Care Context of Social Worker

Care Context of Social Worker Critically explore the care context in which social work operates, demonstrating an understanding of sociological and social policy concepts, drawing examples from practice. Introduction What constitutes social work is largely defined by the state and by Government policies. That is to say it defines the legal framework through which the responsibilities of social workers are defined. These refer to the people that social workers have a responsibility towards, how those responsibilities should be carried out, and the broader framework which underpins social work practice (Brayne and Martin, 1995). The general legislative framework as it applies to social work practice actually applies to the local authority that employs social workers, but, nevertheless it is part of the general legal guidelines under which social workers engage in practice. This paper will look at practice and the framework within which social workers operate from the perspective of users with mental health problems. The Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 states: Every local authority shall establish a social services committee, and †¦there shall stand referred to that committee all matters relating to the discharge by the authority of- (a) their functions under the enactments specified in the first column of Schedule 1 to this Act This paper will explore the problems that many users with mental health problems encounter and it will consider how policy and its resultant initiatives can impact on the lives of services users. This discussion will be set within the context which welfare services are delivered in Britain. It is difficult to give a definition of the rights and responsibilities of social workers without some way of ensuring that these are fulfilled. At the very least everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and to be treated with respect. This is extremely difficult when current Government discourses, while expressing concern for those with mental health problems, then employ discourses which ignore factors such as race, gender and class and social circumstances, that are pertinent to any proper understanding of a person’s condition. Hannigan and Cutliffe (2002) are of the opinion that the medical model of health, which locates disability in the pathology of the individual, is flourishing in mental healthcare and under the terms of the 1983 Mental Health Act this often results in medical treatments that may involve, for example, the use of drugs or electro-convulsive therapy without the person’s consent. In Britain the law has a definition of mental disorder, which includes four separate conditions: mental illness, mental impairment, severe mental impairment, and psychopathic disorder (Pilgrim and Rogers, 1999:9). The first of these conditions is not defined. The second two conditions refer specifically to people with learning difficulties. The final condition refers to people who may be antisocial, unusually aggressive, and who may pose a threat to themselves and those around them. It is assumed that this legal definition accords with psychiatric definitions of mental disorder when this is not necessarily the case. It is within this context that mental health workers, and often approved social workers also, are left to determine the conditions under which a person may or may not be detained under the terms of the 1983 Mental Health Act (Pilgrim and Rogers, 1999).With regard to people with mental health problems (for whom similar provisions for those with other disabilities apply) Schedule One of the Local Authorities Social Services Act of 1970 is relevant and states that local authority social services should make proper provision for those who are mentally or physically disabled. It would s eem that contrary to the terms of the Act the legislative framework does not make such a provision in that it uses unclear definitions with which a social worker operates. It is a context which disenfranchises those who are already at a social disadvantage. Studies on inequalities in health suggest that that class, gender and race determine how a person is treated in a care context. In the mental health arena there are a number of studies (e.g. Pilgrim and Rogers, 1999) which tend to suggest that black males are particularly disadvantaged in this area. Section 136 of the 1983 Mental Health Act gives the police the power to detain someone for 72 hrs in a safe place if they are considered to be a danger to themselves or other people, and irrespective of whether they have actually done anything. Some research (Bean et al, 1991) has shown that under this section Afro-Caribbeans are two and a half times as likely as whites to be detained in this manner. Giddens (2001) maintains that in many of our social structures an aura of institutional racism still operates. It is arguably the case that this affects the treatment of black males with mental health problems and necessitates the social worker exerting particular care in this context in deciding whether a person should be detained under the Mental Health Act or whether they are fit to be left to care in the community . Since the Human Rights Act of 1998 local authorities have a duty to act in ways that are conversant with the Act. Social workers help with the problems faced by people with disabilities. When working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities social workers need to be aware of the Human Rights Act and the Community Care Act of 1990. Social workers are faced with making decisions concerning what defines a person with disabilities and also how to define their needs. The community care system is not straightforward and the legal requirements often not precise. If a social worker prescribes the wrong form of care e.g. detainment under the Mental Health Act when a person does not really fulfil that criteria, they could be infringing that person’s human rights. Policy needs to be carefully and more clearly formulated in the care context so that social workers can effectively carry out their duties to service users. Conclusion This paper has attempted to explore, in too few words, the care context within which social workers operate. It has done this from the perspective of someone working in the mental health arena. The care context of mental health is fraught with problems which are, or can be, exacerbated by the legislative framework. In many respects social workers from all backgrounds face similar difficulties and there is no ‘right’ way, in many senses the contemporary care context is suffused with the view that ‘you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. 1,000 words Bibliographhy Bean, Bingley, Bynoe et al. 1991. Out of Harm’s Way:Mind’s Research into police and psychiatric action under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. London, Mind. Brayne and Martin 6th ed. 1999 Law for Social Workers London, Blackstone Press Mandelstam and Schwehr 1995 Community Care Practice and the Law London, Jessica Kingsley Disability Discrimination Act 1995 http://www.drc-gb.org/thelaw/thedda.asp http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html Giddens, A. 2001 4th ed. Sociology, Cambridge, Polity Press. Hannigan B and Cutcliffe J 2002 Challenging contemporary mental health policy: time to assuage the coercion? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(5), 477-484, London, Blackwell Science, 2002 Pilgrim, D. and Rogers, A. 1999. A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness. Buckingham, Open University Press.

