WORKING
WITH
INDIVIDUALS
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL
CASEWORK
TOPICS
COMPONENTS OF SOCIAL
CASEWORK
HELPING PROCESS
COMPETENCIES
Understanding social casework
1915
Social casework maybe defined as the Art of doing different
things with different people, co-operating with them to
achieve some of their own and society’s betterment.
1917
Social casework is the art of bringing about better
adjustments in the social relationship of individual men or
women or children
Mary Richmond
1922
Social casework means, those processes which develop
personality through adjustment consciously affected,
individual by individual, between men and their social
environment.
1919
Jarrett
Social casework is “the art of bringing an individual who is in a condition of
social disorder into the best possible relation with all parts of his
environment”
1920
Taft
Social casework means “social treatment of a maladjusted individual
involving an attempt to understand his personality, behavior and social
relationships and to assist him in working out better social and personal
adjustment.
1922
Watson
Social casework is the art of untangling and restructuring the twisted
personality in such a manner that the individual can adjust himself to his
environment
1923
Lee
Social casework is the art of changing human attitudes
1926
Taylor
Social casework is a process concerned with the understanding of
individuals as whole personalities and with the adjustments of these to
socially healthy lives
1935
Raynolds
Social casework is the processes of counseling with a client on a
problem which are essentially his own, involving some difficulty in
his social relationship
1938
Klein
Social casework is a technical method in social work. A way of adjusting
to the client to his personal problems
1939
Swift
Social casework is the art of assisting the individual in developing and
making use of his personal capacity to deal with problems which he
faces in his life.
1948
Strode
Social casework is the process of assisting the individual to best
possible social adjustment through the use of social case study, social
resources and knowledge from relative fields of learning.
1949
Bowers
Social casework is an art in which knowledge of the sciences of human
relations and skill in relationship are used to mobilize capacities in the
individual and resources in the community appropriate for better adjustment
between the client and all or any part of his total environment
1954
Hollis
Social casework is a method employed by social worker to help individuals find
solution to problems of social adjustment which they are unable to handle in
satisfactory way by their own efforts
1956
Gordon
Hamilton
Social casework (which is both a tool and area of work) consists of those
processes which develop personality through adjustment consciously affected,
individual by individual between man and his social environment
1957
Perlman
Safrad
Social casework is a process used by certain human welfare agencies
to help individuals to cope more effectively with their problems in
social functioning
Social casework is a method employed by a social worker to help
individual, find a solution of their problem of social adjustment
which they are unable to handle in a satisfactory way by their own
effort.
ETHICS OF A SOCIAL WORKER
Respect the dignity of the individual as the basis for all social
relationship
Have faith in the capacity of the client to advance towards his/her
goals
Base your relations with others on their qualities as individuals,
without distinctions as to race, creed, colour, or economic or social
status
Recognize that your greatest gift to another person maybe to give
an opportunity for him/her to develop and exercise his/her
capacities
ETHICS OF A SOCIAL WORKER
Do not invade the personal affairs of another individual without his/her consent,
except in an emergency, where you must act to prevent injury to him/her or to others.
Believe and accept the differences and individuality of others, and endeavor to build a
useful relationship on them.
Base your opinion of another person on a genuine attempt to understand the whole
person, his/her situation and what it means.
Constantly try to seek understanding and control yourself, your attitudes, and the
prejudices which may affect your relationships.
Principles of casework
1. Individualization
2. Purposeful expression of feelings
3. Controlled emotional involvement
4. Self-determination
5. Acceptance
6. Principle of a non-judgmental attitude
7. Principle of confidentiality
Individualization
Purposeful
expression of
feelings
Controlled
emotional
involvement
Individualization means to analyze an individual not from a single aspect
but from various aspects. Every individual is different from others and
unique in itself. Problem of every individual is different from another and
depend upon her/his intelligence, so the mode of helping (technique)
must be according to the intellectual level, socio-economic situation and
ego strength, one’s capacity and resource.
