Reference no: EM133787614

Assessment

Description

You are the case worker for a single mother (Mary) who has a 15-year-old son (Toby). Mary is struggling with her use of alcohol and states she often smokes cannabis (marijuana) when her son is at school.

Mary has said that she hasn't worked since her son was born and had previously managed by doing odd jobs for friends and neighbours. However, Mary has said that now her son is older she would like to get a full-time job but is worried that she will not be successful due to her problematic use of alcohol and cannabis.

When ‘probing' further into Mary's dependence, you come to understand that she regularly has her first glass of wine with breakfast and states that without it she can't ‘think' straight.

Mary said she found a half-smoked joint in her son's room when she was cleaning, and she is worried that he maybe experimenting with drugs.

Mary states that she would like to be able to stop drinking and smoking marijuana but every time she has tried before it hasn't worked.

Part 1 - Identified issues
What are the legal issues in this case study? What category/types of drugs are discussed?
Define mandated reporting requirements and if it is relevant in this particular case. What is the possible assessment and/or referral options?

Part 2 - Research
Apply critical thinking and judgement in identifying an appropriate AOD treatment program suitable for Mary's needs. You should outline the range of treatment options that could be suitable for Mary and to identify considerations that are applicable to her circumstances.

Part 3 - Critical Reflection
You have taken Mary's case to your supervisor and your supervisor has asked you to spend time reflecting on your decisions and consider what worked well and what other options were available to you.

Note: You are making out a case to your supervisor of how you propose to go about engaging Mary for counselling, referral, and other interventions - the assumption is that this is the initial interview with her. As well as a future-looking perspective you may also want to include and elaborate a backward-looking perspective, reflecting on what has occurred so far.

In a critical reflection you would be expected to avoid narrowly understanding Mary's actions, her current difficulties etc through the lens of her being a drug and alcohol dependent person. Instead of using a very narrow problem focussed lens, there could be much more to her situation, such as describing and identifying her achievements, her potential to improve her social function, identify social supports, restore self-confidence, reduce anxiety, rather than focus on her perceived deficits. This approach has been described as a strengths focussed approach.1

Your supervisor has also requested you to consider your professional responsibility and accountability and asked you to put this into a mini report that could be developed as a treatment plan.

Note
Jurisdiction-specific context
Your research and response to this scenario will include some reference to the array of services and programs relevant to the scenario, which need to applicable to the specific jurisdiction (ie State or Territory) where the case is set, ie where you presently reside.2

You should indicate in the assignment the jurisdiction in which you reside and accordingly that you will rely on the framework applicable to your identified jurisdiction.

Research literature
Your essay must be based on a review of the literature and should include at least eight primary academic references, ie peer-reviewed (scholarly) journal articles or book chapters.

Do not rely upon non-academic and other web-based secondary references as these do not constitute academic references for the purpose of your assignment, which if relied upon for theoretical support, may mean you have NOT met the requirements of the assessment. Do not use course slides or other course materials as references - these are secondary references.

Referencing
You must use APA 7 referencing.