Introduction
A social work perspective is a unique lens for viewing and understanding social issues. It is based on the core values of social justice, service, dignity and worth of the individual, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Social work applies the principles and knowledge of social sciences to help individuals, families, groups, and communities improve their well-being and functioning. At its core, social work is about helping people in need. That could include those affected by poverty, homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other social issues.
Social workers strive to empower individuals and communities to achieve positive outcomes and make meaningful societal contributions. Therefore, the case of Ms. Anderson and the hemophilia of her twin sons illustrates the importance of a social work perspective in providing the best possible quality of life for those with chronic conditions. Ms. Anderson and her sons’ predicament demonstrates the need for social workers to be involved in such cases to ensure the best possible outcomes for those affected. This research paper will explore some of the social work perspectives in regard to the presented Ms. Anderson’s case study.
Ms. Anderson’s Case Study
Distinct Roles of Each of the Professionals in The Case Study
The roles of the professionals in this scenario were distinct and complementary. The RN provided medical services to address the physical needs of the family. In contrast, the MSW social worker offered psychosocial support to assist with the coping and emotional needs of living with hemophilia. The RN helped the family understand how to care for the twins, including infusion/hemophilia education and pain quantification, which enabled them to make informed decisions about their care. The MSW social worker provided the family with strategies to manage the stress of caring for the twins, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and behavior management, which are used to assist the children. Additionally, the MSW social worker provided grief counseling regarding the nephew, which was an important aspect of the family’s psychosocial care.
The exactly defined roles of the specialists in this scenario allowed the family to receive comprehensive care that addressed their physical and psychological needs. The RN was able to provide medical services to ensure that the twins’ physical needs were met. At the same time, the MSW social worker provided psychosocial assistance to help the family manage the emotional and psychological facets of living with hemophilia. Interdisciplinary care of this kind is crucial for families dealing with chronic health conditions such as hemophilia, as it allows families to access holistic care that addresses their physical, emotional, and mental well-being (Browne, 2019). The distinct roles of the professionals also allowed for a more individualized approach to care, as each professional could focus on the family’s specific needs.
In addition, the roles of the RN and the MSW social worker differ in how they approach the family’s situation. The RN will likely approach the family’s situation from a medical perspective (Schot et al., 2019). In contrast, the MSW social worker will likely approach it from a more holistic perspective that considers the various aspects of the family’s social and emotional needs. The RN may focus on the physical interventions to manage the twins’ hemophilia. At the same time, the MSW social worker may take a more comprehensive view of the family’s situation and provide interventions that address the emotional and social needs of the family.
Specific Factors in the Scenario That Necessitated a Social Work Perspective
Various aspects of the situation required the inclusion of a social work perspective. Firstly, the family in the case faced a tough situation with their twin children suffering from hemophilia. This condition can be very debilitating to the children and the family as a whole. With the father absent, the strained relationship between the father and the mother, and the limited family support, the family needed additional care to help them manage their children’s condition. In this case, a social work perspective was necessary to help the family cope with their challenges. A social worker is trained to assess the family’s situation, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and develop a plan of action to help them cope (Donelan et al., 2019).
The social worker can provide the family with resources and support to help them navigate their challenges (Donelan et al., 2019). That could include connecting the family with support groups, providing financial assistance, connecting the family with medical professionals, and providing counseling. Through these interventions, the social worker can support the family in better managing their children’s hemophilia and associated challenges.
Furthermore, the social worker can assist the family in developing coping strategies for handling the stress related to the situation. That could include teaching them coping skills and stress management techniques, as well as helping them to develop communication strategies to help them better manage their relationships (Browne, 2019). They can also aid the family in developing a plan for the children’s long-term care and provide support and guidance to help the family make decisions about the children’s care.
Secondly, the children were often not well-behaved when providers were in the home to administer infusion or training, which could have hindered the effectiveness of the medical interventions. Therefore, when it comes to medical interventions, they must be administered correctly and with the patient’s best interests in mind. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to achieve when the patient is a child. A major problem with children’s behavior is that they can be unpredictable. In some cases, they may be cooperative and compliant with a provider’s instructions and requests, while in others, they may be disruptive or unruly, which can create a challenging environment for providers who must remain focused on the task.
