1.1 Benefit to identify self-esteem and personal development from accessing community services and facilities.
An individual can be primarily benefited by accessing community services and facilities. It can be discussed from a different point of view. Benefits along with views are discussed below-
A leisure centre to exercise is a great place for physical development. If individuals get access to this type of leisure centre, they will be highly benefited. If a person receives physical development, he will be able to lead a better life. If a person is physically healthy, he will enjoy life to the fullest (Boys and Michie, 2007).
Getting access to libraries and resource centres is essential. It will enlighten them. It will make them think better of themselves, their family and finally for their society. Moreover, this sort of thing is significant for reducing mental stress. People who read regularly can easily maintain their mental health. Furthermore, these people are less likely to face mental illness.
Access today centres and the community events of an individual increase the social well-being. As social beings, people are willing to achieve belonging needs. If they have access to this sort of event, they will enjoy their existence. Their self-esteem will be increased (Jones-Devitt and Smith, 2007). Finally, they will be better people if they get access to this sort of services and facilities.
Some other services and facilities will enhance the individual’s self-esteem, and personal development is possible if they access those services and facilities.
1.2 Barriers that may individually face in accessing services and facilities
Accessing services and facilities can make the individual’s life standard better. But some barriers can be an obstacle in accessing these services and facilities. These barriers are presented below with chart-
The first barrier is the environmental barrier (Bhatia, 2010). There are many disabled people in our society. But they can’t access services like public toilets because of the lack of accessible toilet facilities. Another environmental barrier is location riskiness. So, accessing services and facilities are tough there. Moreover, narrow doorways, no ramps, no lifts, lack of wheelchair access are significant environmental barriers in accessing services and facilities.
Second, the barrier is the communication barrier. Lack of information can be termed as one of the significant barriers in terms of the communication barrier. If. They don’t have any idea about the services or facilities they will not be able to take. Another barrier is a lack of information, inappropriate language, lack of loop system, lack of translators and poor quality communication skill in the employee.
The psychological barrier may hinder accessing the services and facilities. People are less willing to go to new places to take new services. At the same time, lack of confidence also doesn’t let them take services and facilities. There are some other psychological barriers like anxiety or fear, unwillingness to accept help.
Last but not least is a financial barrier. Most services and facilities are paid for. In that case, people are less willing to spend money. So, the economic border is the most considerable in accessing services and facilities.
1.3 Different ways of overcoming barriers to accessing services and facilities
For the betterment of the people removing barriers to accessing services and facilities is a must. There are specific ways we can remove those barriers (Boys and Michie, 2007). These are discussed below-
The Information Gap is the most significant barrier. If it can be removed, half of the border can be removed, in my opinion. Because if people have a sound idea where they will get the services and facilities that fit them best, they will quickly take the services. So, this will have a positive impact on society. So, enough publicity should be done to remove the information gap.
Secondly, the next step should be collecting information about the existing barriers in different places (Bhatia, 2010). For example, if a local cinema hall doesn’t have enough wheelchair access, it is logical that there is a problem in other cinema halls. So, by finding out this type of information, measures should be taken.
Moreover, if there is a problem finding transport for disabled people we should talk to the local taxi firm and transport authority. Most train companies have this kind of facility for disabled people.
Thirdly, to overcome the barrier, individuals must have the right equipment and aids in order to overcome the obstacle. For example- people who have disabilities in hearing need a hearing aid, and those who can’t walk need a wheelchair. So, to make this barrier removed, financial barriers may arise. In that case, the upper-class people should be motivated to participate in this sort of human activity.
Fourthly, to remove the psychological barrier, individuals should be trained to take a different step. Continuous awareness should be given to their subconscious mind.
That’s how barriers to accessing services and facilities can be removed.
1.4 Importance of supporting individuals in challenging information.
From my experience of my job, I am going to discuss this issue. Once, I had a duty for my service user to challenge the information. What I got is disappointing. Here, service information was discriminatory; sometimes, this may mislead due to inaccuracy.
For example, in most cases, the information we got is in written form. So, it can be an excellent problem for visually impaired people if there is no audio or braille information (Carnwell, Buchanan and Carnwell, 2009).
Moreover, if an individual with a wheelchair needs access to a specific location and if there is no scope for wheelchair access in the main entrance, in this condition, he can be told access from the back entrance. This type of offer is not acceptable to everyone because it is humiliating and at the same time, accessing from the back entrance is not as easy as entering from the main entrance.
He is challenging information in a challenging task itself. That’s why people need support to do it. Supporting an individual in challenging information depicts many things like respecting others rights, giving an individual the honour he deserves as a human being. Most importantly, it’s a sign of showing dignity and respect to them (Jones-Devitt and Smith, 2007). If a person is not helped in challenging the information or overcoming the barriers to getting the right services, he may feel inferior in society. He may also feel isolated from society.