Chemistry Essays Saline & Fluids in the Body

Chemistry Essays Saline & Fluids in the Body Saline and Fluids Using saline as an example, outline the importance of solutions in the body and what is the concentration of normal saline and how the concentration of saline is controlled in the body and what effects on the cells an increase in saline concentration would have. Our bodies are fifty tosixty percent water, which therefore makes water an essential fluid for ourbodies. The main transporting agent in our body is the cells, and solutions arenecessary to execute functions such as:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chemical balance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Circulation of blood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Transporting nutrients to the cells   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elimination of waste   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  respiration The main component ofthe blood, perspiration, saliva, mucus, lymphatic fluids and digestive juicesis water. The function of water also ensures the lubrication of the joints,that the muscles, skin, and organs is moisturized. The temperature of the bodyis also aided by water. Two thirds of water is situatedwithin the cells intracellular, and one third of water is found in the sitesbetween the cells interstitial and in the blood plasma. The composition ofsolutes in the intracellular and extracellular water can vary. A highconcentration of potassium ions is found in the intracellular cells, and a highconcentration of sodium and chloride ion is found in the extracellular cells. It is precarious to thesurvival of the human body that the accurate balance of fluids and salts ismaintained and the right pH acid balance. If the body loses fluids and salts,then dehydration can occur, and this can cause the concentration of salts toalter causing electrolyte imbalance. One of the mostimportant solutions in the body is saline, which is a solution consisting ofsodium chloride and distilled water. Salt plays a perilous function in the accurateoperation of the human body, as well as all other forms of life. The averageperson contains about eight ounces of salt, which facilitates muscles to contract,digestion to occur, the floe of blood, wounds to repair and fluids to beproperly regulated. A litre of isotonic or normal (0.9%) saline contains 154mmol of NaCI, comparable to 9 g of salt or 3.6 g of sodium. The regulation of salineand water equilibrium in the body is an example of homeostasis. Homeostasis isthe preservation of balance, or constant conditions, in a biological organismby means of habitual mechanisms that neutralize influences tending towarddisequilibrium. The correct composition of extracellular fluids and watercontent in the body is maintained by the important role played by the kidneys. Osmolarityis the amount of particles dissolved in a certain volume of fluid. Theosmolarity of fluid can be altered by the volume of fluid or by the quantity ofsolute molecules. In the duration of a day, the kidneys will manage 180 litersof blood, and will produce 1.5 liters of urine. The volume of water excreted bythe kidney is regulated by the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH: also referred toas vasopressin; diuresis means water loss and is therefore referred to as awater loss hormone. If the concentration offluid in the body drops below normal, the osmoreceptors in the hypothalamuswill recognize the resulting increase in osmolarity. ADH will be released bythe hypothalamus, in response to the change in osmolarity. The amount of fluidvolume lost must be replaced by drinking additional fluid, thus ensuring thatosmolarity returns to equilibrium and recovering the fluid loss. If the concentration offluid in the body increases above normal, this will also modify the osmolarityof the circulating fluids. The decrease in osmolarity is regulated by thehypothalamus, which stops producing ADH. In the absence of ADH, the kidney permitsfluid loss from the body. The kidney consists of numerous nephrons in which itfilters solutions, and then selectively reabsorbs or secretes different plasmacomponents. The entire composition of the nutrient molecules and most of thewater will be reabsorbed, and returned to the bloodstream. The major extracellularsalt is NaCl. The levels of osmolarity of the circulating body fluids aredetermined by the sodium and the chloride content. The kidney establishes theconcentration of Na+ loss from the body (Cl or anadditional anion will proceed Na+, so if Na+ levels aremonitored anion levels counteract automatically). If there is inadequate Na+inside the body, this will be identified by the kidney, which commences acomplex series of events, established as the renin/angiotensin/aldosterone pathway.In response to a decreased concentration of Na+, the kidney dischargesrenin into the blood. Renin acts on a plasma protein, angiotensinogen changingit into angiotensin I Angiotensin I is asubstrate for a changing enzyme, found widely in the lungs, which changes itinto angiotensin II. Angiotensin II has remarkable biological activity, causingthe release of aldosterone acting on the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone is ahormone that operates on the kidney to inhibit Na+ loss from thebody. Inversely, should there be an excess of Na+ in the body, adecrease in renin discharge will lead to a deterioration in the aldosterone concentrationsand an increase in Na+ deficiency in the urine. Variation in the Na+concentration is a protracted process than that of circulating fluid levels andmay require hours to days for completion. The obstacle between theextra and intra cellular compartments is known as the cell membrane. Watercan occur liberally through biological membranes but many solutes cannot. Whenone section has a larger concentration of solutes, the direction of the flow ofwater is from the section with the depleted concentration to the section withthe larger concentration. This process is known as osmosis. Osmosis is the migrationof water from an area of high water concentration through a semi-permeablemembrane to a region of low water concentration. In a hypotonic solutionof saline, the concentration of the solute molecules outside the cells is lowerthan that the concentration of solutes inside the cell. This in turn willenable the water to diffuse into the cell, until equilibrium is established.This flow of water into the cell causes the cell to swell. References 1. Stryer, L.Biochemistry (4th Edition). Freeman, New York. 2000 2. Campbell,M.K. Biochemistry, (2nd Edition) Saunders College Publishing, 1995 3. Parsons, R.GCSE Double Science: Biology Revision Guide Higher (GCSE Double Science)Coordination Group Publications (2001) 4. Clancy, J.McVicar, A, Baird, N. Perioperative Practice: Fundamentals of HomeostasisRoutledge, an imprint of Taylor Francis Books Limited (2002) 5. Revise ASBiology (Revise AS Study Guide S.) Letts Educational Ltd (2004) 6. Chiras, D.Human Biology: Health, Homeostasis and the Environment Jones and BartlettPublishers International (1994)

