Social Work Essay: Amina's Life, Theories, and Support Needs

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of Amina's life, addressing various social work concepts. It begins with an assessment of Amina's life, considering her experiences with loss, illness, and social isolation. The essay then delves into relevant social work theories, including orienting theories, general system theory, psychodynamic theory, social learning theory, and conflict theory, to understand Amina's situation. Furthermore, the essay explores practice perspectives like ecosystems and strengths perspectives. The essay also examines practice models and approaches to support Amina, considering legal and ethical issues like the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Finally, the essay considers the values and potential issues that may arise in providing support to Amina, offering insights into effective social work practice. The content is provided by a student to be published on Desklib, a platform offering AI-powered study tools.

Social Work Essay

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Social Work Essay...........................................................................................................................1
Assessment of Amina's life with the help of relevant theories...................................................2
Adult safeguarding, mental capacity and mental health.............................................................7
Approaches to Amina's support need..........................................................................................7
Consideration of the legal and ethical issues which includes in the care act 2014 and mental
capacity act 2005.........................................................................................................................8
Considering the values and issues that might arises.................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

Social Work Essay
In today's world, there has been increment of the strange paradox where each woman has
experienced the harassment, sexual violence and got abused by the society. In the recent past,
they have experienced increasing level of poverty, struggle as well as sexual harassment which
has bound to them to claim the word feminist (Beiser, 2009). In the current era, there has been
discussion based on the Lived experience of Amina and the obstacles that has been faced by her
in her entire life. She has lost her husband and son in a conflict and she has a 31-year old
daughter who lived with her own family. Amina suffered from various diseases like diabetes
type 1 and Osteoporosis as well as she is suffering from the memory lapses. She got addicted to
the pain killers and having the excessive medication which was prescribed by her GP who lived
near her locality.
Apart from her physical illness, she has been mentally tortured by the surroundings such
as people are passing comments and abusing her as per the racism and follow her whenever she
went to market and go to home. She has later started living alone and become totally
disconnected with her social life; she didn't move out to see her daughter and friends for many
weeks. Her friends visited her after many weeks and they saw her living condition which is just
equivalent to death. She was not having proper diet and health check-ups, she appeared as she
was confused as well as her arm was also fractured. Her friend decided and call ambulance for
her. Amina was treated for a week and physically become fit but her mental health was not on
that state where she would make the adequate decision (Unicef, 2014).
She has refused to meet every one who visited her like her friends, well-wisher, her
daughter etc. and slowly it becomes worst for her that her daughter refuses to take Amina with
her home as she is having the family commitments on the other side, her friends also reduced
their visits as she refuses to meet them. She has tried to leave the hospital but the nursing staff
has transferred her to adult social care team in the hospital. However, this team of the social
workers will help her in terms of making the adequate self-improvement in her mental health
(Pocknell and et.al., 2017). Therefore, the working criteria of the social workers will be helpful
for her in terms of having the favourable improvements in her mental and physical health as well
as they will motivate her to make the necessary efforts to trust people and have the social
gathering.
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Assessment of Amina's life with the help of relevant theories
In order to facilitate the adequate cure and care services to mentally disable person there
is need to make the adequate improvements in their health and increase the willingness to live
the world. Therefore, there has been implications of various theories and study which will be
helpful for the patients and social workers in terms of making efforts (MacDonald-Wilson and
et.al.,2017). In terms with assessing the mental condition of Amina there is need to have a proper
study of such techniques. However, the study over various theories can be understand as:
Illustration 1: Theories of social workers
(Source: Megele, 2017)
Orienting theories:
This theory belongs to the origin or the point where the issue rises. However, this will be
helpful in terms of analysing the main problem of the individual and the thing which has
bothered them. In these regards the carer or psychotherapists will become able to analyse the
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actual issue and the nervous breakdown of such people. There has been various theories which
has draw discipline includes psychology, biology and economics (Theories Used in Social Work
Practice, 2017). These are relevant with the human development, family systems, Personality,
political power etc. the orientation of the issues will at the small level or at the wider level such
as from the society, poverty, metal disability crime etc. Therefore, in this case Amina has faced
several issues throughout her life such as family members are not supportive like her daughter
who has her own family terms while on the other side she is totally alone as she has lost her son
and husband. In accordance with the social issues she has been racially abused by a group of
some people which has forced to have distance from social life and locked herself in self-prison.
