Introduction This unit asks the reader to consider the experience of grief and bereavement and in particular the extent to which grieving people need professional help. The unit considers the evidence for the effects of grief and the extent to which current ways of responding are helpful. This unit is an adapted extract from the Open University course Death and dying
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3 When grief goes wrong Most people experiencing a grief reaction do not need specific professional help, although everyone could probably do with as much support as they can get from friends and family. Indeed, labelling someone as ‘bereaved’ and therefore by definition different, and possibly in need of some form of intervention, may in itself be harmful. But sometimes the usual sequence of events does not go to plan; people may develop an excessively severe or extremely long-term reaction to their bereavement
1 Is grief a medical problem? Grief is a fertile area for debate and controversy within health care professions, and its significance as something in need of medical attention has been debated by both health analysts and social commentators alike. Is it a ‘natural’ phenomenon that should be respected and acknowledged, but one that requires that the bereaved individual is left alone to experience it in their own way? Or should the bereaved person be assisted with intervention which relies on the presumption that grief
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3.1 Caring relationships Listen to the two audio clips. While you are listening, make notes on the different kinds of caring relationships being described. For each person, note down: Learning outcomes On completion of this unit, you should be able to: understand how carers can sometimes perceive their role. 3.1 Conclusion In this unit you have considered a range of responses and feelings that services users may experience during the transition into residential care, and have identified strategies that can be used to support them with this move. Passing on comprehensive information about the service user to care providers will help them to respond more effectively to the service user's needs. Being able to provide relatives and service users with information about possible placements and negotiating with provid 2.3 Making choices and developing a personal care plan The social work task of supporting a person's admission to care involves many skills. Social workers must be able to assess the person's needs and coping mechanisms, and the quality of provision to meet needs. They must be familiar with the National Care Standards for their nation. To liaise effectively with service users, families, home providers and other professionals involved in assessment, good communication and negotiating skills are essential. If there is a need for residential c 2.1 Design and organisation of the care environment The way a care environment is designed and organised can have a profound impact on the residents' lives, and careful consideration of factors such as the physical environment and the care home's values can have positive effects on their quality of life. For example, Philpot (2005) reported on the design of a building that illustrates the kinds of things that make life easier for people with dementia. 1 Transitions The term ‘transition’ implies a change, and change has implications for the identity of the person who experiences it. It is likely to require a period of adjustment to assimilate and respond to it. Hopson and Adams (1976) suggest that a major transition, however triggered, can result in a cycle of changes to an individual's self-esteem. For example, moving into residential care is a major transition in anyone's life, yet older people are often assessed for, or seek, residential or nursin Learning outcomes By the end of this unit you should be able to: recognise some key factors which determine the way people experience and manage transitions; identify elements of good practice for supporting people through transitions; discuss how care environments can promote service users’ identity, strengths and autonomy; Introduction This unit considers working with people in group care and residential settings. Social workers play a critical role in supporting service users in moves to and from residential care, and they should be capable of assessing needs and the quality of care provision. The activities in the unit focus on the lives of three people living in a nursing and residential home for elderly and disabled people. Although many of the practice examples relate to work with older people, the values and principle Acknowledgements The content acknowledged below is Proprietary (see terms and conditions) and is used under licence. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources for permission to reproduce material in this unit: The content acknowledged below is Proprietary and is used under licence. References 3 Summary This unit argued that managers should seek out and listen to service users' views, and considered some of the problems in doing this as well as models that are effective. It is not always straightforward or easy to engage service users in consultation but, like Jane Reast, the practice-led manager will think it is important to hear directly from service users, rather than always having knowledge and information mediated through the accounts of frontline workers. 2.3 Video activity: Discussion A key aspect of this work is ‘partnership’. Service users are called ‘members’ at Redcar & Cleveland Mind and Jane spoke about their involvement as being integral to the service. Members may also be volunteers and have roles on the executive committee. For example, the co-chairs of the executive committee are also members of Redcar & Cleveland Mind. The service has evolved as a response to members and Jane likes to hear their views directly, as well as through colleagues. Jane conside 2.2 Video activity This activity asks you to watch the three video clips below. As you are watching, try to identify any examples you see of consultation and involvement, and what Jane sees as the key factors in the way Redcar & Cleveland Mind has developed these processes. Make notes as you go. 2.1 Case study: Redcar & Cleveland Mind This case study introduces you to Jane Reast, manager of Redcar & Cleveland Mind, the organisation' members, and the works of its various projects. You will shortly be watching three videos, which will give you an opportunity to see consultation in action. The mental health case study is based at Redcar & Cleveland Mind, a voluntary sector, community-based mental health organisation in north-east England. It provides a range of services and activities, working with several organisations 1.6 All together now? Discussion Views – whether from citizens or consumers – are diverse, although there are similarities within and between groups: for instance, on the need for respect. Diversity of opinion as well as diversity of need must be addressed by frontline managers. A few of the individuals and groups noted by our testers include: users of services for mental health, physical disability, older people, children and families; carers; workers; union representatives; managers; the general public; local and natio
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