Introduction. Meaning of social case work process. Case illustration. Process of social case work.

Social case work is a method of helping people individually through a one-to-one relationship.

It is used by professionally-trained social workers in social work agencies or organizations to help people with their problems of social functioning.

It is based on knowledge of human behaviour and various tested approaches.

Social case work process is a ongoing movement of the continuing development of the case involving several activities.

Some steps of the social case work are carried out by the social worker alone and some by the client alone and some by the worker and the client together.

Person(Lavanya)

(name has been changed

ProcessProblem (Physical challenged)

Place(DDRC)

Intake

Study

Diagnosis

Treatment

Evaluation

Termination

Follow up

It is an administrative procedure and not a process of case work.

To take-in the person with problem, enroll him as a client of the agency then starts seconds interview with the intake worker.

During one or two skillful interviews case worker is able to assess the following:

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1. What are the needs/problems of applicant?

2. How and where his needs can be best met?

Areas of Probing:1. The stage of the problem.2. The nature of request.3. His adjustment to his social

functioning.4. The state of his physical and mental

health.

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5.His appearance including dress.6.Appropriateness and intensity of

feelings.7.Nature of defense mechanisms.8.Level of motivation.9.Nature of family, its status, values,

relationship pattern within the family.

An exhaustive and systematic collection of facts about the client and his situation is called study.

Psycho-social study involves exploration, observation and documentation.

Information is collected and organized with regard to the following:

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Age, sex marital status.

Education. Employment and

income. Health conditions. Personality features. Attitudes and

behaviors.

Home and neighborhood.

Family constellation. Family history. Cultural practices. Developmental

stages. Values and beliefs. Multidimensional

interactions.

Social diagnosis is aimed at finding answers to major three questions:

1. What is the problem?

2. How has it arisen?

3. What can be done to solve it?

conti….

According to Lowry (1936) diagnosis consists of:

1. Shifting the relevant from irrelevant data .

2. Organizing the facts and getting them into relatedness.

3. Grasping the way in which the facts fit together .

4. Perceiving the configuration of meaning as a whole.

Treatment is the fourth step in the social case work process which aims at restoring, maintaining or enhancing social functioning of an individual in need of help.

Clients are helped through following ways.

1. Emotional support .2. Material things like money, articles,

medicines, etc.3. Non material resources like

information and knowledge.4. Changes in the human and physical

environment.5. Provision of counseling.

It is social worker’s reviewing of all the other components of the case work process to make an appraisal of the result.

Here case worker need to evaluate outcome of efforts, and goals are being achieved or not.

If goals are not achieved that situations in case work practice are crisis and non motivated clients who pose challenge to the practitioners. Dealing with such situations requires specialized knowledge and approach. This process is known as ‘crisis intervention’.

• The worker should discuss the original as well as revised goals helpful or obstructive in achieving the objectives.

• Once the client has reached the level of achievement and improved positive feeling then termination can be planned.

Follow up is done to help the client maintain the improvement.

During follow-up the client is helped to discuss the problems he faces in maintaining the improvement.

Work is done with the people significant for his improved social functioning.

If any problem, may also refer to proper source for needed services and help.

R.K.Upadhyay (2003): social casework,Rewat publications,

ISBN 81-7033-758-5, P-136.

Dr.(Miss) Grace Mathew:(1992) An Introduction to social casework, T,I.S.S. Bombay. ISBN 81-85458-47-2, P 152.

DHANU

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