Social_Case_Work_Practice_Working_with_Individuals_unit_1.pdf

Telling about social work

1. MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Social Case Work Practice/
Working with Individuals
Compiled By
Dr. V.SETHURAMALINGAM
Professor and Head
Department of Social Work
Bharathidasan University
Tiruchirappalli-620 023

2. INTRODUCTION
Methods of Social Work Practice
MicroPractice-dealswithindividual,group,&family-
Mostlyclinicalinnature
MacroPractice-involvesmethodsofprofessionalchanging
(thattargetsystemsabovetheleveloftheindividual,group,
andfamily),i.e.,organizations,communitiesItincludesthe
areasofcommunityorganization,socialpolicyand
administration."(Rothman&Tropman,1987)and,Social
Research.

3. CASE WORK -DEFINITIONS
MaryRichmond:(1922)
“SocialCaseWorkconsistsofthoseprocesseswhichdevelop
personalitythroughadjustmentsconsciouslyeffected,individualby
individual,betweenmenandtheirSocialEnvironment.”(MaryEllen
Richmond(1922)Whatissocialcasework?“AnIntroductory
Description,RUssellSageFoundation,NewYork,p.98-99)
HamiltonGordon:
CaseWorkisanindividualizedserviceinthefieldofSocialWork
inordertohelptheclienttoadjustwiththeenvironment.

4. Perlman: (1957)
Case Work is a process used by human welfare agencies to
help the individuals to cope more effectively with their
problem in Social Functioning.
Grace Mathew:
Case Work is a humanistic attempt for helping people who
have difficulty in coping with the problems of daily living.
In short:
Socialcaseworkis a method of helping people to solve
problems.

5. MEANING
Mary Richmond:
1915: helpis provided to the people for their better
adjustment.
1917: Helpis provided for individuals for better
adjustment in social relationship.
1922: She explained that casework is for change
personalityof the individual for proper social adjustment.

6. Hamilton Gordon:
Helping the client to adjust with the environment
Perlman(1957):
She discussed about the task of Case Workers and the
essential components in Case Work.
1.Task: The Case Worker‟s task is to restore or re-inforce
the client‟s ability to deal with the problem.
2.Components:
1.The Person
2. The Problem
3. The Place
4. The Process

7. Grace Mathew: Working with individuals those who are
facing the problems or in distress in their daily living.
Watson: Emphasized the Ego Psychology (i.e. total
personality)
Porter Lee: to change human personality.
Taylor: to understand the total personality of the individual.
Reynolds (1932):Introduced counselling in Case Work
Kelein: For helping the client for adjustment.

8. De-Schweinitz (1939):She talked the social Case Work with
representatives of social agencies.
Swiefts: Developing the strength and capacity in the individual to
solve his problems by himself
Strode: “Social case work uses social resources for helping the
individual to obtain adjustment in social life.
Bowers: Explained about two instruments of Case Work. i.e.
(i) Knowledge of the science of human relations and
(ii) Skill in relationship.
These two instruments are used to strengthen the capacity for gaining
purposeful adjustment.

9. OBJECTIVES OF CASE WORK
1. To understand and solve the internal problems of the
individual
2. To strengthen his/her ego power
3. Prevention of problems in social functioning.
4. Remediation of problems in social functioning.
5. Development of resources to enhance social functioning.

10. PURPOSE OF CASE WORK
TheGeneralpurpose:
Tohelpanindividual(client)tosolvehispsychosocialproblems,so
thathefindshimselfcapableofdealingwiththeseproblemsat
presentalsomaysolveinfutureifsuchproblemsarise.
Thespecificpurposesare:
i)Toenabletheclienttoadjustwiththesocialsituation.
ii)Tofacilitatethesocialrelationship.

11. According to Witmer:
To help the individual to mobilize his capacity for the solution of the problems.
To make the client to meet the future difficulties with more effectively.
According to Florence Hollis
To bring about an adjustment between the individual and his situation or environment.
According to Towle:
The Case Work helps in promotion of the welfare of the individual in the interest of
society, the proximate and is making available of certain special services in the areas
of unmet needs.
According to Bowers
Case Work helps better adjustment in social relationship of the individual, and the
development of individual personality.
According to Perlman
Case Work helps the client to achieve his previous level of functioning.

12. IMPORTANCE OF CASEWORK
Social Disorganization
Social Problems
Social deviance
Change to N.F. system –Delinquency
Family disorganization –Crime
Urbanization and Urban Problems
Adjustment Problem, etc
Case Work helps to solve the problem of the people who have
difficulty in coping with problems of daily living.

