Social Work Case Study: Adult Social Care

Ian White, 66, is a vulnerable adult experiencing dementia and cared for at home by his partner, Jackie, 69. Jackie has asked Adult Social Care to assess both their needs as Ian has suffered a couple of falls, with the latest resulting in him staying in hospital with broken bones in his foot. As a result of the request, I have a responsibility as a statutory social worker to help keep Ian at home. Homecare is not only a cheaper option, but it retains familiarity so Ian has a greater chance of remaining independent and achieving better outcomes. My duty entails ensuring Ian’s basic needs are adequately met and providing Jackie with appropriate support to fulfil her own needs and enable her to continue in her caring role. This case study …show more content…
I will thereby focus on Ian by asking for consent after telling him the purpose of my visit to enabled him to make an informed decision. Ian will have the opportunity to see me alone in case he wants privacy to let me know about something he is unhappy about. In the event that Ian finds communicating difficult, I will make every reasonable effort to assist his understanding and expression. I will tailor my practice to suit Ian’s needs including, using simple language, yes/no questions, allowing adequate time to speak, listening carefully and being mindful of Ian’s non-verbal communication. Studying body language is especially important as it can tell me things which Ian may not be able to communicate. For example, Ian may be unable to disclose maltreatment, however by being vigilant, observing the couple’s interaction and recognising the signs of abuse, such as unexplained bruising, I can possibly identify what type of relationship they have and, if necessary, report concerns which the authority has a duty to …show more content…
It is challenging differentiating between poor-quality care and that which causes concern as families have different standards and alternative ideas of what they believe is sufficient caregiving. For Ian, this in turn could mean that he appears dishevelled, unshaven and has dirty clothing and skin. Likewise, Ian may smell due to spending long periods of time wearing unclean incontinence pads, yet unless he visibly shows signs of distress there is probably insufficient evidence to suggest neglect. Nevertheless, all findings will be recorded to track patterns and I will untangle dilemmas through supervision and reflection so that matters can be addressed appropriately if necessary. Without evidence to suggest otherwise Jackie will be trusted and I will work alongside her to help the couple to achieve a degree of satisfaction in their