SOCIAL CASE WORK Unit I - Introduction to Social Casework Mary Richmond !"!

#$% Social Case work may be defined as the art of doing different things for and with different people by cooperating wit them to achieve at one and the same time their own and societys betterment. Unit I& - 'rocess o( Social Casework 'ROCESS O) SOCIAL CASE WORK I. Intake (First Interview !apport "#ilding $ Client comes to an agency for professional help thro#gh a Case worker. $ !elationship between two persons of #ne%#al positions and power is developed. $ &ccept client as a person in a stressf#l sit#ation $ !espect the clients personality and help him resolve. $ 'he areas for probing are( ). 'he stage of the problem at which the person* thro#gh whom* and the reasons beca#se of which* comes to this agency. +. 'he nat#re of re%#est and its relation to his problem* and the ca#se of his problem* as the client sees. ,. -oes the re%#est relate directly to his needs. problems. /. 0is ad1#stment to his social f#nctions in 1ob* family* etc. 2. 'he state of his physical and mental health. 3. 0is appearance incl#ding dress* etc. in his first meeting. 4. 0is personal and social reso#rces incl#ding material and financial position. 5. &ppropriateness and intensity of feelings. 6. 7at#re of defense mechanisms he fre%#ently #ses.

)8. 9evel of motivation* how %#ickly he wants to get rid of his problems. )). 7at#re of family* its stat#s* val#es* relationship pattern within the family* etc. )+. !eactions to the worker and seeking help from the agency and se: of caseworker who will be s#itable to help the person. II. ;sycho<Social st#dy ( =:ploration . Investigation ( $ ;sycho > Social st#dy is the initial assessment of clients c#rrent* relevant past and possible f#t#re modes of adaptation to stressf#l sit#ations and normal living sit#ations. $ ;erlman has given the following contents of the case work st#dy( ). 'he nat#re of the presenting problem +. 'he significance of the problem. ,. 'he ca#se(s * onset and precipitants of the problem. /. 'he efforts made to cope with problem<solving. 2. 'he nat#re of the sol#tion or ends so#ght from the case work agency. 3. 'he act#al nat#re of the agency and its problem solving means in relation to the client and his problem. $ 'he tools #sed by the case worker for collecting the relevant information are( ). Interview g#ide and sched#le. +. 9ife chart. ,. ?ideo recording of family interaction. /. 'ape recorded interview. $ 'he Format of Interview Sched#le( ). 0istory of the problem. +. ;ersonal history. ,. Family history.

/. ;roblematic areas. 2. 'reatment ;lan. III. ;sycho < Social diagnosis ( &ssessment ( $ ;erlman ()624 > -iagnosis helps in determining the foc#s of treatment* f#rther collection of facts and deciding the best co#rse of action to solve the problem. $ Social diagnosis is the attempt to arrive at an e:act definition as possible of the social sit#ation and personality of a given client. $ -iagnosis is concerned with #nderstanding both the psychological or personality factors which bear a ca#sal relation to the clients diffic#lty and the social or environmental factors which tend to s#stain it. $ -iagnosis may be viewed as the fl#id* constantly changing assessment of the client* their problems* life sit#ations and important relationships. $ Content of the Social -iagnosis( ). 'he nat#re of the problem bro#ght and the goals so#ght by the client* in their relationship to. +. 'he nat#re of the person who bears the problem and who seeks or needs help with the problem* in relation to. ,. 'he nat#re and p#rpose of the agency and the kind of help it can offer and. or make available. $ ;rocess of making diagnosis( (a Shifting the relevant from irrelevant data (b @rganiAing the facts and getting them into relatedness (c Brasping the way in which the factors fit together (d ;reparing the meaning as a whole. $ 'ypes of diagnosis( ). Clinical(

< 'he person is described by the nat#re of the illness. =.g. schiAophrenia* psychopath* typhoid* etc. < Csed in medical practice. < Cse is minim#m is case work practice. < Importance in medical and psychiatry. +. =tiological( < 'ries to delineate the ca#ses and development of presenting diffic#lty. < 0istory of person. < 9imitation < doesnt look into present. ,. -ynamic( < ;roper eval#ation of the clients c#rrent problem as he is e:periencing it now. < !ole of psychological* biological* social and environmental factors in the ca#sation of the problem. < 7o attempt to dig life history. < Case worker and client engage in appropriate corrective action or treatment. < 'hese developments may lead to modifications in the goals for treatment. $ -ata for -iagnosis( ). Interviews +. Checklist and Inventories ,. -irect @bservation $ Steps in -iagnosis( ). 'he worker begins to foc#s on problematic behaviors. "oth f#nctional and dysf#nctional behaviors in the clients environment are s#rveyed. 'he clients personal strength as well as of his environment are eval#ated. +. 0e specifies the target behaviors. "reak down comple: behaviors into clear and precise component parts.