Moreover, the presence of a provider in the home can be a source of stress and anxiety for children, leading to disruptive or uncooperative behavior. Children may not understand why the provider is in their home and may not be comfortable with the presence of a stranger. That can lead to them acting out and being difficult to deal with, making it difficult for the provider to administer the intervention properly. Finally, children may also be uncooperative if they do not understand why the intervention is necessary or are scared of the procedure. For example, a child may not want an infusion because they do not understand why it is necessary or is scared of needles. That can lead to them being uncooperative, making it challenging for healthcare providers to implement the intervention effectively.
Specific Social Work Skills the Social Worker Employed in the Situation
In the case study, the social worker employed various skills to increase the effectiveness of interdisciplinary collaboration. The social worker demonstrated the ability to provide psychosocial assessment, linkages to community resources, and interventions to address the family’s psychosocial needs (Wei & Watson, 2019). They also providedmindfulness-based stress reduction and behavior management techniques are used to support the children’s needs, and grief counseling. Additionally, the social worker provided cognitive restructuring regarding the needle phobia and stress reduction via mindfulness-based techniques.
Furthermore, to promote cooperation with the healthcare practitioner, the social worker also used relationship- and communication-building techniques. Additionally, to properly analyze the family’s needs and create interventions to address them, the social worker tried to build a trusting connection with Ms. Anderson and the other family members. Therefore, the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary partnership depended on the social worker’s capacity to foster dialogue between Ms. Anderson and the healthcare professional (Wei & Watson, 2019). The social worker was able to assist the medical professional in comprehending the psychosocial requirements of the family and in delivering the necessary interventions.
Finally, the social worker’s ability to set goals and objectives and to track progress was essential to the success of the collaboration. The social worker was able to set goals for Ms. Anderson and the family, such as increasing their knowledge base of the bleeding disorder, managing the needle phobia, and reducing stress with mindfulness-based techniques. She could also track the family’s progress and adjust her interventions as needed.
Additional Skills, Resources, Or Services the Social Worker Could Have Offered
In addition to the social work skills used by the MSW in this circumstance, the social worker may have offered this family other skills, resources, or services to improve results. For example, the social worker could have encouraged the family by advocating for the family to receive additional services from the Medicaid program. That may include increased nursing visits or the family receiving other services, such as parenting classes or financial assistance (Wei & Watson, 2019).
The social worker could also have provided referrals to other community resources, such as food banks or housing assistance programs, to help the family with their other needs (Wei & Watson, 2019). Additionally, the social worker could have supported Ms. Anderson in starting her own business, such as helping her find resources to fund the business or finding mentors to help guide her in setting up the business. These additional skills, resources, and services could have further enhanced the family’s outcomes.
Conclusion
The case of Ms. Anderson and her sons’ hemophilia shows how a social work perspective can be invaluable in improving the quality of life for those with chronic conditions. Social workers can provide the practical and emotional support needed to help families manage these conditions and ensure the best possible outcomes. That underscores the importance of social workers in cases such as these and highlights the need for greater access to social work services for those with chronic conditions. For instance, the distinct roles of the professionals in this scenario allowed for comprehensive and individualized care for the family. The RN provided medical services, while the MSW social worker provided psychosocial services. This type of interdisciplinary care is essential for families with chronic illnesses, as it enables them to receive comprehensive care that considers their physical, psychological, and emotional needs.
Furthermore, the family in the scenario faced a difficult situation that necessitated a social work perspective. Through proper assessment and interventions, the social worker can help the family manage their children’s hemophilia and other challenges. The social worker can also aid the family in developing strategies for dealing with the stress of the situation and provide guidance and support to help them make decisions about their children’s long-term care.
References
Browne, T. (2019). Social work roles and healthcare settings. Handbook of Health Social Work, 21–37. Web.
Donelan, K., Chang, Y., Berrett-Abebe, J., Spetz, J., Auerbach, D. I., Norman, L., & Buerhaus, P. I. (2019). Care management for older adults: the roles of nurses, social workers, and physicians. Health Affairs, 38(6), 941–949. Web.
Schot, E., Tummers, L., & Noordegraaf, M. (2019). Working on working together. a systematic review on how healthcare professionals contribute to interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 1–11. Web.
Wei, H., & Watson, J. (2019). Healthcare interprofessional team members’ perspectives on human caring: A directed content analysis study. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1), 17–23. Web.