Assessment 2 Discussion paper

Read the following case study involving Maria and George and address the *considerations to guide completing this assessment task, in a 2,250-word essay. You should also be guided by these three questions:

1. What does a reading of the case study reveal in terms of some issues to do with power, oppression, violence and trauma?
2. What aspects of the **Rationale can be included in the completed essay to indicate an achievement of the subject learning outcomes?
3. Does the completed essay meet the ***A2 marking standards and criteria noted in the Rubric?

Case study: You are a domestic violence social worker working in a large non-government organisation which is contracted by different levels of government to provide aged care services, early intervention services and domestic violence counselling. It is not unusual for the social workers to work across the three programs.

As a result of a restructure some clinical positions are to be lost, although, it is not known which ones. This has left all the social workers wondering if they will still have a job in the future.

A newly married mixed-race couple (Greek/Italian) came to the agency seeking assistance with the wifes parents who live with them. The wifes mother, Maria, is in a wheelchair long term, having been in a car accident. The couple suspect that the husband, George, who is in the early stages of dementia, is abusing his wife when they are not around as Maria has some unexplained bruises.

Reluctant to go to the police, for fear of making things worse, they ask if you can intervene and speak with George and Maria.

While George is receptive to your approach, and agrees to see you again, he denies abusing Maria, claiming she fell out of bed. While your focus is on ensuring Marias safety, while also considering the most effective way to assist her, you are also concerned about your own future, making it difficult to concentrate on any intervention.

*Considerations to guide completing this assessment task using different lenses:

1. Refer to the Positionality topic and lecture and use your own positionality to discuss how it would influence the way you would work with George to plan Marias care.
2. Reflect on the topics of Culture and Race Based Violence, Ageing and Elder Abuse, and Disability, what do the readings and lecture notes have to say about how you might work responsively and in an anti-oppressive way with George and Maria?
3. Review the Organisational Trauma readings and lecture, to describe and analyse how you would care for yourself while facing the changes the organisation is making?