The Social Work Decision-Making Process

Paper Summary:

This paper stresses that, in order to make an appropriate decision about the circumstances of a services user, it is important to address issues regarding factors which may impact on the work done. The author points out the issue of ageism, especially the significance that must be given not only to the primary service user, in this case Jack, but also to any relevant secondary service users, such as Jack's daughter and the involved neighbor. The paper discusses four levels of participation available to service users: (1) being told of the decisions made but with no input from the service user, (2) being consulted but without self-determination, (3) partnership with both parties having an equal distribution of decision-making power and (4) control by the user, with the social worker taking a supportive rather than influencing role.

From the Paper:

"Distortion to the decision frame could be created by less than accurate information or bias by the person constructing the frame. If a social worker had particularly strong views that people over sixty five years of age belonged in a care home, then that may become the only option in that box. Therefore it is of vital importance that social workers are fully aware of their own values and ethics as well as the values held by the agency that they work with, as bias can occur at any level in professional practice."

Sample of Sources Used:

• BANKS, S., Ethics and Values in Social Work, 2nd Edition, (2001), Palgrave, New York.
• MILNER, J., & O'BRYNE, P., Assessment in Social Work, 2nd Edition, (2002), (2 sets), Palgrave MacMillan, Ebbw Vale.
• O'SULLIVAN, T., Decision Making in Social Work, (1999), Macmillan Press Limited.
• PIERSON, J., & THOMAS, M., Collins Dictionary of Social Work, 2nd Edition, (2002), HarperCollins Publishers Limited, Great Britain.
• ANONYMOUS: British Association of Social Workers, Code of Ethics for Social Work, accessed online at http://www.basw.co.uk/printpage.php?articleld=2 on 09/11/2003

More papers on The Social Work Decision-Making Process:

• Term Paper # 149029 : "Selecting a Mobile Phone Service Provider"
• Term Paper # 91944 : "Business Management"
• Essay # 60668 : "Social Identity Theory"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: