SW 113

• Social casework


  A method of social work focusing both on the person and his/her environment and in helping to improve the balance between the person's coping efforts and the environmental demands
• Social casework


  A method where help is provided by a social case worker to the individuals to cope more effectively with their problems in social functioning
• Social casework


  A social case worker through the application of various methods, techniques and skills of case work practice tries to assist the client in solving his/her psycho-social problems
• Phases of Social Case Work Progress

  1. Engagement & Study

  2. Assessment

  3. Planning

  4. Plan Implementation

  5. Monitoring & Evaluation

  6. Termination
• Engagement & Study Phase

  • The client (whether voluntary or involuntary) is engaged in presenting the problem
  • Client is likely to feel helpless and vulnerable and most available to the helping process
  • The worker needs to complete the agency's intake/application admission form, and the worker has to assess the truth of the client's story and explain the agency's mandate in relation to problem resolution
  • Intake is the process by which a potential client achieves the status of a client
  • A psycho-social process, in which the worker gains his first understanding of the kind of help his/her clients need
• Engagement & Study Phase

  • Elements of the study phase should be considered (nature, significance, and causes/onset/precipitants of the problem, as well as efforts to cope, nature of the solution sought, actual services of the agency, and solving means in relation to the problem)
  • Tools and techniques in the case study process (interview, observation, record examination, collateral interviews, and special examination)
  • Relationship building - Engaging clients successfully means establishing rapport, which reduces the level of threat and gains the trust of clients, who recognize that the social worker intends to be helpful
• Assessment


  • Provides a differential approach to treatment based on individual differences and needs
  • Identification and utilization of the person's strengths in the process; but also recognizing limitations
  • Results in an understanding of the problem
• Assessment


  • The social worker's theoretical perspective guides the selection of assessment styles and planning approaches
  • Involves gathering information and formulating it into a coherent picture of the client and his or her circumstances
  • Social workers engage in the process of assessment from the beginning of contact with the client until the relationship's termination (Assessment as fluid and dynamic)
• Information/Data Gathering


  1. Primary Source – client as the primary source; considers the client's feelings and actions

  2. Secondary Sources – significant others in the client's life; can extend to others to whom he/she relates (e.g. work setting, school, organizations)

  3. Existing data – records or reports from other professionals or agencies

  4. Worker's observations
• Data Gathering Principles


  • The client should be the main source of information, although other sources should be used when necessary
  • Data should be directly related/relevant to the identified problems (Principle of Parsimony)
  • The client should be informed regarding the source used for data collection and should provide his/her permission (in certain cases)
  • Data collection is a continuous process, but gathered information should be organized and synthesized to define the problems and develop goals
  • Data collection differs from one client to another
• Defining the Problem


  • The problem or part of the problem that the client system feels is most important or a good beginning place
  • The problem or part of the problem that in the worker's judgment is most critical
  • The problem or part of the problem that in the worker's judgment can most readily yield to help
  • The problem or part of the problem that falls within the action parameters of the helping system
• In social work, SURVIVAL PROBLEMS (e.g. food, shelter, clothing, and medical attention) are given priority
• Immediate Problem


  Situations/needs/problems that the client is most concerned about; causing the present difficulty (sometimes it is the presenting problem, but not all the time)
• Underlying Problem


  An overall situation that tends to perpetuate/cause the problem
• Working Problem


  Contributing factors that may block the remedy or prevention of the presenting problem
• Presenting Problem


  The problem as expressed/perceived/experienced by the client
• Problem prioritization in assessment

  1. What does the client see as his or her primary problems or concerns?

  2. What (if any) current or impending legal mandates must the client and social worker consider?

  3. What (if any) potentially serious health or safety concerns might require the social worker's and client's attention?
• Assessment as a product

  • It refers to the written products that result from the process of understanding the client
  • A formal assessment requires analysis and synthesis of relevant data into a working definition of the problem. It identifies associated factors and clarifies how they interact to produce and maintain the problem
• Writing an Assessment Statement

  1. Opening causal statement – this requires the worker to indicate who has the problem and why the problem exists at this time

