Global Social Work: New Zealand

Urgency Needed On Mandatory Registration Of Social Workers 

January 31, 2013. The Scoop.

Press Release: New Zealand First Party

Asenati Lole-Taylor MP - Spokesperson for Social Policy/Welfare 

New Zealand First is renewing calls for the mandatory registration of social workers after the Government announced the expansion of its Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) programme.

A further 80 schools will be covered in the expanded SWiS programme, with 35 new full time social workers already announced for primary schools in Kaipara, Greater Auckland and the South Island.

Social Policy/Welfare spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says it is imperative that social workers are registered, particularly if they are going to work with vulnerable children.

“In the last census 14,000 people identified themselves as social workers yet only 3425 are registered. Experts predict a further 2500-4500 would meet registration.

“That means about 6000 social workers of doubtful ability are out there doing whatever they think they should be doing, and potentially causing all sorts of damage. 

“The statistics show us that there is about a 50 per cent chance that a social worker isn’t qualified. That is shocking.”

Mrs Lole-Taylor says the Public Service Association, Children’s Commissioner and social work education providers are all on the record as supporting the registration of all social workers.

“We accept that most social workers are honest, hardworking people but clearly a small percentage aren’t.

“The experts support our calls for mandatory registration which would help weed out the shonky operators.

“It is time for the Government to stop sitting on its hands and take action now.”

Bits & Pieces: Courage Nominations & Privacy Concerns of new BC Services Card

Courage To Come Back Nominations

The weeks are counting down to the nomination deadline of February 11th. Please consider nominating someone who has inspired you with their courage in the face of health or social challenges. Every person nominated receives a certificate of nomination and for many, this recognition is in itself a significant acknowledgement of how far they have come in their lives. 

To nominate visit a local Scotiabank Branch or log into www.coastmentalhealth.com/Courage

  

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BC Services Card

The controversial new BC Services Card that is now being mailed out around BC. In light of unauthorized information & privacy breaches, there is a great deal of concern about how the government will ensure the privacy rights of citizens. 

The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner is investigating the issue and the BC government won't wait for her report, which is a concern all of its' own. In a media release, her office wrote "Among other things, we are carefully evaluating the security issues associated with the proposal as well as the system architecture. In this regard, we are still awaiting information from the relevant ministries and government agencies."

The BC Freedom of Information & Privacy Association has also raised alarms, stating the following in one of their press releases:

 
FIPA has repeatedly raised questions over just why the new card is needed, what it does to protect citizen data from inappropriate use, and how it will link disparate government databases together, creating a potential goldmine for hackers. But despite the government's new push to unveil the card, these questions are a long way from answered.

Beginning February 15th the Care Card and Drivers license will be combined into one "BC Services Card". Normally when you renew your Driver's License it will be replaced with the integrated card. It also requires that one will need to reapply for BC MSP every 5 years. 

One concern I have is how indigent people will obtain these new cards. The Ministry of Social Development is chronically tight with the purse strings in helping fund ID for people. If they have copies on record, they often won't fund the purchase of ID. 

Obtaining primary ID (birth certificates) is often a nightmare for people who were born in other provinces, or countries. 

Is all of this going to create some sort of two tier system for poor people and other citizens? What other unintended consequences are going to arise? 

The full details are outlined in the government website here. 

Employment Opportunities

Program & Participant Coordinator

Canadian Cancer Society, Camp Goodtimes

Regular Full Time, 35 hours per week

Division Office/Onsite – Loon Lake

Since 1985, Camp Goodtimes has been committed to providing a camping experience for children affected by cancer. Camp has grown from assisting 25 children in our first year, to providing a supportive and fun camping experience for almost 600 children and family members each year. The Program & Participant Coordinator develops, guides, implements and evaluates the recreational programs for Child, Youth and Family programming year round.

The Program and Participant Coordinator position is split into two distinct roles. Throughout the year the incumbent will develop recreational programming for participants, act as the primary recruiter for camp participants and maintain year-round connections with participants and their families. While Camp Goodtimes is in session the incumbent will act as the Summer Camp Director which involves overseeing all aspects of Camp Goodtimes summer camp and providing specific support to the Camper Experience Supervisor.

