Social workers understand quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice. Social workers know the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and culturally informed and ethical approaches to building knowledge. Social workers understand that evidence that informs practice derives from multi-disciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also understand the processes for translating research findings into effective practice.
It is important to engage in practice-informed research and research informed practice. The knowledge that I have used throughout this competency includes peer-reviewed articles related to effective forms of intervention within the mental health population and also feedback from agency staff at Parkridge Valley. As a social worker in this specific competency, I have had to use competence and knowledge to acquire information and reflect.
4.1: During my field practicum I was able to participate in treatment team at Parkridge Valley. There were psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and recreational therapists that would join the treatment team meeting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to talk about each patient in the hospital. I was able to reflect on my experience there in week one of this journal and show that I attended and participated in treatment team. I also was able to distinguish and reflect between the different perspectives among the doctors, nurses, and social workers. In summary, everyone worked together including I and the team used problem solving and critical thinking in how to help each individual patient and how their treatment will be the most beneficial.
In my coursework, our team created a literature review that includes an evidence-based approach in treatment within the homeless community. This approach has been successful and is called the Housing First Model.
4.2: In my placement at Parkridge Valley I conducted research by receiving feedback from patients at Parkridge Valley Adult and Senior Campus on how to improve the current group inpatient program through a pre and post survey I was able to value their voice as they mentioned and noticed and also stood up for their dignity and worth of a person by advocating for them. The post survey shows the same type of questions, but exploring how the groups that were conducted with consistency throughout the day affected the patients. Results shown were that most patients felt like there was not a consistency among groups in the pre test survey and that they all mostly valued the following groups: learning about coping skills, positive talk and thoughts, music, self-care, mindfulness, making a routine/schedule for discharge. All individuals reported to have benefited from the consistency of groups and that the groups offered benefited them to learn new skills when they leave for discharge and helped decrease symptoms while inpatient. The theoretical foundation was found in person-in environment and systems theory. This describes that individuals are affected by the environment that they are in and that their behavior can be explained by the environment they are in and the people around them.
In my coursework, my team and I created a survey and interview guide that is related to the Housing Insecurity and Mental Illness in Hamilton County research paper. We were able to use the skills of collaboration, research, problem solving, and many more. The values here demonstrated were dignity and worth of a person and integrity. These are shown by making sure we are carefully thinking of the individuals taking the test and making sure we are considering how they may feel.