Caseworker must give the chance to the client to express her/his feelings
freely, especially her/his negative feelings. The caseworker listens
purposefully to clients’ feelings neither praising nor condemning. Don’t
point out anyone as good or bad because of one’s psycho-social
problems.
Without feeling anyone’s emotion with sensitivity, it’s impossible to findout her/his problem and get a solution of that problem. Emotion comes
from 3 ways as sensitivity, understanding and response
Self-determination
Self-determination we means let the client to take her/his own
decision in own way, give her/him a chance to decide, what is
right or wrong for them.
Acceptance
A caseworker must accept an individual as a person of worth and
dignity, not treat as a problem and always accept ones positive
feelings and negative feelings.
Non-Judgmental Attitude
A caseworker mustn’t have the right to judge any one as guilty or
innocent
Principle of Confidentiality Casework relationship has a principle to take the problems of the
client in confidence and keep it as secret.
Basic components of
casework
COMPONENTS
Person
Problem
Place
Process
Anyone who finds himself or found to be in
need of help. A person who comes to the
social or helping agency for help.
PERSON
A situation that presents uncertainty,
perplexity, or difficulty to the person.
It affects the social functioning of a
person.
P/C/MSWDOs
PLACE
PROCESS
Is the progressive transaction
between the professional helper and
the client. It is a dynamic interaction
between the caseworker and the
client wherein the underlying
purpose is to help the client to
achieve a better adjustment between
him and his environment. Important
channel in mobilizing the capacities
of the client.
1
1. Study
2
3
4
Assessment
3.
Treatment/
Intervention
4.
Termination
2.
CASEWORK
PROCESS
1. Study
◦ In the study phase, the client is engaged in
presenting the problem.
◦ The key is engagement.
◦ Client makes the important decision of whether
to enter treatment.
◦ Emphasis on the interaction is on the here-andnow and on the problem not as might be
perceived by the worker, but as experienced at
the moment by the client.
◦ Data gathering and history taking concentrate
on relevance.
◦ Contacts during the initial phase may be
among the most dynamic of the entire
process.
Study
◦ Client is likely to feel most helpless and
vulnerable and most available to the
helping process.
◦ Sympathetic listening, demonstration of
acceptance, reassurance, demonstration
of confidence in ability, and judicious
stroking are powerful tools of the social
worker and can be highly therapeutic.
Study cont..
Modes of data
collection
Direct verbal
questioning
Direct written
questioning of the
client by the social
workers using
questionnaires,
checklist,
inventories, etc.
Indirect or
projective
questioning of the
client by the social
worker (story
completion)
Modes of data
collection…
• Dual Perspective (Dolores Norton)
It is the conscious and systematic process of
perceiving information, understanding it, and
comparing simultaneously the values, attitudes
and behavioral responses, and interactional
styles of the client, client’s immediate family,
and community system with that of the larger
system.
Modes of data collection
• Mapping
Pictorial representation of the relationships of
significant parts of any situation
• Social support network
Specifies the nature of the support given by people
and groups which one interacts on a regular basis
•Ecomap
A visual tool using paper and pencil provides a
picture of the connections between families or
individuals and the various resource systems
Modes of data
collection
and relationships with which they transact. It
generally depicts supports and stresses in the
environment. Here the worker uses the
an ecosystemic perspective where he/she looks
and addresses the interacting factors that make
up the client's environment.
Modes of data collection
Life history (Grid-James Anderson and
Ralph Brown)
Modes of data
collection
A tool used to elicit the
life history of a client in
a graphic form during
the initial interview.
Rapid
Assessment
Instrument
(RAIs)
Brief questionnaires -like instruments
that ask clients questions about the
degree, severity, or magnitude of
specific problems in social functioning.
•Genogram
Is a tool used to identify and organize some of the
historical information and familial patterns that may influence
present interactions in a client's life. It includes information on
Modes of
data
collection
births, deaths, occupations, education illnesses, alcoholism,
divorce, separations, adoptions, hobbies, or interests as they
have occurred over time.
