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You will now have the opportunity to explore a number of scenarios involving work with families living in poverty and for each consider different professional responses. Work your way through the scenarios on the right and for each pick the response that you think is most appropriate.

Once you have completed all the sections you want to, click on finish survey. You will be able to rate your level of sensitivity to issues of poverty and social exclusion and the impact of your work.

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Children's Centre
Carla is a young mother who has two children under five. Her husband works long hours and is on a very low income. The health visitor refers Carla to social services as she is worried that she is quite depressed, isolated and not coping with the care of the children.

You are the social worker undertaking the assessment and are aware of a new children's centre that has opened in the locality. You think this may be a good resource for Carla to be linked into. What would you suggest?

  • Tell her about the Children's Centre and suggest she visits it?
  • Give her written information and a map, and with her consent ring the centre to inform them she may come to find out about their services?
  • Talk to Carla about the resource, and if she is agreeable arrange to go with her or for someone from the centre to visit her?

Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this is:

Talk to Carla about the resource, and if she is agreeable arrange to go with her or for someone from the centre to visit her?
The third option addresses Carla's possible needs for additional support because of her emotional state, but in a way that involves her in the process.

Give her written information and a map, and with her consent ring the centre to inform them she may come to find out about their services?
The second option goes some way to acknowledging Carla may need assistance accessing the service, but does not offer her the same degree of choice over the process.

Tell her about the Children's Centre and suggest she visits it?
The first option does involve Carla receiving information about the service, but does not address difficulties she may have accessing the service on her own, given her isolation and possible depression.

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Monies
Ngosi is a single parent with three young children on benefits, who is isolated with little family support. You have been working with her for some months and for the first time she comes into your office requesting section 17 money, as she has had a number of expenses recently, including her son's birthday, and has run out of money. She is not due to receive her benefits for four days and has no food or nappies for the baby.

The policy in your office is that families requesting section 17 money for food and nappies are given tinned food and nappies that are kept in the office. Money is only offered in exceptional circumstances. Ngosi is not happy with the tinned food as her children are not usedto this food and she is not used to preparing the food on offer. How would you respond to this situation?

  • Suggest to your manager that you accompany her to the supermarket when she goes to buy food and nappies?
  • Explain the policy in your office and offer suggestions as to how she could use the tinned food?
  • Explain to your manager that this is the first time Ngosi has requested money and that there is no reason to believe she would not spend the money on food and nappies, and argue for her to be given the money to spend when and how she chooses?

Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this is:

Explain to your manager that this is the first time Ngosi has requested money and that there is no reason to believe she would not spend the money on food and nappies, and argue for her to be given the money to spend when and how she chooses?
The third option is the most sensitive. Ngosi is treated as an individual, both in terms of her past history and current wishes. It is the option that offers her the most dignity

Suggest to your manager that you accompany her to the supermarket when she goes to buy food and nappies?
The first option offers her the opportunity for choosing her own food, but within the context of not being trusted and having to be accompanied.

Explain the policy in your office and offer suggestions as to how she could use the tinned food?
In the second option the worker is following procedures, but takes an inflexible, bureaucratic approach that does not recognise Ngosi and her children's individual circumstances, needs or views.

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Kinship Care
Margaret and Ken are grandparents in their sixties who have taken over care of their two grandchildren. Both are retired and dependent on the state pension. They have been approved as specific foster carers. The children are on care orders and have been with their grandparents for nearly two years. They are settled and making good developmental progress. Margaret and Ken receive a kinship fostering allowance.

Your local authority is looking at reducing the numbers of children being looked after. You are asked to talk to Margaret and Ken about special guardianship. However, this kinship allowance is only guaranteed to continue for two years after the making of the Special Guardianship order. Margaret and Ken feel they can only look after the children if they receive the same financial support until the children reach adulthood. Do you:

  • Question their commitment to the children, as it seems to be motivated by financial gain?
  • Explain that the decision is reviewed after 2 years and it is possible that the same level of payment will continue after this time?
  • Advocate for the allowance to continue after the two years if special guardianship is being encouraged by the local authority, and stress that the children's stability in the placement should be the paramount concern?

Definitions:

Kinship Allowance
Kinship care is care for a child by close relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, or step-parents) with the knowledge of the local authority. The local authority may make contributions to the relative or friend toward the cost of the accommodation or care of the child. This is called kinship allowance. This allowance may vary from region to region.

Kinship Fostering Allowance
This denotes a contribution made by the local authority to the carers of a child. These carers will be close relatives of the child (grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, or step-parents). This payment takes the form of a basic fostering allowance. This allowance varies from region to region.


Special guardianship is a new legal option intended to provide permanence for children for whom adoption is not appropriate.

