3. How will this context influence your strategy for working with Adam?
Identity
Adam lives in OOHC. He may see himself as someone who is hard to care for given that he has lived in many different placements.
In working with Adam, showing value in getting to know him as a person, rather than his case file will help him feel more connected to carers. Asking Adam what he wants from his placement may help him feel empowered.
Family Relationships
According to the case file notes, Adam states that he has a close relationship with his mother. It seems he does not have a similar relationship with his father considering he moves between states a lot. His close relationship to his mother explains the frequent absconding home to be with his mother.
Adam’s absconding behavior is linked to his need to see his mother. Creating an agreed contact schedule between Adam and his mother and father would reduce the need for frequent cases of running away. Due diligence on his whereabouts when he states he stays with friends before going to see his mother is required by urging Adam to reveal details about his friends and where they reside. In essence, this will prevent cases of trafficking or being sucked into illegal activities.
Social Relationships
The case file states that Adam does not have any meaningful relationships outside of his family. The reason given is due to the fact that he does not have any other family member in the country.
It seems that Adam has difficulty making friends at the out of home care possibly due to his circumstance and past. Having a sit-down discussion with Adam and engaging him on his future dreams and his hobbies such as his preference for listening to hip hop music can help in finding a suitable friend with similar interests. Through this, Adam can find a mutual friend.
Health
The case file states that Adam has experimented with some substances including alcohol, marijuana and has been chroming deodorant cans.
Adam is a boy who is suffering from substance abuse. The most effective method of helping him to stop using these harmful substances to his health is by enrolling him into a comprehensive drug treatment program which will comprise of social and health counselling, peer education, recreational activities, and providing a mentor. Other initiatives to help Adam would include enrollment into educational programs to keep him busy at school and having family therapy. Such actions should help him in realizing the gravity of the substances he is using to his health and the role that toxic friends play in destroying his future.
Education
From the case file, it is evident that Adam is enrolled in school but rarely attends it.
From the look of things, it seems as though Adam does not enjoy going to school much. Asking him about his experiences in school with regards to the subjects he finds most interesting to him would help in assessing his educational trajectory. The fact that he wants to become a rapper when he grows up is an indication as to his interests towards the Arts which might inform his special educational needs. Asking him about why he does not like school and where he goes when not in school could provide pointers to possible external influences and help in correcting the situation.
Part 2
Script
Me: Hello, Adam. It is good to finally meet you. I have been waiting to for you to arrive so we could talk a bit before I get you all settled down.
Adam: Hello, nice to meet you too.
Me: So, first things first. My name is ………… and I work in this institution as the residential care worker. Essentially, I am here to offer you support and ensure that you feel as comfortable as possible in this place.
Adam: Thanks. Will I be able to see my mother?
Me: Yes you will. But first we need to get you settled in as I will discuss with you on how we can make you like this place more.
Adam: So what do we do next?
Me: I will introduce you to the manager then give you a short orientation of the whole place and other boys in this place. After that I will let you rest then we talk some more tomorrow. But first I need to engage you on something.
Adam: Okay. I’m listening.
Me: What is it about your previous placement that you did not like?
Adam: I found the place had too many rules and they did not let me see my mother as much as I wanted.
Me: Do you feel if we created a timetable for you to see both of your parents it would be a better option for you?
Adam: I don’t know. I just want to be given the chance to see my mother when I want.
Me: Okay. What is it about this place you are hoping to find different from your previous placing?
Adam: I hope people here listen to me, let me see my mother often and let me go see my friends who stay in my mother’s neighborhood.
Me: Good. Do you have anybody with whom you can freely talk to?
Adam: No.
Me: You know it is entirely okay to talk to me about anything. I am always here to assist you with anything.
Adam: You mean I can tell you anything and you promise not to tell anyone?
Me: Yes. I will keep it between us. Any day you feel like telling me something, I will always be ready to meet and listen to you. Okay?
Adam: Okay.