,. "aseline data are collected to specify those events that appear to be c#rrently controlling the problematic behaviors. /. 'he collected information is s#mmariAed in an attempt to anticipate any ma1or problem in treatment and as a way of beginning to establish ob1ectives for treatment. 2. Selecting priorities for treatment is the final step of the diagnosis. I?. Intervention . 'reatment (;roblem<solving process ( $ 0amilton* 'reatment is the s#m total of all activities and service directed towards helping an individ#al with a problem. 'he foc#s is relieving of the immediate problem and* if feasible* modifies any basic diffic#lties which precipitated it. $ 'he ob1ectives of social case work treatment are( ). 'o prevent social breakdown. +. 'o conserve clients strength. ,. 'o restore social f#nctioning. /. 'o provide happy e:periences to the client. 2. 'o create opport#nities for growth and development. 3. 'o compensate psychological damage. 4. 'o increase capacity for self<direction. 5. 'o increase his social contrib#tion. $ Dethods of Social treatment( ). &dministration of concrete and practical services. =.g. money* medical care* scholarships* legal aid* etc. +. Indirect treatment (modification of environment* both physical and social . =.g. camps* gro#p e:perience activities* training programmes* etc. ,. -irect treatment( (a Co#nselling > marriage* occ#pational* family* school* etc. (b 'herape#tic Interviewing > family and marital therapy.

(c Clarification (d Interpretation and Insight (e ;sychological s#pport. (f !eso#rce #tiliAation (g =nvironment modification. ?. Donitoring and =val#ation( $ Donitoring provides cr#cial feedback to case worker and the client regarding ). Ehether the treatment programme is s#cceeding as desired* +. Ehether established goals have been achieved* ,. Ehether modifications in the programme are necessary and /. Ehether the client is being helped in real sense. $ 'he p#rpose of =val#ation is to see if the efforts of the case worker are yielding any res#lt or not* if the techni%#es #sed are serving the p#rpose* and if the goals are being achieved. $ =val#ation is the process of attaching a val#e to the social work practice. It is the method of knowing what the o#tcomes are. $ It is a contin#o#s process. $ =val#ation of the approach #sed and res#lt sho#ld be taken #p with the client so that the efforts are meaningf#lly #tiliAed. $ =val#ation will f#rther strengthen the relationship between the caseworker and client and motivate the client to work towards his goal. $ Casework practices need to be eval#ated from time to time. 'he s#b1ect needs to be tested and researched and most importantly needs ongoing validation. 'hey need to be proved to the p#blic that they are effective and beneficial to the clients. $ Casework practice sho#ld be s#b1ected to critical review. Eorkers need to be held acco#ntable for what they do and for their social work competence. Eorkers need to win approval for their programmes. $ 'hey may sometimes have to be told that their services are overlapping and ineffective.

$ Eorkers have to enhance their own image and also of the agency to develop p#blic relations. 'he clients need to give a feedback on the effectiveness of the services. ?I. Follow<#p and 'ermination( $ &t the end* i.e. termination* the worker sho#ld disc#ss the original as well as revised goals and ob1ectives* achievements d#ring the helping period* factors helpf#l or obstr#ctive in achieving the ob1ectives* and the efforts needed to maintain the level of achievement and the feelings aro#sed by disengagement. $ It is neither wise nor necessary for the termination to be an abr#pt one. $ It is best to disc#ss termination and its ramifications (implications several times before the final interview. $ 'he fre%#ency and amo#nt of contacts sho#ld be grad#ally decreased. $ 'ermination of the helping process brings #p in both the case worker and client(s many feelings > both positive and negative > which m#st be verbaliAed and disc#ssed. $ Follow<#p is done to help client maintain the improvement. $ -#ring follow<#p* the client is helped to disc#ss the problems he faces in maintaining the improvement. $ Eork is done with the people significant for his improved social f#nctioning. $ If re%#ired* he is referred to the proper so#rce for needed services and help. $ 'he follow<#p sho#ld be planned on a diminishing basis > after two weeks* then a month* then three months* si: months and a year following the termination of the formal programme. ;osted by DSE +884<+886 at )8(22 &D + comments 9abels( Social Case Eork Cnit III < Components C@D;@7=7'S @F C&S= E@!F( 0elen 0arris ;erlman I. ;=!S@7( $ 'he persons behavio#r has this p#rpose and meaning( to gain satisfactions* to avoid or dissolve fr#stration and to maintain his balance<in<movement. $ Ehether a persons behavio#r is or is not effective in promoting his well<being depends in large part #pon the f#nctioning of his personality str#ct#re.

