Analytical Thinking and Decision Making in Social Work

ANALYTICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING IN SOCIAL WORK
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Introduction
On the basis of the second placement, that included Finding Placement in adoption this critical
essay has been written (Gray, Plath and Webb, 2009). The critical discussion in this essay
includes the decision-making process for assessing, intervention and evaluating of a social
worker dealing with the placement of an adopted child in the context of my effectiveness as an
agency's remit. The remit for student's placement dealt with placement to support children in
needs of families. This essay discusses theoretical consideration of the principles adopted while
dealing with the situation and a decision making an approach that can deal with the practice and
evaluating the risk of harm or abuse or safeguarding along with the necessary legislation has
been identified (Beckett, 2010). Evaluation of this case analysis allows arriving at an appropriate
way to deal with the social work situation.
The case study in the context of the agency’s remit
Insights into the context of the placement in view of the agency’s remit can reveal the situation
that had been faced. The placement was with an adoption agency working in partnership with the
Local Authority (Reynaert, Bouverne-de-Bie, and Vandevelde, 2009, pg. 518-534). The
overarching aim was to provide secure and loving families for children in need of forever homes
to support children and families for as long as they need. The agency ethos is underpinned by
Article 21 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, which included
that every child has a right to a family life which if it cannot be provided by the family of origin,
should be provided by a permanent alternative family. It aims at recognizing children, who have
suffered separations and adversity may require some support at different times in childhood and
beyond and acknowledging the importance of early intervention or decision making for the child
(Howell, 2009, pg. 149-166). Having in-depth knowledge about their birth family history and
understanding the reasons for the separation is important in developing a positive sense of
identity and in forming new attachments.
The Family Finding Team looks for adopters for all children, whether individuals or sibling
groups. Similarly, the adopters are also varied, from couples to single adopters. It is important
that the Family Finders have a strong understanding of the child and their needs, so as to find a
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suitable, safe and supportive family for them. The team consists of Head of the service,
Consultant Social Worker, currently three Family Finding Social workers and the Team
coordinator who supports the team with all administrative duties (O'Sullivan, 2010). My vital
role within the agency is to find adopters for the children, who are able to meet the child's needs
and ensuring they are safe and are a supportive family. In my placement, there are no formal
assessments tools and a defined procedure used to complete. Although at every stage of the
process you will be assessing the compatibility and suitability of the match between the child and
prospective adopters, in order to make a decision or recommendation for the right place for the
child (Dyke, 2016). During this process, I ensured that the Adoption standards are followed and
the needs and wishes of the child are at the center of the decisions made. This is done through
various meetings like Permanency Planning Meeting, Looked after Child review whereby
information is gathered from professionals and services involved. The scope of this discussion
explores varied knowledge that is used for decision-making and for the appraisal procedure. The
challenges that are faced in the process of evaluating the values of equality, diversity and while
working with non-consensual adoption will be undertaken for this purpose (Payne, 2015).
Academic Discussion
In order to find placement for the child and look out for an appropriate family there needed to
assessment and intervention (Brammer, 2009). The child is in a vulnerable state, hence
appropriate evaluation and assessment will not only reveal the child’s past environment, but also
future compatible environment in which the child can suitably be placed. The basic principle for
assessment and intervention was based on the principles of equality and diversity. Equality
principle entitles to be treated in a fair manner within society and behave in a fair manner with
others. The principles of equality emphasize providing the adopted child with equal opportunities
and access to resources, rights, and opportunities to be supported in a different manner. Diversity
implies instilling culture and practice which recognizes, values, respects and harness difference
in benefits amongst all (Jones, 2017). As discrimination implies differentiating amongst one to
another, implies unfair treatment of others especially children who are adopted. In order to
overcome discrimination, the principles of equality have to be focused on the primary aspect of
social care. Focus while finding a family for the child in aiming at placement service was
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focused upon principles of equality, such that he gets opportunities in his life to prosper. While
dealing with the child’s placement, a team has to be formed and each member’s opinion has to be
obtained on various aspect of the placement. This will allow overcoming the issue related to
diversity and help attain equality. Moreover, it will allow assimilating divergent views of all
team members’s such that the child’s vulnerability can be overcome.
In order to assess and intervene in the case, principles of ADP/AOP was applied in the approach
(Jeffery et al, 2013, pg.120). ADP (anti-discriminatory practice) and AOP (anti-oppressive
practice) is a part of social work and is essential in social practice. Increasing diversity in
globalization and technological adaptation requires conscious efforts to adapt. Though ADP and
AOP are used in an interchangeable manner, the commitment of the same is at establishing social
justice. This principle applied in the current approach aimed at developing sensitivity to
existence around oppression and discrimination, such as to empathize with the child's past
condition. Recognizing that there is no comfortable ground while arriving at the solution and an
effort to overcome traditional practice has to be aimed at (Beckett and Horner, 2015). Non-
discriminatory and anti-oppressive assessment allows achievement of anti-discriminatory
practice. It becomes pertinent that the child without family is more likely to face oppression and
discrimination. However, making certain that AOP and ADP are suitable adhered to will enable
overcoming of such vulnerabilities for the child.
Theory applied for the purpose of evaluating the social case is ecological systems theory.
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory aims at explaining the inherent qualities of a child
along with the environment he interacts with, which will influence his growth and development.
The theory aims at stressing the importance of analyzing a child in varied environments which
are known as the ecological systems, for analyzing his development. The immediate environment
system of the child is termed as the microsystem, it is the smallest environment which includes
home, daycare, school, community environment or peer groups (Heslop and Meredith, 2018).
Mesosystem is the connections which the child develops in his school or outside environment.
This system includes interaction that a child develops in essence of the system of the
microsystem. Exosystem is focused on the indirect environment, it includes linkages which
might exist amongst two or more settings, one amongst them might include indirectly developing
the child. Macrosystem includes the social and cultural values, which are the distance collection
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