THEORIES AND METHODS II:
SOCIAL WORK AS A PROBLEM SOLVING PROCES
+
(ALTERNATIVELY PRACTICAL PLACEMENT)
PAVEL NAVRATIL
(Generalist approach)
Course objectives
The course aims to help students develop a beginning understanding of the core elements
of the helping process and to learn basic professional qualification regarding knowing,
skills and value basis.
The central focus is on problem solving method (as a generalist helping method).
Particular attention will be given on the concept of social functioning (person in
situation), problem solving process (especially - initial phase of work, engagement,
assessment, establishing a working agreement, intervention).
Some ideas about course
A generalist approach requires that the social worker asses the situation with the client
and decide which system is the appropriate unit of attention for change effort. As the unit
of attention may be an individual, a family, a small group, an agency or organization, or a
community.
Social work is considered a professional process where the main phases are the beginning
situation, interventions, decision and evaluation. Especially, the focus is on social work
as a problem solving process. This idea includes human life as a whole, which consists of
problem solving. When it comes to social work, the client’s ability to solve problems has
become so difficult that he or she needs help from an expert. There are many personal
and social factors involved in the problems of person’s life.
Students’ prerequisites
1. Introductory course to social work and social policy.
2. Introductory course covering the theories of social work (Theories and methods II)
3. Introductory course covering history and development of social welfare in the Czech
republic, Europe and the USA.
4. Basic courses providing an understanding of human behavior and the social
environment.
5. Basic courses providing an understanding of human development and human
diversity.
6. Introductory course to the law system (especially a social law)
General methods
Lectures and seminar on literature
1
Structure of the course (themes)
1. Lesson > Introduction and course objectives
a) Learning objectives
-
Overview of the course content, readings, assignments and expectations
Discussion about possible accents in the course
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing: What Am I Doing Here Anyway? 1
Discussing of interests, experiences and reason for choosing social work.
Discussion of fields of practice (possible)
c) Literature
Navratil, P. Teorie a metody socialni prace.
Reznicek, I. Metody socialni prace
d) Assignments 1 (a,b)
- Describe your motivation for social work (1-2 pages)
1
Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York: CUP, 1982, p. 30
2
2. Lesson > Perspectives on social work practice (conceptual frameworks)
a) Learning objectives
-
Develop a clear understanding of role of social work within other professions.
Become familiar with the versions of focus on social functioning.
Develop an understanding of, and ability to describe, the basic focus of social work
practice; that is the interaction between people and their environments (focus on
social functioning).
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Discussion can focus on the similarities and differences between social work and
other helping professions.
Discussion of social functioning in student’s personal life. What does “social
functioning” for me? Do I have any coping problems? What can I do with it? How
can it influence my results in School (work)?
c) Literature
Navratil, P., Musil, L.
e) Assignments 2
- Describe your life situation in term of social functioning (2-3 pages)
3
3. Lesson > Social work as a developing profession
a) Learning objectives
-
Understanding of nature social work as a profession.
Understanding of how social conditions and thinking have influenced not only the
social welfare system but also the knowledge base development of social work.
Some understanding of these concepts: assessment, person in the situation,
relationship, process, and intervention.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Discussion of the involvement of social work in the continuum of services: What
problems having been solved by those organizations?
c) Literature
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
Navratil, P. , Musil, L.
f) Assignments 3
-
Try to establish Your personal learning goal (1-2 pages)
Write description of the agency You are working in (4 pages)
1) Agency purpose and functions
2) Clientele served
3) Methods and modalities of service
4) Organizational structure
5) Practice setting
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4. Lesson > Knowledge, Values and Skills in Social Work
a) Learning objectives
-
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Understand the relationship of values and knowledge to professional social work
practice.
Develop the ability to analyze value and ethical dilemmas in social work practice and
to understand the primary value positions of the profession.
Develop insight and understanding with regard to students’ own personal values and
ethics and the commonalities and tensions between their own values and the generally
accepted professional value base of social work.
Acquire an understanding of the ethical obligations to clients, community, and
profession, which are inherent in professional practice.
Acquire an ecological perspective on human behavior that integrates knowledge of
biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences on the psychosocial
functioning of individuals in each stage of the life cycle and on the development on
social functioning of families and other small groups in interaction with the
environment.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Discussion “Dominant values in society and in Social Work”2
How can be values learned?
Discussion on a current issues
Discussion on nature knowledge in social work. What knowledge you believe may be
helpful to you as a social worker? How did you attain that knowledge?
c) Literature
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
Navratil, P. , Musil, L.
g) Assignments 4
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Write a paper (2-3) pages about potential issues and ethical problems when you
have experienced or can imagine occurring with client system3.
Develop a paper about clients’ situation in terms of ecological point of view.
Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York: CUP, 1982, p. 37-42
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 38
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3
5
5. Lesson > Social Work as a Problem-solving Process
a) Learning objectives
-
Knowledge of the nature of problem-solving process.
Understanding of how the problem-solving process is used in social work.
The phases of problem-solving process.
Variations on the problem-solving process
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Discussion “Problems – what is it?”
Discussion “Who defines problems?”
Discussion “How we solve our problems?”
Discussion “What are the advantages of using a problem-solving approach with a
client?” “What are disadvantages”?