13. It helps the client to adjust with the environmentof the individual.
It helps to develop personality through adjustment(i.e. between
men & his social environment)
Helps the individual to cope more effectively with their problem in
social functioning.
It helps the individuals to understand his personality, behavior, and
social relationshipsand to assist him in working out a better social
and personal adjustment.
Helps to adjusting personal relationship.
Helps to change human attitudes.
It helps the individuals to find solution to the problems

14. NATURE OF CASE WORK
Caseworkismethodologyofhelpingclientsthroughsystematicway
ofassessingtheirproblemsandhandlingthem.
Itisamodeofhelpingpeopleonthebasisofaperson–to–person
relationship.
Thestudiesonhumanbehaviourbroughttolightthepotentialitiesof
thehumanpersonalityforhealthyadaptationtolife‟sstress.
Laterthefocusshiftedformtheselfoftheindividualtohis
continuousinteractionswithhissignificantothersinsocialsetting.
AmericanCaseWorkdidnotinfluencetheuseofCaseWorkinIndia
asthefirstsocialworkerwhodidintheAmericanSchoolsofSocial
Work.

15. SCOPE/ STATUS OF CASEWORK
1.CaseworkisprojectedinmanysettingsinIndiabutonlyinsettingconfinedto
urbanareas.
2.SocialWorkagencies,whichprovidecaseworkservicestohelppeopleindistress
orsocialservicedepartmentsofhospital&clinics,familywelfareservicecentres
Residentialinstitutionsforchildren,childguidanceclinics,communitycentres,
correctionalInstitutions,Handicappedwelfare&Rehabilitationcentres.
3.InordertounderstandthecasesituationofIndianclients,itisusefultoreferthe
factorslike;
(i)Lackofmaterialresource,
(ii)MisconceptionaboutsituationandLackofappropriateinformation,
(iii)Illnessorhealthrelatedhandicaps,
(iv)Emotionaldistressresultingfromfamilysituations,
(v)Personalityfeature,etc.

16. 4.Thesefactorsplacebeyondpeople‟sabilityforproblemsolving.MostoftheCase
Workclientsbelongtolowersocioeconomicstrata.Theybringproblems,whichfall
withintheabovefivefactorsrangeandgenerallytheybringmorethanoneproblem.
5.Mostofthemhavethecommondifficultylikelackofmaterialresourcescoupled
withotherpredicament.
6.CaseWorkersareoftenoverwhelmedbyprevalenceoflarge-scalepovertyamong
theirclients.
7.Whileworkingwithapoorperson,whatthecaseworkerscanofferisahumaneand
understandingrelationshipandadvocacyonhisbehalftogetnecessarymaterialsfor
thefulfilmentofhisbasicneeds.
8.Thisisapointofviewthatallsocialworker‟seffortsshouldbegearedtosystem
changeratherthantoindividuals.Suchastancecan‟tbeacceptedbytheCase
Workerwhosefirstcommitmentistotheindividualcaseworkersistodealwith
situationsotherthanthosecreatedbyeconomicneeds.

17. 9.Itistobenotedthateffortsbysocialworkersalonecan‟tbringaboutchange
withinthesocialpoliticalandeconomicstructureofIndiansociety.
10.IndianCaseWorkneedstodevelopindigenousliteratures.
11.CaseWorkershavedevelopedstrategiesofinterventionsuitedtoIndian
clientele.
12.Iftheycanabstractthesefrompracticesituations,conceptualizeandbuild
postulatesaroundthem,itwillhaveconsiderableemotionalandpractice
value.
13.CaseWork,whichistheoldestmethodinprofessionalsocialwork,has
beenthecenterofmanycontroversies.
14.Themaincontroversyhasbeenaroundthequestionwhetheritisan
effectivewayofdealingargumentsforandagainstCaseWork,without
arrivinganyconclusion

18. HISTORY OF CASE WORK
SocialCaseWorkasamethodofsocialworkhas
emergedformtheprocessofindustrializationand
itsrelatedurbanization.
CharityOrganizationSocieties[COS]movement
whichwasstartedintheyear1869inUKand1877
inUSA.