What Science Can Do :: Science Scientific Papers

What Science Can Do I argue that 'we' the public of the United States of America, do not have an exaggerated view of what science can do. To support this claim I have compared and contrasted two articles: Enemies of Promise and The Hazards of Science. Both articles cover the topic of scientific research. Both authors are accredited scientists in their own right, and are excellent examples to cite for my thesis which I believe very strongly in. Although, I disagree with some of the conclusions made in the articles, I neverless hold both authors in very high regard. Professor of microbiology and Nobel Prize winner, J. Michael Bishop continually makes the statement in his article, Enemies of Promise, that the public has exaggerated and unrealistic expectations as to what science can do; Just as physician-author Lewis Thomas asks in his article, The Hazards of Science, "are there some things in science we should not be learning about?" (238). These men both have relevant opinions about science today. I can not say that they agree with each other because their articles are structured differently. Bishop makes arguments for science while stating it's limitations; and Thomas highlights some of sciences' achievements while questioning how far science should go. In discussing the topic of science, albeit from different frameworks, they touch upon some of the same topics. Bishop alleges that, "Science, is not the exclusive source of knowledge about human existence." (256). Then sites Thomas as saying that science is "the best way to learn how the world works." As Bishop cites Thomas to make his point, they both obviously agree with this statement. However, Thomas questions the lengths that science should go to while Bishop does not. Lewis Thomas asks the central question, "are there some kinds of information leading to some sorts of knowledge that human beings are really better off not having? Is there a limit to scientific inquiry not set by what is knowable but by what we ought to be knowing? Should we stop short of learning about some things, for fear of what we, or someone, will do with the knowledge?" (237). The author then answers his own questions: No, but he qualifies his answer by stating that it is an intuitive response that he is incapable of reasoning through. I too believe that we should not place limitations on science, while admitting that it is also an intuitive response.

American Pie :: Film Movies

American Pie The movie American Pie is about four high schoolers, close to graduating, determined not to carry their virginity's with them to college and so they make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. The movie is directed by Paul Weitz and stars Jason Biggs, Chris Klein and Tara Reids and takes place around Michigan's East Great Falls High. The movie opens with student Jim (Jason Biggs) being caught by his parents pleasuring himself in a tube sock while trying to watch a scrambled broadcast on an adult channel. By the end of this movie, all four seniors would have lost their virginity somehow or the other, and as a result with it learning more about themselves, their friendships, love, romance and the opposite sex. The movie showed a lot of different aspects of high school life and for the most part, some of the characters in it could remind the audience of some high school buddies. It had everything from diarrhea, vomiting, voyeurism, premature ejaculation, the drinking of beer with a sperm chaser and even a scene about masturbation with an apple pie. As controversial as those seem it didn't stop teenagers from flocking to the theaters to go see it. Summarizing the reviews of three critics will show that each critic had a lot of the same positive and the few negative views, but they all enjoyed it and the message it sent out to the audience. Movie critic Catherine Ranfold said "Finally, a really good teen flick!" She mentioned about all the gross gags used in the movie and still had some more praising to do. The critic noted how the film was "vulgar, raunchy, innocent, rude, funny and incredibly sweet- much like high school" (Ranfold). It reminded viewers of their high school days with the party goers and the so called nerds. She also found the portrayal of girls in the movie refreshing, because they were "more than objects of desire." She described her memories on the sexual dominance of females over the males because it was the females who choose who they would lose their virginity too and "That's something that's bang in the film." Comparing the movie American Pie to others in the past such as "Animal house" and last year's hit "Something about Mary" is something critic Todd McCarthy mostly talked about. As McCarthy put it " Last year's semen in the hair [ Something about Mary] has been replaced by semen in someone's beer.