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Year-Round Activities:

· Participates in the ongoing policy and procedure development for Child, Youth and Family programming

· Assists in the program development for summer camp component of programming.

· Plans and executes year round programming

· Liaises with referral agencies (BC Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House) to promote program to potential participants

· Assists in hiring, training and supervising temporary program staff and contractors

· Assists in recruiting, screening, training, supervising, evaluating, recognizing volunteers with support from Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

· Accountable for role modeling the Society’s values by demonstrating appropriate behaviour in Accountability, Caring, Integrity, Respect, Quality, Responsiveness and Teamwork.

· Responds to general inquiries related to participant support

2. Summer Camp Director, Camp Goodtimes (approximately 7 weeks during July & August)

· Provides leadership to staff, volunteers, interns, campers and families during summer camp sessions

· Serves as senior CCS staff member on site at Camp Goodtimes and is responsible for the ultimate resolution of performance or operational issues

· Primary point of contact for Loon Lake/UBC staff during summer camp sessions

· Oversees all aspects of Camp Goodtimes summer camp including programming, on-site operations, emergency, medical and security procedures and other duties as required

· Oversees volunteer performance, provides feedback and coaching and leads some volunteer meetings in conjunction with staff and volunteer leaders

· Accountable to the rules of the Camp, and enforces such rules

· Assists in the on-site accreditation processes for BC Camping Association, Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA) and Canadian Association of Pediatric Oncology Camps (CAPOC)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

· Knowledge of psychosocial aspects of oncology preferred.

· Strong knowledge of child and adolescent development.

· Knowledge of behavioural interventions for children and families.

· Knowledge of paediatric oncology preferred

· Excellent interpersonal skills, including team-building, and facilitation skills

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

· Excellent problem-solving and strong organizational skills

· Ability to prioritize and multi-task various projects

· Flexible, motivated and a quick learner

· Ability to work independently without supervision

· Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with children and volunteers

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

Essential

• University degree in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Psychology or related discipline.
• Experience counselling children, youth and families.
• A willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends and evenings and living on-site for the duration of the camp sessions

Desirable

· Experience in residential camping/management strongly preferred

· Graduate degree preferred

Interested applicants please click here to submit your cover letter and resume online in one document no later than February 22, 2013.

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                Executive Leader, Resident Care Services

                       Louis Brier Home and Hospital & Weinberg Residence

                                                   Vancouver, B.C.

The Louis Brier Home and Hospital & Weinberg Residence are located in the heart of Vancouver and serve the social, spiritual and long term care needs of the aging Jewish community. Our recently awarded ‘exemplary’ accreditation rating confirms the extraordinary standards maintained within this blend of public & private sector care.

An exceptional opportunity now exists for the person with the right expertise to ensure the highest standards of client care are provided to our 235 complex-care and 40 assisted living residents.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with an outstanding executive leadership team, you will lead an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals that includes Nursing, Rehab Services, Social Work and Recreation Therapy, and work with the Jewish community to develop a culturally-based care model for Jewish seniors in western Canada. The Executive Leader Resident Care Services will be a decisive, forward-thinking and energetic professional who is committed to the care and well-being of others. 

You possess superior interpersonal and communication skills, are a strategic, critical thinker and a proven leader in long term care with a vision to enhance our clinical services, education and research. You value and implement best practices and are experienced in the accreditation process. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the Jewish faith, culture and heritage and its importance within the facility.

If you are looking for your next challenge, have a Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related discipline as well as a degree at the Master’s level and an extensive background as an innovative and team-oriented leader, we would like to hear from you. CHE designation is an asset. Please forward your resume to, or contact:

Sandy Moss, Leader Human Resources

1055 West 41^st Avenue

Vancouver, BC V6M 1W9

604.267.4704

smoss@louisbrier.com

Reminders for Conscious Living: Top 5 Regrets of the Dying

This is a post that has made the rounds on the Internet and there is such wisdom to the author's words. There are times I have found life so busy, so complicated, so whatever that I had a hard time holding onto the really important things, the things that are worth focusing on in life. Then along comes something like these words and it gives me the wake up call that I need to cut through it all. 