19. Community Chest:
Fr.VincentDe-Paul(FatherofSocialService)
Hestartedsocietycalledparriessociety(communitychest)inevery
CatholicChurchestoservethepoorandneedypeople
Asmajorityofthepeopleexploitedtheservices,ThomasChalmers
translatedoneofhiscoreconceptsintopractice:tohelpthepoorto
helpthemselves
ThomasChalmer(FounderofScientificSocialWork)adoptedthe
ScientificmethodbyVisitingthehomesofthepoorandneedypeople
(HomeVisits)andContactedFriendsandrelatives(Collateral
contacts)–toverifytheactualneeds/conditionsofthepeopleto
provideserviceswhichpavedthewayforCaseWorklater)Dr,
Chalmersintroducedhisparochialsystemofcharityin1819
(Loch,1910)

20. COS Movement
TheCharityOrganizationSocietieswerefoundedinEnglandin
1869followingthe'GoschenMinute'(PoorLawBoard;22ndAnnual
Report1869–70).GeorgeJoachimGoschenwasPresidentofthePoor
LawandwasconcernedtotightenupthePoorLaw,whichhebelieved
hadbecometoogenerous,anditsadministrationtoolax(Brown,
2010).InitsmethodstheCOSwasapioneeringbodythatwasof
greatsignificanceinthedevelopmentofprofessionalsocialcasework
inthenineteenthcentury.Fromthe1890s,theyproducedtraining
manualsforthispurpose,fortheuseoftheirvolunteers.Theearly
leadersCharlesBosanquet,EdwardDenison,OctaviaHilland
aboveallCharlesStewartLoch,(Loch1910)SirCharlesLoch,
wasconsideredasfounderofCharityOrganisationSocietyin
London(Agnew,2004).

21. TheCOSfocusonthefamily,anduponascientificapproachprovideda
keyfoundationforthedevelopmentofsocialworkasprofessionin
Britain.
TheCOSwasrenamedin1946asFamilyWelfareAssociationandstill
operatestodayasFamilyAction,aregisteredfamilysupportcharity).The
societyclaimedtouse"scientificprinciplestorootoutscroungersand
targetreliefwhereitwasmostneeded
OctaviaHill(1838-1912)Shegivesadvicetothevolunteersabout
helpingthepeopletohelpthemselvesratherthandoingoutmoney
(OctaviaHill`smotto:Helpwithoutalms).Shewasaradical,andpioneer
ofaffordablehousingmovementinUKandcanbeseenasthefounderof
modernsocialwork.

22. The society was mainly concerned with distinction between the
deserving poor and undeserving poor
The society believed that„giving out charity without investigating
the problems behind poverty created a class of citizens that would
always be dependent on alms giving’.

23. THEORETICAL FORMULATIONS
The first theoretical formulation of Social Case Work was
associated with the publication of Mary Richmond‟sbook
„Social Diagnosis‟ in 1917. Case Work has gone through several
stages.
The exploratory or disciplinary stage.
The sociological stage.
The psychological stage
The synthetic or integrated stage.

24. STAGE-I THE EXPLORATORY STAGE: Upto1900
OriginofCharityOrganizationSocietyMovements[COS]oneofthe
earliestorganizedeffortsinUSAtohelpthepoorwasthe
establishmentoftheAmericanCharityOrganizationSocietyin1877.
ThefirstcharityorganizationwasstartedinNewYork,USAby
JosephineShawLowell[founder],whichwascalledasNewYork
CharityOrganizationSociety.
OBJECTIVES of COS:
Tofindoutthewaysandmeansofhelpingthepoorandneedy.
Toorganizeindividualizedservicesgearedtotheirpurpose.
Thesocietyusedvolunteerswhowerecalledfriendlyvisitors,tovisit
thehomesofthepoorforthepurposeofassessingtheirneeds,toguide
andadvicethem.

25. Thepaidagentssubsequentlysupplementedthefriendlyvisitors.
Thesepaidagentsgraduallydevelopedsystematicproceduresin
performingtheirtasks.
Theycollecteddataabouttheindividualsandthefamilyandhelped
themafterassessingtheirneeds.Theyalsomaintainedtherecordsin
whichtheykeptalltheinformationlikepersonaldataaswellashelp
renderedtothem.Theircollectiveexperienceofthepoorfamiliesand
theirproblemsandconcurrentstudiesonpovertybysocialscientist
broadenedtheunderstandingofhumanservices.
Laterthe“paidagents”and“thepoor”weresupplementedby“Case
Worker”and“theclients”respectively.Thehelpgivingorganization
(andtheofficeoftheorganization)cametobeknownas“theagency”
(In1900:EducatorSimonN.Pattencoinstheterm"socialworkers"
andappliesittofriendlyvisitorsandsettlementhouseresidences)

26. STAGE –II SOCIOLOGICAL STAGE:
In1901,MaryRichmondpresentedaChartonenvironmentalforces
influencingthefamilyandarguedfortheanalysisofsocialsituationbefore
providinganyhelp.
In1917MaryRichmondpublishedafirstbookonCaseWorkcalled“Social
Diagnosiswhichreflectsthesociologicalpointofviewofsocialcasework.
In1922shepublishedanotherbook“WhatisSocialCaseWork?”
Thefirsttrainingprogramoncaseworkerswasintroducedintheformof
summercourse.
Theneedforthemoretrainingwasfoundnecessaryandschoolsofsocial
workattachedtoagenciescameintoexistencewhentheseschoolsattains
certainrecognitioninthecommunity,theywererecognizedasprofessional
undertheauthorityofUniversities.

