Choice Within the Israeli Welfare State: Lessons Learned from Legal Capacity and Housing Services

Holler, Roni; Werner, Shirli; Tolub, Yotam; Pomerantz, Miriam

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-35683-5_5

Cited by 6 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In that, they reproduce a practice that has prevailed in Israel for many years. Out of the benign intention of protecting people with intellectual disability, their legal capacity has traditionally been denied with guardianship as the default solution, with little prior reflection or discussion regarding its necessity or appropriateness (Holler et al, 2020; Kanter & Tolub, 2017; Soffer et al, 2017). Our findings show that the legal capacity reform has not yet challenged this substitute decision‐making regime in any substantial way.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It adopted the ‘necessity’ and ‘last resort’ principles by stating that guardianship could only be used if necessary to protect the person's interests, rights, and needs, and only after considering other, less restrictive alternatives, SDM being the most appropriate. These changes were of prime importance in inching Israel closer to a ‘support paradigm’ (Series, 2015), in which support is provided to enable people with disabilities to exercise their legal capacity (Holler et al, 2020). Nevertheless, as in other countries, there is still great uncertainty regarding the actual realisation of this reform.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Between the convention and conventional practice: Israeli social workers' recommendations regarding the legal capacity of people with disabilities

Holler

Werner

2022

Research Intellect Disabil

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Background: Following the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD), various countries have recently amended their legal capacity laws with the aim of restricting the use of guardianship and increasing the use of other, less restrictive practices, mainly supported decision making. As social workers have a key role in carrying out these reforms, this study examines how Israeli social workers make legal capacity-related decisions.Method: Semi-structured interviews with 27 Israeli social workers.Results: Thematic analysis identified three factors driving social workers' recommendations regarding guardianship and supported decision-making: the person's diagnosis and functioning level, and the presence of a supportive family. A fourth factor, the person's preferences, played a complex and more limited role.Conclusions: Many changes have yet to be made to fully apply the support paradigm in Israel, since social workers still tend to base their recommendations on factors not fully aligned with the CRPD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between the convention and conventional practice: Israeli social workers' recommendations regarding the legal capacity of people with disabilities

Holler

Werner

2022

Research Intellect Disabil

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“…Besides size, these two types differ in their level of supervision, community inclusion, and residents’ autonomy and choice, with hostels being a more restrictive, standardized, impersonal environment. However, as in other countries, protected housing settings are also often organized according to an institutional mindset, with relatively low levels of choice, autonomy, privacy, and person-centered support (Holler et al, 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social workers’ perceptions of intimate relationships of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings

Holler,

Bondorevsky-Heyman

2023

Journal of Social Work

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Summary People with intellectual disabilities still struggle to enjoy intimate and sexual relationships. Social workers have a potentially key role in realizing the intimate and sexual rights of people with intellectual disabilities, particularly in residential settings. However, we still know relatively little about the meaning social workers attribute to such relationships. The present study addresses this lacuna by examining the perceptions and practices of 15 Israeli social workers in residential settings. Findings Drawing on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, two key themes are identified: (1) Intimate relationships as a human need, and (2) Intimacy with a question mark. Combined, these themes depict an ambivalent position toward residents’ intimate and sexual relationships. Applications The study's findings highlight the need to incorporate intimacy and sexuality within social work education, with a particular focus on people with intellectual disabilities and positive aspects of intimacy and sexuality. From a policy perspective, the findings urge state and professional authorities to develop national guidelines on realizing intimate rights.

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“…The committee is provided with professional assessments, primarily a psychosocial report by the municipal social worker. Although it is required to meet the individual and to take their preferences under consideration, there are no guidelines on how this should be done or on how much weight should be placed on these preferences (Holler et al, 2020).…”

Section: The Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Future studies should examine how this new legislation affects housing service recommendations by social workers. for clients with extensive support needs (Holler et al, 2020).…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Israeli social workers' recommendations on residential settings for individuals with intellectual disabilities

Werner,

Holler

2023

Research Intellect Disabil

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BackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities have the right to live in the community. As social workers have an important role in decisions regarding residential settings, this study examined their recommendations regarding residential living arrangements of individuals with intellectual disabilities.MethodUsing a factorial survey approach 174 social workers were presented with true‐to‐life vignettes and asked to provide their recommendations regarding housing in community apartments, hostels (large group homes) and meonot (large institutions).ResultsHigher likelihood of recommending housing in a community apartment was associated with mild intellectual disability, lack of daily support needs, no sexual abuse history, and stated preference for a community apartment. Social workers' experience in working in a specific residential setting was associated with recommending it.ConclusionsOngoing training on rights‐based ethics and the importance of community inclusion should be provided to social workers. Further, community alternatives should be made available to all individuals with disabilities.

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Choice Within the Israeli Welfare State: Lessons Learned from Legal Capacity and Housing Services

Cited by 6 publications

References 39 publications

Between the convention and conventional practice: Israeli social workers' recommendations regarding the legal capacity of people with disabilities

Between the convention and conventional practice: Israeli social workers' recommendations regarding the legal capacity of people with disabilities

Social workers’ perceptions of intimate relationships of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings

Israeli social workers' recommendations on residential settings for individuals with intellectual disabilities

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