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WEEK 1 READING (1): Working with individuals to resolve life's problems
WEEK 1 READING (1): Working with individuals to resolve life's problems
CASEWORK:
A method of interpersonal practice (developed by social workers) to assist individuals resolve life's problems.
Its focus is primarily engaging with the individual, to enhance the interface between the individual and their social environment, by achieving change in how the individual engages with their social environment and to create change in their social environment.
It's typically a psychosocial approach
PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH:
An approach to practice that involves understanding and enhancing the interaction between the individual and their social environment.
This approach is what makes the casework field different to others such as counselling, as it focuses on understanding AND intervening where necessary in the social environment.
CASE MANAGEMENT:
Practice aimed at connecting clients to appropriate services and coordinating utilisation of those services.
The purpose is to ensure the comprehensive provision of appropriate services to the service user.
As case managers, social workers are responsible for assessing service user needs and goals, developing a plan for achievement of these goals, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating service access.
COUNSELLING:
A form of interpersonal practice that provides the 'client' with an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living more resourcefully and toward greater wellbeing.
Unlike casework, counsellor's interventions remain focused primarily on changing service users' approach to that environment, rather than intervening in the environment itself.
Counsellors do not have to engage with service delivery or directly with client's social environments (where as caseworks do) - Seden 1999, p.14
Today, practice with families is often called' Family social work' or 'family work practice'.
AUTHOR'S VIEWS:
Argues that casework is still an appropriate term for what social workers do in their role, and it should not be used interchangeably with the terms 'counselling' or 'clinical social work'.
THEORIES THAT INFORM PRACTICE:
Casework:
Psychodynamic theory
Cognitive behavioural theory
Problem-solving theory
Radical theory
Solution-focused theory
Narrative theories
Principles these theories share:
An emphasise on a staged approach to social casework, that begins with a comprehensive analysis of the problems or concerns to be address.
Collaboration with the service user in establishing a clear shared understanding of the purpose of the relationship and the nature of the intervention.
Recognition and enhancement of service users' capacities to address the challenges they face.
RADICAL SOCIAL WORK:
Their main concern is that focussing primarily on the individual (or their immediate social environment) will highlight them as the source of the problem and the solution, thereby neglecting broader social and structural contexts of service users' lives.
Challenges key assumptions and practices of dominant modes of social casework and clinical social work practice.
Radical social workers are concerned about the potential for social case work and other individually oriented modes of practice to pathologize the individual (make them seem abnormal)
There are two kinds of radical social workers: 1) Want to incorporate a more radical approach to casework, 2) Questions legitimacy of casework as a dominant form of social work practice.
Critiques of Casework:
It minimises/neglects the social dimension of the psychosocial underpinning of casework.
It has lost its way as a result of this psychosocial practice approach, the poor and troubled became disengaged.
The way they engage clients is the problem.
PSYCHOTHERAPY:
Interventions (treatments), using techniques such as therapeutic counselling and/or art therapy, to achieve improvements in the mental, emotional or behavioural wellbeing of the service user.
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE:
The most common method used by the profession.
A FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL CASEWORK AND COUNSELLING:
Incorporates problem-solving, strength-based and solution-focused approaches, as well as critical social work practice:
The approach recognises the notion of collaborative relationships between the caseworker and the service user.
The worker must attend to maintaining a purposeful and effective relationship at every stage of their involvement with the service user.
For this to happen, the social worker must demonstrate personal warmth, empathy, genuineness and helpfulness. We must recognise that these are behaviours not characteristics and so social workers should be able to display these even when challenged to do so.
By exploring our (negative) reactions to service users in an emotionally safe environment (such as in supervision), we can also learn to predict the situations in which we may have these reactions and develop ways of managing them, to ensure our focus remains on the best interests of the service user.
An effective casework relationship involves the caseworker demonstrating:
Clarity of professional purpose
A primary focus on the needs and goals of the service user
Clarity about the limits to the relationship, such as it is time limited.
Using accessible language (using plan english and avoiding jargon.
ASSESSMENT PHASE:
The objective is to develop a shared, holistic understanding with the service user of their situation, to help form the basis for action in the intervention phase of practice.
