Social Workers
TMA 01- It is important for social workers to have a good understanding of the law. Discuss.
For this assignment I will discuss why it is essential for social workers to have an understanding of the law and how the law is made up and how it underpins social work practices today.
The law that underpins social work practices today was radically changed in the mid 1980’s following a series of scandals and public inquiries. For instance, newspapers widely reported the murder of 8-year-old Victoria Climbié at the hands of her great aunt and her partner during 2000. The negative adverse publicity surrounding this tragedy was largely blamed on social workers and other health professionals. This prompted the governernment to set up a public enquiry (Laming, 2003). As a result of this enquiry, these findings led Parliament to pass the Children Act 2004 which places legal duties on social services, hence why the law has become more prominent in social work education. Social workers MUST have an understanding of the law and be accountable for their practices.
Knowledge of the law is essential as it plays an active role in social work practices. Legislation passed in recent years are the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Community Care Act, Adoption and Children Act 2002 and Mental Capacity Act 2004.
Understanding the law lays the foundations and provides social workers with duties and powers. Having an understanding of the statutory and legal requirements is essential to practice effectively when working with service users empowering them to access their rights and entitlements and how these can be enforced. Failure to have this knowledge may leave social workers vulnerable as well as the service user.
However having said that, the relationship between the law and social work practice is very complex. “It is not enough to consider the law in isolation: it must be considered in the context of social work values. (K270 Unit 4. p,130)
The Health Care Professionals Council
For this assignment I will discuss why it is essential for social workers to have an understanding of the law and how the law is made up and how it underpins social work practices today.
The law that underpins social work practices today was radically changed in the mid 1980’s following a series of scandals and public inquiries. For instance, newspapers widely reported the murder of 8-year-old Victoria Climbié at the hands of her great aunt and her partner during 2000. The negative adverse publicity surrounding this tragedy was largely blamed on social workers and other health professionals. This prompted the governernment to set up a public enquiry (Laming, 2003). As a result of this enquiry, these findings led Parliament to pass the Children Act 2004 which places legal duties on social services, hence why the law has become more prominent in social work education. Social workers MUST have an understanding of the law and be accountable for their practices.
Knowledge of the law is essential as it plays an active role in social work practices. Legislation passed in recent years are the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Community Care Act, Adoption and Children Act 2002 and Mental Capacity Act 2004.
Understanding the law lays the foundations and provides social workers with duties and powers. Having an understanding of the statutory and legal requirements is essential to practice effectively when working with service users empowering them to access their rights and entitlements and how these can be enforced. Failure to have this knowledge may leave social workers vulnerable as well as the service user.
However having said that, the relationship between the law and social work practice is very complex. “It is not enough to consider the law in isolation: it must be considered in the context of social work values. (K270 Unit 4. p,130)
The Health Care Professionals Council