Top 5 Regrets of the Dying 
By Bronnie Ware

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last 3 to 12 weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Bronnie Ware is a writer and songwriter from Australia who spent several years caring for dying people in their homes. She has recently released a full-length book titled 'The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing'. It is a memoir of her own life and how it was transformed through the regrets of the dying people she cared for. For more information, please visit Bronnie's official website @ www.bronnieware.com or her blog at www.inspirationandchai.com

Training around BC

Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute Inc.

presents the following workshops in British Columbia.

For detailed information on our workshops please go to 

www.ctrinstitute.com/bcpw.html

Understanding Mental Illness

Kelowna – February 26, 2013

Vancouver – February 27, 2013
Victoria – February 28, 2013 

Crisis Response Planning

Nanaimo – March 14, 2013

Vancouver – March 22, 2013

De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations^TM

Nanaimo – March 15, 2013

Kamloops – March 15, 2013

Vancouver – March 21, 2013

Prince George – March 28, 2013

Addictions and Mental Illness – Working with Co-occurring Disorders

Vancouver – April 16, 2013
Victoria – April 18, 2013

Kamloops – April 29, 2013 

Substance Abuse and Youth – Creating Opportunities for Change

Vancouver – April 17, 2013
Victoria – April 19, 2013

Kamloops – April 30, 2013

Motivating Change – Strategies for Approaching Resistance

Vancouver – May 15-16, 2013

Kelowna – May 22-23, 2013

Nanaimo – May 23-24, 2013

Violence Threat Assessment – Planning and Response

Victoria – May 15, 2013

Vancouver – May 22, 2013 

Depression – Practical Intervention Strategies

Vancouver – June 18, 2013

Counselling Skills – An Introduction and Overview

Vancouver – June 19-21, 2013

For more information:

Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute Inc.

204-452-9199

www.ctrinstitute.com

info@ctrinstitute.com

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New Directions in Child and Adolescent Treatment:

A Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Approach

Richmond, BC

Friday April 5th, 2013

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION by February 1st, 2013

*Co-Sponsored by Richmond Community Table for Supporting Families Affected by Parental Mental Illness and/or Addictions and Family Services of Greater Vancouver

Through the lens of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy® this workshop explores the development of affect regulation, identity, sense of self, and the ability to form and sustain relationships in younger patients. 

Presenters will address the impact of attachment dynamics and the effects of trauma on the developing brain and body, explore how the disruption of the instinctive evaluation of safety, danger and life threat (fight, flight, freeze, and feigned death) can lead to problems that often bring children to therapy. With an emphasis on dyadic regulation in the therapeutic relationship, presenters will elucidate the significance and use of the "somatic narrative" in child and adolescent treatment rather than reliance on language alone.

Date: Friday April 5th, 2013

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Ralph Fisher Auditorium

(located in Richmond Hospital)

700 Westminster Hwy

Richmond, BC V6X 1A1

Tuition: $165.00 USD

Discounts: 10% if registered by February 1st, 2013

10% for groups of 3 of more

$100 off a future SPI Level I Training

REGISTER ONLINE: www.sensorimotor.org

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8th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS)

Hosted by Simon Fraser University

Date: June 29-30, 2013

Pre-conference workshop June 28. 

For more information, please see the attached brochure.

DBT Centre of Vancouver, Inc.
1040 - 1200 Burrard St
Vancouver BC V6Z 2C7
P: 604-569-1156
F: 604-569-1230

Perfect follow up to yesterday's post

Epic Every Day: What Video Games and the Millenials Can Teach Us If We Let Them

January 23, 2013 By Mike Langlois, LICSW

The term millennial refers to the generation following mine, Generation X, who were born between the early 80s and 2001.  There certainly may be some differences in the millennial cohort in terms of race and social class, but in my experience working in both urban and suburban settings, technology use is not one of them.  In fact, technology has probably exacerbated some of the traits millennials are known and often criticized for. 

