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Social work support for employment of people with learning disabilities: findings from the English Jobs First demonstration sites
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, HARRIS Jess
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 17(2), 2017, pp.167-185.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: This article brings together two key themes in recent public policy in England affecting social work practice: the value of having a paid job for social inclusion and increasing self-worth, and the personalisation of public services. The article draws on a mixed method evaluation of Jobs First, which was a government-funded demonstration site project that aimed to show how personal budgets (a key mechanism for personalisation) could be used by people with learning disabilities, often with their families, to purchase employment support. The evaluation involved secondary analysis of case record data and 142 semi-structured interviews with a wide range of participants (we mainly draw on 79 interviews with professionals for this article). Jobs First is placed within the frame of Active Labour Market Policy. Findings: The attitudes of social workers to Jobs First were broadly positive, which was an important factor supporting employment outcomes. However, social workers’ involvement was often limited to a coordinating role, undertaking basic assessments linked to resource allocation and ensuring that support plans, which had often been developed by non-social work practitioners, were ‘signed off’ or agreed by the local authority. Applications: The study points to important elements of the role of social workers in this new field of practice and explores potential tensions that might emerge. It highlights a continuing theme that social workers are playing more of a coordinating, managing role, rather than working directly with individuals to support their choices. (Publisher abstract)
Helping or hindering in adult safeguarding: an investigation of practice
- Authors:
- STEVENS Martin, MARTINEAU Stephen, NORRIE Caroline, MANTHORPE Jill
- Publisher:
- King's College London. Social Care Workforce Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 104
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines current safeguarding practice in England where access to an adult at risk is obstructed by a third party and explores views about whether social workers (and others) need more legal powers. This study focused on adults who are able to make decisions – people who have ‘mental capacity’ – as there are laws covering people who are not able to make decisions. The study found that while problems with getting to talk to adults who appeared to be at risk of harm were common, most are resolved by good social work practice, creativity and persistence. However, in a small number of cases, gaining any access proves very difficult and sometimes impossible. In these cases, legal intervention is sometimes required, but sometimes, no access is achieved. Most of the social workers and older and disabled people who were interviewed or surveyed thought that, on balance, there should be additional legal powers for social workers, including a power of entry. The study concluded that without greater knowledge about the size and nature of the problem – and therefore the costs to local authorities and the outcomes for those involved – policy options may be limited. One option proposed was to ask local authorities to count the number of cases of sustained obstruction. This would need to define terms like sustained obstruction or serious problems. Increasing the scope of current practice guidance, particularly in relation to multi-agency working, was another policy option outlined by the research. (Edited publisher abstract)