Benefits of Working with Adam
Working with Adam as a residential care worker, I would ensure that I take into consideration every aspect of Adam’s opinion about the conditions in the care center. The first and most important benefit I would provide Adam is the emotional, intellectual and psychological support that he desperately needs. The obvious case is that this would keep in mind the professional boundaries and balance between offering the best advice and not becoming to close to him that the professional lines are blurred. In this case, I would visit and have an honest discussion with Adam on a regular basis to try and understand him with the aim of making him a better person for society in the future.
Also, I would help him pursue his affinity for hip-hop music by encouraging him to try and write down lyrics of his songs. In the same line, I would cultivate this interest by taking him to hip-hop music contests in which he could participate and interact with like-minded upcoming musicians. Knowing that school is an essential facet of his life, I would advise him on its importance especially with regards to his future endeavors and how it is a vital ingredient if he wants to succeed. Another substantial benefit that Adam would gain from working with me has to do with the substance abuse. As a carer, I would press upon Adam to at least enroll in a preventive program that would help in solving his drug abuse problem by providing support and a stable environment (Basca, 2007).
Part 3
Dealing with Adam’s Injury
As a residential care worker, the first step is to the standard of care under medical emergency. In this case, it pertains to the injury of a child. In the same line, the legal responsibility demands that as a carer with a Senior First Aid Certificate, I would assess the extent of Adam’s injury and his emotional reaction, apply first aid. The final call will involve calling for an ambulance in the event he needs medical assistance. After that, I would record the incident in a Log Book and contact the home manager.
Discussing Adam’s Injury
Since it is vital to creating trust in this situation, I would promise Adam not to disclose the situation to anyone. I would try and solicit the reason behind his injuries to establish if this is a case of physical abuse or play injury while he was out. After gathering information about his incident, I would take the necessary steps in explaining to him that in the case of physical abuse from somebody, he has the right to press charges and my responsibility is to report the matter for his protection. I would explain to him that if he wants to prevent further abuse, then I have to report the incident (Department of Community Development, 2006).
Part 4
Responding to David’s Request
Since Adam does not want to speak to his seemingly distant father, I would respect his wishes and inform him that Adam is not in a place where he could talk to him at the moment. I would then excuse Adam then call back his father explaining to him that it is much better to speak to him in person since he sees little of him.
Adam’s Rights
As a child in out of home care (OOHC), Adam has rights as enshrined in the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act of 1998 (Family and Community Services). In this case, Adam has a right to refuse contact with his father since the mode of interaction should be in the interest of the child. In this case, I would try and give psychological and emotional support to Adam since the contact of his mostly absent father can impact adversely on his mental and emotional state. I would discuss with him the state of his emotions and what he thinks about his father trying to talk to him. I would try and establish the reason behind his indifference towards his father as opposed to his strong affinity towards his mother which would come in handy in the instance of a mediation dispute.
Referral to Support Services
Some support services would serve as appropriate for Adam at this time. One of them is the psychologist in the facility who will help Adam with processing his emotions and how to effectively channel them correctly. He could also see a counselor who might help in advising him on how to deal with the appearance of his father and what it means for him. Ethical and Legal Responsibilities
Residential care workers are guided by ethical and legal responsibilities when dealing with the release of information about a child in care. This statement implies that the Code of Conduct supplied to all care workers touches on seven critical areas with communication and information sharing, and personal behavior to name a few. Since this situation demands some release of information that the father may want to know about the child, the legal responsibility under s. 237 of the Act states that any request concerning the child should pass through the manager, the district of the Crisis Care Unit. In this case, any confidential information is in the domain of the manager (Residential Care Practice Manual).
References
Basca, B. (2007). Prevention Brief.
Department for Community Development. Identifying and responding to child abuse and neglect. Accessed 30th August 2018, retrieved from https://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Organisation/Documents/ResidentialCarePracticeManual.pdf
Family and Community Services. Your rights as a child or young person in care. Accessed 30th August 2018, retrieved from https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/families/out-of-home-care/children-in-oohc/rights-in-care
Residential Care Practice Manual. Department for Child Protection and Family Support. Accessed 30th August 2018, retrieved from https://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Organisation/Documents/ResidentialCarePracticeManual.pdf
