INTEGRATING THEORY TO PRACTICE Royal Children’s Hospital Social Work Department Response

Integrating Theory to Practice The Royal Children’s Hospital Response Presented by Miriam Locke on behalf of Janine Kemp, Renay Green and Erica Summers. AASW State Conference November 2009

Development of the Theory to Practice Integrated Program 2005 – Internal Departmental Review identified 3 target areas: Theory to Practice Supervision Standards Psychosocial Assessment and Documentation Standards

Theory to Practice Aims: To strengthen and expand the professional knowledge and skills of social work staff so that they can effectively carry out their social work practice. To maintain the highest possible standards of social work practice to ensure strong outcomes for children and families. To ensure staff have access to theoretical understandings that will advance their core skills and knowledge.

Theory to Practice Objective: All social workers consciously practice using Social Work values and knowledge to enhance effective professional practice with infants, children and their families.

Core components: Development of Personal Practice frameworks Development of Existential Practice frameworks

Personal Practice Frameworks Grand sociological theories Mid range Theories Practice Wisdom

Existential Frameworks Philosophy Non/Spiritual beliefs systems Personal reflections on life and death

Core theoretical reviews Emile Durkheim -Functionalism Karl Marx –Marxism Max Weber – Symbolic Interactionism Rogers and Perls – Humanism and Phenomenology Feminist Theory, Psychoanalytic Theory, Self Psychology, Developmental Theory

Core theoretical reviews Therapeutic approaches : Non-discriminative practice, Narrative therapy, Family centred practice, expressive therapies, strengths based practice, problem solving, crisis intervention, grief and loss etc Practice wisdom: Domestic Violence, Child Protection, child death support.

Strategies to Integrate Theory to Practice Didactic and discussion - social work theories, philosophy, non/spiritual belief systems, practice wisdom. Professional development program – applied mid range theories and approaches, non-spiritual belief systems, self care. Peer consultation program – applied personal practice frameworks, personal reflection, practice wisdom, applied existential frameworks, self care.

Sand play Case reviews, personal reflection, teaching creative practice in complex cases, psycho-educational non and therapeutic applications, self care. In/Formal Supervision Individual and group, Personal practice and existential frameworks, personal reflection. Practice wisdom, self care.

Evaluation Tool Pre RCH employment confidence in applying theory to practice July 09 Confidence in applying theory to practice Social worker views on departmental commitment to integrating theory to practice Social worker views on departmental compliance with AASW documentation standards

Evaluation of Theory to Practice program July 2009 Total no of social workers27 Staff on leave3 Management4 No response6 Total number of respondents 14

Pre-RCH employment and confidence 1 year and less ( Fairly Confident) = years ( Not very confident) = years ( Not at all confident) = 3

Confidence as of July 2009 All lengths of service (Fairly Confident) = 14

Evaluation support statements “more disciplined use of myself. It is easier to be more genuine, honest, empathetic and to manage my own desire to disclose personal stuff and I often now bring transference issues to supervision and can talk about this. Practice frameworks have really helped this”

“I can use a number of different theories and approaches to suit the problems the child or family are having with greater confidence now. This gives me a more “professional feel” when I am with people as I am now more aware of the theoretical underpinnings of social work and when these shift in my work and why this has happened”

“ I am more confident as now I am more mindful of how my values impact on my practice, particularly when building relationships/ It has brought me back to basics and this has meant that I have become more accountable in my work. It helps me evaluate if my practice is authentic”

Social Workers perceptions of departmental support for integrated theory to practice Very high commitment = 8 High Commitment = 6

Support Statements “ a very committed department who want to impart skills and knowledge to us all, encourage ongoing learning and thoughtful reflection. Forums are good as they are varied and include professional development, theory to practice, team meetings, individual and group supervision” “This department provides more theory to practice than any other I have ever worked in. It makes you consciously think of the application of social work studies to what you are saying and doing, remaining child focussed, therefore getting better outcomes”

Evaluation of compliance with AASW Documentation standards No chart audit experience = 6 One chart audit experience = 2 More than 2 chart audit experiences = 6

Support comments “ Individual clinicians have improved documentation over the last 12 months. We are much more focussed now. I attribute this to the working party and the emphasis on documentation that emerged from this” “ This is a high standard as I have audited others and been audited myself by others in the team” “This is the highest standard I have ever seen in a hospital. It works with best practice, medico legal requirements and AASW. I am now proud to practice social work here”.

“ I feel more professional and “experienced”, more confident in child centred practice and I want more training. The more I learn the more I realise I don’t know and it is good that we are all here to learn”.