Conclusion

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What is clear from the statements made by family members is that their expectations are both modest, and realistic. They acknowledge that while practical help is important, inevitably many resources are likely to be limited.

However, besides practical assistance, they value emotional support and personal respect both of which are based upon the acknowledging by social workers of their human dignity as individuals.

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We will conclude this learning object with a family member giving a short account of a positive experience. The main message here is:


'The experience of poverty is not just about money - It is about dignity and self-respect for parents and children.

'Understand the level of fear that families have when they are approached by social workers. Understand that if people are protective of themselves, angry, apprehensive, it is probably because of previous experience.'

Transcript of interview:

'Huge difference. You may not have any more money but if you are allowed to have your dignity and your pride, if you feel respected by others around you then, you can cope with things better.

If you are terrified that everything you do, every little thing you do wrong, you are going to be judged on and going to be thought less of a person for, then you are going to make big mistakes, you are going to panic all the time or you are going to shut out services that can help you.

If you know you can approach those services and be treated respectfully and not feel humiliated, you have your dignity in tact, it helps you to cope and it means that the next time there is a crisis you are more likely to go back. That is the thing, if someone is treated really badly they will fight off services, resist services no matter how much they need them. If they feel they are going to be treated with respect they will go back when they need it and that is how we protect our children, by going to where the services are, getting what we need. If we are frightened of the services, if we are scared of them, we don't go.'

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If you would like to learn more about this area, please visit SCIE's other poverty e-learning resources in the e-learning section of the SCIE web site. http://www.scie.org.uk