Social media has made expression more democratic and amplified, and millennials cite self-expression as extremely important.  Growing up with the internet has also placed them in the same social and informational spheres as their parents more than previous generations, making them more civic-minded than rebellious, and having different, some would say overly dependent, attachments to their parents.

Common complaints about millennials include that they are entitled, tethered to their parents, unable to tolerate longterm goals, averse to sustained effort and require a constant stream of praise for the most minimal pieces of work.  The other side of this coin is worth noting, too:  Higher sense of self-expression has led to millennials’ higher acceptance of diversity in others; they are more comfortable with switching jobs or organizations they work with and working outside the box in general.  Yes, they may also have a higher tendency to blame external rather than internal things for their problems, but having come to self-awareness post-9/11, can we really blame them?

Read the whole article & visit Mike's site @ Gamer Therapist: Psychotherapy Meets Web 2.0 here.
 

Global Social Work: Ireland & Rwanda

Social work is ‘two thirds paperwork’ 

Belfast Newsletter, November 29, 2012. 

The majority of childcare social workers in Northern Ireland spend less than a third of their working week with young people, new research has indicated.

The rest of their time is taken up with paperwork and other administrative tasks, according to figures compiled by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers.

Of the NIASW members questioned for the survey, 94% said they would like to spend more time with children and families.

But three out of four social workers surveyed said they were already working between 20 to 60 extra hours a month.

Two thirds of the respondents said direct client contact accounted for less than 30% of their working week.

The NIASW said the situation was caused by the combination of a growing demand for services and a reduction in administration staff.

It has called on Stormont’s Health department to take action to reduce the bureaucratic workload facing social workers as part of its 10-year strategy on social work.

NIASW manager Carolyn Ewart said: “It is not right that we have social workers, who really do want to help vulnerable people, sitting behind desks inputting data and writing reports rather than spending more time with children in need or at risk.

“It is clear from the findings that to keep children safe social workers are putting in many hours of unpaid overtime. Many are going the extra mile for vulnerable families.

“This survey highlights a profession under extreme pressure which is totally unacceptable.

“Our social workers want to see children and families more and to offer preventative and therapeutic work rather than spend their time sitting in front of a computer screen.

“With the first ever Social Work Strategy, which highlights bureaucracy as an issue, NIASW wants to work with the government and other agencies to implement the recommendations.

“NIASW are calling for effective measures to be put in place to reduce the level of bureaucracy and free up time to do social work not paperwork”.

A total of 149 social workers responded to the NIASW survey, 132 working with health trusts and 17 in the voluntary sector.

A spokesman for Health Minister Edwin Poots’s department said: “Direct work with children is a vital part of a social worker’s role. It is particularly important that social workers make time to listen to children.

“However, it is also important that social workers are properly accountable for their actions and that they share information with others to achieve the best outcomes for children.

“Inevitably this means that they have to spend some time writing things down. What matters is getting the balance right. That is one of the reasons the minister launched Northern Ireland’s first social work strategy earlier this year.

“One of the first steps in implementing this strategy will be to review practice and reporting arrangements to streamline processes and eliminate unnecessary paperwork.”
 

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Rwanda: Social Workers to Monitor Children in Foster Families

By Maria Kaitesi, 28 November 2012.

 

At least 68 social workers are to be recruited countrywide at district level to help in the phasing out of orphanages, reintegrating orphans with their biological families or finding foster homes for those without relatives.

In an interview with The New Times, Zaina Nyiramatama, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Children said that the social workers, who also have skills in psychology, will also help prepare the families taking up the children through counselling.

According to the official, the plan is to have a minimum of two social workers in each district.

"We want to recruit at least two social workers for every district to help counsel the children going to families and also the families taking in these children. We want to ensure that the children receive parental care and love," she stated.

So far, 21 social workers have been recruited and placed in different districts.
She said that the families taking up the children and the children themselves need to be prepared for the change in environment and taught how to deal with some of the challenges that might arise.

Some orphanages do not facilitate the council with the right information about their institutions so the social workers will also help collect the right information about the orphanages in the different districts, according to her.

Nyiramatama stated that 622 orphans have so far been re-integrated with their families and others been adopted.