So, it can be concluded that if an individual’s voice listens and measures are taken accordingly, they will have a feeling of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.
3.1 Resources, support and assistance necessary to access and use selected services and facilities
Identification of resources, support and assistance required to access and use selected services and facilities will be shown from the perspective of an individual.
Hypothetical Situation:
Mr Gorge is a sixty years old man. He is visually impaired. Now, we will identify the resources, support and assistance required to access and use selected services in most aspects of his life.
In the Health Care centre, it is generally seen that information is given in written format either in old format or digital format. So, there is no audio option. So, in that case, he needs a resource like the information in braille method or audio format (Cleary, 2004).
Again, there is another resource requirement. As he is an older man, he is not capable enough to use the stairs. So, in that case, we can see the necessity of another resource like a lift. Moreover, support is also needed at the entrance of the hospital if his condition becomes more severe.
Another thing is that sometimes he may face ambiguous information, which may mislead him. In this situation, support is needed to challenge the status. It will give him dignity and self-confidence. Moreover, like an aged person, regular exercise is a much-needed thing for him. In that case, access to a leisure centre is essential for him. So, he can be supported here.
Last but not least is financial assistance, which is needed to purchase his medicine. So, support from the government is required. So these are the comprehensive resources, support and assistance required to access and use selected services and facilities.
3.2 Responsibilities to make sure individual can access service and facilities
Every professional comes with some sort of responsibility (Connolly and Ward, 2008). He or she should give his or her best effort to serve in the best way. As a care worker, I have some sort of responsibilities. If I perform this responsibility, it will be easier for the service and facilities receiver in obtaining it. So, as a care worker, my responsibilities are shown below-
First and foremost, I should be aware of the information I provide. If the information is discriminatory or misleading, it can be a matter of disappointment for the service receiver. So, I can make the individuals access the service and facilities by performing my responsibility perfectly, which involves keeping proper track of information and providing them accurately.
As a health care worker, my responsibility is to monitor and evaluate the services provided. It will be easier to understand the people by taking regular feedback, and superior service can be ensured. If it is done, it will be handy for the individual to access services and facilities.
Discouraging malpractice is another responsibility. I should be aware of the laws related to the care of people (Code of practice, 2002) so that the individuals who are not exploited by malpractice can easily access services and facilities. Moreover, it’s also my responsibility to support them while challenging information.
So, it can be said that if the professionals perform their agreed responsibilities, service and facility takes will find it easy to receive them.
4. Changes needed to improve the experience and outcomes of accessing and using services or facilities
Continuous improvement is needed for ensuring better access to the services and facilities (Carnwell, Buchanan and Carnwell, 2009). The following changes should be brought for providing better access to the services and facilities.
The perception of the service receiver and provider is the burning issue. They should feel motivated to take the services. So, changes need to be made. In the media, people should be encouraged to be more open-hearted in providing services which will eventually motivate the service receiver to take more services.
The quality of services matters a lot. If the service receiver gets a positive outcome from receiving the services, they will feel comfortable receiving it again. For example – a person can’t hear. So, I need a proper understanding of the body gesture. That’s how a deaf person will feel comfortable. He will feel privileged where there are such arrangements.
Some of the current services and facilities are not readily adaptable (Cleary, 2004). That’s why access to it is not that much easy. So, these services and facilities should be more flexible for better access.
Finally, the financial issue is another significant one. Because some of the current services and facilities are costly which are beyond the ability of the mass people. So, changes are needed to be made for better access to the services and facilities.
So, these are the changes needed to be made. If these changes and improvements can be ensured, better access to services and facilities can be ensured.
References
Bhatia, M. (2010). Access to modern energy services for health facilities in resource-constrained settings.
Boys, D. and Michie, V. (2007). Health & social care. Oxford: Heinemann.
Carnwell, R., Buchanan, J. and Carnwell, R. (2009). Effective practice in health, social care and criminal justice. Maidenhead: McGraw Hill/Open University Press.
Cleary, B. (2004). Conducting research in long-term care settings. New York: Springer Pub.
Code of practice. (2002). London: Stationery Office.
Connolly, M. and Ward, T. (2008). Morals, rights and practice in the human services. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Jones-Devitt, S. and Smith, L. (2007). Critical thinking in health and social care. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.
Lynch, H. (2008). Conflicts of conscience in health care. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Schneider, J., Avis, M. and Leighton, P. (2007). Supporting children and families. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Stretch, B. (2007). Health & social care. Oxford: Heinemann.