  2. Change Potential Statement – dependent on three interrelated factors: problem, person, environment

  3. Judgment about the seriousness and urgency of the problem
• Assessment Tools


  • Theories & Perspectives
  • Genogram
  • Eco-map
  • Rapid Assessment Instrument
  • Gender-based Assessment Tools
• Theories Useful in Casework

  • Ecosystems
  • Strengths-based
  • Family Systems
  • Social Learning Theory
  • Psychodynamic
  • Anti-Oppressive
  • Anti-Discriminatory
  • Cultural-Sensitivity
• Rapid Assessment


  An assessment tool
• Gender-based Assessment Tools


  Assessment tools that consider gender-related factors
• Skills of Caseworker in Assessment


  • Skill in observation and analyzing situation
  • Skill of listening
  • Skill in talking
  • Skill in giving direction during interview
  • Skill in conducting interviews according various objectives
• Planning


  • Mutual agreement between the worker and client is present
  • Goals must be congruent with the client's needs and the availability of services
  • Goals are respected, supported, and reinforced
• Goal Formulation


  • Goals are desired or expected outcomes of an endeavor
  • Goals are concerned with solutions
  • Goals give direction to the worker's relationship with his/her clients (specific, concrete, measurable, and feasible)
  • Goals can be changed after they have been set
• Defining Specific Actions


  1. Plans - Consist of the specific actions or steps to be undertaken to reach the goals, which is jointly made by the worker and the client

  2. Units of Attention - Identification of other persons who, in addition to the client, have to be given attention because they are involved in the situation, and working with them is essential to goal attainment

  3. Strategy - The overall approach to change a situation. Variety of social work approaches to practice
• The plan should show incremental steps toward improvement and expected outcomes
• Goals for helping process should be established with, not for, each client
• During goal-setting, the caseworker leads a positive vision and a sense of hope to clients and their families, no matter how difficult the situation is
• As a caseworker, you cannot plan well with the person unless you are thoroughly aware of the services, social activities, and resources in your community
• Services, social activities, and resources in your community

  • Formal Agencies
  • Generic Resources
  • Support Groups & Educational Seminars
  • Peer Support
  • Informal Resources & Social Support Systems
• Creating an Individualized Plan

  1. After you have worked with people to determine where the problems are and what areas need attention, you will also know about the supports and other resources people have in the community and among their family members and friends

  2. As you go about designing the plan with the person, you will place in that plan elements that take advantage of the client's strengths and supports

  3. As a case manager, you will address those problems most immediate for that client

  4. Remember: No two people view their situations in exactly the same way, so no two plans will be exactly alike. Each plan will be developed specifically for that individual client
• Intervention


  • Refers to the action- the doing of the work that will enable the client and the practitioner to accomplish the goals decided upon in the assessment
  • Heart of the problem-solving process— the implementation and goal attainment phase, also known as the action-oriented or change-oriented phase
• Interventive Social Work Roles in Direct Practice

  • Resource Provider
  • Social Broker
  • Mediator
  • Advocate
  • Enabler
  • Counselor
• Resource Provider


  • The worker is engaged in the direct provision of material assistance and other tangible resources useful in reducing the client's situational deficiencies
  • Resources are mobilized, created, and directly provided to the client
  • The worker carefully evaluates the client's needs and the most appropriate means to meet them before providing any form of material aid
• Social Broker


  • The worker engages and negotiates in the "service jungle" for clients, where he or she links or connects the client to needed services in the community
  • This requires the worker to have a wide array of information on community resources and operating procedures of various agencies
  • Referral is a basic activity/skill in performing this role
• Mediator


  • The worker acts as a conciliator or intermediary between two persons or sides, often resolving disputes between the client system and other parties
  • The objective is to identify a common ground, which will make it possible to address the dispute
  • The worker will facilitate communication between the concerned parties by encouraging them to talk to each other
• Advocate


  • The worker is taking a partisan interest in the client and his/her cause and is not neutral
  • The objective is to influence the other party, in the client's interest through arguing, bargaining or negotiating
  • The worker may employ non-consensual strategies (e.g. direct confrontation, administrative appeal, use of judicial and political systems)
• Enabler


  The worker is helping the client find the coping strengths and resources within themselves to address their problems