Five orphanages have been closed up already, leaving a total of 28 countrywide. The government's plan is to phase out all orphanages dotted around the country by 2014.

The phasing out of orphanages is aimed at ensuring that all children grow up in proper family structures and not institutions where they may not get proper upbringing.

Among the challenges Nyiramatama highlighted is the fact that some orphanage administrators are still resistant to the phasing out of the institutions.

She said that this challenge is mostly with foreigners who run orphanages in Rwanda.

Spotting Narcissists: They're all around us

Almost all of us know narcissists in our personal, or professional lives. We may not recognize them as such, but they are there nonetheless. You may recognize some of these signs after reading the article below. 

Interestingly, I was just having a conversation with someone about how someone's driving style may reflect narcissism. Many of us have been cut off, or somehow put at-risk on the road by someone who apparently shouldn't have to wait in line, or is entitled to be ahead of us, no matter the risk to anyone due to their driving behaviour.

I have a clinical interest in how certain people come to develop narcissism and believe we have been in the process of raising more narcissistic people over the last decade, or two. I'm seeing it in action in some of the ways that my generation and younger folks are raising their children. 

When I was a child, my parents life did not revolve around me. My brother and I were not the centre of the universe in our family. Our parents expected us to behave in a certain way, to develop manners and we were disciplined when we didn't behave according to rules and expectations.

Articles like this, ‘Planet Mom and Dad’: Helicopter parents infiltrate college, the workplace and beyond, seem to be raising the issue of what is happening for too many young people. Parents, due to their clingy parenting, are possibly impacting their offspring doing the developmental work they need to be doing to become healthy, well-adjusted and successful adults. 

What seems to underlie this kind of parenting is the narcissistic need of the parents to ensure their children "become successful" and a sense of entitlement seems to also underlie some of the behaviour. The articles describes parents who complain of low grades to university instructors. I've heard about this from people I know who teach.

In previous generations, people earned praise and rewards for working hard, winning and meeting goals. Over time, that began to diminish, which coincided with the "self-esteem" programming that began to be brought into schools and into our consciousness.

Next thing you know, every kid gets a ribbon at Sports day and there are no awards for being the best at anything. Kids also get praised for the simplest things. I caught myself on this and realized this was not helpful, or meaningful.

There are always going to be kids who work hard to achieve and succeed at their goals. I was one of those kids (and adults) and nothing short of a freight train can stop me from moving forward once I have a goal in mind (and pity the freight train that gets in my way, hahaha). 

But in the rush to equalize everything, some kids, especially boys and young men, seem to be stepping out of the game altogether. Young women are outpacing males in many of the professions and are achieving higher education at much greater rates. Their economic clout is increasing and that is outpacing young men. 

All of this is leading to a concerning change in the dating lives on women and men. It's something we're already seeing the ramifications of, with more people living alone and rejecting adult milestones (such as marriage and child rearing) than any other point in history.

Endlessly Entitled Narcissists: What to Look For

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D, Psych Central,

Some narcissists are obviously obnoxious, offensive and obdurate. Others, however, present as attractive, appealing, even amazing individuals. It’s not until you get to spend a lot of time with them that you suddenly realize your moment of truth: “It’s always about them.” 

Summon up the courage to tell him (or her) that he’s being self-centered and here’s what to expect. He’ll either continue doing whatever he has been doing (as if you hadn’t said anything at all) or he’ll become irate: “Me? Self-centered? You must be nuts!”

Though all narcissists are not cut from the same cloth, they do have many traits in common. Here are the most prevalent ones.

