Anti-racist Practice, Assignment Example

Conducting anti-racism research as an outside makes it necessary to utilize evidence from legal documentation, such as the Equality Act, to ensure that all reports are based on evidence, including the definition of anti-racism and its associated principles. During my initial evaluation of anti-racism, I found that it is challenging to become involved in anti-racist practices due to the lack of individuals that belong to minority groups within my placement agency. It is important to avoid an ethnocentric view when evaluating anti-racist approaches to ensure that social constructs do not interfere with important attitudes related to decision making (Butler  2003). It is essential to remain focused and unbiased to remove racist sentiment. Butler (2003) explains how the absence of minorities can result in a lack of focus on anti-racist practice which, in itself, can create a culture of oppression within a practice setting.

Domain 8 of the PCF emphasises understanding contexts and organisations by explaining how possessing such knowledge allows for better social work practice. Moreover, I am aware of how an understanding of the community and cultures served by an agency can support more effective and person-centred practice. Accepting the importance of this to my practice, I sought to learn more about the demographic served by my placement agency. According to the 2011 Census on Ethnic Groupings, there has been an increase in minority populations since 2001. At the local level in the Dorset County Council area, there has been a 3.2% to 4.4% increase. On a national level, this increase was more significant, indicating that 1 in every 5 people hold minority status (DCC 2011).

Reflecting on the skills needed to undertake anti-racist practice in this setting, research into the wider context of practice with the service user base with which I am working has helped me carry out evidence-based practice. The Department of Health reported in 2007 that approximately one-fifth of patients hold minority status and approximately one-fourth of these individuals are likely to be hospitalised without their consent. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that members of BME communities will be reluctant to accept mental health services, given the social stigma and possible marginalisation. Analysing this information in the context of my practice setting indicates that the shortage of service users from BME backgrounds is not only locally disproportionate; one can expect that more than the 4.4% of people from BME groups would be represented, given the increased likelihood of this group accessing services.

In underpinning my own anti-racist practice, I recognize that it is necessary to base my findings on research and theories rather than opinion to remain objective in forming conclusions (Harvey 1990) and I feel that an understanding of the above-discussed theories and approaches shows that I can support my anti-racist practice with a solid evidence base. As an ethnic minority myself, I am interested in issues of cultural sensitivity and anti-racism. I agree with Dominelli (1996) that the egalitarian idealisms underpinning practice do not always translate to the strictures of policy, and it is clear that people do have different needs and expectations; denying this is oppressive. For me, a person-centred and reflective approach to practice helps support professionalism and is key to ensuring that discrimination does not occur. Recognising that this is an individual responsibility as well as a collective effort on the part of the entire social care team is a vital acknowledgement.