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Don’t be intimidated by the word theory. Theories in social care are nothing more than an attempt to explain social relationships. Theories have been developed since it became clear that there were similar patterns or repeating cycles of behaviour both in an individuals life and in the lives of lots of different people.
Theories are intended to explain why these behaviours are repeated and potentially (but not definitely) theories may predict how a person, or group of people, could react.
Since theories have been expressed by academics and social scientists, then they use an academic language. Don’t let that put you off. Theories are life dressed up! Many theories actually have a very simple message. Take attachment theory as it applies to children. Behind the academic language is the simple truth that all children are born with an innate (instinctive) need to feel loved and wanted by their parents. Most of you reading this will probably say “That’s bloody obvious! I knew that!” Hence if a social care worker knew that children need to feel loved by their parents they know the heart of one key theory.
Part of the role of the NVQ or SVQ Assessor is demystifying social care theory. If you do this then the candidate will be able to discuss key theories even if they do not use the academic language.
Whilst the key aspects of Attachment theory may be obvious to a member of staff who works with children then it may be a surprise to know that when attachment theory was first promoted, there were academics who reacted against it. Also it is not so obvious to all, since research indicates that up to 40% of children don’t feel loved and wanted (in one way or another) by one or both parents. (And there would be no looked after children if all children were loved by their parents).
Another key social care theory, behavioural theory, also has, at its centre, a very simple proposition. That is, we do things for a reason either to get something we will enjoy or to avoid something we dislike. In adult social care services behavioural theory is a major aid to seeing things from the service user’s perspective.
I knew one man with mental health problems who had to be picked up by a worker to attend his meetings with his consultant. The worker knew that the same man would do (by his own initiative) an involved journey which required changing buses, and the associated cost, to see his girlfriend. This left the worker feeling peeved and wondering why he couldn’t make his own way to see his consultant. From the service users perspective the answer is clear. Which would you rather go to; a rather stifled meeting with a consultant or hot sex with your partner? And that’s behavioural theory!
In this way getting the NVQ or SVQ candidate to say the obvious will enable them to convey that they are thinking theoretically, even though they may not realise it.
NVQ or SVQ candidates may also be forthcoming if they are given some reading that applies theory to social care services. Kirwin Maclean Associates Limited have just published a book to assist assessors and candidate to develop their knowledge of theory as it applies to social care. The book is titled A Handbook of Theory for Social Care: Volume One. It is priced at £10.
Kirwin Maclean’s resources are aimed at assisting social care workers develop their knowledge, which can be about social care law and social care policy, social care theory or identifying the skills they are probably already using. Through these resources Kirwin Maclean are hoping to enable social care staff to sense that they are developing a professional expertise.
Social care staff deserve recognition for the insight and skills their role requires. Service users deserve the best quality of care possible. | 