27. STAGE –III -PSYCHO SOCIAL STAGE
WorldwarIwasamajorturningpointforthepracticeofSocialCase
WorkandFreudianpsychology,whichemergedin1920,hadastrong
impactonCaseWork.
TheinfluenceofFreudianconcept,theSocialCaseWorkbecame
PsychodynamicCaseWorkduringthisstage.Valuablecontributions
weremadebyTowle,Bibring,Turner,Austin,Baudler,Florence
Hollis,Samalley,Jarrett,etc.
Ms.Robinson–wroteabookon“AChangingpsychologyinSocial
CaseWork”andTaftwhowroteabook“AFunctionalApproachto
FamilyCaseWork”wassomeofthecontributionsduringthisperiod.

28. The Milford conferencein 1925 appointed a committee under the chairmanship of
Porter Lee to define the nature of generic social work.
The recommendations of the Porter Lee committee:
The use of norms is essential in the process of Case Work.
Social history of the client is significant.
Purpose of Case Work is to assist the individual to develop his capacity to organize
his own normal social activities.
Due to the publication of Milford Conference Report in 1929, numbers of books
on social work theory and practice have been published. Some of the important
publications are as follows.
In 1929 Lowry edited a book “Readings in Social Case Work.
In 1939 “Halls” wrote a book “Social Case Work Practice” and
In 1940 Hamilton Gordon published a book called “Theory and practice of Social
Case Work”.

29. Inthisphasethefollowingcontributionsweremadetothephilosophyandpracticeof
SocialCaseWork:
1.Interestinthecausesofhumandistressconceivedofasderivingfromthesocialsituationor
physicalenvironment.
2.Interestinthefamilyasthesocialunithavingmaximumimportanceinthedevelopmentofhuman
adjustment,butwithlittleappreciationofthenatureofpsychologicalinteractionwithinthefamily.
3.Effortsweremadetofindthescientificwayofdoingthingsandthedevelopmentofa
methodologyforsocialdiagnosis.
4.Beliefthatmostofthepeoplewillmakeadjustmenttolifeiftheirenvironmentisfavorable.Itis
unfavorable,theCaseWorkerhasthefunctionofremovingorofhavingremovedthedistributing
condition.
5.InterestintheeffortsofSocialEnvironmentuponhumanpersonalitybutwithoutmuch
understandingofcausationandmechanismasofbehaviour.
6.Beliefinthevaluesoffriendlycontactandtheireffortsuponpersonality.

30. STAGE –IV SYNTHETIC / INTEGRATION STAGE
In1930s–duringthe“EconomicDepression”CaseWorkhadtoconsiderthe
economicfactor.Whichwerecausingdistresstoclients–whichleadstoeconomic
andpublicassistanceprograms.WhichenabledtheCaseWorkerstodevotemore
timeindealingwithclient‟sinterpersonalproblems.
In1940sCaseWorkerswereexposedtotheformulationonEgoPsychology–based
ontheobservationsofhumanbeingsasregardstheirdifferentialcopingandadapting
abilitiesintimesofstress.
During1950sand1960ssomeCaseWorktheoreticianbegantoexaminethe
sociologicalconceptslike“SocialRole(Behaviourexpectedofindividualsocial
functioning)”,“SocialSystem”,SocialClass,etc.withreferencetotheir
applicabilitytocaseworksituations.Theresultwasshiftingthefocusfromtheself
oftheindividualtohiscontinuousinteractionwithothersinsocial
settings/environment.
InIndia,in1936SirDorabjiTataGraduateSchoolofSocialWorkwasstartedand
latteritwasrenamedasTataInstituteofSocialSciences.ABookonCaseWorkwas
writtenbyGraceMathewisafirstofitskindinIndia.

31. VALUES OF CASE WORK
Every profession of human behavior have some values and on the
basis of these values it achieves its objectives.
The worth and dignity of man.
The capacity of human nature to achieve full human potential.
Tolerance of difference.
Satisfaction of basic human needs.
Liberty.
Self –direction.
Non –Judgmental altitude.
Construction of social co-operation.
Importance of work and constructive use of leisure.
Protection of one‟s existence from the dangers caused by man and
nature.

