Ethnicity and Social CareEthnicity and Social Care

A Model for ChangeA Model for Change

OverviewOverview

Recent trends in immigrationRecent trends in immigration Policy issuesPolicy issues Current responses to immigrant’s needsCurrent responses to immigrant’s needs

Resulting challenge for the social care professionResulting challenge for the social care profession Key concepts informing positive changeKey concepts informing positive change

EthnicityEthnicity RacismRacism Institutional oppressionInstitutional oppression

Proposed model for strategic changeProposed model for strategic change

BackgroundBackground

Rapid increase of immigration to IrelandRapid increase of immigration to Ireland Definition and experience of ‘Irish Society’ is Definition and experience of ‘Irish Society’ is

being challenged…and changedbeing challenged…and changed Unprecedented and increasing perception of Unprecedented and increasing perception of

‘difference’‘difference’ Recognition of ‘difference’ raises ethical Recognition of ‘difference’ raises ethical

questions and practical implications for the questions and practical implications for the social care professionsocial care profession

Emerging trendsEmerging trends Upsurge of individuals and minority Upsurge of individuals and minority

groups entering Ireland as refugees or groups entering Ireland as refugees or asylum seekersasylum seekers 1994 - 400 applications1994 - 400 applications 2004 (January to June) - 2,118 2004 (January to June) - 2,118

applicationsapplications

Statistics compiled by the Irish Refugee Council (2004)Statistics compiled by the Irish Refugee Council (2004)

Policy IssuesPolicy Issues Statistical increase has been accompanied by Statistical increase has been accompanied by

economic and social challenges to provide economic and social challenges to provide services to a culturally and ethnically diverse services to a culturally and ethnically diverse populationpopulation

Agencies are appropriating Agencies are appropriating existingexisting services services As in the ‘Irish’ community, ethnic minority As in the ‘Irish’ community, ethnic minority

groups have members who are disabled, groups have members who are disabled, elderly, homeless, and socially challengedelderly, homeless, and socially challenged

The social care profession must inform its The social care profession must inform its practice with theoretical and skill-based practice with theoretical and skill-based experience in cultural diversityexperience in cultural diversity

Challenges Facing the Social Challenges Facing the Social Care ProfessionCare Profession1.1. To provide adequate and appropriate care for To provide adequate and appropriate care for

national and non-national service usersnational and non-national service users

2.2. Over-stretched and under-resourced care services Over-stretched and under-resourced care services are congested with vulnerable and dependent are congested with vulnerable and dependent service users… some of whom have little English service users… some of whom have little English and unfamiliar cultural practicesand unfamiliar cultural practices

3.3. ‘‘Difference does not give a license to dilute our Difference does not give a license to dilute our legal responsibility or social obligationslegal responsibility or social obligations

4.4. Confront misperceptions and discriminating Confront misperceptions and discriminating allegations allegations

Relevant ConceptsRelevant Concepts

A response to these policy issues and A response to these policy issues and challenges merits an exploration of challenges merits an exploration of three key concepts three key concepts EthnicityEthnicity RacismRacism OppressionOppression

EthnicityEthnicity Ethnicity is linked with identity and differenceEthnicity is linked with identity and difference Ireland has been classified as a mono-Ireland has been classified as a mono-

cultural society with social institutions re-cultural society with social institutions re-enforcing ‘sameness’enforcing ‘sameness’

Ethnic and other minority communities have Ethnic and other minority communities have been socially stratified (i.e. ranked) and been socially stratified (i.e. ranked) and organised in a subordinate fashion...being organised in a subordinate fashion...being allowed at the very most to become Irish sub-allowed at the very most to become Irish sub-culturescultures

RacismRacism

Evidence in Ireland of beliefs (or an Evidence in Ireland of beliefs (or an action based on beliefs) that one racial action based on beliefs) that one racial category is considered superior or category is considered superior or inferior to another racial categoryinferior to another racial category

Individuals or groups considered Individuals or groups considered different experience deliberate or different experience deliberate or unintentional social disadvantageunintentional social disadvantage

OppressionOppression A structure of hierarchical controls and inequality in A structure of hierarchical controls and inequality in

societysociety One group systematically dominates another by means of One group systematically dominates another by means of

interrelated social practices and systems interrelated social practices and systems Oppression is not a random affair…it is predictableOppression is not a random affair…it is predictable

We can confidently predict the kind of experience an individual or We can confidently predict the kind of experience an individual or group will encounter…regardless of which member is involvedgroup will encounter…regardless of which member is involved

Oppression is often camouflaged and without intentOppression is often camouflaged and without intent It operates within socially approved and authorised structuresIt operates within socially approved and authorised structures It is sometimes difficult to ‘see’ or ‘feel’It is sometimes difficult to ‘see’ or ‘feel’ It may be recognised but viewed as unalterableIt may be recognised but viewed as unalterable

Relationship of Key Concepts to Relationship of Key Concepts to Social CareSocial Care

Although Although individualindividual care workers may care workers may not consciously participate in not consciously participate in discriminative or oppressive behaviour, discriminative or oppressive behaviour, existing frameworks, programmes, and existing frameworks, programmes, and regimes support its functioning and regimes support its functioning and continuationcontinuation

Irish Social Care at the CrossroadsIrish Social Care at the Crossroads Will we ‘do care unto them’ in a Will we ‘do care unto them’ in a

patronising, discriminating or patronising, discriminating or oppressive manner...or…implement oppressive manner...or…implement policies that are representative and policies that are representative and inclusive of difference?inclusive of difference?

Will we value and embrace diversity in Will we value and embrace diversity in our social care services?our social care services?

