Enhancing Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice with Refugees

Reflection: Domain of Culture

In an increasingly multi-cultural and diverse society, there is a need for efficient social workers to gain knowledge about different cultures and be willing, respectful and open to views and opinions that may challenge their own. Arguably, acceptance and appreciation for diversity and difference is shaped by our own personal background, experiences, socialisation and dominant ideas in the media. Cournoyer (2005) proposed that, whilst academic literature has focused on how the social workers personally manifest the aspects of ageism, sexism, rankism, able-isms (discrimination or prejudice based on mental or physical ability), and class-ism (discrimination or prejudice based on socioeconomic status), cultural competence and acceptance of others has been largely overlooked. Hereby, the social workers play a crucial role in supporting the refugee in the UK, so that they can cope up with the culture at the UK as well as communicate with the social communities freely and cultural shock for them can be mitigated well.

The agency in which I am based, works with individuals who have been forced to flee their country of origin due to war, persecution or violence (The 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees), often leaving behind their possessions, homes, extended family members, as well as social and professional roles. For these individuals, their sense of cultural identity may be so important to them that perceived attempts to assimilate them without prior consideration for their own cultures, which may be met with proper resistance. There are many cultural differences in terms of religion, rights and moral, values and ethics as well as gender and responsibilities for which the refugee or any person belonging to particular stereotype face problems to cope up with the culturally collective religious in the UK.

Under government resettlement schemes, some refugees are gradually integrated into British society, with some organisations providing advice and support even before their departure. However, most refugees are still likely to experience a cultural shock after arriving in the UK, having to adjust to a new way of life. This transition period may be even more challenging for those with limited proficiency in English. Woodcock-Ross (2011) highlighted that, the language barrier can be problematic when dealing with complex issues. Where non-verbal communication is attempted, it may hinder a client’s ability to understand or convey thoughts and emotions, which could make them feel frustrated and alienated. Even cultural symbols such as widely displayed signs e.g. a bus stop, may not be familiar. This makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks that they would have performed effortlessly and independently in their own country of origin.

In further exploring ways in which the prevailing culture discriminates against clients, emphasis must be placed on the accessibility of the services. Most welfare applications have been designed with the “indigenous” population in mind. There have been instances, when the clients have not been issued NI numbers upon arrival to the U.K., but the government departments have refused to process the applications without them. In addition to this, the clients have been left destitute by welfare sanctions because what they understood to be optional ESOL classes, were in fact mandatory, and their nonattendance has been viewed not as a genuine mistake, but as a deliberate act of noncompliance by Job Centres.

There are also religious differences and cultural constructions of gender roles. Some clients are originated from the countries, where the collective religious identity is strong and religious ideals are enshrined in the constitution. This is in direct contrast to British society, where religious ideology does not permeate every aspects of society, from the legal system, ideas on morality to institutions. Individuals may need time to adjust to seeing women in town unaccompanied by male guardians or the lack of religious attire (head and face coverings). It is also noteworthy that, religious clothing may make the individuals a target for abuse. For instance, the loose over-garment, the ‘Abaya’ worn by Muslim women, is noticeable. Clients who choose to wear it, may face social exclusion. It would be detrimental not to explore the gender roles. In cultures, where men are seen as ‘breadwinners’ and women as ‘homemakers’, a lack of job opportunities and the need to supplement income with welfare benefits or food banks would disrupt these dynamics. Whilst the women may feel empowered, men may feel like their identities are being eroded. It has been seen that, the female clients are concerned about developing their children, enrolling them in schools and taking care of them and on the other hand, the male members are aware about being employed, earning higher to meet their personal and basic needs to stay a healthy life. The expectations and thoughts of the male members is different as compared to the female members and in this regard in order to resolve this cultural stereotype, the social workers play an important role to raise concern about female employment as well as crate values for the female members in the society.

There is a great responsibility to approach cultural norms without prejudice or bias and try to work in partnership with clients, thereby respecting and embedding cultural norms in the decision-making process. The social worker in this context focus on the cultural norms and improving the decision-making practice so that proper personal and professional development can be developed for the clients irrespective of their gender so that they can work flexibly and meet their basic needs while staying in the UK. Shaping the morality of the human being and making proper decision without any biasness are also the responsibility of the social workers so that the individuals can improve their knowledge and understanding about their cultural norms, rules and legislations as well as handle cultural diversity with respect and integrity.

According to Fuller (2002), cross cultural competence goes beyond cross-cultural understandings. In his view, the social workers assist highly vulnerable groups from the diverse communities. Thus, the onus is on the social worker to attempt to transcend phycological and social forces that maintain patterns of ethnocentrism, prejudice, discrimination, rankism and xenophobia.

Whilst this may initially seem quite daunting, there are tools and resources that can be used to support individuals and their families. For instance, Otto (2014) pointed to the cultural notions of collective child rearing. During the discussions with clients, many of them have stated that, every extended family members or friends, religious elders have been willing to support them financially or with childcare. Encouraging mutual support and supporting the clients to maintain these relationships, can help with their integration. Nonetheless, for some clients, these support systems simply do not exist. In such cases, providing information about local support groups and relaying information about cultural events, held by charitable organisations, that can also help them to feel less marginalised and alienated.

In considering my own values and understanding of culture, in some ways, I can understand what it feels like to be in the minority population and the challenges that come with stereotypes, labelling and ‘othering’. On the other hand, having been raised in a city that is more culturally diverse, I was less considerate of how decades of immigration shaped the city in which I grew up and how my lived experiences would be different to those living in regions with smaller immigrant populations. During my placement, I have gained a greater awareness of culturally competent practice and the need to promote understanding and diversity. As per the client’s views, it is the responsibility of the person to understand the cultural differences among the individuals, respect all the cultures and values of the individuals and improve own ideal standard to deal with the individual with respect and integrity. In this regard, cultural sensitivity plays a crucial role for all the individual to improve thoughts and feelings and understand the norms and cultural diversity in the society which further provides a scope to constantly educate themselves with cultural activities and its impacts on the social communities.

References

Cournoyer, B.R. (4th ed) (2005). The Social Work Skills Workbook. London: Thompson Learning.

Fuller, R.W. (2002). Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank. British Columbia: New Society Publishers.

Otto, H. (2014). Don’t show your emotions! Emotion regulation and attachment. In Cameroonian Nso. In H. Keller and H. Otto Different Faces of Attachment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 215-225.

Woodcock- Ross, J.W. (2011). Specialist Communication Skills for Social Workers: Focusing on Service Users’ Needs. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

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