The permeation of social work across the globe has seen it morph into a unique discipline with specific standard operating procedures. Among the most integral aspect is the development and implementation of policy frameworks that are feasible and complement the work done by agents on the ground (Negi & Furman, 2010). The whole idea behind succinctly spelling out the policy that would be implemented at any given moment has more to do with the modus operandi that would be put in place for the posterity. A common thread among the policies implemented is the fact that they focus more on the people since the whole idea is to create a structure that ultimately suits them the best. The purpose of this essay is to provide a summary and reflection of four essays presenting the different faces of policy in practicing social work.
In Harry Ferguson’s article dubbed, “What social workers do in performing child protection work: evidence from research into face-to-face practice,” the author focuses on the pivotal role played by social workers whenever child protection services are in play. Social workers are expected to work within the confines of the law and their mandate, even when it is clear that their work may involve more than just routine practice. Ferguson outlines the host of practices that are a common feature during these routine face-to-face interactions between the social workers and their subjects. In cases such as these, the social worker also doubles up as an investigator tasked with ensuring that they evaluate the conditions under which the child is living under and whether or not they can thrive (Ferguson, 2014). Similarly, Jackie Sanders and Robyn Munford seek to delve into the subject of universal diversity in “Embracing the Diversity of Practice: Indigenous Knowledge and Mainstream Social Work Practice.” In practicing their work, social workers often grapple with coming across communities from a diverse setting. They, therefore, need to ensure that they have the necessary tools in their arsenal that would enable them to carry out their work without any hiccups (Payne, 2016). In other instances a community’s culture is utilized in the best interest of all those involved, setting a precedent that is then applied from that point onwards. A case in point is the Maori framework that has been in use in the mainstream and serves as the embodiment of social work practice (Munford & Sanders, 2011). These philosophies are then molded and fashioned into practices that be implemented when dealing with a diverse population.
In “Finding Meaningful Support: Young People’s Experiences of “Risky” Environments” Jackie Sanders and Robyn Munford seek to explore cases involving children who often find themselves living in conditions that do not promote their growth. The psychosocial development theory has over the years been implemented in social work with the view that I will, in the long run, influence the manner in which social work is carried out (Munford & Sanders, 2016). The authors make these specific group of children the focus of their study since their vulnerability qualifies them as an at-risk population requiring immediate intervention. Children are most impressionable when young, which is why social interventions serve as feasible options. In “Life after Growing Up in Care: Informing Policy and Practice through Research” Jim Goddard and Suellen Murray focuses on the challenges faced by children making a transition from living in care to the point where they now enjoy independence. At the center of this drastic change are social workers who painstakingly ensure that these young adults can now acclimatize to their new environment and life and make a successful changeover.
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