Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 21
Refreshed Opportunity for Social Workers
Role of social work in helping to integrate systems
The role of social work in an environment that values a counterbalancing view
to clinical or medical models of illness, disorder and chronic disabilities is in
shifting the perspective towards a more collaborative, multi-disciplinary and
integrated approach in addressing social ills, problems and needs. Social
work can help to shift inter-disciplinary practice and culture so that clients are
central in responses from the systems. We are able to contribute because
social work is a unified profession that works across social and family systems.
The training from social work enhances our social perspective, ability to view
from different perspectives and capability to be creative in adapting from
interventions to provide a personalised approach in bringing about change in
behaviours and systems.
There is a quiet appreciation in health and social care of the importance of
integrating care. There are challenges in integrating systems, professions and
cultures. This poses opportunity for transformation. When the integration is
completed, it will result in accessible and coordinated help that are responsive
to needs and in particular those of older persons, those with disability and
carers who are growing in large numbers. The aim of the integrated systems
should also be to meet the expectation of some basic consistency in client
experience across different service providers. It is also about helping families
and carers to provide the right support and to increase access to assets within
their community.
Repositioning the leadership role
As a profession, social work has always played a key role in managing risk
and complexity, working with people with the most profound and enduring
health and social needs and who are often also socially isolated and at risk of
harm. Social workers will continue to support people in crisis. It will continue
to discharge the duties of good social work practice by holding a core
responsibility in enabling citizens to access statutory social work services and
good and coordinated advice to which they are entitled.
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