Generalist Practice Social
Work
What is Social Work?
• ?? Why do you want to be a social worker?
• !! Baby-snatcher!
5 agreed upon dimensions:
1. Importance of multiple level interventions
– Individuals ---- micro
– Families
---- micro/mezzo
– Groups
--mezzo
– Organizations --mezzo/macro
– Communities --macro
*Each is viewed as a system within
its environment
macro
micro
mezzo
5 agreed upon dimensions:
2. Practitioners use a problem-solving, plannedchange approach to resolve issues
encountered by any of these systems.
Engagement
• Generalist Intervention
Model (GIM)
Assessment
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation
Termination
Follow-up
5 agreed upon dimensions:
3. Ethical principles and social work values.
*Include a focus on private issues of human wellbeing, social and economic justice, and appreciation
of human diversity.
5 agreed upon dimensions:
4. Practitioners assume a wide range of roles:
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Counselor
Broker
Mobilizer
Facilitator
Manager
Negotiator
Organizer
Advocate
Educator
Case Manager
Mediator
Integrator/Coordinator
Initiator
Spokesperson
Consultant
5 agreed upon dimensions:
Generalist social workers must have infinite flexibility, a
solid knowledge-base about many things, and a wide
range of skills at their disposal:
5.
- Select effective strategies
- Evaluate results of practice
- Professional competence
Knowledge base chosen from a range of theories:
- Systems
- Ecological
- Structural functionalism
- Role theory
- Psycho-dynamic
- Learning Theory
- Erickson’s Psychosocial Development
- many more
Generalist Practice Definition
• Generalist Practice is the application of an
eclectic knowledge-base, professional values,
and a wide range of skills to target systems of
any size for planned change within the context
of three primary principles, a context, and four
major processes
Organizational structure
Supervision
YOU AS
GP
Cultural competency
1.Knowledge
2. Values
3. Skills
Processes
Assuming a
wide range of
roles
Using critical
thinking
Following a
planned-change
process
Application
Principles/Values
Emphasizing client empowerment
Human Diversity
Advocacy/Social and Economic
Justice
TARGET SYSTEM
Macro System
Mezzo System
Micro
System
MSUM School of Social Work’s Definition
of Generalist Practice Social Work
• Generalist practice is the critical application of
an eclectic knowledge base, professional
values, and a wide range of culturally
competent skills to a planned-changed
process at any system level.
Generalist Intervention Model
Engagement
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Substantively and effectively prepare for action with
IFGOC
Use empathy and other interpersonal skills
Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and desired
outcomes
Engagement
Assessment
Assessment
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Collect, organize, and interpret client data
Assess client strengths and limitations
Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and
objectives
Select appropriate intervention strategies
Planning
Implementation
Intervention
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Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals
Implement prevention interventions that enhance client
capacities
Help clients resolve problems
Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients
Facilitate transitions and endings
Evaluation
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Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions
Evaluation
Termination
Follow-up
Systems Theory
Definition of Systems Theory
• System – a set of elements that are orderly and
interrelated to make a functional whole.
• Systems theory:
– Targets multiple systems of different size
– Focus on boundaries WITHIN a system
System
Dynamic
Interact
Homeostasis (equilibrium)
Input
Output
Equifinality
Ecological Theory
• Refers only to living dynamic interactions
• Focuses on transactions BETWEEN the
individual and environment at the interface
point.
Social Environment
Energy (input/output)
Adaptation
Interdepedence
Person in Environment
Interface
Coping
Ecological Theory
School
Individual
Friends/
Peers
Family
Spiritual
orientation
Dance
Team