$ 'he str#ct#re and f#nctioning of personality are the prod#cts of inherited and constit#tional e%#ipment in contin#o#s interaction with the physical* psychological and social environment the person e:periences. $ & person at any stage of his life > not only is a prod#ct of nat#re and n#rt#re b#t is also and always in process of being in the present and becoming in the f#t#re. $ 'he persons Gbeing and becoming behavio#r is both shaped and 1#dged by the e:pectations he and his c#lt#re have invested in the stat#ssocial role he carries. and the ma1or $ 'he person who comes as a client to a social agency is always #nder stress. $ 'o #nderstand h#man behavio#r and individ#al difference* Brace Dathew has given the following propositions( ). &n individ#als behavio#r is conditioned by his.her environment and his.her e:periences. "ehavio#r refers to reacting* feeling* thinking* etc. the conditions and infl#ences s#rro#nding the person constit#tes the environment. +. For h#man growth and development it is essential that certain basic needs sho#ld be met. (Daslows hierarchy of needs ,. =motional needs are real and they cannot be met or removed thro#gh intellect#al reasoning. /. "ehavio#r is p#rposef#l and is in response to the individ#als physical and emotional needs. 2. @ther peoples behavio#r can be #nderstood only in terms of ones own emotional and intellect#al comprehension. II. ;!@"9=D( $ 'he problems within the p#rview of social casework are those which vitally affect or are affected by a persons social f#nctioning. $ 'he m#ltifaceted and dynamic nat#re of the clients problem makes necessary the selection by caseworker and client some part of it as the #nit for work. 'he choice of problem depends on () whether the problem is the clients problem (+ leadership given by case worker depends #pon the professional knowledge and 1#dgment and (, agencys f#nction e.g. hospital* etc. $ ;roblems in any part of a h#man beings living tend to have chain reactions. H..I ca#se I effect I ca#se.. $ &ny problem which a person enco#nters has both an ob1ective and s#b1ective significance > %#ality and intensity of o#r feelings.

$ 7ot only do the e:ternal (ob1ective and internal (s#b1ective aspects of the problem co< e:ist* b#t either may be the ca#se of the other. $ Ehatever the nat#re of the problem the person brings to social agencyJ it is always accompanied and often complicated by the problem of being a client. $ ;roblems can be categoriAed as follows (Brace Dathew ( ). ;roblems related to illness and disabilities +. ;roblems d#e to lack of material reso#rces. ,. School related problems. /. ;roblems related to instit#tionaliAation. 2. "ehavio#r problems. 3. ;roblems of marital discord. 4. ;roblem sit#ations needing a follow<#p service. 5. 7eeds related to rehabilitation of people. 6. Clients ca#ght #p in social problems like gambling* prostit#tion* alcoholism* dr#g addiction and #nmarried motherhood. III. ;9&C=( $ 'he social agency is an organiAation fashioned to e:press the will of a society or of some gro#p in that society as to social welfare > comm#nity decides the need of the agency. $ =ach social agency develops a program by which to meet the partic#lar areas of need with which it sets o#t to deal. It depends on factors like money* knowledge and competence of the agency staff* the interest* reso#rces available and s#pport of the comm#nity. $ 'he social agency has a str#ct#re by which it organiAes and delegates its responsibilities and tasks* and governing policies and proced#res0ierarchy > roles and responsibilities clear* designated and delegated > collaborationproced#res and policies* #nderstand the #sef#lness. by which it stabiliAes and systematiAes its operations. > among workers > $ 'he social agency is a living* adaptable organism s#sceptible to being #nderstood and changed* m#ch as other living organisms. > ;ast* present and f#t#re > not static and fi:ed.