In terms with the poor health she is being suffering form the life threatening diseases like
diabetes type 1 and Osteoporosis which abounded her movability (Jordan, 2017). If a person
cannot move and work then it will put them in deep depression which results in lack of trust on
anyone as well as reduces their willingness to survive in the world. Thus, there are several
theories which are as follows:
General system theory: This system theory helps in making the adequate analysis over
the place, organisation, group and the environment where the individual belongs and have huge
influence of such place. In this case the social worker analyse the conditions, culture and the
social system of such unit which is reflecting in the behaviours of the person (Parker, 2017).
However, in this case Amina is living in totally the worst situation as she has locked herself in
the house and do not make visits to anyone her living place is not in proper condition as she
cannot move from one place to another which has created it as worst and unhealthy to have the
adequate survival. In accordance with theory the social workers will help her in context with
analysing her mental state and the reason behind her behaviour.
Psychodynamic theory: This theory is relevant with the psychology and the ego of an
individual. Therefore, it can be said that ego or emotions of a person plays the main role in terms
of building the personality and attitude towards any issue. It has been developed since the
childhood (Sterzing and et.al., 2017). Thus, it can be said that theory need deep analysis over the
individual behaviour as per his and her past life expression. In this case the social worker can be
make efforts to analyse the past trauma of Amina as well as the abuses she has faced in her
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lifespan. It will help her in placing attention on overcoming the ego and create the defence
mechanism that helps in healing the mental obstacles.
Social learning theory: this theory is relevant with the behaviours of an individual in
terms of examining them at various conditions. Here the social worker analyse the techniques
and behaviours of them towards any issue and operational activities (Littlewood, Glorieux and
Jönsson, 2017). This is known as the cognitive functioning where a carer understand the
cognitive structure and analyse the behaviours of patients towards various thoughts. In relation
with analysing the behaviour of Amina the social workers need to analyse her learning capacity
and the techniques to do any work. It will be helpful for them in terms of making the adequate
efforts and analysing the actual behavioural nature (Thompson, 2017).
Conflict theory: This can be understand as per the changes as been incurred in the
behaviour and way of living of an individual due to conflicts rises in the locality, environment
and society (Scott, 2017). Thus, such variations will be due surrounded by the society and
dominating power or community which has their own justice and rules. Therefore, such issues
create obstacle and the changes in the behaviours of an individual. Here the social worker aims at
reducing the grievances and barriers between such group and individuals (Barth, 2017).
Practice perspectives:
These are the techniques which are consisted of making the regular efforts in the
environment as well as analysing the current situations of the patients. Therefore, it helps the
social worker in becoming the experienced and it becomes easy for them to analyse the
environment in they lived which in turn helps them in facilitating the proper guidance to the
patients (Turner, 2017). However, there has been various theories and practices of social worker
under such categories as:
Ecosystems perspective: In this context ecosystems perspective lies over the thought that
all the problems are generated by transaction held between environment and individuals. There
will be obstacles which are being faced by a social worker in terms of remaining a person
behaviour or mental state (Terp and et.al., 2017). It will be due to the environment in which he or
she lives or the community and culture surrounded by them is not favourable. Therefore, in terms
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with understanding the mental state of an individual there are several factors which are need to
be considered by a social worker such as:
 The involvement of an individual in the families
 The existence of families in the neighbourhood and communities.
 The existence of families, individual and communities in a cultural or political
environment.
 The impacts of environment and culture over the individual choices, preferences and
beliefs.
Strengths Perspective: In this category where it has been analysed that every family,
group or individual has their own power and strength on which they had survived and overcome
difficulties (Gollust and et.al., 2017). Therefore, it will be helpful for the social workers in terms
of analysing the tough nature and the ability to overcome such problems on the daily basis. In
this case Amina as the strong nature and she is very tough because she has lost her husband and
her son as well as have been affected by various disease which do not offend her to give up.
Therefore, it can be said that she has willingness to make the adequate efforts in the survival.
Feminist Perceptive: In terms with this perspective the social workers make efforts to
bring equality, sovereignty and ring women empowerment which in turn very helpful for
removing the elements which are the main reason behind harassment (Harper, Davidson and
McClelland, 2017). It motivates women in terms of fight against the social rivalries and the
challenges in the daily life. Amina has Racially abused by her surroundings and in these regards
it will be beneficial in terms of motivating her to build the self strength that such irrelevant
things do not bother her.
Practice Models:
A part from the theoretical knowledge the influences of the practical results plays the
main role in terms of analysing the problems. There has been various practice models which are
based on various step by step practices and tat helps the social workers in terms of properly
addressing the issues. In the case of Amina it can be said that, she has had problems which are
social surroundings, her past life, her physical disability as well as various social factors which
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has bothered her in terms of mental stability (Carr and Lambert, 2017). However, the social
worker will help her in as per the several steps such as:
Problem solving: In these regards the \social accesses over the problems and obstacles
faced by an individual and helps the in understanding the environment as well as accepting the
truth. They present an effective solution, implicate them and analyse the outcomes. Thus, if there
is nay obstacle in such proposed solution then they make alternative of them and help the patient
(Mody and et.al., 2017). However, in this case Amina must have the regular influence of the
surrounding people which will definitely helps in healing her mental situations.
