Supporting capacity for decision making in everyday social work practice

Burden, Rebecca 2024. Supporting capacity for decision making in everyday social work practice. DSW Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Social workers have a duty to take ‘all practicable steps’ (Mental Capacity Act 2005, s.1(3)) to enable individuals to make their own decisions. This support principle is core not only to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 but also the Care Act 2014. The aim of this research was to explore how social workers, employed in statutory adult social care services in England, understand and apply their statutory duties to support decision-making as opposed to making substitute decisions on behalf of people. Informed by evidence that shows what social workers say they do and the actions they take in practice are not necessarily aligned, this study adopted a qualitative and observational approach of practice in action in the private settings of people’s homes. This offers an important contribution as studies of practice in relation to the Mental Capacity Act in such settings are limited. My findings show that whilst the social work profession positions itself as champions for upholding human rights, challenging discrimination and oppression, and empowering people through their relationships, their competing responsibilities in statutory practice are difficult to balance. When it comes to a choice between upholding a person’s right to make their own decisions versus protecting adults at risk from abuse or harm, protection is the dominant focus. This is influenced by social policy, cultural attitudes to the tolerance of risk, and cultures of blame. Social workers’ talk of the actions that they took to support decision making was more comprehensive than that which was observed in practice. This was in not any way considered as a means to deceive; rather a demonstration of how social workers wish to practice and empower people is curtailed by the health and social care system and organisational policies and procedures. In many aspects they are themselves powerless within this system. Practise is seen at the individual level, with social workers holding little belief that they can challenge wider structural and social issues, but small acts of discretionary practise are seen, shining a light on the inherent values of the profession.

Item Type:	Thesis (DSW)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 June 2024
Last Modified:	26 Jun 2024 13:18
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/170114

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