The Joy of Community Service :: Community Service Essays

Never in my wildest dreams would I have even begun to imagine that community service could  Ã‚  be such a rewarding experience. As the oldest child I never had the opportunity of having someone that  Ã‚  could help me with my homework, play with me and help me when I needed something. My parents  Ã‚  once in a while could help me with homework, but once we moved to the United States I was definitely  Ã‚  on my own considering my parents didn’t know enough English to help me. From this moment forward, I  Ã‚  can say I’m very proud of myself for being where I am now without any help throughout my school  Ã‚  years. Yet, I know I could have done better with the help of someone. I figured with the opportunity to  Ã‚  do community service, I could take advantage of this situation and choose something that would help  Ã‚  kids with whatever they needed and maybe even play with them if I had the chance. Looking through the long list of places to do community service, the YMCA Child Care Center  Ã‚  caught my attention. I knew this was going to be a great choice but I didn’t think it could make such an  Ã‚  impact in my life. This child care is an educational and fun place for kids after school to stay at while  Ã‚  their parents get off of work. They have a certain schedule where they eat snacks, do their homework,  Ã‚  go to a Sumba class, play outside and other activities. I had the pleasure of meeting a group of  Ã‚  wonderful little kids. Within the first week of me being there as soon as they walked in they would give  Ã‚  me a hug to greet me. When they needed help with their homework or to tie their shoe they would  Ã‚  come running to me to ask for help with whatever they needed. They made me feel good because I was  Ã‚  someone they looked up to and I had the ability to help them with anything they needed. At first I had  Ã‚  my doubts about doing c ommunity service here because I am a very impatient person especially when it  Ã‚  comes to kids. I didn’t think I could be around so many kids for so long. Yet, the love and respect this  Ã‚  kids showed me helped me become a better and more patient person with them and all other kids in my  Ã‚  personal life. Every day I looked forward to going to the YMCA and spending time with these kids,  Ã‚  helping, dancing Sumba, and playing games with them.

Muhammad Yunus

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus Muhammad Yunus is a banker to the poor and economist who was born on 28 June 1940 in Bangladesh. He was a professor of economics and is famous for his work in microcredit. Professor Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1983 to help the poor by giving out small loans. He turned the idea into  Grameen Bank, which has made small loans to more than 7. 5 million people now. His first loan was $27 given from his own pocket. This $27 was loaned to 42 women in the village, who made a profit of $0. 2 each from the loan. The activity of the Grameen Bank is known around the world. Its ideas have been used throughout the world including USA, China, Malaysia, India etc. More than 94% of these loans have been given to women to improve their lives and escape poverty. