Applied Understanding of Human Development and Behaviour

Assignment Brief and Guidance:

Scenario 1

An understanding of human development and behaviour is essential if we are to be effective in meeting the needs of the people we work with in health and social care i.e., the goal of enhancing the lives of others and ‘helping people to help themselves ‘ (empowerment etc.) depends in many respects upon our ability to utilise cutting edge theory in a practical or applied way. This assignment will help you reflect upon the value of psychology as a tool to aid more effective social care.

As a practical example of the benefits of psychological theory of practice, your supervisor has asked you to prepare text for a presentation for colleagues that addresses the following:

Presentation

Your text should describe a range of theories of human development and reflect on and evaluate how these can assist social care workers to more effectively help people they work with. Many of these theories relate to what is often termed ‘the nature/nurture debate ‘. As such, your work should review the importance of biological and environmental factors on human development.

As a practical demonstration of how these theories can have a real world application you should specifically assess the impact of pre-natal factors on human development; review analyse and assess a range of life events that affect development through childhood and adolescence (including the contribution attachment theory to supporting infants and children), and critically discuss how an understanding of the physical and neurological influences on behaviour can impact social or community work with adolescents.

Your presentation should also describe and review some of the major physical, psychological and social changes (including significant life events) associated with the ageing process, and discuss how relevant theories related to development in late adulthood are in terms of supporting older adults in receipt of social/community services (here you should specifically evaluate how theory related to coping with loss and grief can enhance the support provided to adults accessing social/community care services).

Scenario 2

It is essential that community and social workers have knowledge of the nature and extent of the supports available in society for those in need of assistance and support. In the following tasks you are required to produce a report for colleagues that reflects the range of services available in society generally, and specifically, the supports provided by the organisation where you do your work placement.

Report

Your report should both describe the range of social and community services in your own locality and examine the support available for the individuals who use the service (s) provided by your work placement.