A special guardianship order (SGO) gives the special guardian parental responsibility for the child. Unlike adoption, under a SGO the parents remain the child's parents and retain parental responsibility, though their ability to exercise their parental responsibility is extremely limited.


Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this is:

Advocate for the allowance to continue after the two years if Special Guardianship is being encouraged by the local authority, and stress that the children's stability in the placement should be the paramount concern?
The third option recognises the importance of maintaining the children's welfare as paramount, as well as the need to provide support for kinship carers, particularly those on a low income.

Explain that the decision is reviewed after 2 years and it ispossible that the same level of payment will continue after this time?
The second option offers less of a guarantee of continuing funding and therefore less safeguards for the children and their grandparents.

Question their commitment to the children, as it seems to be motivated by financial gain?
The first option fails to recognise that many kinship carers, particularly grandparents, require financial and other support in order to care for children within their kinship networks. This option does not appear to recognise the stability and progress the children are making in their grandparents' care.

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Getting a Sofa
Sandra lives with her three teenage children and is struggling to manage their care on a very low income. The family require a new sofa as their old one is broken, however Sandra is in considerable debt and cannot afford to buy a new one.

You are a social worker working with the family and recognise that the family do need a sofa. Do you:

  • Suggest that Sandra apply for a social fund loan?
  • Arrange for Sandra to go to the furniture charity and choose her own sofa at no cost to herself?
  • Contact a local charity with second-hand furniture and arrange for one to be delivered?

Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this is:

Arrange for Sandra to go to a furniture charity and choose her own sofa at no cost to herself?
The second option gives Sandra most control over the process. We all like to choose our own furniture when shopping and Sandra should have this option if possible.

Contact a local charity with second-hand furniture and arrange for one to be delivered?
The third option will result in Sandra getting a new sofa free of charge, but she will have no choice over the matter.

Suggest that Sandra apply for a social fund loan?
The first option will potentially lead to her being able to buy a sofa of her choice, but this is dependent on the approval of the loan and the amount given. Also Sandra, who is already in debt, will have to pay back the money.

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Meeting Times
Carlos is a single parent of two teenage boys. He works for a contract cleaning company and is on the minimum wage. His hours of work are from 10am - 6pm and he does not get paid for the hours he does not work. One of his sons has recently become involved in minor offending.

You are a worker from the Youth Offending team allocated the task of undertaking an assessment and need to arrange visits. Do you:

  • Contact Carlos to arrange your visits at his convenience so that he does not have to take time off work?
  • Write to Carlos setting out a series of times when he should meet you at the office during normal working hours?
  • Contact Carlos to arrange visits after his working hours as well as during the day, as he needs to show his commitment and availability to his son?

Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this might be:

Contact Carlos to offer arranging your visits at his convenience so that he does not have to take time off work?
The first option recognises that Carlos is on a low income and gives him some choice over when the visits take place so that he does not have to take time off work and lose money.

Contact Carlos to arrange visits after his working hours as well as during the day, as he needs to show his commitment and availability to his son?
The third option offers him some choice over the process; however he still may have to take time off work. His availability and commitment to his son.

Write to Carlos setting out a series of times when he should meet you at the office during normal working hours?
The second option fails to recognise Carlos' particular situation and is an insensitive response to a working parent on a low income

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Housing
Anita is a young woman with learning difficulties. She spent her adolescence in care and has recently had a baby. You are the social worker for the baby who is subject to a child protection plan. Anita and her baby live in a local authority housing bedsit near a large street market. There is a problem with rodents and also their basement flat is extremely cold and damp.

Anita has said that she is very stressed out by her housing situation and does not know what to do about this.Do you:

  • Give Anita details of the housing office and suggest she makes an appointment with her housing officer?
  • Contact the housing department, explain the situation and try and arrange a meeting between the housing officer, Anita and yourself?
  • Tell her that you're the child's social worker and that she needs to sort out her own housing?

Click Next to find out which of the responses are most sensitive

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The responses are now listed from most, to least sensitive and with some feedback regarding why this is:

Contact the housing department, explain the situation and try and arrange a meeting between the housing officer, Anita and yourself?
The second option recognises the stress caused by poor housing, as well as Anita's needs as a young woman with learning difficulties who may need support and advocacy in accessing services.

Give Anita details of the housing office and suggests she makes an appointment with her housing officer?
The first option does provide information for Anita, but fails to recognise her need for support.

Explain that you are the baby's social worker and she needs to sort out her housing herself?
The third option fails to recognise and address how housing and other environmental issues can impact on both parenting and children's well-being. It does not involve partnership work with parents or recognition of Anita's particular needs.

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Now think about the following. Make notes if you wish.

  • What do you think of the evaluation of your practice in the survey? Do you agree or disagree?
  • Do you agree with our commentary?
  • What are factors in workplaces that support good practice with families living in poverty?
  • What are factors in workplaces that hinder good practice with families living in poverty?