Social Work Reflection

Before beginning the Master of Social Work program at Laurier I figured I had a strong understanding of what social work was. However, I quickly learned that I had only scratched the surface. I knew oppression existed, but I never understood the depth of it. I now know that I was afraid of it. It was easy for me to stay silent, because it was such a comfortable position to be in. Doing nothing meant I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. This was influenced by the privilege I had.

Social work practice works with many people in different situations, needing concise help from professionals. This assistance includes a range of skills such as; identifying the problem or problems, apply and use evidence based practice and theories and critical reflection. All these skills are integral parts of best practice in social work, and are needed by all service users.

According to Duffy (2016), there are two different types of social work practice when it comes to working alongside a disadvantaged population. The first kind, is used more often and is called conventional social work approach, which focuses its attention on undertaking assessment and ensuring that individuals are families are received the correct support through organised services and support. On the other hand, critical social work, the less utilized approach aims to challenge the inequalities and oppression in society, by targeting the societal structure via activism and research, in order to bring forth criticism and questions on discourses attached to particular marginalised groups. The author proposes that both social work practices are important, however, critical social work should be emphasized on more frequently, especially with groups such as the ageing population as it targets the stubborn discourses (Duffy, 2016). Mattsson broadens critical social work, by relating it to critical reflection. Critical theorists have proposed critical reflection as a method to understand how social work practices can uphold oppression due to seemingly everyday actions, words and attitudes. Therefore, this can have an implication on how social workers execute their practice, as ordinary and structural features of bureaucratic hierarchies may senselessly abide social workers to uphold and reproduce social oppression, even though they might be well-intentioned. Critical reflection

Another skill I used was the use of silence (5:43). The use of silence is beneficial because it gives the client time to process their thoughts and can allow them to take a brief break from the work they are doing (De Jong & Berg, 2013). This was definitely a calculated response when I noticed Julia needing to think. I remember actually thinking that I needed to be quiet and let her contemplate her response. It was not easy and felt a little uncomfortable to me, but Julia noticed and expressed her gratefulness for that time in her feedback to me, which tells me I employed this skill successfully. Looking back, I would not have changed this moment and, as one who likes to fill silence with words, I am proud of

Reflecting on what you have learned in Generalist Social Work Practice, what have you found to be your strengths?

Select a social work journal and critique it, using the structure of a research report presented in the chapter as a guide.

The objective of the session was for the social worker to engage in introductions during the first meeting with this family. The session was where the social worker found out all the information about what is going on in the client group. As she finds out information, she is able to see connections of how some problems may be affecting others. She stated, “our purpose today is for me to get to know all of you.”

Throughout the semester, we learned about the different aspects one goes through while studying social work; family, poverty, mental health, drugs, education, and the list goes on. I was able to connect well with the different content we were learning because of what I had experience during the service learning I had chosen. My service learning allowed me not only more of an understanding, but personal growth and a bigger connection to this social work course.

During my junior year of college, I secured an internship at a juvenile re-entry organization, A Better Way, Inc., located in Trenton, New Jersey, the town where I was born and raised. A Better Way, Inc. provides a range of resources to the surrounding community, such as support groups, community service opportunities, specialized job training, and referrals to other programs and resources. Clients varied in age and gender, but the majority were people of color. As an intern, I was supervised by a Licensed Social Worker and specialized in counseling and outreach. My position entailed assisting the organization with intake interviews and also co-facilitating several of their men’s discussion groups. While reflecting on this experience, I realized how much I valued the work I was doing because it positively impacted my community. These feelings confirmed that social work would be a fulfilling career path for me.

What does it mean to believe? As I begin reflecting on those things that I believe in, or those things that I have come to know to be true, I feel that I must take a step back and explain where I come from and how my way of thinking is possible. In social work, one of the first steps in getting to know a client is using the person in environment perspective. This is where we get to know clients and their case by getting to know the individual, their problems, strengths, and supports, as well as getting to know the environment they are surrounded by. Likewise, if I am to accurately articulate my faith, I must first start with where I come from and how that has allowed me to be where I am today.

In this reflection essay, I will demonstrate my learning experience in this counseling session. I will talk about my strength, weakness, verbal, nonverbal expression, including improvements needed to become more efficient in the social work profession. I will also speak about a learning tool called process recording in Social work profession. This process recording was done with the help, with my fantastic Daughter Kendra Shelton as the client and my incredible husband Michael McVay as Video Recorder /producer.

For this reflective journal, I have decided to draw parallels between approaches to social work that I have learned in my placement, and what I have learned during my academic career at Carleton University. Placement thus far, has been an eye-opening and rich experience, which has taught me about the profession that I aspire to be a part of. I am a third year student, and much of my time spent at Carleton, has been studying theories, and becoming exposed to different schools of thought. Theories are incredibly beneficial, to teach and inform the practice of the next generation of social workers. However, placement has provided me with the opportunity to apply theoretical ideals, to real life social work practice.

With this paper, I am to identify the specific area(s) and/or settings of social work I foresee myself working in using a process of critical reflection. To do this, I begin by discussing social location with regards my immigrant background and socioeconomic status. Hence, how such identities will influence my particular approach to work in a clinical setting such as that of a hospital. Additionally, I delve into the ways in which my lived experiences of constant hospital visits have also influenced my interest in future mental health work. Following this, I will further address, considering the above, among other intersections, the challenges I expect to encounter in a future practice such as a hospital. I will identify and describe how I will develop and incorporate practice skills such as, the micro skills of interviewing, effective communication, and so on. Lastly, I will briefly outline the three additional areas aside from mental health: working with individuals with disabilities, youth services, etc. that I will consider working in.

Each of us has a story to tell. All of our experiences, accomplishments, and hardships help shape us into the individuals we are in this very moment. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined while receiving my bachelors of social work from New Mexico State University. My work as an undergrad has educated me in the realm of generalist social work practice. I have learned the value of the strengths perspective and the power of empowerment to promote the health and well-being of an individual. I have joined the battle to fight for social justice to help prevent oppression and discrimination. I have seen the importance to always be willing and committed to continuing my professional development as a social worker by

Social Work has the potential to work in and with each type of public sector, which includes the public sector, commercial sector, and voluntary sector. For this reason, it is relevant to understand each of the service sectors. Chapter 5 looks at how each sector is run and what their goals are. Furthermore, it looks at the challenges that are crossed and precisely how the sectors play a role in social provision. This information is beneficial to know as a social worker so that when working in various service sectors the different inner workings are understood. This understanding will increase productivity while working in each sector.