Many people experience one or more social problems personally. People may be poor, unemployed, in poor health or have many family problems and or alcohol and drug problems.
The feminist perspective has much in common with the conflict perspective, however instead of focusing broadly on the unequal distribution of power and resources, feminist sociology studies power its relation to gender, it is also studies both within social structures at a large and at the micro level of face to face interaction. Feminism studies a range of topics including sexual orientation, race economic status and nationality. However, at the care feminist sociology is the idea that in most societies women have been systematically oppressed and that men have been historically dominant (boundless.com.) Here I will outline three different strands of feminism, although any attempt of classification is likely to be incomplete and somewhat arbitrary this approach provides a useful way of introducing feminist theorizing. Liberal Feminism has its roots in the liberal tradition of the enlightenment which stresses the principles of justice, rationality, citizenship, human rights, equality and democracy. Liberal feminists advocate political action and reform favouring educational strategies, formal and legislative changes to provide women with opportunities and challenge stereotypes and prejudices. Yet many have recognized that formal equality is not enough and have supported legislation which outlaws sex discrimination against women and men (Sociology text book pg. 72).
Radical Feminism is associated with the women’s liberation movement of the 1960’s yet although many of the ideas expressed by radical feminists were not new in this period they begun to be “developed systematically as a self- conscious theory”. Some women within the movement argued that women’s oppression was deeply rooted and that equality between women and men was a primary source of oppression. Radical feminism argued that gender inequalities are a centred and primary form of social inequality and constructed theories which acknowledged this (Sociology Text book pg. 73).
Marxist feminism has attempted to develop Marxist concepts to understand the subordination of women in capitalist society. They have argued that it is essential to recognise that the oppression of women is inextricably linked to the capitalist order and that although Marxism analyses of society may have marginalized women they provide insights into the structure of capitalist’s society and the position of women within it (Sociology Text book pg. 75).
Adult support and protection Act 2007 seeks to protect and benefit adults at risk of being harmed. The act requires councils and a range of public bodies to work together to support and protect adults who are unable to safeguard themselves, their property and their rights. Whilst working with vulnerable adults it is my duty of care as a support worker to make sure they are safe and protected therefore we have communication books in our client’s house so we can communicate with colleagues. Before becoming an official support worker by law all individuals need to be PVG checked, they do this so everyone can be checked for convictions (gov.scot).
Health and safety at Work Act 1974 was put in place to protect the safety of employees so they have safe access at work and to equipment. At my workplace, we are all fully trained before dealing with any clients for our safety as well as theirs. We have a three-day induction course that we must attend these days are the company telling us the policies and procedures, we also have a two-day manual handling course we need to attend this course teaches us on how to use the equipment safely and when not to use it (gov.uk).
Social democracy is a socialist system of government achieved by democratic means “there was a growth of social democracy through an extension of the rights of citizens”. Social democracy is the idea that the state needs to provide security and equality for it people and should actively reorder society in a way that is conductive to such developments, but that such changes should be brought about gradually, legitimated by a democratically- elected majority. Social democrats typically regard government intervention as a force for good, constraining markets and engaging in redistributive efforts for the benefit of the lower classes to establish a more equitable society (Merriam-Webster).
From a social democrat view point, the Welfare State is an obvious response to the drawbacks of the free market. For social democrats, it is necessary for governments to intervene in the market compensating victims, redistributing income, providing opportunity to the underprivileged and restraining the greedy power. Universal benefits eliminate the need for means- tests which could be humiliating and off putting, which may discourage people from drawing benefits to with they are entitled to. For social democrats, the low take up means tested benefits is an important failing of the current social system. In 1980 no means- tested benefit had more that 80% take up. Universal benefits are funded from taxes and national insurance contributions paid in the past by the people themselves. One should thus be able to draw money from the fund regardless of one’s current financial circumstances. This point was strongly made in the Beverage Report (S-cool.co.uk).
Human rights timeline Scotland
1914- 1918- thousands of Scottish men went to WW1, 140,000 are killed
1939-1945- over 57000 Scots are killed in the global conflict of WW11, many towns and cities are bombed at home
1948- in the first year of Scotland the NHS provides 500,000 people with glasses and 500,00 people with free dentures.
1950- increasing numbers of women in paid employment
1960- the number of births registered in Scotland peaks at over 100,00 per year in the early 1960 signaling the baby boom generation
1970- School leaving age raised to 16 years’ old
1980- There are mass protest the poll tax. Heavy industry of mining and shipbuilding dwindle.
1997- 1999- In 1997 a referendum secures a developed Scottish Parliament; the first Holyrood electors take place in May 1999.
2005- In Edinburgh 200,000 people march in support of the make poverty history campaigned as the G8 summit meets Gleneagles.
