HSSW510-Social Work Intervention Models and Skills

Developing and refining your personal Practice Framework HSSW 410/510 This Powerpoint covers … • What do we understand when we talk about practice frameworks? • How is it used? • When is it used? • How do we develop it over time? A practice dictum How we perceive and understand things has a large bearing on what we decide to do about them This makes our past experiences, values, beliefs, assumptions, relationships and our core self (biological features, personality, culture, behaviour and insights) fundamental to our social work practice Academic integrity • QUT Policy on academic integrity can be found: http :// www.mopp.qut.edu.au/C/C_05_03.jsp • Cheating is not acceptable (copying other’s work) • We want you to do your own work and acknowledge when you have used other’s work • We also want you to collaboratively work with your colleagues • Cultural perspectives on learning • Penalties are applied 4 “a practice framework is based on a combination of knowledge, values and skills that provide a foundation for practice” (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2005, p. 201). Why are Practice Frameworks Important? • Complex work needs a work plan • Everyone has a notion of human services work and how to do it - Professional Vs Personal • Each practitioner has a unique style influenced by their personality, past, attitudes, values & beliefs – ‘use of self ’ - aim to lessen negative impact of personal • Practice approaches involve theories developed from personal experience Knowledge Acquisition • Drury Hudson (1997) – Practice Framework is our ‘ Professional Knowledge ’ consisting of: • Empirical knowledge • Procedural knowledge • Practice wisdom • Personal knowledge • Theoretical knowledge (this unit deals with a variety of theories) • All knowledge has discursive aspects • Therefore, be a critical thinker • Look for the theory’s underpinning ideologies, beliefs, values, assumptions • Remember Art & Science, Head & Heart Hudson (1997, p.37) “However, regardless of whether theories are based on research or common sense, or are used explicitly or implicitly, all people operate on the basis of theory. The choice for the practitioner, therefore, is not whether or not to have a theory, as this is inevitable, but which theory to hold.” Role of a Practice Framework • Incorporate relevant professional knowledge into practice -avoid blindspots • Link relevant knowledge, personal knowledge, attributes & values into a unified yet dynamic whole • Permit flexible interventions • Provide a consistency of response • Help identify available options What is a Practice Framework • A map or a plan for practice or action • A conceptual framework - a blueprint • Hudson - Prof Knowledge is personal, professional, procedural & empirical knowledge and practice wisdom • Practice Framework consists of: – knowledge drawn from orientating theories – skills – personal values, attributes & experiences – professional frameworks of practice Constituent Parts of Professional Practice Frameworks • Orientating theories eg . psychology, anthropology, economics - major bodies of knowledge • Skills - eg assessment, referral, closure • Personal aspects - Use of self • Professional Frameworks: – Practice perspectives – Practice (or Action) Theories – Practice Models Darracott’s 2015 Doctoral Thesis • Based on her study of over 400 professionals working in the human services • Examined their evaluations of the factors influencing the ways in which they practised • Identified 8 key domains of influence from the macro to the micro • These influences were fluid and dynamic • Enables examination of what might be at play in your own Practice Framework The Domains that influence our practice as found by Darracott in her Phd research The Practice Domain Framework (Darracott, 2015) The Domains of Practice • Societal: the values, ideologies, histories and cultures within a society • Structural: the discourses, policies, practices of the major institutions within a society • Organisational: the culture, climate and discourses used to determine the ways in which practitioners must operate • Practice field: the discourses that function to determine how social problems and issues are understood, and how programs and services ought to respond to them The Domains of Practice • Professional practice: the dominant and other narratives that shape a specific discipline’s knowledge, values and practices • Accountable practice: discourses that drive what ought to be done e.g. risk, law, authority • Community of practice: the local community beliefs, values, cultures and connections • Personal: one’s own history, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, gender, class, ideologies, personality, values and beliefs How is it used? • Practitioners use each of the Domains in making decisions about how to practise. • These decisions vary according to the situation and context of practice • Dealing with complexity and inter -related, dynamic factors How do we develop it? • Read widely • Practise various approaches and models • Reflect on what fits in which particular circumstances • Examine reflexively how our personal characteristics and approaches affect processes and outcomes • Undertake supervision and regular training to keep ourselves up to date What do practitioners need to know? • Human development (life course; identity, culture) • Social institutions & processes (class & other divisions; power; ideology; law & order; social institutions) • Interactional dynamics (communication; power; context): – interpersonal – group – organisational • Intervention processes (assessment; intervention; review; termination; evaluation) What do practitioners need to know (cont.) • Theoretical paradigms (psychodynamics; psychosocial casework; humanistic psychology; behavioural theory; systems theory; radical social work; emancipatory practice) • Methods of intervention (at the individual, family, group & community) • Ethics and Values The confusing array of terms: • Ideologies • Paradigms • Approaches • Frameworks • Perspectives • Theories • Models In this unit we do not put a special emphasis upon the semantics of difference regarding these terms. An Overview Theories for Human Service Practice | --------------------- + -------------------- | | Orienting Professional Practice Theories Frameworks | Practice ------------------------------ + ----- Action Theories & perspectives Models | Practice -------- + -------- Practice Theories Models Summary • Role of Practice Frameworks - professional & personal - relevant factors linked into a unified yet dynamic whole • Nature of a Practice Framework - a conceptual plan or map that guides the way we understand and work • Importance of use of self & ideological influences • Broad array of influencing factors that vary depending on the practice situation and context Professional Practice • Involves assessing complex situations & wisely applying relevant practice frameworks • Knowledge of use of self required - Reflective practice • Only a beginning knowledge • Read prolifically for deeper understanding • Critically assess & apply