Walden University WK 2 Phoenix House Response

Respond by to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways:

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• Compare the greatest challenge your colleague has identified to the one you posted.
• Explain whether you think your colleague’s strategy for addressing the situation is likely to be effective and why.
• Be sure to use reference when responding

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DB 1

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Melissa—

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An analysis of the supervisor’s role in the Phoenix House case study

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The supervisor at the Phoenix house is the senior social worker.They over see four full-time social workers as well as two inter social workers.Their roles include supervision for the social workers, as well as helping them resolve any issues the social workers and the clients may be having.In the case of the Phoenix House, the supervisor listens to tow of the other social workers concerns about a client and then helps by reaching out to the client’s mother to talk about the concerns the staff has.The supervisor also informs the staff of the conclusion of the conversation with the client’s mother and helps develop a plan.

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Identify leadership skills that might help the supervisor resolve the issue.

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According to Northouse (2013), a leader is someone that sets strategies and communicates goals (p.12).In the case of the Phoenix House, the supervisor shows leadership by completing both of these trait of a leaders.They set the stratigy by calling the client’s mother and having a discussion with her.They then go back to the other social workers and discuss what the outcome of that conversation was.The other social workers express their concerns and attempt to start discuss a plan.

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Identify which aspect of this situation would be most challenging for you if you were the supervisor.

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An aspect of this case that would be difficult for me is allowing the client to stay at the Phoenix House knowing that it was not the right fit for them and there was a potential for harm to the client.While the client’s mother does have right to send her son to the program, I feel that other aspects need to be taken into consideration when deciding if the program needs to keep the client as a client.

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Explain how you would use leadership skills to proceed if you were the supervisor.

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In this case, after the initial call to the mother, I would return to m team and discuss the conversation and listen to their concerns.From there I would develop a plan with the other team members and the best possible way to keep the client safe and provide them with the information they need.I would develop an anti-bully program for the social workers/counselors to teach to all the clients that attend the program.If the bullying continues I would reach out to the mother again and discuss the reason that the client is being discharged and move forward with discharging the client.

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Northhouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles: sage Publications.

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Plummer, S. B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration

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year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing.

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DB2

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James—

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External Factors Impacting an Organization

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Supervisor’s Role in the Phoenix House Case Study

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It is the supervisor’s job to oversee and manage the staff at Phoenix House. “I supervise a staff of four full-time social workers and two social work interns from a local university. Staff responsibilities generally include helping students with homework, individual and group counseling, field trips, and recreational games and activities” (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014, p. 82). In addition, the supervisor must ensure all the staff are working synergistically and cohesively. Furthermore, it is the supervisor’s role to lead by example and get everyone on board with the organizational vision of Phoenix House.

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Leadership Skills that Might Help the Supervisor Resolve the Issue

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The supervisor will need to make a good judgment call concerning how to best deal with the current situation regarding Daniel. The staff seem convinced that Daniel will not have a positive experience at Phoenix House and feel he is being picked on and bullied by the other clients despite their efforts to prevent it. Some staff members have also pointed out that this may be an ethical issue because they feel the situation violates the social work value of ‘Do no harm’” (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014, p. 82). It is not easy to always make the correct judgement call, but knowing the vision of Phoenix House will help ensure every decision is based on what’s best for the individual and organization.

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Which Aspect of this Situation Would be Most Challenging

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“Students are usually referred to Phoenix House when school administrators feel that the student is on the cusp of expulsion or long-term suspension from their school, usually due to disciplinary issues” (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014, p. 82). The most challenging aspect of this situation is the mother who is adamant her son stays at Phoenix House. But it is the responsibility of the supervisor and staff to clearly communicate with Danie’s mom why he should not be at Phoenix House. “The clients possess a range of presenting issues, mostly relating to inappropriate behavior. Some of the clients have been involved with the juvenile justice system in some form or fashion. Almost all of the clients have been suspended from their school at one point or another. Common problems with clients at Phoenix House include fighting, bullying, stealing, and vandalizing” (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014, p. 82).

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Leadership Skills as the Supervisor

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As the supervisor I will need to be an effective communicator and an efficient leader. “Another, and a somewhat unusual, way to think about leadership is as a relationship. From this perspective, leadership is centered on the communication between leaders and followers rather than on the unique qualities of the leader. Thought of as a relationship, leadership becomes a process of collaboration that occurs between leaders and followers (Rost, 1991). A leader affects and is affected by followers, and both leader and followers are affected in turn by the situation that surrounds them. This approach emphasizes that leadership is not a linear one-way event, but rather an interactive event” (Northouse, 2013, p. 6). A good supervisor needs to have the ability to build relationships with their staff, and gain respect. A supervisor should not demand respect, nor expect others to respect them just because of their position within the organization. Respect should be earned by leading through example and building strong working relationships.

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References

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Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6^th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

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Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (4^th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

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Lauffer, A. (2011). Understanding your social agency (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

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Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing [Vital Source e-reader].