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Can social work practce based on the social model of
disability successfully challenge the oppressive practce and
disabling barriers experienced by people with learning
disabilites? anna o an and laine a es report on
a study to test their belief that social work is about human
rights and its role is one of servant, not master.

BACKGROUND the lives of people with learning of People with Disabilites, concerning
n e ove n en u lis e i s disabilites, and partcularly young the right to ‘Independent living and being
I es onse o e consul aton o voice people at tmes of transiton crises. The key included in the community’. We wanted the
un ea no i i no e e . themes from these experiences are: opportunity to test our belief that social
e consul aton was issue in work that is ‘all about human rights’
eco niton a e es onse o e l People and families are not listened to (as Lyn Romero, the Chief Social Worker for
in e ou ne iew scan al an and their views not taken into account Adults in England described it), and that
a e s o ans o ca e o eo le when decisions are made about them sees its role as one of servant, not master
wi lea nin isa ilites auts o (3) can be the professional challenge that
en al eal con itons a een oo l The most restrictve opton (ofen protects and upholds the rights of people
slow. ne o e o osals o acton hospital admission) is routnely being with learning disabilites in the health and
was o ilo access o a na e social taken by professionals. social care system.
wo ke w o will ovi e o essional
a vice an su o e e i a oin This is especially worrying given the Care
o con ac o e se vice use an ei Act (2014) and the Mental Capacity Act The key fnding so far is that the named
a il ca e s w e eve e e son is (2005) have choice, control and a legal social worker pilot has provided social
ein su o e an ovi e a obligaton to select the least restrictve workers with the tme and space to
o essional voice ac oss e s s e opton at their heart. This is supported by showcase what beter social work looks
Court of Protecton judgments like that like – social work that resonates with their
The Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) issued by Justce Hedly (2) which stated values of social justce, upholding human
at Lancaster University in partnership with that people with learning disabilites rights and working cooperatvely with the
Calderdale Adult Social Care applied to should not be dressed up in ‘forensic people social work is there to serve. It has
take part in the original pilot. We were coton wool’ but allowed ‘as far as possible less to do with creatng a new role, that of
strongly infuenced by the stories we to make the same mistakes that all other ‘named social worker’. By working with
heard from families like those of Steven human beings are at liberty to make people with learning disabilites as equal
Neary and Connor Sparrowhawk and and not infrequently do’. Restrictve partners, social workers are beter able to
from the 7 Days of Acton campaign about practces frequently breach people’s support people to live independent lives
routne abuse and neglect. These stories human rights, especially to a family life, in the community.
demonstrated a health care system that and are at odds with Artcle 19 of the
is frequently restrictve and controlling in United Natons Conventon on the Rights
The Department of Health are funding a
second phase of the pilot over the next six
months (untl March 2018). CeDR are
now working with Bradford Adult Social

i s To fnd out whether social work practce based on the social model of
disability can successfully challenge the oppressive practce and disabling barriers
experienced by people with learning disabilites.
CAPACITY ACT
e o s We held workshops and focus groups with self-advocates to understand 1. Every adult has the right to make
more about what they want in their lives and how they think social workers can their own decisions unless it is
help them achieve this. We supported the senior leadership team in a local proved otherwise.
authority to implement value-based practce and trial the role of a named
social worker for people with learning difcultes. This included partcipatng in the 2. All practcable help must be given
natonal pilot workshops, sharing academic resources and research and actng as a to support people to make their
critcal friend in discussions about the purpose and scope of the social work role. own decisions.
We shared our fndings with self-advocates and practtoners from across our region 3. People have the right to make
to learn how we can support beter social work in diferent agencies and locatons. decisions others may see as unwise.
This work was supported by the Department of Health, Calderdale Council and City of Everyone has their own values,
Bradford Metropolitan District Council as part of the Named Social Worker pilot. The views beliefs and preferences which
expressed represent those of the authors only and not those of the funding agencies. must be respected.

26 Vol 31 No 2 | Winter 2017 o uni Living www.cl-initatves.co.uk