2010- A series of public secure cuts are introduced in the face of global economic downturn. Scottish Human rights commission given recognition at the United Nations (Moodle link).
It is important the public authorities must make sure they respect and protect your human rights when thy provide health and, services this may involve taking positive steps to ensure your human rights are not being breeched. Public authorities include Social Services, Private care homes funded by a local authority, local authority and NHS funded care homes. NHS health services like hospitals GPs and dentists. Some people in the social care environment might not be able to understand human rights so it is our job as a support worker to ensure we stick by our rights as well as the clients. It is important we respect for the fundamental dignity of each person lies the heat of human rights, as do principles of equality and individual autonomy (Moodle Link).
Human rights are moral principles or norms which describe certain standards of human behavior, and are regularly protected as legal rights in municipal and law. They are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights “to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being and which are “inherent in all human beings “regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. They are applicable everywhere and at every time in the sense of being universal, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone. They require empathy and the law and impose an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others. They should not be taken away except as a result of due process based on specific circumstances;[3] for example, human rights may include freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture, and execution (gov.scot).
When at my place of work one of my clients Mr. X has Cerebral palsy so therefore the relies on support workers to help him with everyday tasks. Mr. X is in a wheel chair and cannot walk of feed himself. We must do all his personal care, cash handling his food intake and general day to day tasks, Mr. X lives on his own and has support workers 24 hours a day. Mr. X has his father and grandmother who came and stay with him every weekend. My shift is mainly the morning shift so on this shift I will get him out of bed using a hoist that I have been fully trained to use and getting him showered and dressed, then I will make and give him his breakfast. One of the human rights act that is in place is “the right not to be treated in an unhuman or degrading way” by this I mean I wouldn’t leave him soiled or wet I would wash and change him, I wouldn’t leave food for him I would need to feed it to him once I have liquidized it down this is because he can’t eat solid foods, when doing Mr. X personal care I would close the curtains and doors and ask people to leave the room because this is Mr. X wishes and to keep his dignity. I would also keep him covered up this is respectful and to keep his dignity again. this is very important in a health care setting because it treats people with respect and that they are still a human being also avoid labelling. Another human rights approach would be “The right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence” by this its meant because he lives on his own he is classed as independent living I must respect his belongings and his home, I have access to his cash and medical records which is all documented down on a communications book with receipts. All his medication and money is locked away in a safe. When Mr X family visits he does not require any care, this is because his family will look after him on those days, in case of any emergencies they can call our emergency phone number. Human rights is very important in healthcare because a lot of service users can’t act on their own behalf and it is our jobs a support workers to promote this and stick by it. Everyone is equal and we all have equal rights (Human rights in healthcare).
Power point notes.
A nuclear family Includes two married parents of opposite genders, their biological or adopted children and live in the same residence. A nuclear family is so-called because it forms the nucleus of a family life. Defining a nuclear family is “a small unit derived from the relationship between a man and a woman legally bound together through marriage as husband and wife. The nuclear family is created when the child is born to this couple. The unit shares a common residence and is united by ties of affection, common identity and support”. Nuclear family or elementary family is a family group consisting of a pair of a woman and a man and their children, considering a time after the pair engagement, different than Family-in-law. It contrasts with a single-parent family, to the larger extended family, and to a family with more than two parents. the nuclear family may have any number of children. There are differences in definition among observers; some definitions allow only biological children that are full-blood siblings, but others allow for a stepparent and any mix of dependent children including stepchildren and adopted children (support pack pg50, britannica.com).
One ethical issue facing practitioners in modern society could be managing medicines. Someone (service user) you look after can be a challenge, particularly if they are taking several different types of medication.
Medicines can legally be administered by anyone, if it has been prescribed by a practitioner. Although the person you care for may appreciate your support with their medicines, bear in mind that they have a right to confidentiality.
It’s up to them to decide how much of their health and medicines information is available to you as their carer, and how much you should be involved in their care. If a person you care for refuses their medication us as support workers need to respect this and mediation is never to be forced on someone. Everyone is entitled to their human rights.
Us as support workers can reassure them that the medication has been put in place to help them, no-one can give consent on behalf of an incompetent adult. However, you may still treat such a patient if the treatment would be in their best interests. ‘Best interests’ go wider than best medical interests, to include factors such as the wishes and beliefs of the patient when competent, their current wishes, their general well-being and their spiritual and religious welfare. People close to the patient may be able to give you information on some of these factors. Where the patient has never been competent, relatives, carers and friends may be best placed to advise on the patient’s needs and preferences. If an incompetent patient has clearly indicated in the past, while competent, that they would refuse treatment in certain circumstances (an ‘advance refusal’), and those circumstances arise, you must abide by that refusal. As a support worker, this would need to reported to your line manager or the service users GP or a family member (nhs.gov).