a monthly column from members of
SIRCC
This
month’s column is from
Janie Fraser
Knowing Enough to Do the Job
The writer of this month’s column is a member of SIRCC
staff based at Langside College of Further Education where she
lectures on the HNC in Social Care course. Here she reports on
part of a research project that she has submitted as part of her
Diploma in Child Care & Protection Studies.
The
Project
I
have had an interest in looked after and accommodated children
and young people affected by parental drug and alcohol misuse
ever since my days as a Senior Social Worker. I therefore thought
it would be pertinent to consider the question, “Does the
Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Social Care for residential
child care workers impact on their attitudes in relation to working
with children and young people affected by parental drug and alcohol
misuse?”
My
research study employed both quantitative and qualitative research
methods and comprised a questionnaire supplemented by a number
of interviews. In total, 66 questionnaires went out to students,
currently employed in both local authority and the voluntary sector
units. There was a return rate of 85%. I also held 6 semi-structured
interviews. The sample group were students undertaking the HNC
in residential child care on a day release basis.
As
with much research, I believe some of the findings have raised
a number of questions which need further investigation. I have
selected some of the information from my study that I thought
would be of interest to Webmag readers.
I
was able to establish that, out of the total number of respondents
from the questionnaire, 39% did not know if the young people they
cared for were looked after as a result of parental drug/alcohol
misuse. I found this concerning as this is essential background
information for devising care plans that will meet the needs of
the young people. Although all children have the same basic needs,
care programming should consider the individual context of each
child’s life to ensure they have the best life chances possible.
The care plan can only be as good as the people involved in it
and the information shared. In order to provide safe care for
the young people in residential child care, workers need to be
able to provide, or be involved in, good risk assessment and assessment
of needs.
During
my qualitative interviews, three out of the six respondents were
able to confirm that they had children in their unit where parental
drug and alcohol misuse were the main reasons for admission. The
other three respondents confirmed that they worked with children
affected by parental drug/alcohol misuse but this had not been
the main reason stated for admission. The reasons given for these
children were:
• Outwith parental control
• Non school attendance
• Putting themselves at risk in the community
Sharing
Information
I
asked the six respondents what information they received about
the young people they work with. The quantity and quality of the
information provided to workers is variable. This is reflected
in the comments below:
“Our
unit works on a need-to-know basis. I actually don’t know
anybody who knows any background information. Out of all of the
kids I work with I have no idea of what age they came in at, if
they were here before I came, as there are no files to say. I
don’t know where they were before that or why they came.
You can go by the archives and find out what year they came in
at, but that’s all they will say. But no background information.”
“Sometimes
the quality is not good. Sometimes you get a great file, from
the young person’s birth to where they are now. Other times
you only get when they have been accommodated.”
These
types of comments show that there is a lack of the kind of joined-up-working
that is needed to provide the best level of service. In order
to achieve good outcomes for children and young people workers
need to have a knowledge and understanding of the attachment history
and the nature of family relationships. Clearly, there are still
issues about sharing information despite government policy documents
such as It’s everyone’s job to make sure I’m
alright (Scottish Executive review of the child protection
system), and For Scotland’s Children (Scottish
Executive report on the integration of services) that all stress
the importance of collaborative practice.
From
talking to residential child care workers I have discovered many
think that the reason they do not always get information passed
on properly is a result of professional snobbery within social
work and a hierarchy of importance dependant on job status and
qualifications.
I
asked the six interview respondents how supported they felt in
working with this group of young people. Three of the respondents
felt that they were not adequately supported and that both internal
and external support needed to improve. One respondent said, “If
you shout loud enough, then support is provided”. The other
two respondents felt that they got support from outside agencies
and within the unit, but more was needed in relation to this issue.
All six respondents felt that additional training and support
were required for them to work more effectively with this group
of young people.
The
quantitative data showed a variation in the levels of training.
This was mainly dependent on the sector in which they worked.
Local authorities provided 19.6% of the training relating to children
affected by parental drug/alcohol misuse.
In relation to child protection training, 21.4% of staff who had
training in this area were from residential schools. All 56 respondents
thought training would be useful. I did ask respondents to indicate
why and 78% provided some comments. Examples of these were:
“Gives awareness into such problems.”
“To have more in-depth knowledge of child protection process
and issues.”
“I have limited knowledge, with increased drug misuse amongst
parents and young people.”
“Further accurate in-depth knowledge would provide a better
understanding of needs.”
Relevance
of the HNC in Social Care
I
asked the six interview respondents if they felt the HNC had affected
their attitudes and values in relation to this group of young
people. Four of the respondents felt that the HNC had affected
their attitudes and values in more general terms about the young
people they worked with. One respondent felt that it reinforced
the values and attitudes that they already held. Another respondent
felt that they were more aware of their values and attitudes and
worked hard at changing previous attitudes that perhaps tended
to be judgemental and (unconsciously) value-laden. I also discovered
that an important influence on workers’ views was their
experience of alcohol/drug misuse in their own families. In terms
of social work values such personal experience could affect people
in either positive or negative ways.
The
fact that the respondents were looking for further training in
this area would indicate that in terms of values and attitudes
they consider the subject important enough to find out more about
it. They also recognise that it is important for them to be more
knowledgeable in this area in order to meet the needs of the young
people they work with. While I was concerned to discover that
a number of the residential workers had not been properly informed
about the issue of parental alcohol/drug misuse, it was also reassuring
to know that the participants in my survey had an increasing awareness
of the problem and an acknowledgement that they needed training.
