Professional Practice Framework

 

My practice frame work

 A practice framework combines ‘empirical research, practice theories, ethical principles  and  experiential    knowledge’ into a compact and suitable formation to assist practitioners in utilising knowledge and principles to inform their work (Connolly & Healy 2009, p. 32). Chenoweth and McAuliffe (2008) explain how frameworks guide practice and assist practitioners to make evaluations and choices about how they will operate in diverse situations.

My framework work has a person or family centred approach, the underlying aim is to assist people to achieve their full human potential, and wellbeing through positive change and the ability to make informed decisions about their livelihoods with increased access to services that they require.

Self

Central to my framework is myself, being self aware and aware of my own worldview and having the ability to reflect upon my personal and professional experiences, strengths, weaknesses, skills, values, beliefs and culture. ‘Knowing ourselves our motives and our needs makes us more likely to be of real help’, (Hawkins & Shotet 1989, cited in Chenoweth & McAuliffe 2008, p.21). According to Beddoe and Maidment (2009) ‘this process has been conceptualised as developing cultural competence’.

 

Ethical principles

 The personal values, integrity, honesty, empathy, integrated with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics 2010, the cardinal values of social work that standout as being core to my practice and individual values are the values of respect for persons.

 

Knowledge

 Previous experience and learning, of environment, practice knowledge, legislative, knowledge of the AASW Practice Standards 2003 and theoretical knowledge  The theories that my professional practice is derived from are portrayed by Payne (2005) as being mainly relevant to the reflexive - therapeutic and individual reformist social work paradigms.

•               Cognitive behavioural theory recognising thoughts that lead to undesirable behaviours, and the process for changing these thoughts and feelings to allow the client to reach their full potential (Payne 2005).

•          Task centered theory working with clients to construct small significant and achievable tasks for them to complete assists them in developing problem solving skills as well as increasing their self worth and empowering them which in turn can give them small milestones to reflect upon when doubting their own capabilities, (Healy,2005).

•           The strengths perspective draws upon the worker to recognise the client’s positive actions and assist the client in acknowledging these successes and coping mechanisms enabling them to visualise themselves as capable and worthy (Payne 2005; Howe 2009).         The Cultural Competence Perspective the understanding and support of cultural diversity, taking into account the beliefs, values, behaviours, and customs of distinctive population groups (Rengasamy n.d).

•              The theory of systems would also be representative of my framework as the framework is made up of a number of elements all linking together, and being reliant upon each other to function optimally.  Ecological systems are also necessary to understand the client’s situation, what resources are in their lives, how they function, the person in environment.         The theoretical approach of humanism. According to Howe (2009) humanistic approaches respect the client’s ability to change how they want when given the appropriate relationship conditions, warmth, empathy and genuineness.

These theoretical approaches are relevant to my developing practice because they each aim to maximise the development of human potential and the fulfillment of human needs, which is an underpinning philosophy of the commitment and aims of social work. 

 

 

 

References

Australian Association of Social Workers, 2010 Code of ethics, Canberra.

Australian Association of Social Workers, 2003 Practice standards for social workers achieving outcomes, Canberra.

Beddoe, L & Maidment, J 2009, Mapping knowledge for practice, Cenegage Learning Australia, Victoria, Australia.

Chenoweth, L & McAuliffe, D 2008, The road to human service work, 2^nd ed, Cenegage Learning Australia.

Connolly, M & Healy, K 2009, ‘Social work practice theories and frameworks’, in M Connolly, & L Harms (eds) Social work contexts and practice, 2^nd ed, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne Australia.

Healy, K 2005, Social work theories in context creating frameworks for practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Howe, D 2009, A brief introduction to social work theory, Palgrave Macmillan, Bassingstoke, Hampshire.

Payne, M 2005, Modern social work theory, 3^rd ed, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Rengasamy, S n.d The pulse of social work theories of social work, Scribd.com viewed 14^th April 2011,

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35884843/Theories-of-Social-Work-SR

 As my journey has continued to evolve so has my emerging practice framework, the description above was constructed during my third year practicum, as I have continued to learn I have been able to discover the perfect metaphor to house and articulate my framework. This metaphor is 'The Leek' as it is representative of my self awareness, my culture, and my personal beliefs. Hence the symbol of a leek scattered throught this portfolio. This is further explained in the presentation of my Framework which I have included below as a pdf file. I was asked to and presented my framework to a group of social workers as part of a CQUniversity workshop, to demonstrate how CQU students were/ are perceiving the unfolding of developing practice and how they interpret  what social workers do.   A copy of the  workshop flyer is also attached, along with my framework as a PDF file incase you have difficulty reading the following slides.