University of Wolverhampton

Title:

Power, Empowerment, and Independence in Adult Social

Care: A Case Study Analysis

Module Code: 3SC003

Assignment Type: Case Study

Student Name:

Student ID:

Date:

Word Count: 1,606 words (approx.)

Introduction
Power and empowerment are basic concepts of today's social care practice. The dynamic
between those who provide care and those who receive it can often produce imbalances which
affect the autonomy and quality of life of a particular individual. This essay discusses these
important themes using a case study of Mia, a young woman (20 years old), who has cerebral
palsy and learning disability, and blessed to live independently.

The essay will first begin by defining the idea of power and how it can be applied to social care
and will discuss the effect of discrimination and the equality act 2010. It will then define
empowerment, referring to its main principles and the methods by which empowerment has been
promoted in practice. Subsequently, these concepts will be attempted to be applied directly to
Mia's situation. This analysis will examine the power dynamics between Mia and her parents,
available strategies that the social care worker can use to help her, and some of the relevant
legislation such as the Care Act 2014. The essay will end with a summary about the need for
shifting power from professional to individual to have positive results.

Main Body A: Power

Defining Power and Its Role in Social Care Power can be defined as the ability or capacity to
direct or to influence the behavior of other people or the course of events. In a sociological
context, it often means who has authority, who is subject to authority. Within health and social
care power is inevitable. Historically, the relationship between social care professionals and
service users has been characterized by "paternalism" - a system in which professionals or
caregivers make decisions on the basis that they know what is best for the individual. This type
of "expert power" or "statutory power" can in fact be used to rob vulnerable people of their
autonomy. While power is required to protect one from harm, it is oppressive to use it to override
the right of an adult to self-determination. Understanding these dynamics is critical to the social
care worker because the worker's role is to help individuals be independent, not dependent.

Discrimination and Prejudice The misuse of power usually results from prejudice and
discrimination. Prejudice is used to denote preconceived opinions or attitudes toward a person or
group that are not grounded in reason or actual experience while discrimination is an act based
on these. In the context of disability, "ableism" is very common prejudice. This is the assumption

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that able-bodied individuals are the "norm" and people with disabilities are "less than" or
incapable of participating fully in society. For instance, society may have a prejudice that people
with learning disabilities cannot take care of a household. This attitude can result in
discrimination activities that may deny one the opportunity to apply for housing, employment
etc.

The Equality Act 2010 To combat these imbalances, the UK government introduced the
equality act 2010. This legislation combined some of the old laws that had been in place to
combat discrimination, but it listed nine "protected characteristics," which included disability,
age, race and gender. The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against one because of these
characteristics. For social care, the Equality Act is an essential tool in promoting the struggle
against power imbalances. It places a "Public Sector Equality Duty" on public bodies which
means that they must eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. This means
that services need to make "reasonable adjustments" when making sure that people with
disabilities get the same access to services like housing and employment as anyone else.

Main Body B: Empowerment

Defining Empowerment Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more
confident, especially when it is related to controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. In
social care, this represents a departure from the traditional medical model of care (which places
its focus on "fixing" what is wrong with a person) towards the social model of disability. The
social model posits that it is societal barriers, not their conditions alone that make people with
particular conditions disabled. Therefore, empowerment about the removal of these barriers to
allow for individuals to make their own choice. It is about "power with", not "power over" the
service user.

Principles of Empowerment There are several key principles of empowerment. The first is
choice and control, the second is independence, the third is participation.

Why Promote Empowerment? Promoting Enhancing Empowerment is critical to preserving

human dignity and wellbeing. When people feel that they have no control over their lives, it can
result in "learned helplessness," depression, and low self-esteem. Furthermore, empowerment is
one of the protective factors, i.e., people who are aware of their rights and are encouraged to

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voice their views are less likely to be the victims of abuse / neglect. Ethically, the primary focus
of social care is on improving the quality of life and autonomy forms a central part of a good life.

How is Empowerment Achieved? Empowerment is accomplished with specific practices such

as Person-Centered Planning (PCP). PCP places the individual at the head of all decision-making
meetings so that his or her voice is the loudest in the room. It also involves making information
available - using, for example, "easy read" documents or visual aids - so that the person with
learning disabilities can understand their options.

Main Body C: The Application of Empowerment to the Case

Study
Power Dynamics in Mia's Life In the case study, Mia is a 20-year-old woman with cerebral
palsy and learning disability, who lives with her parents. A very definite power struggle exists
between Mia and her parents. While her parents are acting out of love and fear for her, they are
exercising "protective power", i.e. not allowing her to move/ live on her own as they fear she will
"not be able to manage". This resistance, therefore, has the unintended effect of disempowering
Mia, perpetuating her in a childish role when she is an adult. Mia compares herself to her elder
brother, Malachi, who has made it independently with a job and flat. This comparison creates her
jealousy and accentuates the inequality she is called to; she wants the same normative adult
status as her brother but is impeded by the anxiety of her parents and of her own support
requirements. Currently, Mia does not have the power to do what she wants because she depends
on others for her personal care and meal preparation.

Empowering Mia The Social Worker's Role The social care worker can empower Mia using a
strengths-based approach. Instead of focusing on what Mia is not capable of (ie get up, cook
alone, etc.) the worker should focus on her assets: Mia is capable of "making her feelings
known" and has a clear goal of independence. To provide strength for the worker, Mia's
aspirations must be validated as realistic and achievable through the correct support from the
worker. The worker can support a family meeting where Mia is supported to express her wishes
and mediates the conversation to get her voice heard, above and beyond the fears of her parents.

Collaboration with Other Professionals In order to make Mia's independence a reality, the
social worker should collaborate as a part of a multi-disciplinary team. An Occupational

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Therapist (OT) would be very important to help to assess Mia's physical needs. Since Mia has
cerebral palsy and requires assistance with meals, an OT may be able to recommend adaptive
kitchen equipment or environment control that will enable her to cook in a safe way and thereby
become less dependent on others. A Housing Officer could help to locate a property that is
accessible for wheelchairs or on a 'Supported Living' scheme. Additionally, because Mia
becomes anxious while talking to people that she does not know very well, an Independent
Advocate could be appointed. The advocate would make sure Mia's voice is heard in meetings
with housing authorities or funding bodies, without her parents being able to 'put her voice
through.'

Relevant Legislation The Care Act 2014 is the main piece of legislation, which is applicable
here. It thus places a duty on the local authority to promote the "wellbeing" of an individual,
which includes control by an individual over his or her day-to-day life and domestic, family and
personal relationships. Under the Care Act there would be an assumption that Mia is the best
judge of her own well-being. In addition, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is of paramount
importance. Unless through an assessment it is proved otherwise, it must be assumed that Mia
has the capacity to make decisions about where she lives. Her parents are not able to veto her
decision if she has capacity, they are able to offer her advice, but the holding of the legal right to
decide ultimately lies with Mia.

Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay has shown that power in social care is a complex dynamic that must be
carefully managed to avoid the marginalization of vulnerable adults. Through the case study of
Mia well-meaning, protective attitudes from the family members can sometimes be a barrier to
independence. However, with the application of the principles of empowerment (choice, control,
and participation), social care professionals can enable individuals like Mia to find power in their
lives again.

The essay has pointed out that even though Mia is physically and cognitively challenged, it does
not mean that she cannot live independently. Ultimately, the role of the social care worker is not
to be the gatekeeper of resources, but facilitator of dreams, to be able to ensure that disability is
not a hindrance on achieving the same life milestones as anybody else.

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