To achieve this, you must take your time with the service user and pay systematic attention to their view of their situation, and analyse their social context.
This phase is important because if not performed you may develop inaccurate or inappropriate understanding of their situation, which you may then alienate them and fail to fully engage them in addressing their challenges.
Things to ensure during this phase:
A clear statement of the initial problem/concern (agreed upon with the service user). You could do this by asking "how can I assist you"
Be transparent with the service user - ensure they are aware of your role and responsibilities within your org/institution.
Exploration of problems and strengths:
Once the problem/concern is agreed upon, you can then explore it.
This part of the assessment phase is important as it helps build a collaborative and constructive relationship with the service user, and provides a solid foundation for interventions (in relation to their problem/concern).
This phase also provides the opportunity for the caseworker to understand the user's strengths and their capacities to address the problems they face.
You must seperate the person from the problem.
This focus is often challenged because:
Social workers are increasingly expected to assess risk.
There's an increasing emphasis on assessing users' strengths, capacities and victories over the problems they face.
Things to ensure during this phase:
Understanding the 'history' of the problem and it's impact on the service user.
How long the problem has been evident in their life
The pattern of the problem: when it has been more intense, what triggers it, where does it occur.
The practical effects on their life (positive and negative)
How the problem relates to the family and community context of their life.
What response/solutions have they already tried, were they successful/unsuccessful?
How does the user view their problem themselves, does this differ from the view of third parties?
Exploration of problems and challenges must be balanced with consideration of the service user's strengths and capacities to respond to the challenges they face.
You could do this by considering:
What victories the service user has had over their problem
What the service user is most proud of in their life
What resources are available for the service user to address their problem.
In the service user's network of friend and family, who is supportive of them and hold a positive, life affirming view of them.
TECHNIQUES FOR THE ASSESSMENT PHASE:
Communication skills to build a shared understanding with the service user, of the nature of the problem and the resources they have and will require to resolve these problems.
The information gained from the assessment should be organised in some way. Use a genogram or ecomap/sociogram to organise info about family, social relationships and resources.
INTERVENTION PHASE:
Actions by the worker and/or service user, aimed at achieving the agreed goals of intervention. It can involve changes in the service user's perceptions of the challenge, behaviour and social environment by improving access to or use of networks and resources.
The casework relationship can provide a context for directly contributing to change in thinking and behaving, through therapeutic techniques (such as challenging oppressive attitudes and providing opportunity for rehearsing new behaviours).
Things to ensure during this phase:
Assist the service user to set a framework for change, including clear goals and strategies, and assist them to monitor their achievement of these goals.
THE THREE MAIN TYPES OF CHANGE TO IMPLEMENT:
1. Change in thinking/outlook -
model good attitude, give empowerment.
2. Change in behaviour -
rehearsal, positive reinforcement, introducing social skills.
3. Change in access to resources -
foster relationships and network groups, increasing knowledge about programs/services.
TERMINATION AND EVALUATION PHASE:
Ultimately, this phase involves setting aside time to acknowledge the end of the social casework relationship.
The termination phase is important for ensuring that the service user is able to recognise and build on the gains they have made and also for providing an opportunity to address any areas of dissatisfaction with what has (or has not) been achieved.
It involves consolidation between the caseworker and service user, to develop plans for action in relation to goals or continuing challenges, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the casework process of helping the service user.
FEATURES OF A WELL-MANAGED TERMINATION:
It is anticipated and expected by the service user. They should have been made aware of the time limits to your involvement with them.
The service user is provided the opportunity to reflect on their achievements as well as areas for further action, and that when needed, the service user is provided with a plan for accessing the resources needed for them to move forward with that plan.
The service user is provided the opportunity to address any issues evoked by the termination process (relief, sense of loss/abandonment). You must acknowledge these emotions.
EVALUATION:
They assist continuous improvement of our practice, as they enable us to reflect on what has worked and what can be improved.
Service users are encouraged to keep a diary or to chart the frequency/severity of their problem over the course of time with you.
You should collect evaluation information such as info about progress towards goals and service user satisfaction with the progress.
The evaluation info should include signs of improvements as well as problem reduction.
Evaluations are important because we are able to see how our intervention has contributed to the service user.