As mentioned previously, my manager can help develop my knowledge, understanding and practice by giving me feedback in my supervisions, appraisals, observations and professional discussions. Other members of my team are also a good source of information and the individuals I support and their families can also offer me insights into what I need to improve. Other professionals can also offer advice about the way I work.
Dan
Explain how mental capacity can influence sexual development, sexual experience, sexual expression and sexual health
Mental capacity can have a direct influence on sexual development, sexual experience, sexual expression and sexual health, however it should be remembered that under the Mental Capacity Act all individuals should be treated as being able to make their own decisions until it is shown that they are not able to do so.
Having said that, the Sexual Offences Act states that a person can only consent to sexual relations if they have the mental capacity to make that choice and that they only have the capacity if they understand the nature of the act and the reasonably foreseeable consequences.
Therefore it is essential that support workers and other health and social care professionals provide individuals with the education and information they need to make informed decisions. This can include topics such as sex education, an openness to talking frankly about sexual subjects and the importance of protection.
Mental capacity can influence sexual development if an individual can not understand sexually mature behaviours and attitudes. It can affect sexual experience if an individual is unable to comprehend the possible after-effects of unprotected sex. It can affect sexual expression if the individual can not understand what is socially acceptable. And it can affect sexual health if an individual is unable to understand the health risks of sexual intercourse.
However, in all these cases, mental capacity should not be confused with a lack of education.
Identify three examples of barriers to communication and explain how you could overcome each barrier
A good social care worker knows that effective communication is a very important part of the job and understands that methods of communication used should be tailored to the individual. The table below lists three examples of barriers to communication and how they may be overcome.
| Barrier | How it can be overcome |
| 1. Language | If two individual’s do not share a common language, communication can be difficult as they will not be able to understand one another. A rudimentary form of communication can be utilised by using signs, gestures and/or pictures, however a better solution would be to employ the services of a translator or interpreter who is conversant in both languages. Over the long term, one or both individuals could learn the other’s language. |
| 2. Stress/Agitation | It can be difficult to communicate with an individual if they are feeling stressed or upset. In a heightened state of mind it is difficult for anyone to concentrate or hold a conversation, so the primary objective will be to help them return to their baseline. This can be done in a number of ways dependent on the individual. Examples include giving them time and space to calm down on their own, showing them empathy and compassion or offering solutions to their problem. Once the individual is in a calm state, the barrier will be lifted and communication can continue. |
| 3. Sensory Impairment (e.g. deaf, blind, non-verbal) | If an individual has a sensory impairment, communication difficulties can be overcome in a variety of ways. Deaf people may use a hearing aid to hear, use sign language or be able to lip read. It is also important to try to avoid an unnecessary background noise. Blind people are still able to speak and listen and can read using Braille. Non-verbal individuals may use writing, pictures, signs and/or gestures to communicate. |
This is not a definitive list. Other barriers to communication might include:
- Shyness: A shy individual may be very anxious about talking to other people, especially those they do not know well. This could be overcome by ensuring the individual is in a comfortable and (ideally) familiar environment, having people with them that they know and trust and working with the individual over the long-term to build trust.
- Vocabulary: Use of long words or technical jargon may confuse individuals who are not familiar with the vocabulary. This can be overcome by using plain simple language and keeping sentences short.
- Location: Perhaps the most obvious barrier of communication is the location of the two parties. There may be a long distance that makes meeting face-to-face impractical. Technology such as telephones and the Internet may be used to overcome this.
Identify Sources of Support for Planning and Reviewing Your Development.
Support for planning and reviewing your development can be obtained from many sources. Asking for feedback from colleagues, clients, client’s families and other professionals can help identify areas of development to consider. Quarterly supervisions and annual appraisals can also be used and mutually agreeable targets between yourself and your manager can be set. Quarterly observations and professional discussions can also be useful. Team meetings are also a great forum to discuss the service provision. Externally, you can get support online from a myriad of Internet sites as well as formal training on personal development.
Describe how socio-cultural factors and religious beliefs can influence an individual’s sexual development
Socio-cultural factors that can influence an individual’s sexual development are manifold. During childhood, ideas, views and opinions relating to sexuality will be learned from immediate family. This can include topics such as gender roles, contraception, sex before marriage or promiscuity. Children will be heavily influenced by what they see in the family home. Habitual norms will also influence a child’s sexuality such as marriage, single-parent families, cohabitation and same-sex partnerships.
As a child gets older, their sexual development will be influenced by groups outside of the family home such as friends, teachers and the media. Individuals that go to same-sex schools may have difficulty mixing with the opposite gender in later life and individuals that are ‘sheltered’ by their loved ones may not have the opportunities to grow sexually. The media may present ideas about sexuality that lead to stereotypes.
Religion can also play an important part in sexual development as the ethical and moral codes of many religions have strong views about promiscuity, sex before marriage and homosexuality. This can lead to an individual having conflicting views about sexuality.
Individuals with learning disabilities in particular may have reduced chances of normal sexual development as they may be excluded from sex education and taught that sex is a taboo in an effort by their loved ones to ‘protect’ them despite it being obviously discriminatory.