Revisioning social work with older people living in a care home: promoting rights and reducing social control

Abstract

Care home residents are exposed to high levels of social control. Despite this, and regardless of their disempowered and vulnerable status, they receive limited attention from social workers. The social work role is primarily transactional, relating to admission, reviews of placements, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessments and investigations of abuse. Evidence suggests that higher levels of engagement with residents are likely to reduce risks of abuse and contribute to reduced levels of social control. There are three routes of impact: a formal ongoing link with care homes; greater involvement with the four existing roles, shifting the focus from procedure to process; and the adoption of a new, more critical role that is informed by political ethics, enhancing rights and social justice. This revisioned role will offer residents access to the knowledge and skills of a social worker and to higher levels of protection from systems and practices that are harmful and controlling.