1. Narcissists are excessively self-absorbed. They monopolize the conversation, hog the remote, run the show. They pay scant attention to what interests you.
2. Narcissists view others as extensions of themselves. The narcissist sets the standards of behavior and does not tolerate differences – especially if your viewpoint would require her to alter her behavior.
3. Narcissists don’t appreciate different perspectives. If you don’t think or feel the same way he does, something’s wrong with you.
4. Narcissists crave constant validation from the world. Admire and respect them and all is well. Find fault with them and watch out! Open narcissists will go on the offensive; closet narcissists will cut short the conversation.
5. Narcissists pursue admiration, attention, status, prestige and money excessively. All of this is mere window dressing, covering up a real self that’s insecure and vulnerable.
6. Narcissists believe that they’re entitled to special treatment. If it inconveniences them, it’s a “stupid” law, a “retarded” restriction. So why fall into line? “That’s for peons; not for me!”
7. Narcissists believe that they deserve the best, regardless of cost. Hence, they may recklessly purchase status items and indulge in expensive experiences to make them feel like VIPs.
8. Narcissists may donate generously to a cause or to helping others out in order to reflect well on themselves. When a gift is a narcissistic display rather than a gift from the heart, it’s all about the narcissist receiving recognition or control, not about the cause.

Many people don’t realize that their partner (or family member or friend) may be a narcissist, discovering it only after much time has elapsed. Why isn’t it obvious at the very beginning?

1. It’s difficult to accept that someone you care for has a narcissistic personality, especially when he or she is talented, charming, smart, and yes, even caring at times. Yet, if you are often bewildered by their endless entitlement and repeatedly feel taken advantage of, don’t let your wishful thinking stand in the way of recognizing ‘what is.’
2. Narcissists are great masters of disguise, describing their behavior in the best of terms (i.e. I’m only doing this for your own good!). Hence, it may take awhile for you to ‘get’ what’s really going on.
3. Narcissism, reinforced by our culture, is on the rise. Advertisements that proclaim that you “deserve the best” or “you’re worth it” make no connection between deserving it and affording it. Nor do they describe what makes you so worthy. Hence, many narcissists feel that they’re acting the way they should be acting and see nothing wrong with their behavior.

Rural & Remote Practice: Workplace Risks & Tragedies

I have a social work friend who is now semi-retired. She has spent much of her life working in rural areas of different provinces and she is now primarily based in the Lower Mainland. 

Now that life has slowed down a bit from her busy work life, she has been reflecting on the vast distances and safety issues she faced driving from town to town in her social work practice in rural communities. At the time, she didn't really give much thought to her own safety, as these kind of risks came with the territory of rural practice. 

I would contend that denial might have also been a powerful defense mechanism, as it allowed her to travel vast distances to provide care and support to clients through snow, blizzards, terrifying road conditions and a great deal of uncertainty about what was up ahead on the road in front of her.

This story is a tragic one that offers a reminder of the workplace safety issues for members of our profession and others who work in rural communities providing services while working in isolation. 

My condolences go out to the family and colleagues of this dedicated professional. My rural colleagues also have my unending respect for the lengths they go to so that people can receive the care and support they need and deserve.

Community health nurse dies while travelling to remote town near Lillooet

Vancouver Sun (The Canadian Press), January 18, 2013.

 

KAMLOOPS — A community health nurse based in Lillooet has died while travelling to a remote town.

Lillooet RCMP say the woman's jeep veered over a 180 metre cliff into the Bridge River, near Gold Bridge, about 100 kilometres west of Lillooet, along a narrow, gravel logging road.

The accident happened Thursday morning, the day the victim regularly travels from Lillooet to provide health care in the communities of Gold Bridge and Bralorne.

Investigators say the 40-year-old mother of a four-year-old boy was wearing her seatbelt and survived the initial crash.

She died several hours later at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

A cause of the crash is under investigation.

© Copyright (c)

Mind-Body-Spirit: Neuroplasticity, Mindfulness & Other Learning

From Counselling BC:

Changing the brain transforms lives

Have you ever had a patient who was desperate to make a change, but was so discouraged, they weren't sure it was possible?

What if you could show them how rewiring their brain could be the first step in transforming their life?

It's not as complicated as it might sound . . .

. . . because team at NICABM have brought together the experts to show you how the latest brain science can help your clients start making changes that last. 

Just click here to check out their 4th annual webinar series on the New Brain Science.
 
It's free to watch each webinar at the time of broadcast - you just have to sign up.

Or, you can get a Gold Membership for access to the video recordings, audio recordings, transcripts, bonus sessions, and three new learning tools to simplify the question of where to start.

I hope you'll take a moment to check it out.

