| People with physical or psychological | | | | generalise. If we take a brief look at young |
| problems often need help with their everyday | | | | people with learning difficulties we know |
| lives but still wish to be as free and | | | | they benefit highly from outdoor activities |
| self-governing as possible. Care workers can | | | | such as swimming, football or an educational |
| provide this practical support on a daily | | | | visit to a museum. However the English |
| basis without stifling the person, and as the | | | | weather is not always permitting of external |
| industry advances we are seeing very | | | | excursions and therefore internal pursuits |
| encouraging improvements from both the giver | | | | must also ensue. The range and quality of |
| and receiver of social services such as care. | | | | these activities is only limited by the |
| | | | carer's imagination. Creative activities such |
| The support provided by care workers is | | | | as arts and crafts are frequently popular |
| centred around the particular person they are | | | | with the children and young adults as they |
| aiding. Recently there is more emphasis on | | | | are hands on, visual and interactive. |
| building a trusting relationship between | | | | Specifically for young people requiring care |
| carer and caree, helping people to live | | | | they can advantage greatly from working with |
| successfully in their local communities and | | | | others with similar issues, and this mingling |
| rely less on outside aid. Developments over | | | | is crucial to develop their interpersonal |
| the last decade have meant returning power to | | | | skills for later life. |
| the individual so now clients can have | | | | |
| control over their specific care package | | | | In the bigger picture there has been a |
| which they can differ from day to day or week | | | | massive improvement in communication between |
| to week. The role of the care worker is | | | | social care institutions and local |
| changing so that the client relies less on | | | | authorities. The Police, NHS, and schools are |
| the carer and learns to support him or | | | | all beginning to liaise with PCT's, homes and |
| herself as much as possible. This empowerment | | | | hospices on a regular basis, building up a |
| encourages people in care to be as autonomous | | | | stronger system of social welfare in the |
| as they can and gives them the confidence | | | | given area. Improving the knowledge of the |
| they need to do so. Social workers are | | | | entire public, especially the young on the |
| striving to support the independence of the | | | | issues of social services such as care work |
| character they are looking after rather than | | | | is just one example of the excellent |
| smothering them with unnecessary attention. | | | | grassroots initiatives springing up all |
| | | | around the country. We must continue on the |
| Of course there are many types of social | | | | promising road we are currently paving and |
| work, different issues require different | | | | increasingly empower the people we care |
| forms of care and we can in no way | | | | about. |