SOCIAL WORKER AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

Role Of The Social Worker In Relation To The Other Members Of The Multidisciplinary Team



Role Of The Social Worker In Relation To The Other Members Of The Multidisciplinary Team

Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. Some social workers help clients who face a disability or a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse.

Some social workers conduct research, advocate for improved services, engage in systems design or are involved in planning or policy development. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or working in a specific setting. (Brennan, 2009)

The social worker is a member of the multidisciplinary team delivering care to stroke patients.10 The social worker, who is employed by the local authority, should have an understanding of the illness and its effect on the patient, the carers and family. As well as being aware of the physical problems of a stroke, the social worker should also be aware of the psychological and emotional effects of stroke illness so that he/she can best understand the patient's needs. (Frost,Robinson & Anning, 2009)

The social worker works closely with individual members of the multidisciplinary team and is especially aware of therapist's reports in thinking about the needs of the patient. Social workers become involved with patients at different stages of the rehabilitation process, depending on what problems the patient and his family may have. (Brennan, 2009) Some patients will need advice and information from the social worker early in their journey of care because of financial, relationship or housing problems.

The social worker requires to have a wide knowledge of resources in the community so that he/she is able to advise the team and the patient about what is available for the patient on discharge. (John, 2008)It is the social worker's role to advise the team about the timescale for implementing care packages and for discussing alternative forms of care if that is required.

As the time for discharge approaches, the social worker will normally become more involved with patients, especially those who have complex needs. The social worker will complete community care assessments for patients in consultation with the multidisciplinary team, patient and the family. It is important for the social worker to be aware of the patient's own goals and expectations and to be able to assess any risk that the patient may be in. The social worker will then organise the appropriate care, either in the community or in residential homes as may be required. The social worker will then go on to work with the patient and family for a period of time after discharge to ensure that rehabilitation plans are meeting their needs in whatever setting and to ...