Introduction to Social Work Practice PDF

Introduction to Social Work Practice Ethel Jane M. Queppet, RSW, MSSW  Our conceptual framework of practice is based on the premise that for social work practice in the Philippines, the Social Worker needs to have a foundation in ………………………  Values  Knowledge Definition (cont.)...

Introduction to Social Work Practice Ethel Jane M. Queppet, RSW, MSSW  Our conceptual framework of practice is based on the premise that for social work practice in the Philippines, the Social Worker needs to have a foundation in ………………………  Values  Knowledge Definition (cont.) and Skills To be well-equipped for working with people in various problem situations.  Social work practice in the United States already considered of the Trinity……. Casework, group work and community organization (practice as separate method – however frequently combined in practice and there is more overlapping in their content) – In the United States, the concept of the integrated method of social work practice, or what in that country is more commonly referred to as the “GENERALIST APPROACH” to social work practice, was developed, mostly, in the 1960’s, because of changes in social conditions; a more sophisticated understanding of the relationship between man and his environment and the effect of systems theories on the acquisition of knowledge in social work – “With the recognition that all social work methods are needed and used in every field of practice, the distinction may become less important  Evident – That every social worker has to work with individuals, groups and community.  Micro approaches focus on the individual either as an individual or as member of a family or a small group and are directed toward assisting the person in coping with environmental stress. (family counseling and group activities aimed at helping individuals in a group setting)  Macro approaches are directed primarily toward the community or larger social systems and toward producing a changes in these systems. (community organization, policy making, planning and group work strategies directed toward change outside of the The essential elements in social work practice Client Worker Problem Process Planned change is defined as change originating from a decision to make a deliberate effort to improve the system and to obtain the help of an outside agent in making this improvement. Client system is a compromise term since client is often taken a mean only an individual so that professionals working with a community feel left out. The client system, can mean any of the following: 1.The personality system which consists of related subparts; the conscious, unconscious, the mind and the body; 2.The group: families, committee, staff, clubs and other smaller social units; 3.The organization; any of the larger social system which comprise the community: business organization, welfare agencies, educational institutions, religious associations, government bureaus, political parties; 4.The community made up of a variety of increasing subparts, e.g., individual citizens, informal interest group, organized occupational or political subgroups, economic and social strata, The outside agent in planned changed is called “professional change agent” who works with particular client systems. hence, there is the psychiatrist who usually works with personality systems, marriage counselors and leadership trainers who work with groups, labor –management specialists who work with organizations, and adult educators who work with The resistance force is an aspect of the situation which reduces the willingness of the client system to change. Just like change force, it may be rational or irrational, recognized or unrecognized, general or specific. It may originate from the client system (e.g., reluctance to admit weakness or failure on the part of community officials); from the environment (e.g., a low degree of responsibility for the welfare of the local community by the larger community) or from the change agent (e.g., competing The “client system” in social work is usually an individual, a family, a small group, and a community. The concept of “community” is broad as to include a hospital, a tenement housing project, a factory, which are, after all, “systems made up of interacting subparts.” These systems find themselves, or are found to be in need of help in some aspect of their living situation, and are given help. Social workers today, whether in the Philippines or abroad, use the term client, to mean in, in fact, The professional change agent is a social worker whose helping functions in the country today are, more often than not, facilitated by paraprofessional, indigenous community leaders, and volunteers. Maraming Salamat, Po!