Reference no: EM132318370 , Length: word count:2500

Social Care and Human Services Assignment - Field of Practice Analysis Report

Topic - "Adoption service in Australia"

i) Overview -

Students are required to provide a critical analysis of a Human Service 'field of practice'. Fields of practice comprise program and service models; target population; legislative, organisational and administrative environments and issue / problem definition. These elements need to be critically evaluated within the broader social and political environment in which the field of practice has developed and takes its current form.

ii) What is meant by 'Field of Practice'

Fields of practice is a term used by Kamerman (2002) to describe four interacting components that form a service sector. These are:

• The population served: are the population or populations served by the field of practice. How is this population defined and what are the characteristics of this population? Why this population and not others? What do these definition/population characteristics tell us about the way in which the field of practice is defined? For example is the population defined by demographic criteria, social need, social problem, or exposure to an event?
• The legislative, administrative and organisational environment: is the policy framework through which the field of practice takes legal effect. How is the field of practice funded? What are the regulatory instruments and environment that govern the field of practice? Which levels of government take responsibility for regulating and governing the field of practice? How are responsibilities for 'service provision' allocated between state, market and household? What does this tell us about the way in which the field of practice is organised?
• The issues and problems addressed: is the way in which needs are defined and the parameters of intervention within the field of practice. What issues and problems do interventions within the field of practice address and what is excluded? What are the philosophies of service intervention within the field of practice? For example are the problem issues defined as relating to person change or maintenance or system change or maintenance?
• Program and service models: are the organisational technologies through which services are provided on the ground. What are the dominant models of service provision and why are these the dominant models? What ideologies of practice do these service models represent within the specific field of practice? For example is the field of practice characterised by case management in a framework of community-oriented care.

These four components interact with each other, each influencing and being influenced by the other components. For example changes in the legislative environment may promote certain service models over others, redefine the population who is eligible to receive services (either to include new groups or restrict access to service provision) and redefine the issues that are seen as legitimate for service response. On the other hand, shifts in what are conceived as legitimate issues (for example a shift from protecting people with disability to promoting the autonomy of people with disability) will consequently influence program models and may also result in legislative change. This may result in excluded populations demanding that they also be included in the service system.

Fields of practice occur within specific national and policy contexts. Aged care in Sweden is different to aged care in New Zealand. Therefore fields of practice reflect the overall development of human services, the way issues are conceptualised and therefore service models that have developed and are given preference within this context.

iii) What you are required to do

Your task is to write a critical analysis of those four elements (population served; legislative, administrative and organisational environment; issues and problems addressed; program and service models) as it applies to ONE field of practice.

There is no set structure for this assessment. It may take the form of an essay or a more structured report. However it has to involve a critical analysis. This involves presenting a fair and reasonable evaluation of the 'field of practice'.

The critical analysis should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the elements of the 'field of practice'.

The critique does not mean to criticise in a negative manner. Rather it requires you to question the dimensions of the 'field of practice' and evaluate their merits. To aid you in doing this, it is an expectation that you read related texts about the 'field of practice'. Your analysis is expected to go beyond summarising or being descriptive about the content of the 'field of practice' but also assess purpose and intent.

You may also find that some of the concepts that we have covered throughout the lectures may be of assistance in your analysis.

Attachment:- Assignment File & Example.rar