Advocating for Human Rights in Social Work Practice: A Critical Review of a Child Welfare Case Assignment Ireland

Objective:

Using one example of practice from your social work placement, critically review how, in light of your additional learning about human rights on the module, you might have achieved a more explicit human rights approach in your work. You are expected to draw from THREE sources of learning for this essay:

• Learning from reading and lectures on Human Rights Instruments, Laws, Processes, and Practices.
• Learning from group work on ‘Evidencing Human Rights in Practice’ within the module.
• Learning from your own practice experience and knowledge from your experience of social work practice (through your course to date).

Guidance:

You should provide a brief summary of a practice example, including the outcome that was achieved. Then, review this case to consider how you could have taken a more explicit human rights practice approach. Consider in this review how the outcome could have been improved through more effective use of specific relevant conventions, laws, and/or principles of human rights. You should also pay attention to how you would evidence the human rights practice and outcomes from your suggested interventions.

Assessment Criteria:

• A. Ability to identify specific human rights issues in your practice example (25%)
• B. Ability to apply critical understanding and knowledge of Human Rights Instruments, Laws, Processes, and Practices (25%)
• C. Ability to ‘evidence’ human rights in practice and to show critical awareness of challenges and opportunities relating to ‘evidence-based human rights practice’ (30%)
• D. Assignment presentation, including writing, grammar, references with a particular emphasis on the accuracy of information and citations for sources of instruments, laws, and related human rights mechanisms (20%)

Example from Placement:

Practice Example Summary:

My first critical incident involved a referral made by An Garda Síochána through the Tusla Portal, reporting a child welfare concern. During a scheduled raid by An Garda Síochána on a property, illegal substances were found. After a search on TCM records, I discovered that previous referrals existed on this family.

Initially, I contacted the reporter (An Garda Síochána) to get more information about the raid and their specific child welfare concerns. Then, I reached out to Michelle* to discuss the referral and hear her account of the incident. Unfortunately, the contact number on the report was incorrect, and I was unsuccessful in reaching Michelle. After several failed attempts to contact her, I sent a letter requesting that Michelle attend the Tusla offices at the specified date and time.

When Michelle didn’t attend the appointment, the next step was an unannounced home visit. Michelle* resides in homeless accommodation with her son, who has additional needs. When we arrived at the property, I was left standing outside for approximately 8 minutes before a resident answered the door. Inside, the staff member was sitting in a dark living room with the curtains drawn, and the kitchen was locked, accessible only to staff. Michelle resides in a small B&B room with her son.

I suggested we move the meeting to the Tusla offices later that afternoon to discuss the referral.

Deconstruction:

Upon reflection, I was astounded by the normality of Michelle’s circumstances. It raised questions about my role as a social worker, as Michelle’s situation seemed to be completely out of her control. I spoke with my practice teacher, who had worked with Michelle before. My practice teacher expressed concern about Michelle’s appearance. I felt naïve for not considering the bigger picture and reviewing past referrals. I should have had more understanding of Michelle’s circumstances and the emotional impact they had on her.

Confrontation:

During supervision, I discussed with my practice teacher the importance of social justice for Michelle and her daughter, Marie*, who has an ASD diagnosis. I realized they had been denied basic human rights, having lived in homeless accommodation for nearly three years. Social justice plays a vital role in promoting equality, so my practice teacher and I discussed how we could challenge the social injustices Michelle had faced. To address this, my practice teacher wrote an email to the organization providing services at the homeless accommodation. I also spoke with the team leader from the long-term team, who had experience advocating for families in the disability sector. She advised me on the appropriate professionals to contact for support for Marie.

This led me to review the Disability Act 2005 and consult the citizen’s information for legal advice to support my advocacy role. My responsibility was to contact the services connected to Marie and ensure they were availing of all necessary resources to support her. Unfortunately, I discovered another injustice: the organization refused to provide home tuition for Marie due to the lack of a permanent residence. Despite this, I was able to secure 1:1 home tuition through another organization, with sessions every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Reconstruction:

Reflecting on Michelle’s living conditions, I was deeply moved by the hardships of homelessness. My feelings of empathy and frustration led me to advocate for Michelle and Marie. I maintained hope for Michelle, who had been homeless for the past three years and was struggling with her mental health. Grief and loss theory (Kubler-Ross, 1969) became evident in my interaction with Michelle, as she had experienced significant losses, including the loss of her previous life and her relationship with her children, now living with her mother.

More support is required for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent homes. I suggested a money management course to help families budget for household bills. My role as a student social worker was critical in advocating for Michelle and Marie. The organization responded proactively to my queries, providing funding to purchase sensory items for Marie’s sensory room.

Conclusion:

This assignment critically evaluates how human rights can be better applied in social work practice. Through my advocacy for Michelle and Marie, I aimed to ensure that their basic human rights were met, especially in terms of housing, education, and emotional well-being. By using relevant human rights instruments, such as the Disability Act 2005, and following legal advice, I was able to make a positive impact on their lives, though much more support is needed for families in similar situations.