MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK
HLTH510: This assessment is linked to learning outcomes 1-4:
1. critically analyse the theoretical, legal, ethical and policy frameworks for mental health practice including evidence-based interventions;
2. demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to undertake a mental health assessment and employ common mental health assessment tools within a recovery framework;
3. plan and execute collaborative mental health care that supports the rights of people and their carers to access and participate in their treatment and recovery across the lifespan in a variety of health and community settings;
4. critically appraise theory and evidence-based practice to demonstrate understanding of the impact of mental health and mental illness and the psychosocial dimensions of the illness experience, and the effects on the family and significant others.
Instructions
· Post a comment and at least 2 replies to comments made by other students in relation to Module 1.
What do I have to do to achieve full marks?
Communication is a 2-way process so simply posting a comment in each of the learning module forums is not enough to qualify for maximum participation marks..
The minimum students need to do to achieve full marks is:
1. Complete your first forum activity (including 1 comment/post by you and 2 replies posted by other students in relation to Module 1) by the assessment due date
2. Follow this process with any Module that requests it across the course.
3. At the end of Trimester you will be asked to submit a statement of participation (see below) for final marking.
Note: There is no limit to the number of posts or replies that can be made and students are encouraged to interact with other students as much as possible. Furthermore, while you have until the due date to submit your post
eplies it is recommended you do not leave things until the last minute as this is unlikely to benefit you or other students.
*Word limits
Dot points are acceptable. Posts 100 words and Replies 50 words (approximately). Note students will not be penalised for longer word limits although being clear and concise is recommended.
What should my final participation statement look like?
The information you will need to record is: name of forum, title of post, date and time, and whether it was a post or reply. Note: You do not need to record the content of the post
eply. In most cases what you will be submitting for assessment should be no longer than 1 page. Your online participation statement should be presented in the following format:
Name of forum
Title of posting
Date/Time of posting
Post/Reply
Learning module 1
Activity 1 Case Study 1: Josh
2/3/18 at 22:14
Post
Learning module 1
Initial Thoughts
9/3/18 at 15:22
Reply
Learning module 1
Biases I have
9/3/18 at 16:05
Reply
Where do I submit my statement of participation?
You must upload your statement of participation as a PDF file into Moodle. Do not email your statement of participation to the coordinator or anyone else without permission.
You will find an "add submission" button on the bottom of this page.
Click the "add submission" button and upload your file by following the instructions provided by Moodle. This will include completing a declaration of academic honesty.
Make sure you upload your file before the cut off date.
Microsoft Word - Case Study 1.1 - Josh & Alice.docx
Case Study 1.1: Josh and Alice
Alice contacted the Glenaurie community youth alcohol and other drug service
for a second time asking for support for Josh, her 17 year-old son. The social
worker told Alice that Josh has not yet replied to messages left on his mobile
phone and that because the service is voluntary no further contact would be
made with him unless he contacted the service directly. Alice said that Josh may
not have responded to calls because he was stressed after the police had stopped
him on the street, searched his bag and found a small amount of marijuana and
utensils (a pipe). Alice said that Josh was charged with possession of illegal
substances and being in possession of drug related utensils and now needs to go
to court. She stated that she is wo
ied Josh might go to gaol because he has
another court case pending for
eak and entering charges and being abusive to
police. She said he has been especially agitated this week and his angry outbursts
and mood swings have left her feeling like she is ‘walking on eggshells’ when he
is around. Alice stated that she had heard that she could have Josh placed on an
involuntary treatment order to ensure that he becomes compliant with his
medication (Olanzapine) for psychosis in the hope that his behaviour and mental
health may improve. She said that Josh has been missing appointments with the
Child and Youth Mental Health Service for treatment in terms of his anxiety,
depression and early psychosis.
Bearing in mind that Josh was not engaging with services and that Alice was
focused on Josh the social worker sought to understand more about Alice to
support her. She sensitively asking Alice how she is travelling in this scenario
and gathered some demographic information asking questions about her age,
health, living situation, employment status and supports. The social worker also
asked Alice questions to ascertain her knowledge about mental health, alcohol
and other drugs. For example, whether Alice had ever heard of the Stages of
Change? Alice said she is 54 years old and she feels alone in this situation
ecause her defacto partner Martin has said they should “kick Josh out of home”.
Alice stated that Martin had been ‘very hard’ on Josh since he came to live with
them two years ago calling him names about his Aboriginality. She said that this
treatment of Josh had increased after Josh had told them that he would like to
learn more about his culture and background when he heard through a
community elder that his father anted to see him. He had also learned that his
father was ‘one of the Stolen Generation’. Alice continued to take the focus off
herself and talk about Josh. She said she cannot ask Josh to leave home because
he has nowhere to go and she is the only person still “hanging in there”
supporting him. Alice then stated that she is struggling to cope and has been on
anti depressants for the past two years due to stress and wo
y about Josh. She
said she wants to help him but nothing seems to be working and her whole life is
‘a mess’. Her friends and family don’t understand or are ‘sick of hearing about
Josh’ and they have also told her that she should ask Josh to leave the family
home. Knowing that supporting families is important from a health and
wellbeing perspective the social worker asked Alice whether she would be open
to a call from the Family Support Counsellor and she agreed, although stated that
the problem is Josh and if he could be helped then she would feel better. A
efe
al was made to the Family Support Counsellor to contact Alice within the
next twenty-four hours.
MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK
Legal and Professional Responsibility I
READ
Read Case Study 1.1: Josh and Alice and locate relevant sections of the National Mental Health Standards, the AASW Mental Health Practice Standards and the AASW Code of Ethics.
These national and professional standards may assist you when reflecting on the questions below.
Activity
· Take a few minutes to reflect on this assessment.
· Share your thoughts and feelings with other students.
· Answer the following Questions:
· Do you think there is a connection between Josh's drug taking and his Aboriginal background? Discuss.
· Reflecting on the voluntary nature of alcohol and other drug services what do you think about voluntary and involuntary treatment?
· What do you think the role of the social worker is in terms of involuntary treatment orders?
· Why do you think it's important to work with Alice? How might this be helpful to Josh?
· Dot points are allowed for this activity. There are no right or wrong answers. In fact, everyone's opinion may even be different to the one you express.
· Post a comment and then read what the other students have posted.
· Add a reply (or replies) to a post (or posts) made by other student(s) if you have something you want to add.
_____ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ ______ ____ _____ _____ ____ _____ _____ ____
Request by student:
Please write a comment answering those questions (in 200 – 300 words) . I have attached the two comments already posted by students, please write a reply for it (75 – 150 words each). Thanks.
COMMENT BY STUDENT 1
· Do you think there is a connection between Josh's drug taking and his Aboriginal background? Discuss.
I believe this is a very simplistic view of Josh's drug taking. I think that there are numerous factors that lead to a person using drugs - Aboriginal or not. Josh's Aboriginality may have contributed to his feelings of detachment, social isolation or low self-esteem that may have lead him to this point which could be argued is an indirect connection. I think there is just as much a connection between his socio-economic background or family history for example
· Reflecting on the voluntary nature of alcohol and other drug services what do you think about voluntary and involuntary treatment?
If we examine the stages of change in relation to AOD use, I believe for a person to admit they have a problem and seek help voluntarily lays the foundation for a more collaborative effort and successful outcome.
I do agree that involuntary treatment is necessary in our society when the client cannot make a decision due to intoxication or drug affectedness, or if they are at serious and immediate risk to themselves or the community if they are not treated as a matter of urgency.
· What do you think the role of the social worker is in terms of involuntary treatment orders?
Keeping in mind that it is important to respect clients’ personal freedoms and empower them to facilitate the change they are seeking. Involuntary CTOs seem to be placing the social worker in an ethically difficult position in that there is a contradiction by condoning and enforcing treatment upon someone who’s wishes are not being respected. A social worker might struggle between their personal values and professional values.
· Why do you think it's important to work with Alice? How might this be helpful to Josh?
I think it is important to update Alice with any relevant information (without
eaking confidentiality) and guide her in how best to support Josh so he can in turn feel supported. However, I actually believe that as the social worker whose main client is Josh, that Alice should actually seek treatment from either another social worker /counsellor within the service or a different service, so she can best get help for her own issues, leading to a more solid and stable support for Josh.
COMMENT BY STUDENT 2
Is there a connection between Josh's drug taking and his Aboriginal background?
· Personally, I feel this is a very stereotypical question and is inco
ect. Yes, Josh identifies himself as Indigenous, but looking at his home life and what is readily available would be more of connection. Alice says she doesn't mind him smoking marijuana or alcohol because she does it. I think initiating that kind of behaviour is going to lead into heavier and harder addictions to
eak. [That may well be the case. Given that this is a real life scenario the challenge for health professionals is thinking about own values and beliefs and working with the family who might think and behave differently to us].
Reflecting on the voluntary nature of AOD services, what do you think about involuntary and voluntary treatment?
· Involuntary treatment makes it a little harder to engage with a client as he/she doesn't really want to be there. It can be challenging and time consuming, but with the right attitude and outlook from the social worker, it can be rewarding. Being able to strike a balance between yourself and the client - finding a common interest, revealing something about yourself , showing empathy and humanity is the key to any working relationship.
· Voluntary treatment is where the client agrees to be admitted for treatment and willing to accept that help is needed.
What do you think the role of the social worker is in terms of involuntary treatment services?
· I struggled with trying to get my answer in my head onto paper, so I hope I'm on the right track. The AASW (2013), states that social work professions are committed to maximising the wellbeing of individuals and society, and yet the Mental Health Act XXXXXXXXXXstates that involuntary treatment should only occur when a person's condition seriously impairs their judgement. With this in mind, I feel social workers are already at a disadvantage because they have to reconnect with a client that doesn't want to be there, let alone acknowledge they have a problem, however,