•Sociogram
Maps the nature and frequency of interactions among
people in order to understand their relationships.
Problem
 Problems may be classified into
unmet needs, stress, or a
combination of both.
 Problems exist due to the
unavailability of resources, the client
is emotionally and physically
incapacitated, psychologically
affected, and does not have the
know-how
Problem
IMMEDIATE- WHAT IS
CAUSING THE CURRENT
DIFFICULTY
UNDERLYING- OVER-ALL
SITUATION THAT
CREATED AND TENDS
TO PERPETUATE THE
IMMEDIATE PROBLEM
WORKINGCONTRIBUTING
FACTORS THAT STAND
IN A WAY OF BOTH
REMEDY AND
PREVENTION WHICH
MUST BE DEALT WITH IF
CHANGES ARE TO TAKE
EFFECT
WELL – BEING : depicts a high level of well
being but at the same time has low
vulnerability status, a low risk
Levels of Social
Functioning
STRESS: this is a condition wherein
although no problem has risen yet there
are already indicators pointing to an
increase in risk and vulnerability. Stress
may upset the individual’s functioning,
but he is able to bounce back quickly.
PROBLEM: a problem may have already
occurred or merged at this point, but it is
still manageable within the resources and
the system
Levels of social
functioning
CRISIS: by this time the problem has
exceeded the individual’s capacity to cope,
he is now very vulnerable which state may
lead to pathology or damage.
DISABILITY: the damage has occurred, and
the problem is now at the chronic stage
2. Assessment
• Provides a differential approach to treatment
based on individual differences and needs.
• An individual’s strengths need to be identified
and utilized as a part of the change process.
• It is fluid and dynamic.
• Assessment begins with a statement of the
problem by the client.
• It is an evaluation of various factors such as the
problem, people, and the situation, and the
interrelations between them
Assessment
• Gives at least some attention to all
dimensions of the whole person and the
human experience and how these relate to
an individual’s motivation, capacity, and
opportunity to meet his/her basic needs
and perform social roles
VOLITIONAL - personal choices and decisions,
processes to make a decision
Assessment
FAMILIAL- interaction with family members, sense
of belonging, sense of loyalty and obligations,
one's personal history
SOCIAL- interaction with friends and peers, one's
place in the community, one's roles, status, ethnic
identity, use of various formal and informal
resources to meet needs and problems
SPIRITUAL- beliefs, views of right and wrong, sense
of responsibility for self and others, meaning
assigned to pain and suffering
It includes initial impressions that are
confirmed, modified, or rejected in the
light of additional information.
It includes judgment about the strength
and limitations of the individual in
coping with the situation.
Treatment planning and treatment
itself are guided by assessment
Assessment
•There is a mutual agreement
between the worker and the client
in assessment.
Assessment
•Goals must be congruent with the
client’s needs and the availability of
services. These goals are respected,
supported, and reinforced.
Elements of Change
MOTIVATION: state of readiness or
eagerness to take specific actions
Consists of:
a. pull of hope- believe that change is
possible
b. push of discomfort-dissatisfied with the
current situation
Elements of Change
CAPACITIES: the abilities and resources
that people bring to the change process
OPPORTUNITY: conditions in the
environment that invite and support
change
3. Intervention
•This is the working phase in which the
client has identified his needs and
goals, with intensified personal
involvement, and expresses his feelings
and ideas more actively.
•The roles and responsibilities of the
clients, caseworkers, and other
intervention team members are further
clarified.
3. Intervention
•Skills include interviewing, recording,
letter writing, referrals to other
agencies and services, and helping the
client to use personal and other
resources.
•Efforts to support and strengthen the
client’s ego through emotional
catharsis, reassurance, clarification of
the problem, and sympathetic
listening.
•Basic principles:
• Right to determine own course of action
within the limits of their capacity to make
sound choices.
