The main theme of the reading in this chapter was that the social worker’s place is between their clients and systems that play an important role for people. To be effective, the worker’s role is a kind of intermediary in which they represent the interaction between their clients and systems or their representatives. At the same time, the possibilities are shown within which the employee can act professionally, thereby improving the policies of the social agency (Shulman, 2012). The chapter refers to the profession of a social worker in terms of reflecting the necessary skills and systems for successful interaction with social policymakers. Thus, the fact is shown that in different situations it is possible to use a changeable methodology, including open confrontation or client protection. The chapter more fully covers the topics studied in the lesson, including overcoming initial negative feelings. The textbook describes approaches and systems in which the employee can focus on the client and the agency, overcoming apathy and frustration.
From the point of view of my internship group, reading is important in terms of interaction with students. I understand that when communicating with children and their parents, one must take into account their personal problems, as well as difficulties in social interaction, reflecting the difficulties of the family. Knowledge of the topic helped me be most fully prepared for the problems I may encounter while practicing in elementary school. I learned how to direct my feelings in the right way and identify myself not with the students and their problems, but with the system as a whole.
The topic reminded me that it is always better to rely on your professional skills and make decisions on your own, depending on the situation in which the student and their parents find themselves. I applied what I read during my internship when I attended a staff and parent meeting. The staff is part of a system to build trust with, so I helped parents better communicate their thoughts and issues. Moreover, I have established communication between children and parents, by talking about the fact that they are a family, where everyone should be ready to help. I will put into practice the statement I read that confrontation is a response to anger. As a rule, children cannot control their anger and, in this case, it is important to examine their feelings before overreacting to a child’s outburst.
Reference
Shulman, L. (2012). The skills of helping individuals, families, groups and communities. Cengage Learning.