$ =very staff member in an agency speaks and acts for some part of the agencys f#nction* and the case worker represents the agency in its individ#aliAed problem solving help. > Case worker not an independent professional practitioner > case worker speaks and acts for the agency > psychologically identified with its p#rpose and policies $ 'he case worker while representing his agency is first and foremost a representative of his profession. > m#st know and be committed with feeling to the philosophy that g#ides the practice of the social work profession. $ &gency > ;rivate e.g. f#nding agencies and ;#blic e.g. family welfare orgs. $ ;rimary e.g. 7B@ and Secondary e.g. 0ospitals* schools* etc. $ "ased on f#nctions > child welfare* family welfare* ed#cation* specialiAation based. $ &lso differs based on So#rce of s#pport* ;rofessional a#thority* Clientele they serve* Services they offer* Boals of the agency* etc. I?. ;!@C=SS( $ In order to #nderstand what the case work process m#st incl#de in its problem<solving help* it is necessary to take stock first of the kinds of blockings which occ#r in peoples normal problem<solving efforts. 'he si: are( ). If necessary tangible means and reso#rces are not available to the person. +. @#t of ignorance or misapprehension abo#t the facts of the problem or the facts of e:isting ways of meeting it. ,. If the person is depleted or drained of emotional or physical energy. /. Some problems aro#se high feelings in a person > emotions so strong that they overpower his reason and defy his conscio#s controls. 2. ;roblem may lie within the personJ he may have become s#b1ect to* or victim of* emotions that chronically* over a long time* have governed his thinking and action. 3. 0avent developed systematic habits or orderly method of things and planning. $ 'he intent of the case work process is to engage the person himself both in working on and coping with the one or several problems that confront him and to do so by s#ch means as may stand him in good stead as he goes forward in living. 'he means are ). 'he provision of a therape#tic relationship

+. 'he provision of a systematic and fle:ible way and ,. ;rovision of s#ch opport#nities and aids. $ &ll competent problem<solving* as contrasted with trail<and<error method* contains three essential operations. Crgent press#res will often dislodge their se%#ence* b#t any conscio#s effort to move from %#andary (diffic#lty to sol#tion m#st involve these modes of action( ). St#dy (fact<finding +. -iagnosis (thinking abo#t and organiAing facts into a meaningf#l goal<pointed e:planation and ,. 'reatment (implementation of concl#sions as to what and how of action #pon the problem . Finally* for the sol#tion or mitigation of many problems there m#st e:ist certain material means or accessible opport#nities which are available to the needf#l person and which he can be helped to #se. Finds of reso#rces that a person may need are money* medical care* n#rsery schools* scholarships* foster homes* recreation facilities* etc.

$ 'ransference( -ewald < 'ransference is a form of displacement in which the individ#al #nconscio#sly displaces onto a c#rrent ob1ect those drives defenses* attit#des* feelings and responses which were e:perienced or developed in relationship with earlier ob1ects (mainly persons in the individ#als life. < Cnconscio#s attit#des and associated feelings transferred from the past onto the present relationship* #s#ally irrational. < 'he client transfers these into the present interaction beca#se of some similarity of the actors in the c#rrent sit#ation with those he has enco#ntered earlier in life (i.e. childhood . < Day be positive (love* liking* etc or negative (irrational* hostile feelings. < Can be tackled by clarification (clarifying reality * interpretation* spacing the interview* etc. $ Co#nter > transference( < Social worker also has #nconscio#s tendency to transfer on the client.

< 'he 1ob of the case worker to recogniAe his feelings and m#st control them. $ 'ypes of 'ransference( < ;ositive( =.g. ;arents have shown to be friendly and helpf#l* the client will transfer a desire to help* friendship* g#idance* emotional s#pport and interest. < 7egative( =.g. ;arents not shown interest and indifferent* the client will have feelings of #nfriendliness* s#spicion and distr#st. $ Cses of 'ransference (, stages ( ). Cnderstanding the transference > his behavio#r* #nconscio#s need of the client. +. CtiliAing the transference > integrate past and present e:periences and earlier relationships. ,. Interpreting the transference > caref#l analysis of his #nconscio#s defenses.