Question

7. Refer to the Case Study below to answer the following: Explain why it is important for Ally to evaluate the agency’s responsibilities to workers, service users and the broader community.

Case study

Ally, the manager of a disability services agency in regional Queensland, is a qualified social worker with 10 years managerial experience. The agency she manages provides accommodation and respite support to adults with disabilities in their own homes, with support provided by paid departmental staff. In a typical household, two to four people sharing their home are supported by a team of residential care workers. The officers provide day-to-day assistance and support to people with an intellectual disability by ensuring their emotional, social and physical wellbeing. Support systems include generic community services, as well as a range of specialist services in disciplines such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, social work and psychology. Ally has recently received a complaint from a service user relating to a residential care worker’s lack of respect towards a person’s religion.

Answer 1

Disability services provide a wide variety of services such as physical, intellectual, occupational, speech and sensory services for the people. Ally, the disability service agency manager act as a liaison between the agency workers and care receiver. He has to coordinate with the workers in the delivery of care. He has to identify the service needed for residents, develop programs for them and implement them for the well-being of residents. He has to ensure proper training and staff development in the agency. Evaluation of staff responsibility, knowledge, and skills are necessary for the optimum delivery of care and maximum benefit of residents. Maintaining a record of residential work of staff and their performance in the assigned task act as a legal document. This will help Ally, to take decision and action against the resident's complaint. Evaluation of the agency services will also protect him and staff from unnecessary ethical issues and problems.