Self Reflections
Throughout the sixteen weeks of placement I have experienced many new learning contexts, including family contacts, where the parents have the added complications of drug and or alcohol misuse, mental illness, poverty, lack of safe affordable housing, as well as having to adjust to the bureaucratic red tape rules and regulations that are part of a system of statutory organisations. I was surprised at how accepting these families were to have yet another ‘curious stranger’ involved in their life at what can only be described as an incredibly difficult stage. Many are already burdened by the micro meso and macro societal systems that impact upon their status and wellbeing. The added aspect of having an organisation with such oppressive connotations play such a major role in their lives, with people who have not ‘walked in their shoes’ being responsible for making important decisions about their lives and yet they are still able to allow a student in and share their narrative again . The courage and resilience of some of these families has astounded me. They can continually get knocked back by the systems that are in place, simply because they too were vulnerable and in need of protection.
For me this placement experience has cemented why I want to be a social worker, and why I feel that working in a statutory context is where my framework fits. I fully comprehend the unconditional requirement to adhere to the legislation; however I do not necessarily believe that enough supports are put in place, for the children, their families, their carers and the workers involved in their lives. For example legislation guides Child Safety Officers to find kinship care for a child when it is not possible for them to be cared for at home, in theory this is a perfect answer for a multitude of reasons, culturally appropriate, less disruptive to the child, financially more viable than foster or residential care but in practice the children are often placed with members of their family who are no more able to care for them than their own parents were. No training is offered and very little support is given, this is an area I see as lacking and although I currently cannot ‘fix’ this I can acknowledge this situation and recommend changes to appropriate personnel in a position of power.
I believe that my practice framework ‘fits’ with this setting because of my strong social justice and anti-oppression beliefs, because of the nature of the clients and the organisation, taking the ‘social worker role’ allows me to further comprehend how easily the power that child safety officers have can assist in oppressing and marginalising service users, I have acknowledged that there other workers in the department who have a different professional background and see the issues affecting these families as different from how I see them. I have had many discussions with others about my practice and how I should relate to different clients.
When engaging with service users I have tried to be professional but at the same time approachable, being capable of serious discussion and of engaging the family to have ‘fun’ with their children, on greeting each service user I have openly explained who I am and why I am suddenly a part of their lives, asking them if they will let me learn from them.
During this placement I have undertaken many tasks and as the placement has progressed I have been entrusted with more accountability, being responsible for organising contact visits, parental consent on various medical forms etc. I have assisted in a particularly emotional removal of five children, attended many meetings and participated in practice panel, family group meetings etc when they have involved clients that I have engaged with.
My practice framework has guided me along with the Australian Association of Social Workers ethical code and practice standards to find my way in this placement, when undertaking the capstone project I actively collaborated with other professionals. Again, utilising the ethical codes and practice standards to ensure that the needs and wishes of the potential target group were maintained and that all involved were heard, professionals and potential service users.
I believe that this placement has continued to develop my practice, enabling me to become more confident in my actions and communication skills, along with communicating with clients and other professionals, I assisted in organising and facilitating a community program, I was ambassador for both the university and the child safety service centre at numerous community functions and as a person I welcomed the challenges that this field education has presented me.
During the first placement I remarked that I felt like a turtle, in that there were times when I felt like retreating into my shell, and although I have made considerable progress (I think) I still felt the need to keep my shell close by, as a safe haven. During this placement I have not felt the need to retreat I have embraced every opportunity that presented itself. My shell is still here but this time for the purpose of self care.
