Social workers are committed to supporting human rights, and as such prioritise a holistic understanding of the person, seeing their impairment as only one aspect of what makes them who they are. Social workers understand that people with disability are a diverse group and have a wide range of experiences, abilities, impairments, and potential for development.
Social Work includes all levels of management and program design, individual planning, counselling, coordination and case management. Working alongside people with disability to advocate for their rights and facilitate their empowerment (and that of their families) and achieve their needs and aspirations.
Social workers respect the primacy of the individual’s rights and work towards people with disability choosing how to live their life.
Assessments
- Strengths-based psychosocial assessment
- Risk assessment (such as family violence, and abuse)
- Capacity, functioning and development assessment, including support and participation requirements, housing and accommodation
- WHODAS 2.0, HONOS, LSP-16, CANS
Capacity building
- Working to engage, educate, consult with and coordinate with relevant stakeholders, so support people with disability, by removing the barriers to physical and social access and participation.
- Working to increase awareness, understanding and knowledge of the issues for people with disability and their families so that appropriate and effective services and support are delivered
- Building capacity of individuals or families to navigate health and welfare systems or access information and supports
Case management and service coordination
- Referrals to other services
- Accessing resources
- Assistance with housing / financial support
- Assistance with advanced care planning including obtaining guardianship and/or administration orders if necessary to support decision making
Mediation and conflict resolution
Supporting people with disability and their families resolve conflicts that arise between themselves or with others
Social workers also provide specialist expertise in addressing the psychosocial aspects of:
- The impact of disability
- Abuse, neglect and family violence
- Mental health, including carer issues of chronic sorrow and depression associated with grief and loss; individual and family adjustment to diagnosis; and disability, and psychogeriatric issues
- Complex family dynamics and limited social supports
- Homelessness or inappropriate accommodation
- Addressing and resolving traumatic experiences and crisis.
- Addressing transition points in people’s lives
- Socio-legal issues and ethical decision making, for example, advanced health directives, enduring power of attorneys, end-of-life decision making, and withdrawal of life support systems
- Counselling
