Social Work and Mental Health: Richmond Wellbeing Reflection

This report critically reflects on the organizational structure of the Richmond Wellbeing mental health recovery organization in Australia, highlighting its effectiveness in delivering quality services and its impact on the author's understanding of organizational chains of command and the four levels of care assessment. The report also analyzes the significant role of social workers within the organization, emphasizing their responsibilities in improving the quality of life and well-being of service users and their contributions to treatment planning. Furthermore, it explores the divisions and use of power within the Richmond Wellbeing, focusing on legitimate power, matrix structures, and team dynamics, and how these elements contribute to the provision of effective services to individuals with mental health challenges. The author reflects on the challenges faced while working in the organization and how the experience contributed to their professional development.

CRITICAL REFLECTION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Critically reflect on the organizational structure of a mental health recovery organization in
Australia.......................................................................................................................................1
2. Critically reflect on the social work role within the Richmond Wellbeing organisation........1
3.Critically reflect on divisions and use of power within the Richmond Wellbeing organisation
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REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3
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1.Critically reflect on the organizational structure of a mental health recovery organization in
Australia
At the time of working in Richmond Wellbeing, I analysed that organisational structure
was effective and efficient in order to deliver quality services to service users. There is
significant relationship between organisational structure and effectiveness (Healy, 2014). Each
level of the firm allows efficient management of hospital departments. Further, structure also
assisted me to understand the organisational chain of commands. I identified that there were four
level of assessment for quality of care at Richmond Wellbeing organisation such as structural,
processual, outcome and attitudinal. It is one of the effective models which can be used for
developing a criterion for effectiveness which is specific to the psychiatry department in this
organisation.
In mental health care organisation, I identified that there were two keys effectiveness that
was developed in which one was to measure the patient care functions and another one is to
assess administrative functions. I learned that Richmond Wellbeing organisational structure was
designed in such a manner that patients could easily receive quality services on time without any
delay.
Initially, I faced difficulty while working within the Richmond Wellbeing because of its
lack of understanding of organisational structure. However, Richmond Wellbeing is operating at
a larger scale due to which its structure was quite complex. But each and every operation was
carried out in a systematic manner due to which chances of mismanagement or negligence was
totally avoided. It was a great experience to work in this organisation and helped me to develop
my knowledge and skills regarding the ways of working and providing treatment to all the
patients (Richmond Wellbeing., 2017).
2. Critically reflect on the social work role within Richmond Wellbeing organisation
I identified that social worker played a significant role within the Richmond Wellbeing
organisation. I analysed that social workers were highly trained professionals who worked to
improve the quality of life and wellbeing by using different practices, research work,
intervention etc. They were dedicated towards the pursuit of social justice and strive to assist
those who were affected because of poverty, disabilities etc.
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While working as a social worker, its important for me to understand the patient’s issues in
depth and provided them treatment accordingly. I learned that social worker provided an
important contribution to the field through maintaining a dual focus on both individual and
family contexts. A social worker’s role is to analyse whether changes are needed to occur at an
individual level as well as in other domains (Davies, 2017).
They also dealt with different mentally ill patients who became aggressive sometimes and
can physically harm the social workers. Therefore, I understood that to being a social worker, it
is important to have an extensive knowledge of human behaviour and development as well as
emphasis is on the cultural, social ways through which an interaction can be done.
In an organisation, when client completes the evaluation process then a social worker must
develop a treatment plan. Entire treatment plan was proposed which was based on patient’s
specific concerns and problems. I identified that role of a social worker is tough because they
daily have to deal with mentally patient within Richmond Wellbeing.
3. Critically reflect on divisions and use of power within the Richmond Wellbeing organisation
I learned that division is known as interest group which is organised by members within
the firm. There are few who represents it as subdisciplines of psychology such as social or
clinical and others lead to focus on topical areas like aging, ethnic minorities etc (Vandewalle,
Debyser and Verhaeghe, 2016). I identified that there are different types of power which are used
within the firm.
At Richmond Wellbeing organisation, I analysed that legitimate power which is known
as formal power and authority lawfully approved to the manager in the charter by the
organisation’s peers. This power can easily be delegated through written and verbal contract and
it also outlines the manager’s responsibilities.
Based on this, manager has power to delegate work according to their skills and
knowledge. I analysed that power is in the hands of a senior authority as they can make decisions
without discussing with others. Matrix structure is adopted by organisation in which team
members are allowed to share information more readily across task boundaries. It also allows for
specialisation which can increase the in-depth knowledge regarding the ways of working and
treating mental patients. Within the Richmond wellbeing, there is a team with mutual
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understanding by their own ways and culture. There are different cultural group where people
work together so that effective services can be provided to service users (Fook, 2015).
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Healy, K., 2014. Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Vandewalle, J., Debyser, B., and Verhaeghe, S., 2016. Peer workers’ perceptions and
experiences of barriers to implementation of peer worker roles in mental health services:
A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 60, pp.234-250.
Davies, L., 2017. Social work in a corporate era: Practices of power and resistance. Routledge.
Fook, J., 2015. Reflective practice and critical reflection. Handbook for practice learning in
social work and social care, pp.440-454.
Online
Richmond Wellbeing., 2017[Online] Available through: <https://www.rw.org.au/about-us/>
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