Sincerely,
Jeff

PS You can also get a Pre-Series Bonus when you sign up for a Gold Membership before the first broadcast.
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You can watch some of the world's best videos on Neuroplasticity, Mindfulness and other topics here. 

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM) is a pioneer and leader in the field of mind-body-spirit medicine. 

Employment Opportunities - UVIC & Sunshine Coast

SENIOR INSTRUCTOR POSITION

School of Social Work – University of Victoria

The School of Social Work at the University of Victoria is inviting applications for a Senior Instructor position . The University of Victoria, one of Canada’s leading universities, provides students and faculty with a rich learning environment. The University is situated on traditional Coast Salish territory. Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching, and community involvement, UVic provides innovative programs, real-life experiences and a diverse and welcoming West Coast environment. The School of Social Work offers both undergraduate and graduate programs focused on social justice, anti-racist, anti-oppressive social work practices, with an overall goal of promoting critical enquiry that respects the diversity of knowing and being. The School has a particular commitment to distance education and the student body includes learners located in communities across Canada. 

Senior Instructors carry a teaching load of 10.5 units (7 courses) a year and engage in several other service related duties in the School and Faculty. While there are no research expectations associated with this position, the Senior Instructor role does participate in all aspects of program development including curriculum design and revision. The appointment will begin July 1^st, 2013. The successful candidate will be a full-time regular faculty member in the School of Social Work. The initial appointment is for three years, with anticipation of reappointment if the candidate has met expectations and demonstrated superior teaching effectiveness. In cases of exceptional performance, Senior Instructors can be promoted to Teaching Professor. 

This position involves teaching a wide variety of courses in the undergraduate program in areas such as addictions, disability and health, all taught within the context of critical social work theory and practice. 

Applicants must have a Master’s Degree and at least one degree in social work (BSW, MSW, PhD, DSW). A PhD in social work or related field is preferred but not required. Applicants should also have experience with curriculum design and a demonstrated excellence in teaching a diverse array of courses through the full range of delivery platforms ranging from face to face classroom environments through to fully online course management systems (such as Moodle or Blackboard). In addition, it is expected that applicants will have an extensive and diverse background in direct social work practice. 

To apply, submit a curriculum vitae (including citizenship status) and covering letter on or before February 8^th, 2013. 

The cover letter should include a statement of your teaching philosophy and an outline of your teaching interests and experience. You may also include sample teaching materials, evidence of curriculum design activities and evaluations of teaching. This material should be sent to:

Director, School of Social Work
University of Victoria
P.O. Box 1700
Victoria BC V8W 2Y2

Email: swdirect@uvic.ca

Recruitment Number: 250-056

Please note that shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend an interview and provide a teaching demonstration. This process is scheduled to occur on specific dates during the first two weeks of March, 2013. 

The University of Victoria is an equity employer and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and other who may contribute to the further diversification of the university. Candidates are invited to self-identify when they apply. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact Grace Wong Sneddon, Adviser to the Provost on Equity and Diversity at (250) 721-6143. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.

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Program Director - Child & Youth Services

Follow the link to see a Summary, job description and more information about the position.

Global Social Work: United Kingdom

8,000 social workers barred from practising after failing to renew registration (UK) 
Thousands of social workers removed from register after failing to meet revised deadline to renew their registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. 

Andy McNicoll, January 3, 2013, Community Care.  

 

Over 8,000 social workers can no longer practise in England after failing to renew their registration, the Health and Care Professions Council has announced.

The regulator revealed today that 8,425 social workers have been removed from the social work register for failing to renew their registration despite having had “several opportunities” to do so.

“This means that they can no longer practise as social workers in England,” a statement on the HCPC website said.

Reacting to the news, social workers pointed out that a number of situations could lie behind the failure to renew. These include the fact that some social workers may have retired in the last year, could be out-of-work, or hold roles where registration is voluntary, such as management positions.

An HCPC spokeswoman said that the regulator did not know how many of the 8,425 social workers removed from the register are actively practising. But it appears that some are currently employed, with the HCPC having written to employers to advise them of social workers who are no longer registered. 