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, divided into two equal parts, to  Muhammad Yunus  and  Grameen Bank  Ã¢â‚¬Å"for their efforts to create economic and social development from below†.Muhammad Yunus has received several other awards. Microcredit means giving small loans. These loans are given to poor people. To qualify for a loan, the villager must demonstrate that their family owns less than one half acre of land. The activity of Grameen Bank has not been limited to just Bangladesh but also around the world. Grameen helps the world’s poorest, especially women, improve their lives and escape poverty. More than 94% of Grameen loans have been given to women, who have less money and give more to their families.Grameen Bank was the first lender to hand out microcredit, giving very small loans to poor Bangladeshis who did not qualify for loans from normal banks. The bank has provided $5. 72 billion dollars to over 6 million families in Bangladesh. These loans average $200. With 1,417 branches, Grameen provides services in 51,000 villages, covering three quarters of all the villages in Bangladesh. This system was so successful that even beggars had been able to borrow money.The people who have enough money has many banks to support them, but those who don’t have anything, traditional banking system, that’s why Muhammad Yunus created the Grameen Bank and thus winning the Nobel Prize for Peace. The main aim of the traditional bank is to provide loan in exchange of depositing the property or other assets with interest. There is no scope/eligibility for the poor to do anything without any investment, but in the concept of Grameen Bank, Dr. Yunus has made his microcredit policy to provide banking service without any deposition.Muhammad Yunus is the recipient of numerous international awards for his ideas and endeavors, including the Mohamed Shabdeen Award for Science (1993), Sri Lanka; Humanitarian Award (1993), CARE, USA; World Food Prize (1994), World Food Prize Foundation, USA; Independence Day Award (1987), Bangladesh's highest award; King Hussein Humanitarian Leaders hip Award (2000), King Hussein Foundation, Jordan; Volvo Environment Prize (2003), Volvo Environment Prize Foundation, Sweden; Nikkei Asia Prize for Regional Growth (2004), Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan; Franklin D.Roosevelt Freedom Award (2006), Roosevelt Institute of The Netherlands; and the Seoul Peace Prize (2006), Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, Seoul, Korea. He also is a member of the board of the United Nations Foundation. Yunus received the U. S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the U. S. Congressional Gold Medal in 2012. â€Å"If banks made large loans, he made small loans. If banks required paperwork, his loans were for the illiterate. Whatever banks did, he did the opposite,† marvels Sam Daley-Harris, director of the Microcredit Summit Campaign. He's a genius. † â€Å"Microcredit is something which is not going to disappear†¦ because this is a need of the people,† Mr. Yunus told the BBC in 2002. Bibliography â€Å"Press Release â₠¬â€œ Nobel Peace Prize 2006†. Nobelprize. org. 17 Apr 2013 http://www. nobelprize. org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/press. html Muhammad Yunus: Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Grameen-info. org. 17 Apr 2013. http://www. grameeninfo. org/index. php? option=com_content&task=view&id=404&Itemid=199 Yunus Wins Nobel Prize. 006. Nbcnews. com. 17 Apr 2013. http://www. nbcnews. com/id/15246216/ns/business-world_business/t/yunus-wins-peace-nobel-anti-poverty-efforts/ The New Heroes: Muhammad Yunus. Pbs. org. 17 Apr 2013 http://www. pbs. org/opb/thenewheroes/meet/yunus. html Muhammad Yunus: Worlds Banker to the Poor. 2 Mar 20011. Bbbc. co. uk. 17 Apr 2013 http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/world-south-asia-11901625. Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus Visits Quinnipiac. Qunnipiac. edu. 17 Apr 2013.