Will we call for and welcome change at Will we call for and welcome change at all levels of social care services?all levels of social care services?

A Model for ChangeA Model for Change

The following is a four-step process that The following is a four-step process that may facilitate change from institutional may facilitate change from institutional oppression to social support, oppression to social support, integration, equality, and careintegration, equality, and care The IdentifierThe Identifier The IdentifiedThe Identified The MovementThe Movement The BeneficiaryThe Beneficiary

The IdentifierThe Identifier

Who or what determines and defines a Who or what determines and defines a given problem or social issue?given problem or social issue?

On what basis is it drawn into the public On what basis is it drawn into the public arena?arena?

Who sets the standards of what is Who sets the standards of what is worthy of disclosure, discussion, worthy of disclosure, discussion, treatment, funding, change?treatment, funding, change?

The Identifier (Applied)The Identifier (Applied)

EU membership calls Irish social EU membership calls Irish social services to account for the management services to account for the management and treatment of ethnic minority groupsand treatment of ethnic minority groups

Government departments are reinforced Government departments are reinforced by the media and other State agenciesby the media and other State agencies

‘‘Identifiers’ are sanctioned to inform and Identifiers’ are sanctioned to inform and direct the organisational structures of direct the organisational structures of social care servicessocial care services

The IdentifiedThe Identified

What role do the identified have in naming a What role do the identified have in naming a given problem or situation?given problem or situation?

What power relationships are in existence What power relationships are in existence between the identifier and the identified?between the identifier and the identified?

Are there social structures in place that serve Are there social structures in place that serve to advantage, disadvantage, or equalise all to advantage, disadvantage, or equalise all participants?participants?

Are all parties able to participate equally in Are all parties able to participate equally in the process of altering a social dilemma? the process of altering a social dilemma?

The Identified (Applied)The Identified (Applied) Ethnic minorities have been ‘identified’ by some as Ethnic minorities have been ‘identified’ by some as

different, unworthy and not belonging in Irelanddifferent, unworthy and not belonging in Ireland Apart from token contributors, most ethnic members Apart from token contributors, most ethnic members

are precluded from naming their care needs or are precluded from naming their care needs or solutionssolutions

Little value is given to ethnic members’ own analysis Little value is given to ethnic members’ own analysis of their circumstances (particularly at an institutional of their circumstances (particularly at an institutional level)level)

There is limited published work by or about refugees There is limited published work by or about refugees and asylum seekers regarding their physical and and asylum seekers regarding their physical and social needssocial needs

They remain unequal subordinates in a hierarchical They remain unequal subordinates in a hierarchical and stratified social systemand stratified social system

The MovementThe Movement

Who or what changes?Who or what changes? Does change occur as a result of pressure from Does change occur as a result of pressure from

existing social structures and institutions?existing social structures and institutions? Does change come as a result of public awareness, Does change come as a result of public awareness,

dissatisfaction, sense of justice, economic reality?dissatisfaction, sense of justice, economic reality? How is change directed?How is change directed? What path does change take during the process of What path does change take during the process of

movement?movement? When is change implemented and by whom or by When is change implemented and by whom or by

what?what?

The Movement (Applied)The Movement (Applied) Will Irish social care develop out of moral Will Irish social care develop out of moral

commitment and deliberate policy… or as a commitment and deliberate policy… or as a reaction to service needs for increasing reaction to service needs for increasing numbers of minority groupsnumbers of minority groups

Will movement continue to provide limited Will movement continue to provide limited social and economic resources resulting in social and economic resources resulting in minimal care for service usersminimal care for service users

To date, low priority for language, dietary, To date, low priority for language, dietary, religious and cultural distinctions exists religious and cultural distinctions exists across the sectoracross the sector

Care providers are largely from the dominant Care providers are largely from the dominant Irish culture and with little training in ethnic or Irish culture and with little training in ethnic or cultural diversitycultural diversity

The BeneficiaryThe Beneficiary Who or what benefits from change…or Who or what benefits from change…or

lack of change?lack of change? If change occurs, who or what is If change occurs, who or what is

advantaged or disadvantaged?advantaged or disadvantaged? Is there an economic, social or cultural Is there an economic, social or cultural

cost to change or lack of change?cost to change or lack of change? If change does not occur, who benefits If change does not occur, who benefits

from the status quo?from the status quo?

The Beneficiary (Applied)The Beneficiary (Applied) Without change, there may be some short-term Without change, there may be some short-term

savings for the exchequer…but there are few savings for the exchequer…but there are few social beneficiariessocial beneficiaries

‘‘Benefit’ comes from a radical shift in our Benefit’ comes from a radical shift in our perception of service-user worth as well as what perception of service-user worth as well as what constitutes acceptable standards of service constitutes acceptable standards of service provisionprovision

Change must focus on empowerment and Change must focus on empowerment and extended agency to ethnic minorities as users and extended agency to ethnic minorities as users and providers of care servicesproviders of care services

ConclusionConclusion A care service based on best practice must have at the A care service based on best practice must have at the

core of its policy strategycore of its policy strategy Specialised services that embrace a multi-cultural Specialised services that embrace a multi-cultural

Irish societyIrish society A framework that incorporates the inclusion of A framework that incorporates the inclusion of

‘difference’ into its development‘difference’ into its development Integration of all participants without the need to Integration of all participants without the need to

relinquish one’s cultural identityrelinquish one’s cultural identity Strategic procedures that strengthen material, social Strategic procedures that strengthen material, social

and emotional support, access, and full participation and emotional support, access, and full participation for service usersfor service users