Reflection Paper On Social Work

The journey towards the attainment of the Bachelor of the social work degree has been an enlightening and educational experience, as the individual is exposed to the realities of many social and political issues in the society. As a student, I ventured into the degree, with minimal insight as to how the degree can influence and shape the way I perceive the social world, and the way I relate these matters to myself. However, throughout my endeavour, which encompasses years of theoretical studies, and two intensive placements at two drastically different organisations, I believe I have accumulated the bare minimal knowledge to possess a solid foundation about the unfairness and inequality that people in disadvantaged conditions face. Social workers are predominantly found in welfare organisations which Howe (as cited in Limber, 2015) suggested largely influences the practice, direction and values of the social worker, and impacts on their ability to act autonomously (Lymbery, 2015). During my placements, there was a dominant theme that frequently stood out and enticed my attention. This was the accepted practice of focusing on the individual’s problem, as opposed to the social problems that existed and the lack of acknowledgement about the social restrictions of the human agency that limited self-determination. The realization that organisations were managed this way was important in ensuring that I made a proactive effort to understand and untangle the reasons behind such

In this essay I will discuss what learning from K216 materials has been useful to me whilst working with vulnerable and/or disadvantaged service users in my student placement, and what learning I have applied to my practice. Throughout I will look at how my learning informed what I decided to do, how I went about doing this and my understanding of the practice. I will discuss learning in respect of two areas of social work, which are ‘Communication’ and ‘Working collaboratively’. For ‘Communication’ I will focus on communication with service users with disabilities and/ or additional needs and I will explore a case of a mother who I had a telephone call with who was in crisis and in a highly emotional state. With ‘Working collaboratively’,

This week in the field was productive. The tasks completed this week were some tasks I have completed throughout the semester interning at the Department of Social Services (DSS). Throughout this week I had the opportunity to complete more home visits outside of the clients I am familiar with on my supervisor’s caseload. This is that I was able to complete a home visit with one of her coworkers to experience working with different populations the agency works with. During the home visit with my supervisor’s coworker, she and I sat with the client to discuss information pertaining to her court orders. With the client’s children being classified as medically fragile, the client has been ordered by the court to report for parenting classes and

This internship has been a significant experience for me so far during my education journey; to progress and develop skills to become a dedicated professional social worker. Learning the theory of social work and its application in the real world; combining classroom work, with actual cases. I have a better understanding of how to apply the theoretical and practical skills I learned. Gaining this experience of working in private practice, gives me an opportunity to understand the mechanisms of a mental health office environment. By expanding my theoretical knowledge to work in other fields of social work practicum.

Social workers are those who care about those in their community, who want to make things better, help those suffering and who want to be great impact in the world. Those who do such things are counselors, community managers, probation officers and etc. whom help those in our society in need. Social workers are found in hospitals, schools, military offices, in community offices and other more locations. While helping society become healthier, social workers are always on the go: either having to go somewhere or to someone who needs guidance to a better life.

Throughout the semester, I learned valuable lessons and skills that would aid me in becoming a successful social worker. In addition, working on the public issue project provided me with the opportunity to put what I learned into action. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to put what I learned in the classroom to use while working in the community with a group of women, as a team, to accomplish a set goal. Over the last several years, through observation, I saw the homeless population grow in the downtown Atlanta area and sometimes wondered what I could do to help aid in their well-being, especially in the winter months when they were living on the streets with little clothing. I recognized the problem, assessed the issue and came up with a goal. The public issue project gave me the opportunity to not just think about helping the homeless stay warm., but to do something to contribute keeping them warm. I learned the importance of setting a plan, putting it into action to reach a goal. Therefore, I choose to do a coat and blanket drive, as my public issue project, for those living on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia during the winter months.

PS/MS 96 ACT, School of the Arts, Collaboration and Technology is a Pre K - 8 Community School located in East Harlem. The school offers counseling services for all students through designated Department of Education funding. The school social worker and school counselor split the caseload. The school social worker focuses on the middle school students and the school counselor focuses on the elementary school students. Each conducts group and individual sessions, with both mandated and at-risk students. Additionally, their teachers refer some students. When a teacher becomes aware of a possible need for counseling, that teacher refers the student to either the school social worker or counselor. The social worker can also refer students to outside agencies. The school social worker is also involved in the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) team, the school’s wellness team, and the attendance team. Generally, the social worker, in connection with the school psychologist, determines the needs of the students and which services will be provided. As a social work intern, I work with the school social worker to provide counseling, crisis intervention, conduct group sessions, and, connect students and families to community resources. As a social worker intern I am responsible for managing a student caseload, preparing case notes, making classroom observations, assisting with the high school admissions process, and sitting in on the various teams the school social worker is apart of.

If you are looking for an exciting and meaningful career working with people, social work could be the career for you. Social workers are people who care about people and who work to make things better in their environment. Social work as a profession is about helping people find solutions that enable them to function as best they can in the environment in which they live.

I’ve almost completed a full semester at my internship. There is so much I have learned and many tasks that I feel I’m beginning to feel comfortable with. There is also so much that I have yet to learn and hope to become competent in during the next semester. I’m feeling comfortable administering cognitive/mood assessments, charting notes, understanding the company’s policies and model, and gathering social history information. These tasks are small parts of the larger picture. I think I’ve been learning these so that I put together the small parts so that I will understand the big picture next semester. Social workers in my practice sector have so many responsibilities and must be so organized. There may only be a few social workers to the ratio of residents, but everyone, including staff relies on them so heavily.

Where does one start when trying to figure out what to do for the rest of their life? I think before somebody even starts to consider a career they need to find out the things they like to do and what they are interested in. This is important because if you are going to be doing something for the rest of your life you are going to want to enjoy it. I couldn’t imagine going to the same job every day and not liking it. Also, to be successful at any career or project it really helps to have an interest I what you are doing. I guarantee if somebody has a high interest in something they will do better then somebody who doesn’t really care for it.

I am a social work intern at Edgewood Primary School in Indiana. The agency is school composed of student Kindergarten through Second Grade. Edgewood Primary School’s “mission is to work in cooperation with the community and families to provide students with an education that promotes responsible citizenship and encourages problem solving and creativity” (http://www.rbbcsc.k12.in.us/eps-home). It is in a rural area outside a large college town and its targeted population are students and their families.

Being admitted into the Social Work graduate program is one of the stepping stone to complete my own goals that I have to fulfillment what it means to be an individual that brings social change into the society and will be able to compliment the goals I have step for myself when it comes to academics. Coming into this point within my life has not been easier nor a smooth path, my I am confident that the goals I have for myself will be achieve through a master’s degree of Social Work.

As of now, I have learned a lot of new information. I have also expanded on some of my knowledge, as I have taken Human Behavior with Kathryn last semester.

On a freezing November day, I sat in Cindy Reed’s office in Birch Run, Michigan where she conducts her daily work as a clinical social worker and/or therapist, ready to begin the interview. The room had a designated area away from Reed’s desk, where Cindy conducts her sessions with her patients. Filled with comfy black furniture, and trinkets for patients to fiddle with, it was easy to feel at place and not intimidated. Having been kind enough to make room for the interview on her day off, Cindy was more than willing to answer any questions I had for her and her journey as a social worker. As I sat in one of the chairs reserved for her clients with Cindy directly in front of me, we began our interview.

A helping profession is one that nurtures the growth of or addresses the problems of a person's physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional or spiritual well-being.