Critical Reflection And Analysis

Critical Reflection and Analysis

Co-working a case through conducting direct work with an eight-year old girl, I used professional curiosity to explore an alarming self-disclosure made to me about her sleeping with a fifteen-year old boy, who was a non-relative. By keeping an open mind, avoiding making assumptions, analysing what was said and observing the child’s body language, I determined that whilst this incident was really inappropriate, there was nothing untoward happening. However, to safeguard and minimise risk for the child, I relayed this information to the relevant social worker so the concern could be properly addressed and resolved.

With the C. family I had to consistently question and evaluate the reliability and validity

My purpose was to advocate on behalf of a child by informing all the professionals present of the child’s wishes and feelings, as well as offer my professional opinion to persuade them on the child’s best interests. From my input, the Child Protection Plan noted specific positive and risk factors that I raised, including arrangement for the child to safely socialise with friends to boost their self-esteem and resilience, and the mother to not have inappropriate conversations in earshot of the child. Although the latter point linked to the mother’s behaviour, she was in agreement because she acknowledged my concern as genuine due to us already having an established rapport.

Multi-agency working has been consistent throughout my time on placement, either during professional meetings, like core groups which I have chaired, or on a daily basis via telephone or face-to-face. Whenever information has been shared between professionals it has been done appropriately and respectfully, on a need to know basis and with prior parental consent, unless this put the child at risk of harm. For example, after school informed me an unknown male was accompanying a vulnerable mother to school, I was required to question her on his identity in case he posed a risk to her

In respect of this, I have challenged myself by chairing Core Groups and contributing at formal and informal meetings in an attempt to not only demonstrate professional leadership, but to contribute towards other professionals’ development. I have achieved this by speaking from a social work perspective, eg highlighting risks, grey areas, strengths and complicating factors, which is invaluable as professionals are unlikely to consider aspects in this way since they are trained to work within their own agenda. Another way in which I supported the learning and development of others is through the weekly ‘pod reflective’ meetings where I discussed the families on my caseload, pointed out my observations, what I have learned from all involved and talked about the effect of my interventions. Team meetings have also been an opportunity for me to reflect upon my colleagues’ cases, make unconsidered suggestions and encourage them with new ideas to move forward when they are