Lyn Romeo: I’m delighted to host this weblog from Gerry Nosowska, founder and Director of Effective Practice, which supported the Social Work with Older Individuals analysis challenge. For too lengthy, this very important space of follow has been largely unseen.
Actual enhancements within the lives of older folks, together with outcomes that matter to them, come up out of fine social work follow. Hopefully, as we construct a stronger proof base, extra social staff will probably be deployed to work with and alongside older folks and their carers, utilizing their distinctive mixture of data, expertise and values.
A rising and valued demographic
Older folks characterize the most important group of individuals accessing social care companies. Nonetheless, most who want social care help won’t ever see a social employee. For each referral into grownup companies there are 5 occasions fewer social staff than for kids’s companies. And, though many companies have specialist groups for adults with studying disabilities or psychological well being issues, there are fewer devoted groups for older folks.
After I was at college 20 years in the past, I used to be one of many few folks in my social work cohort who actively needed to work with older folks. For some motive, in all probability to do with the unbelievable life tales of my Nan, and my English, Polish and Irish nice aunts, I used to be drawn to working with folks in later life.
I by no means regretted entering into that space of social work and now we’ve the Social Work with Older People research findings to exhibit comprehensively the fascination, significance and fantastic thing about social work with older folks.
I exploit the phrase ‘magnificence’ as a result of the analysis does present the fantastic thing about human relationships in occasions of battle. It reveals the best way the human contact, backed up by experience and ethics, can help somebody to remodel their expertise and future.
Albert, one of many older carers within the research, put it completely when he talked about his social employee:
‘[It was] like speaking to a buddy you’ve identified for a while… And I feel that helps her rather a lot… I wasn’t afraid of any of the questions she requested or any of the concepts she put ahead. I might see the sense of her questioning and the sense of her proposals.’
Constructing connections and belief
The analysis appeared in-depth at 17 conditions the place ten completely different social staff supported older folks, carers and households. Over a six month interval, researchers noticed and interviewed social staff, older folks and their households, and different professionals concerned.
The outcomes confirmed social staff had been utilizing specialist data associated to later life, professional private expertise and a dedication to upholding rights and dignity. Their capabilities straight led to improved wellbeing, together with acceptable care, help for carers and entry to monetary assist.
Nonetheless, additionally they offered direct therapeutic help to older folks and their households by the best way they labored. The relationships and belief they established lowered emotional misery and offered reassurance. This was regardless of the analysis taking place throughout an exceptionally arduous winter for grownup social care and the NHS.
Social staff had been hampered by lack of employees, lack of social care assets, clunky processes and irritating techniques. Nonetheless, they remained, as one mentioned ‘that hopeful particular person.’ They supported one another and obtained sound skilled back-up from their managers. Above all, they beloved their work.
The analysis recognized what older folks and carers valued: belief, continuity, data and can-do attitudes – and the way social staff may be enabled to supply this. We have now produced a coverage briefing and will probably be holding a webinar for Principal Social Workers and different leaders to speak by way of the implications for deploying and supporting social staff.
A rewarding space of follow
We’re additionally creating assets for social work schooling programmes and persevering with skilled improvement that showcase the ability and affect of social work with older folks.
As our inhabitants continues to develop and reside longer there will probably be many extra older folks with wealthy histories and sophisticated lives. They need to have entry to a social employee once they want them most. And so we wish to encourage them to enter this endlessly fascinating space of follow.
As Maria says of social work with older folks:
‘I don’t suppose we’re fairly as glamorous [as other services]. I don’t suppose the complexity of what we do is recognised, as a result of… the complexity of human relationships… don’t cease simply since you grow old.’
Let’s do all we will to verify social work with older folks receives the popularity it deserves.
