PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACOUNTABILITY.pptx
- 2. Managing professional boundaries Boundaries are a way of marking the responsibilities that lie within a particular role or task, and differentiating these from other activities or aspects of social work. Notion of boundaries can include work with individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations.
- 3. Boundaries ensure that we keep to the task and roles designated and agreed, thereby ensuring that we are not drawn into other areas or issues. Boundaries ensure the economic use of time and resources. Practical arrangements can be formalized and the contact put on a professional footing.
- 4. Respecting confidentiality Essential to create a climate of trust and to protect service users’ rights. No information should be disclosed without the service users’ consent. Absolute confidentiality, where no information is disclosed regardless of circumstances without consent. Relative confidentiality, indicating the circumstances where it is out ethical or professional responsibility to disclose information.
- 5. Record keeping skills To enhance service delivery in relation to effectiveness, accountability, and confidentiality. Provides an opportunity for analytical reflection and evaluation, particularly in relation to decision-making, formulating hypothesis, and evolving collaborative ways of working. Provides an opportunity to step back and to think things through.
- 6. Range of purposes records can serve: Legal records: legal proceedings Financial records: may need to be assessed and records kept. Management control: workers’ performance, worker accountability. Accountability: ‘account for decisions, assessments and work done. Information storage: the take up of services. Agency evaluation: ‘Clear, comprehensive, focused agency recordings can contribute to the necessary evaluation of how effective we are’.
- 7. Minute-taking skills Constitute a formal record of discussions and decisions, and a check on any progressed achieved. Ability to listen and to summarize key points. These should : Record the composition and structure of the meeting. Ensure the contents of the minutes, Ensure they convey balanced, accurate, unambiguous account. Ensure that action points are clearly identified.
- 8. Report writing Skills Length, structure and layout of the Report will vary according to the context. But the basic form should have: Cover with a title page Contents with page numbers Summary of the main findings or recommendations Introduction of the Report, giving the purpose, subject area and who it is for Sections and subsections of the report with clear headings Conclusion of the Report Appendices or other relevant information Glossary of terms
- 9. Creative Supervision Purpose of Supervision is to facilitate the professional development to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the work following the need of service taker/user in a sensitive manner. Supervision should not be dominated by Managerial focus. As example: Must not put more focus on throughput/data, strict timescales or completion of record keeping as compared to quality time for thoughtful observation of what is happening in the lives of children and their families.
- 10. Supervision takes place on one-to-one basis or with a team or peer group. The range of information made available for supervision can vary and include Written Case Notes, Tape or Video Recordings, Feedback from Colleagues etc.
- 11. Skills Involved in Using Supervision Creatively Draft an agenda for your Supervisor Involve Supervisor in preparing supervision session well ahead of time. Firm your priority on supervisor’s punctuality Involve your supervisor in making a note after the supervision session of the issues discussed and action points. Setting aside time after the supervision session for any immediate action on the issues covered.
- 12. Organizational and Administrative Skills The multiple roles the social workers perform, demand Organization and Planning skills to ensure efficient and effective work. Ensure best use of time and available resources by developing a personalized administrative system for planning, organizing, monitoring and reviewing to optimize targeted works and to be consistent with the expectations of the agency. Prepare list about what work needs to be undertaken What task has to be done when
- 13. Calculate time involved for each task Planning work by keeping a diary Liaising/ collaborating with others Recording progress and tasks achieved Presenting work to an agreed format Punctuality
- 14. Effective Alternative Means of Communication Letter writing, contact over phone, text and e-mail is not a communication in person and can easily be misinterpreted because ‘reading’ through non-verbal communication, something like body language is has been more authentic. Electronic devices can sometime convey an unintended meaning, if you, we are not thoughtful about our choice of words, tone etc.
- 15. Before deciding to communicate in writing need to be clear that the person involved can read or comprehend English. Because English may not be their first language However, written forms of communication can clarify key issues, be referred, shared with others and generally accessed easily.