Racism and Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, an African American, named Tom Robinson, is accused of raping a white girl. Throughout the story we learn that Maycomb County, Alabama is full of people who are considered to be racist. From the beginning, even before Robinson’s trial began, everyone believed that he would be found guilty. At the end of Robinson’s trial he is found guilty. Another issue throughout the novel is many of the citizens of Maycomb are prejudice against others in the town, such as Boo Radley. A statement one may conclude after reading To Kill a Mockingbird is that racism and prejudice are comparable to habits. Racism, prejudice, and habits may be acquired by watching and listening one’s family, as well as others one interacts with, from a young age. Both racism and prejudice, like most habits, can be broken with some effort and a set mind, but one must first understand what it is they are doing wrong. To understand what is wrong with one’s behavior one might seek an adult or someone they respect to explain what it is that is wrong and why it may be considered wrong. In Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird, the character development throughout the story shows that racism and prejudice are acquired through one’s interaction with others and that it is possible to break these mindsets. Throughout the majority of this book Scout is afraid of Boo Radley, but towards the end, after Boo Radley carries Scout’s brother home, she realizes he is not such a bad person after all (270). Scout is only afraid of Boo Radley because of the rumors she heard about him from others that she interacted with. Once Scout actually met Boo Radley herself she realized he is not scary, he just keeps to himself. The fact that Scout has an opinion about Boo Radley before actually meeting him shows that she is influenced by others around her. One may not consider this a favorable characteristic, but it is relatable to everyday life. The majority of people are easily influenced or know someone who is easily influenced, so one may comprehend more easily why racism and prejudice exist. A similar situation to the last one takes place in the beginning of the book. Most of the people in the book know very little about Boo Radley, but â€Å"[a]ccording to Miss Stephanie†¦As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the  scissors into his parent’s leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities† (11). Miss Stephanie tells the children and others this which causes the children and the others to form a prejudicial view about Boo Radley without ever having met him. The fact that Miss Stephanie’s statement affected others’ opinions about Boo shows how one’s statement can affect the logical reasoning of others. The others had no way of knowing if Miss. Stephanie’s statement was true or not, yet they still believed her. One may come to the conclusion that others believe something one says just to feel accepted or included.