Intervention
• Acceptance of client as is, implying
acceptance in their capacity to change.
• Relate to strengths rather than pathology.
• Seeks to understand the person and to help
plan for constructive change.
•Basic principles:
• Knowledge about the client’s family and
its situation is used responsibly.
Intervention
• Professional responsibility for the
welfare of the total family
• Responsible not only to the client but to
oneself, the agency, the community, and
the profession.
• Innovations in professional activities
must be consistent with casework goals
• The ending or gradual decrease of contacts
with the clients, limiting of a process that was
commenced
4. Termination
• A time when the client can look back with
satisfaction on what has been accomplished.
• Signals that the worker has confidence in the
client’s ability to learn to cope with situations
and grow.
Termination
Part of the Termination phase is evaluation
- to determine the outcome/ impact of the helping
process.
- This is of 2 kinds:
a. Impact- If the goal is accomplished or not
b. Process- what happened?
Stages of ProblemSolving
Activities
Phases of Helping Relationship
1.Assessment of Social
Situation
Data Gathering
I. Study (Exploration and
Engagement)
Data gathering and History Taking
2.Definition of the
Problem
Define the problem
II. Assessment
Defining Problem, Assessment of the
client’s capacity, motivation and
workability (strengths)
Contract setting and or Referral
3. Planning Solution
Goal Formulation, Objective
Setting Programming
4. Implementation
Implementation of the Plan
5. Evaluation
Monitoring/Eval
6. Termination
Ending
Goal Formulation, Objective Setting and
Programming
III. Intervention or Implementation
and Goal Attainment
Implementation of the Plan
Monitoring/Eval
IV. Termination
Ending Or Continuation
1. Denial- the person deny that the
situation is happening
2. Rage and Anger- “why me?” “this is
not fair”
Stages of
Grieving
3. Bargaining – person attempts to bargain
with God
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
1. Denial - refuses to acknowledge that the
problem exists. Uses someone else as the
cause.
STAGES OF
RECOVERY
(Substance or
Alcohol
Dependents)
2. Compliance - the person gives in to the idea
that alcohol or drug may be the cause of the
problem. Acknowledges that dependency is
present but still wishes it weren’t. It is knowing
that intellectually but not believing it deep inside.
3. Acceptance- He/she decides to eliminate the
chemicals totally. A change in attitude and sense
of responsibility.
4. Surrender- the dependent person experiences
personal growth as a result of a realization that
he/she no longer needs or desires chemicals.
 Social Isolation - controlling what she does, what she
sees and talks to, where she goes. Destroying the victim’s
support network.
Elements of
an abusive
relationship
 Emotional abuse - putting down or making her feel bad
about herself, calling her names. Making her feel she’s
crazy
 Economic abuse - trying to keep her from getting or
keeping a job. Making her ask for money, withholding
resources, restricting the partner’s usage of the family car,
etc.
 Sexual abuse - making her do sexual things against her
will
 Using children - making her feel guilty about the children,
using the children to give messages, using visitation as a
way to harass her
 Threats - making and or carrying out
threats to do something to hurt her
emotionally.
Elements of
an abusive
relationship
 Using male privileges - treating her like a
servant. Making big decisions. Acting like
the master of the castle.
 Intimidation - putting her in fear by using
looks, actions, gestures, loud voices,
smashing things, destroying her property
Competencies
A. Core
1. Commitment to credible public service
2. Delivering Excellent results
3. Personal Effectiveness
Competencies
B. Functional
1. Verbal & Written Communication
2. Case Counseling
3. Case Writing
4. Computer Knowledge and Skills
5. Presentation Skills
Competencies
B.
Functional
6. Report Writing
7. Records Management
8. Case Networking and Linkages
9. Knowledge of related regulations and
procedures of partner agencies
Competencies
C. Leadership
1. Collaborating & Networking
2. Problem Solving and Decision Making
3. Facilitating change and innovation
4. Planning and organizing
5. Thinking strategically and systematically