Search

Chapter 2 of the book "Palliative Care for South Asians: Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs," edited by Rashid Gatrad, Erica Brown, and Aziz Sheikh is presented. It discusses the health policy and legislation regulating healthcare organisations in Great Britain. It examines the concept of cultural competence in palliative care management. It also explores the issues of design and delivery of palliative care services.

The article focuses on the future of social work research with minority communities. With the growth in inter- and multi-disciplinary social work, health and other welfare fields should draw upon research lessons from each other, remembering that their clients are very often consumers of multiple providers. Whilst social exclusion is a reality for all populations, the mechanisms impact differently upon minorities, whose minority status may interact with those processes. There is a need for research to examine the specific impact of social exclusion on minority populations, particularly in relation to determining social care and health status/need. Social work research too often ignores the negative effects of professional intervention and the placement of clients into care. Social work researchers for its emphasis on participation and problem solving have long favored action research. Because of the emphasis on issues, there is little detailed analysis on the methodological considerations, particularly in relation to working with minority communities.

The article focuses on identification of individuals as belonging to one or more groups, defined in terms of culture and origin, which is also known as ethnic monitoring. To be effective and useful, ethnic monitoring must rely upon the individuals concerned being given the opportunity to define their identity in terms that are meaningful to them--and hence which reveal something about them, which is of value to the caregiver. The terms 'ethnic monitoring' and 'ethnic record keeping' are often used mistaken for each other. Ethnic monitoring is not some form of magic panacea that guarantees instant equality of opportunity. Rather, it is one of a number of strategies that can be used to examine service uptake and outcomes. In some services, a direct functional value can be adduced for the maintenance of ethnic monitoring and related information systems. The most common indicator of difference, or the size of 'minority' populations, in census data and other official records, is birthplace. But it provides a poor indicator of cultural or 'ethnic' origin.

Migration, nationality and asylum laws have significant effects on the lives of people of minority origin. • Recent changes to the EU 'constitution' introduce opportunities to protect citizenship rights of minorities, which are at the same time threatened by restrictions on migration. • Because 'free movement' provisions are based on expectations that migrants will not claim welfare, social workers may find themselves acting as immigration police. • The 'crisis of solidarity' is linked to a domestic politics of immigration and nationality. • There is, in effect, a hierarchy of citizenship existing within Europe, with minorities and migrants having significantly worse access to welfare entitlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the book "Social Work and Minorities." The book critically examines key concepts such as assimilation, multiculturalism, racism, marginalisation and social exclusion. It will serve as an essential resource for social work practitioners and educators working with migrant communities throughout Europe.