Centralising the tasks: It will be beneficial in terms of breaking down the problems into
several small task and motivating the patients to make necessary efforts in consideration with
attain such targets (Megele, 2017). It includes practices, rehearsals, deadlines and efforts to meet
such tasks. Amina will be motivated as to make the efforts in terms of improving the physical
health like allotting her the small tasks and motivating her to meet such targets.
Focused solutions: In this practice the social worker analyse the desired want of the
patient as well as examine the solutions to such problems. Therefore, after analysing the issues
these workers presents appropriate steps and way on which they will overcome such issues. In
this case Amina has the positive desire of being together with people such as her daughter, her
friends and well wishers (MacDonald-Wilson and et.al.,2017). On the other side she also wants
to overcome with the physical disability which has bothered her in moving from one place to
another. Here a social worker can be a motivator to her in terms of presenting the necessary steps
and ways on which she can overcome with her diseases and can have positive response from her
loved ones.
Narrative: This presents the framework where a social worker helps the patient to
express their own story and narrate all the situation. They reshape the story or we can say they re
author such story and re-examine, after analysing such story they facilitate the truth in front of
such individuals (Pocknell and et.al., 2017). Therefore, it helps them in analysing their own
situation and they will find the effective solutions on their own rather than depending over the
social worker's solutions to their problems. Here, Amina will narrate her story and analyse her
whole life span that will help her in determining what is desired and what will be achievable. She
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will be motivated in terms of resolving some issues and become mentally strong to handle the
further survival (Unicef, 2014).
Crisis: This technique is helpful as the social worker make effective solution and reduce
the impacts of the crisis that has bothered or victimised the patients (Beiser, 2009). It can be said
that this process is belongs to the mental healing which helps such individual to overcome with
depressions or stress (Jordan, 2017). Amina will be beneficial as if she will have the proper
guidance and the positive care that motivates her to overcome with the pain of her entire life.
Adult safeguarding, mental capacity and mental health
To help Amina in accordance with overcoming the mental illness there has been various
terms and techniques that helps patients like her to fetch the desired goals and overcome with
metal disability. However, it will be analysed as:
Adult Safeguarding: In accordance with the Mental capacity act 2005 which facilitated
the norms that every adult has rights to maker their own decision and live the life in the manner
they wanted to live. The individual will have the lack of capacity as if they are not capable of
making decision due to mental drawbacks such as stress, depressions and not adequate mental
health (Parker, 2017). Thus, it can be said that in these regards the social workers helps them as
to give safeguard to their problems. Which will be helpful in terms of taking the risks they want
to take as well as design the life in the manner they want to live (Adult safeguarding guidance -
mental capacity, 2014). Therefore, it can be said that it works as a motivator to them.
Mental capacity: By considering the ability of the person to make strong decision there
will be appointment of the person who helps them as well s guide them to make the proper
decision (Sterzing and et.al., 2017). These are the social workers which are working under the
Metal capacity act 2005 and following the norms and condition in such act. They keep all the
personal details of the patient very confidential and guide them to make positive efforts
(Littlewood, Glorieux and Jönsson, 2017).
Mental Health:There is need to analyse the mental health of individual as per their past
life and the nervous breakdown which has affected them in terms of making the adequate
decisions for life. Thus, the social worker will help Amina in terms of motivations and efforts to
overcome with mental and physical health (Thompson, 2017). In accordance with the past life it
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was very painful and drastic changes has been faced by her. She has survived and accepted the
truth and become the toughest lady but only thing which bothered was her physical weakness,
society and surrounding and the loneliness (Scott, 2017).
Approaches to Amina's support need
If I were with her I would make her accept the truth by understanding her mental
conditions and gave her the proper medication and diet which will be helpful for them in terms
of making the necessary efforts. In terms with her past life she has survived various threats such
as she lost her husband and son which will be the biggest shock of her life that puts her in
depressions. Thus, on that time she has controlled her emotions and handle the situation which
has motivated her to survive (Barth, 2017). Therefore, after passing so many year alone she got
affected by the various diseases like Diabetes and osteoporosis that reduces her mobility,
metabolism and the excessive medication led her to have memory lapse. She has been tortured
racially by group of people each time whenever she moves out for any work. In accordance with
such situations when has locked herself in the self imprisonment. Therefore, it can be said that
she has faced the great nervous breakdown which was affecting her physical as well as mental
health (Terp and et.al., 2017). I must say, if she will be surrounded by her loved one's like her
daughter and friends she will recover soon and it will help her in making necessary efforts to
over come such disability. There is requirement of a healthy environment, proper schedule,
appropriate diet and medication that will be beneficial in terms of improving her health. There is
need to give her small tasks and benchmarks over which she will make necessary efforts to
overcome her mental illness.