- 16. Letter Writing Skills Official letters, such as appointments, which are important and cannot be sent by emails, need to be approved by a senior member or staff Has to be polite, clear, concise and careful about wording Has to be thoughtful, even it takes long time to write
- 17. Skilled Use of E-mails E-mail is accessible in different locations and therefore flexible It is time saving, because e-mail can reach a wide audience It can save paper and printing costs, therefore ecologically correct But it is being read quickly, which can lead to careless and inaccurate messages. Email systems can become overloaded and crush, particularly if ‘spam’ advertisements are not removed Good typing and knowledge of basic computer application skills are needed, otherwise it will be time consuming
- 18. Telephone Contacts Landline phone communication at times of crisis has been important and it has several advantages, because it provides an immediate, quick easy access; Offers a degree of control to both the caller and receiver in terms of how long the communication will last; Anonymity when needed, which can give a feeling of more guarded Give opportunity to communicate personal warmth, care, concern
- 19. Gives lifeline for people in crisis: call to police, fire, ambulance services save lives regularly But Some people come across badly on the telephone, which can lead to misunderstandings and Unanswered phone calls can lead to a range of difficult feelings that includes frustration, hopelessness, disappointment.
- 20. Mobile Phone and Text Messaging Advantages of Mobile Phone 1. Immediate access 2. In case it gets switched off or out of range, a voice or text message can be sent and responded to later on 3. Calls and numbers can be noted, stored and saved at will
- 21. Disadvantages of Mobile Phone 1. Immediate access can interfere people’s live in ways that feel unpredictable and disturbing 2. Poor signal causes disruptions at times of emergency calls 3. Limited character space in text messages can cause senders to over-abbreviate their words, which can lead to misunderstanding and even offence.
- 22. Presentation skills At the time of Presenting information, it is important to consider Who is your audience and their level of knowledge in relation to the subject presented What is the purpose of the presentation (to inform? to convince?) How long the presentation will last To present a talk in a skillful way prepare presentation setting
- 23. Prepare any visual aids ( flip chart, overhead projectors, PowerPoint) Prepare yourself, ensuring that you know your subject and that you feel comfortable with your appearance Keep strictly to time, rehearse your presentation preferably with a ‘critical friend’ who will give honest feed back
- 24. Chairing Meetings Chairing a meeting need good communication, observation and listening skills, which needs preparation and plan for the meeting, agenda items beforehand Ensure that minutes or note is being taken of the discussion Welcome attendees and note apologies for absence Run through the minutes of previous meetings and matters arising –include unresolved or on-going issues to the agenda.
- 25. Ask if additional agenda items need to be added and prioritize the list – the last item on the agenda is normally AOB (any other business) Throughout, attempt to keep attendees interested and involved Keep to time At the end set the date and time of the next meeting Take signature of all attendees
- 26. Coordinating Case Conferences and Reviews The person/s at the center of the conference/review should understand the process and implications, and the purpose of the conference The views of the individual(s) in questions and other key individuals are represented
- 27. Relevant information is gathered, arranged and evaluated from other agencies involved and presented thoughtfully All parties are reminded that case conference can be frightening experiences for everyone concerned because of information disclosed and the number in attendance; this is particularly true in relation to child protection conferences/reviews
- 28. Presenting Evidence in Court Stress of court appearances can be reduced by 1. preparing and rehearsing your evidence, and reading through your court report; important in a child care case 2. ensuring that you communicate with key legal people involved so that you are well briefed about the procedures followed in different court hearings 3. ensuring you tell the truth, even if this may not consistent with the stance adopted within your agency 4. ensuring you follow the dress code for court
- 29. 5. Write a court report with basic information on the front page that should include the name of the court, case number, name and date of birth of the subject, the type of application, author’s name and professional address 6. Clear and concise language. 7. Avoid dense pages of text and use bullet points 8. Include a chronology of events 9. Avoid jargon and be un-biased in the language used 10. Distinguish between facts and opinions. 11. Conclusions should flow logically from the body of the report
- 30. Using Humour The sensitive and skilled use of humour can be helpful in range of situations. Humour can help to address issues that may be potentially awkward, anxiety provoking or embarrassing. Some of the best use of humour focuses on all that is ridiculous about life and human condition Humour can backfire when it is used in ways that are not appropriate to situation. Humour and jokes can sometimes belittle other people’s suffering, hardship or oppression. Humour should be culturally sensitive.
- 31. Thank You