If Inequalities in Social Wellbeing are to be Reduced it Will be Essential to:- • Have policies to achieve general health improvement and have a greater impact on the less well off. That is those in those in terms of socioeconomic status, gender or ethnicity, less well off in terms of health or its principal determinants such as income, education, employment or the material environment. • A well intentioned policy which improves average health and social wellbeing may have no effect on inequalities. It may even widen them by having a greater effect on the better off, eg immunisation, cervical screening, smoking taken up by the middle classes. • The mortality rate between (professional class I) and (unskilled class 5) which is nearly twice as high for class 5.

29. This increases the risk of mental illness, disability, addiction and social isolation. Social support is very important to good health as people feel cared for, loved, esteemed and valued. This has a powerful protective effect on health and wellbeing. High levels of mutual support protect health while low levels have a corrosive effect.

30. Session Six What is Community Social Work?

31. What Is Community Social Work? • it fights poverty and social exclusion • it aims to include service users as full and active citizens • it challenges discrimination by race, disability, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation • it is about people working together for service user led, democratic action

32. it promotes participation in decision making and gives people more power • it works to prevent problems • it encourages people to learn skills and knowledge and develop self esteem and confidence through taking action • it supports joint work between HPSS agencies, citizens. • action can range from individual self help to lobbying and campaigning.

33. Within Health and Social Services the Purpose of Community Social Workis to Assist People to:- • obtain better access to information on health and social issues. • identify and articulate their own health and social needs and agenda for action. • negotiate and lobby for health and social improvements .

34. strengthen personal and community networks and relationships, providing mutual assistance. • enhance community spirit by increasing people’s feelings of self esteem, identity and belonging. • increase confidence and personal skills. • Assist people to make an impact on policies affecting their health and social well-being.

35. The Community Social Work Process can be applied to many different settings. • Relevant to a health and social setting where a broad and holistic definition of health and wellbeing is applied • It can operate at the following levels:- • Within communities, developing individuals, groups and community organisations. • In the management, operation and service delivery of statutory and voluntary organisations. • In partnership between service users and organisations such as health and local authorities, and local communities particularly in the planning and delivery of services.

36. Group WorkIdentify the skills required for community social workers Session Seven

37. Question • Can you identify what skills are required for Community Social Workers? • How would you apply these skills?

38. Values and Skills Session Eight

39. Community Social WorkValues and Principles Respect, regardless of gender, age, belief, race, class, sexual orientation, disability. Accept him/her as a person/uniqueness To uphold his/her rights to self determination. Non-judgemental attitude. Anti-racist, anti discriminatory and anti-sectarian commitment. Anti-oppressive practice. Respect for the individual/group

40. Confidentiality – limitations. Recognition and commitment to tackling inequalities in health and social wellbeing. Commitment to collective action. Tackle social exclusion Empowerment Participation Can you see any problems with the above?

41. Skills Needed by Community Social Workers Many of the ideas and methods in community social work will not be new. However the conventional ways of working, focused on the client list and on the individual and emphasising professional control of health and social services knowledge, are all challenged by community social work methods One list of skills and knowledge for community social workers is given on the following page. Some of these skills will be needed by community social workers.

42. Skills Needed • research • information skills • analytical skills • interpersonal skills • motivational skills • group work skills

43. knowledge of organisational theory and practice • financial skills • knowledge of how Government Departments operate • management skills • lobbying skills • knowledge of relevant legislation • knowledge and skills in working with the voluntary and community sector

44. Benefits and Limitations Session Nine

45. Benefits/Limitations of Community Social Work Community social work approaches involve lots of commitment; many difficulties may have to be overcome. One study of the use of community approaches in practice found a wide range of benefits and issues identified by Social Workers. • The benefits included: • more satisfying work; • more appropriate service user engagement with services and hence more effective use; • more realistic expectations of services • staff felt that they had a greater knowledge of the resources to offer patients; • a feeling of being able to share problems with other agencies. • Limits • Bureaucracy • Managerialism • Experts, some social workers view themselves as experts and are unwilling to share power

46. The role of the Voluntary/Community Sector SessionTen

47. The Role of Voluntary/Community Sector • Voluntary Organisations provide vital services which would not otherwise be provided by the state. • Make a unique contribution to health and social wellbeing. • Promote social welfare in targeting health and social need to socially excluded individuals, groups and communities. Eg, a C.A.B: 66% of users had no educational qualifications and almost half were on low income. • Value base derived from user involvement and participation. • Voluntary led services promote social and emotional wellbeing which may well mitigate the need for referrals to statutory agencies. • Working in partnership between voluntary/community organisations and Health and Social Services is vitally important.

48. Stages in the Community Social Work Process SessionEleven

49. Stages in the Community Social Work Process • Entry: getting to know the person or group you are working with • Build up contacts and trust and clarify your role • Identify formal or informal networks and structures • Work with the person or group to help them identify main concerns/ problems/areas of common interest • Help them identify what needs to change • Collectivise involvement, participation and commitment within the persons network or community or group • Clarify openings and resistances to change • Help the person or group develop tactics and plans to bring about change, by building an opening and tackling or by-passing resistance • Take action as appropriate • Evaluate • Continue the process

50. Current issuesMacroMicro Session Twelve