Consideration of the legal and ethical issues which includes in the care act 2014 and mental
capacity act 2005
Mental capacity Act, 2005:
In accordance with this legislation, a mentally ill person is not capable of making any
strong and valid decision for his/her life. In this regard, they have been facilitated with this act
that help them in making the appropriate decisions. It mainly helps the people who crosses the
age of 16 years and are capable of making the strong decisions (Gollust and et.al., 2017).
Therefore, the motive behind this act is that it protects and balance the individual rights to make
decisions. In the present scenario, it can be said that here Amina is suffering from various
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diseases as well as her mental health is also not in the favourable conditions. Thus, it can be said
that she will need the extra care and someone who will protect her emotions and herself in
decision making (Harper, Davidson and McClelland, 2017). However, there has been various
principles and rights which are being awarded to such individuals.
By considering the functions of this law is that there has been appointment of
professionals who help the person in terms of taking any decision. This can be Psychiatrists,
social worker, occupational therapists and psychologists which analyse the mental condition of
an individual and understand their pain and mental state (CONSENT, CAPACITY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY, 2012). This will be fruitful in terms of achieving their trust on them and
also brings adequate confidence and motivate to take the decision. In this case, Amina is a 71-
year old lady with disease like Diabetes and Osteoporosis on which she has to be depended over
regular medication and injections of insulin. Therefore, the medication relevant with pain killer
which usually consumed by her context with overcoming the pain of the bones occurs due to
Osteoporosis. Thus, such medication has made her addicted towards it and she cannot resist
having them. The social harassment has built up her becoming less social and present lack of
trust on her family members and friends.
Therefore, with the help of this act, the team of social workers will help her in terms of
making the proper decisions for her life as well as motivate her to make efforts in terms of
survival in this world. This act is also helpful in terms of protecting the person from the situation
when family members are not being supportive to them (Carr and Lambert, 2017). The
environment in the social care unit will help Amina as there are various patients like her and
even in the worst mental stated than her has made efforts to get recovered. Therefore, it will be
beneficial in terms of building the confidence in her. The framework of the social care unit is that
they protect the personal information of such people as to keep the information as confidential
which will be disclosed under several circumstances (Mody and et.al., 2017). However, this will
be disclosed if the adult is having serious harm to his health and mental state then the personal
informations will be disclosed otherwise its fully confidential as process.
Care Act 2014:
This act is relevant with the care and supportive facilities provided by care unit or carer.
It can be anyone in the family of friends who will become supportive to the patient in terms of
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making the adequate increment in the operations of the business (The Care Act: assessment and
eligibility, 2016). Thus, it can be said that with the help of such analysis. The motive behind this
act is to facilitate the guidelines, techniques to handle mentally ill patients as well as it will also
help them in well being. It is beneficial in setting out the rights of carers in terms of support and
assessment. This act facilitates the function in terms of making the appropriate analysis over the
living conditions of carer (Megele, 2017). The care can be anyone who crosses the age of 18
years and have willingness to be a carer. Therefore, this act protects their rights over having the
remunerations from such job, the willingness of such person and the environment they want to
work are to be considered by the court. However, in this case Amina has many friends and her
daughter who will be the carer but all of them refuses to took care of her as she is mentally not
capable as well as her behaviour towards them has been changes (MacDonald-Wilson and
et.al.,2017). Thus, it can be said that such changes has reflected the negative image of her in their
mind that nobody wants to took care of her hence, in this case the hospital has shifted her to the
social care unit where she will be treated well over her mental illness and have the adequate
increment in her mental state.
Considering the values and issues that might arises
If I were the social worker in this case I would have faced many issues such as firstly I
have to make many efforts in terms of achieving Amina's trust over me that I am not going to
harm her or harass her. Thus, will be helpful for me in terms of analysing the mental status of her
as well as her present willingness (Pocknell and et.al., 2017). It will be challenging in terms of
fetching the trust and making necessary efforts to present her effective solution. There will be
some difficulties in terms of motivating her to take proper medications and diet that is necessary
for improving her health. It will be hard as the recovery will take more efforts and time as well as
there will be various challenges which will affect the operations to make her capable of fighting
the life obstacles (Unicef, 2014).
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