Week 7-9 Using Nga takepu lens, critique the role of the professional social worker within your placement organisation/community

Currently within Taikura Trust I have been told there is no place for social workers role or title within the organization.  This conversation came about as I could see the need for social workers within the disability coordination service sector, so approached my manager to have the korero.

I explained I was coming up to the end of my Bicultural Bachelor of Social Services and would like to move to a social workers role in Taikura Trust from a case manager title, as I felt the presence of social workers within the organization would be beneficial to the disability community we support.  Case managers do a similar role, but the connections and networks social workers can offer is priceless.  Their training allows them to listen, support and connect Whanau, Hapu,  & Iwi to access resources, benefits and alternative accommodation outside of government, contacted providers.

Case managers have large caseloads and don't have the capacity to fully engage with Whanau, Hapu & Iwi giving justice to the people living daily with cognitive and physical disabilities.  Social workers are trained, skilled PR actioners committed to social justice and human rights.

Not all people living with a disability want to be placed or need to be placed in residential housing under a provider or attend vocational programs or need a support worker that changes on the daily, many people living with disability want consistency, structure to live like everyone else, pay their bills, rent, be employed, get married, raise a family or just have someone to listen and chat too.

Taikura Trust is in high need for skilled social workers to connect Whanau, Hapu, Iwi to the disability services available to them, to advocate and share the knowledge regarding access funding availability and advocacy to promote mana enhancing supports.  To keep networks and organizations connected to fill the gaps in social services between different organizations, government and NGO's, creating opportunities for the vulnerable.


Comments

  1. Elias MartisNovember 27, 2022 at 7:54 PM

    Good reflections. The roles and functions social workers play are varied and multifarious. Global definition of social works assists us in identifying these.

    ReplyDelete

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