SOCIAL WORK:- I would like my work to have no introduction or conclusion as it is part of a patch work text with a

theme of AUTONOMY VS PROTECTION

all references have to be in text and listed afterwards

PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS SURROUNDING THEME OF AUTONOMY VS PROTECTION Examine the ethical and practical

dilemmas experienced by social work professionals when carrying out statutory duties, enforcing the law and

implementing policy initiatives (- with specific reference to issues of power, oppression, inequality, protection of

the vulnerable, and the distribution of limited resources.)

Display analytical and critical analysis skills.

Look at the macro dilemmas and a micro dilemmas, such as:-

– BIG SOCIETY minimising statutory involvement, maximising the private and voluntary sector.
-SOCIAL EXCLUSION
-FORTH COMING CARE ACT 2014, discuss what act addresses. eg replacing all adult social care legislation etc. 1st

adult safeguarding
Tie in with Learning Disabilities.
Is care act going address current dilemmas by providing DUTIES
is it going to replace Fair access to care with national eligibility criteria. Is that good/bad??
Adult Social Care in Essex is outsourced
Duty of care – resources, money, policy drivers.

are financial cut backs impacted on Fair access to care criteria? how does this impact the person in the case study??
subsequently would a social worker exaggerate the degree of help a person requires in order to meet the criteria

under fair access to care??
Where does there ACCOUNTABILITY lay- the agency, professional conduct or the service user.

Any other professional or possible personal dilemmas.
WHILST UK BOOKS AND JOURNALS ARE PREFERRED REFERENCES, THE CARE ACT 2014 IS VERY CURRENT AND THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER,

WWW.COMMUNITYCARE.CO.UK, WWW.MENCAP.CO.UK, WWW.BILD.CO.UK AND OTHER CREDIBLE SITES SUCH AS THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL

WORK, BASW AN THE HCPC ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE INTERNET SOURCES.
Case Summary Report

The following is the case study which needs to be referred back and related to to as much as possible
Date of report: – Tuesday 8th April 2014

Prepared by: –

Details of Author: – I am currently on my first 100 day placement, at East Essex Living. I am part of a small

established support team and have a dual role within the service, of a student social worker and joint key worker for

three service users.

Details of Agency: – East Essex Living is a registered housing provider and social regeneration charity. It is a

subsidiary of a larger organisation operating supported living across three services in Mid-Essex. There are 20

service users who rent properties. Each service user has to meet the current criteria of having a learning disability

or be over the age of 65 and wish to live in a supported living environment. The main funding source for individual

support is now provided from Working Age Adults, direct purchase of support, and funding from the Independent Living

Fund.

Service user details: –

Name: – Thelma Langley

Address: – 123 Hardy Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex, CM78 9BS

Gender: – Female Ethnicity: – White British

Current status: – Widowed

Sources of Information: – Information has been gathered and collated from relevant case files, inclusive of East

Essex Livings current support plans, risk assessments and service user daily-recorded diaries. Also through speaking

directly to the service user, her family, East Essex Living key/support workers and from the author when observing

through direct support. Further information has been gathered from key professionals including community nurses,

physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

The service user has not seen this report, due to it being anonymised and used solely for the purpose of an academic

piece of work.

Case History: – Thelma was diagnosed with a moderate learning disability at a young age. She lived in foster care and

married young and is now a widower Thelma’s husband passed away in 2002. The community nurse reported that the

service user’s husband played a very traditional role. He was the main provider, paid all bills, done all the

shopping, and most of the cooking. When John (husband) passed away Thelma found it increasingly difficult to manage

and subsequently Thelma has come to live in supported housing.

Presenting Needs:- Thelma received 15 hours support per week funded by Supporting People, however from the 6th

January 2014 this was reduced. Funding transferred to Working Age Adults and Thelma’s support hours were reduced to,

access to 7 core hours per week and 1 hour per week floating support. The core hours form part of a 24 hour per day,

7 day a week core support available to all services users in the service.

Occupational therapists are in the process of completing updated functional assessments. Interim Report suggest that

the service user is highly vulnerable financially, has reduced functional abilities surrounding cooking, and appears

to be unable to follow simple instructions.

The floating support service is closing Thelma’s case, due to her needs being on going. They have reported that they

have been supporting Thelma with the aim of developing greater independence. This has mainly focused on developing

and maintaining skills to use the microwave in order to cook her daily meals.

Safeguarding and Risk:- Thelma presents very able, independent and is happy to engage. However it has been recorded

by key/support workers and observed by the author that she regularly eats out of date food or food, which has been

incorrectly stored e.g. frozen food kept in the freezer. This presents the risk of serious risk of Thelma becoming

ill due to eating out of date food.

In addition to this when making purchases Thelma offers her purse cashiers to pay for items and doesn’t check her

change. This leaves Thelma at significant risk of exploitation or error which may lead to her becoming financially

vulnerable.

Current Support:- Thelma currently has access to a core service within the agency. This support incorporates

assistance with managing tenancy related issues, mail, daily medication, medication ordering, a reactive service when

required and access to a member of staff (sleep in) via home alarm between 11pm – 7am.

Outstanding Concerns:- If Thelma does not receive care at the level previously received then the safeguarding

concerns will remain potentially leaving Thelma vulnerable to harm and financial lose.