Working in statutory contexts
Learning Objectives
After completing this resource, you should be familiar with some of the unique aspects of working in a statutory context.
Social work practice will often mean working with individuals mandated by statutory law to receive those services. The role of the social worker in this context is, in part, defined by statutory laws. In wealthy, or “advanced”, nations statutory laws exist in a range of health and welfare fields and, accordingly, social workers roles in these field are often shaped by these laws. While the purpose of statutory law in human services fields is heavily contested, one justification for the development of statutory laws in human service fields is to promote the safety of vulnerable individuals or of the general community. However, social workers should aim to develop a collaborative relationship with service users in this context wherever possible. This is a challenging field of practice for a range of reasons including that service users are likely to resist the involvement of social workers in their lives.
- What was it like for you in the role of Jed? What were your fears and hopes for the interaction with the mental health social worker? What could the person in the role of social worker do to most clearly and sensitively communicate their role?
- In the role of Jed, what would help you to feel confident in the worker’s capacity to help you?
- How do you feel about the social control aspect of the worker’s role that is that the worker is there, at least in part, to assess the level of harm you pose to yourself and possibly others?
- What was it like for you in the role of the mental health worker? To what extent were you able to communicate the dual nature of the role? What was easy and what was difficult?