Where deregistered social workers are employed as practising social workers, employers have a duty to address the situation.

The HCPC is not prescriptive on what form that action should take. Options could include altering the worker's job role so that they are not practising as a 'social worker', or the employee taking a period of annual leave while their readmission to the register is sorted out, the HCPC spokeswoman said.

Registration with the HCPC is a legal requirement for people to practise using the title “social worker” in England. In November, the regulator was forced to extend its deadline for renewals to the 2nd January 2013 after it emerged that a quarter of social workers had yet to renew.

While 90% of the estimated 88,000 social workers in England met the extended January deadline, around 1 in 10 failed to do so and have now been removed from the register. Social workers who have been removed from the register will now have to apply for readmission. The HCPC has sent readmission forms to all social workers who failed to renew.

“If a social worker returns a completed readmission form by Friday 1 February 2013, we will put them back on the Register provided they have paid their registration fee [of £76],” the regulator said.

Social workers who submit readmissions forms after the 1st February will be forced to complete a “more detailed” readmission form, which incurs a total cost of £191, the regulator said.

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A day in the life of a hospice social worker (UK)
Jason Davidson describes a typical day as a senior social worker for St Joseph's hospice in east London.

The Guardian, Guardian Professional, January 4, 2013.

Hospice care extends beyond just the treatment of physical symptoms. We also consider the emotional, social and practical needs of seriously ill people and their families, friends and carers, providing care that is tailored and personal for each person.

Many families affected by terminal illness have worries about issues such as employment, finances, housing, their children, practical matters, or future care. I work in a team of experienced social workers at St Joseph's hospice to help people address these issues, working across all clinical areas at the hospice, including day care, the in-patient unit and out in the community.

I start work at 9am but I'm usually in the office by 8.30am. The first thing I do is check emails and respond to voicemails. I also attend a morning meeting with our "first contact" team to discuss referrals from the previous day.

At 10am I go to the inpatient unit in the hospice to attend family meetings. I recently facilitated a meeting with a young man in his 30s with multiple sclerosis, and his parents who he lived with. We began discussing his end of life wishes with his parents. Advance care planning can be a sensitive subject, particularly in this case as the man's wishes were different to those of his parents.

In the late mornings, I will leave the hospice for home visits across east London. I have been visiting a young woman newly diagnosed with metastatic cancer. She was told four weeks ago that her prognosis is less than six months. She has three young children at school. During our first meeting, the conversation was very practical. We focused on what she needed to help her get around at home and I referred her to an occupational therapist.
We also discussed what benefits she would be entitled to and called the Department for Work and Pensions to start making claims. She was very clear she didn't want to talk about the future.

But when I arrived for my second visit, she was very tearful and spoke about how frightened she felt. I listened for more than an hour as she talked about her fears for the future and her children's future. We discussed what I could offer and who else we may need to contact for support. We also explored how she might start having conversations with her children about her diagnosis and what support she would need to do this. I left her house feeling exhausted and emotional. It was such a sad visit.

Half an hour after that visit, having had a quick sandwich in a supermarket car park, I was sitting in the living room of a man in his 60s with his wife and their two sons. I have known the family for about three months and he was receiving treatment for head and neck cancer, but had been told by his oncologist that there are no more treatment options available to him. The family were devastated but open to conversations about the future and he told me within five minutes that he needed support to arrange his funeral. I didn't need to say much other than facilitate a conversation between the husband and his wife and their sons about his funeral and his wishes for the remaining time he had left. There were a lot of tears and a lot of laughter. I left an hour later feeling uplifted. I thought about my dad on the tube journey back to the office.

Back in the office, I respond to emails and prepare a presentation for some training I'm facilitating. The training is being held in an acute hospital for medical and social care colleagues and titled Talking About Death and Dying. Its aim is to improve the confidence of professionals in having conversations with patients about death and dying. We run these days monthly and I'm looking forward to the next one as we have a consultant oncologist attending, which should be interesting.

Before I go home, I will pop up to the ward on the inpatient unit. The other day I saw a man who speaks limited English. I usually see him with an interpreter but, on this occasion, we just smiled at each other and sat in silence for a while.