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
Navratil, P., Musil, L.
d) Assignments 5
-
Try to identify as much your life problems as possible (1-2 pages).
What is usual manner you use to solve problems (1-2 pages)?
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6. Lesson > Client-Worker relationship
a) Learning objectives
-
Knowledge of the nature client-worker relationship.
Understanding relationship in Social Work.
Develop familiarity with and be able to illustrate the principles of practice which
should guide intake a initial involvement with applicants for service.
Understand and be able to establish the elements of relationship/
Understand and be able to illustrate issues and concerns in the development of
professional helping relationships with clients, including accurate empathy, warmth,
and genuineness and the potential effects of culture, race, ethnicity, and social class
on relationship building.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 6
-
Prepare a list of characteristics of good relationship in general. Then choose from the
list those which can be characteristics of an appropriate in helping relationship.
Explain your decisions.
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7. Lesson > Data collection and assessment
a) Learning objectives
-
-
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An in-depth understanding of assessment as a complex process.
Recognize that assessment is not a limiting but a reactive and creative process which
can aid greatly in development relationships with clients and process which is a
necessary component of social work intervention.
Learn skill in assessing individual, families, small groups, organizations, and
communities.
Understand that assessment emphasizes strengths and coping abilities as well as
difficulties so that a plan for social treatment can be based on clients’ abilities as well
as problems.
Understand that assessment are working premises to be modified in further and
constant interaction with clients.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing4
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments &
- Use the mapping technique to develop a picture of some problematic situation of
which are you aware. What did you learn from the map that might be use in solving
the problem.
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 50.
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8. Lesson > Planning
a) Learning objectives
-
An understanding of nature of strategic thinking in the planning process.
Skill in planning.
An understanding of the nature of goals in social work and skill in developing goals
objectives.
Skill in choosing units of attention.
Skill in identifying strategies to use in specific situations.
An understanding of the factors that affect a plan of action and skill in identification
of the impact of these factors on the specific practice situations.
An understanding of the nature of the contract in social work practice and of the skill
needed to negotiate and a contract.
Skill in identifying resources for use in planing.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing5
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 8
- Have students develop a service plan for an individual, family, or group with which
they are about to begin work.
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 65.
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9. Lesson > Interventive methods (social treatment) I.
a) Learning objectives
-
-
An understanding of the need to match the action taken to the needs of the client.
A knowledge of the various kinds of action that may be used to help clients.
Recognize the generic applicability of the major cluster of techniques and examine
how these clusters are differentially to the particular situation, based on the process of
assessment and the purpose and goals of treatment.
An understanding of principles that should be used in making choices.
Be able to mobilize formal and informal social support.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing6
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 9
- Describe the crisis process in a situation in which you have been involved. What was
most helpful in the resolution of the crisis (2 pages).
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 57.
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10. Lesson > Interventive methods (social treatment) II.
a) Learning objectives
-
-
An understanding of the need to match the action taken to the needs of the client.
A knowledge of the various kinds of action that may be used to help clients.
Recognize the generic applicability of the major cluster of techniques and examine
how these clusters are differentially to the particular situation, based on the process of
assessment and the purpose and goals of treatment.
An understanding of principles that should be used in making choices.
Be able to mobilize formal and informal social support.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing7
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 10
- Name some situations in which you belive support is an appropriate action for a
social work to take.
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 57.
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11. Lesson > Interventive methods (social treatment) III.
a) Learning objectives
-
-
An understanding of the need to match the action taken to the needs of the client.
A knowledge of the various kinds of action that may be used to help clients.
Recognize the generic applicability of the major cluster of techniques and examine
how these clusters are differentially to the particular situation, based on the process of
assessment and the purpose and goals of treatment.
An understanding of principles that should be used in making choices.
Be able to mobilize formal and informal social support.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing8
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 10
- Write a paper how would you go about helping a client use an formal and informal to
obtain support (a resource) he or she needs.
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 57.
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12. Lesson > Evaluation
a) Learning objectives
-
Understanding the importance of and skill in the use of evaluation in the social work
process.
Understanding of accountability as relates to the client, the profession, the agency,
and the community that supports the service.
Understanding of the various forms of evaluation and knowledge about when each
form is appropriate.
Understanding of use research techniques in the evaluation.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 12
- Write a paper what do you see as the positive outcomes of appropriate evaluation? (12 pages).
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13. Lesson > Evaluation
a) Learning objectives
-
An understanding of place of the termination process in the social work process.
An understanding of the kinds of termination.
An understanding of worker’s possible feeling about termination and of the need to
recognize and deal with these feelings.
An understanding of the components of the termination process.
An understanding of the importance of ending and separation to clients and possible
reactions to termination.
b) Methods
-
Lectures
Role playing9
Videotaping
c) Literature
Compton, B.R., Galawey, B. Social work processes. (6th ed.) Washington:
Brooks/Cole publishing Company, 1999.
Johnson, L. C. Social Work practice: A generalist Approache. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1985
d) Assignments 13
- Write a paper what are (could be) your feeling about a termination with someone who
has been important to you. (1-2 pages).
For examples see Weil, M., Northen, H. Instructor’s Manual for Clinical Social Work. New York:
CUP, 1982, p. 96.
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