32. According to KONOPKA:
Respect for every person and the rights of each person to the fullest
development of his / her potential.
Mutual dependence of individuals and responsibility towards each other
according to their ability.
According to FRIEDLANDER:
Conviction of the inherent worth, the integrity and the dignity of the
individual.
The right to determine himself, what his needs are and how they should be
met.
Firm belief in equal opportunity for all
Social responsibility towards himself, his family and his society.

33. According to Council of Social Work Education
Importance of the individual –inter dependence of all individuals all
times.
Consideration for and acceptance of difference.
Self-determination right to select our life style.
Self-help.
Acceptance of every person.
Common needs of man.
Right to equal participation.
Right to protection of body and intellect.
Freedom
Change –process –growth
Validate knowledge.

34. PRINCIPLES OF CASE WORK
1.Theworkershouldbelieveinsocialrealityi.e.weshouldidentifytheclient.
2.Thepersonalityoftheclientistoberespected.(Whatevermaytheproblem
irrespectiveof3.Age,Sex,Caste,Religionetc.,theworkershouldduerespecttothe
clients).
3.Believeintheabilityofhumanbeingtochangeandgrow.(Theworkershould
alwayshavebelievedintheabilityofthehumanbeingtochangeandgrow.Every
humanbeinghavingsomeskillsandtheworkershouldtrytoidentifytheskillofthe
clients
4.Theworkerhasalsotolookintotheinterestofthefamily,communityandtheagency
andassuchhehastohelptheclienttoadjustwiththefamilyandcommunity.
5.Theworkershouldstartfromthelevelatwhichtheclientisandforthispurposethe
workershouldreachthelevelatwhichtheclient

35. Principles of Case Work According to
Noel Timms
1. Confidentiality of information
2. Personalizing the help and partializing the problem
3. Client involvement in defining and solving problems
4. Recognizing the importance of feelings

36. CONCEPTS OF ADJUSTMENT
What do you mean by Adjustment?
Thedictionarymeaningoftheword„adjustment‟is,tomake
suitable,adapt,arrange,modify,harmonizeormake
correspondent
Thetermadjustmentreferstotheextenttowhichan
individual'spersonalityfunctionseffectivelyintheworldof
people.

37. Adjustmentistherelationshipwhichcomestobeestablishedbetweenthe
individualandtheenvironment.
Itreferstotheharmoniousrelationshipbetweenthepersonandthe
environment.Inotherwords,itistherelationshipthatcomesamongthe
organisms,theenvironmentandthepersonality.
Everyindividualplayscertainpositioninhissocialrelations.Heistrained
toplayhisroleinsuchawaythathismaximumneedswillbefulfilled.So,
heshouldplayhisroleproperlyandgetmaximumsatisfaction.Ifhedoes
notplayhisroleaccordingtostandardsandtrainingHomeEnvironment
receivedhisneedsmaynotbefulfilledandhemaygetfrustrated.
Awelladjustedpersonalityiswellpreparedtoplaytheroleswhichare
expectedofthestatusassignedtohimwithingivenenvironment.His
needswillbesatisfiedinaccordancewiththesocialneeds

38. MALADJUSTMENT
Maladjustmentmeansproblembehaviororpopularly
speakingabnormaladjustment.
Maladjustmenttakesplacewhentherelationshipbetween
anindividualandhisenvironmentisnotaccordingto
establishedstandardsornorms.Adelinquentchildadjusts
withhisenvironmentbutheisamaladjustedchildbecause
heisviolatingcertainmoralcodes.

39. COMPONENTS OF CASE WORK
There are 4/5 P‟s
Person (client)
Problem
Place (Agency) and
Process
Professional representative (Case Worker)

40. 1.PERSON
PersonmeansHumanbeing.
Incaseworksituation:
a).Theindividualswhoarefacingtheproblem.
b).Theindividualwhoareindistress.
c).Anindividualwhoisnotabletocopeupwithhisproblem
d).Anindividualwhoisnotabletoadjustwiththeenvironment
(situation)
e).Anindividualwhoisnotabletocopemoreeffectivelywiththe
probleminsocialfunctioningordailyliving.

41. Incasework,personmeanshelpseekingperson.Maybea
man,woman,orchildoranyonewhoareinneedofhelpin
someaspectsofsocialliving(Perlman).
Client:Incaseworksituation(process)apersonis
technicallytermedasclient.
ClientmeansonewhohaseithersoughthelpfromaCase
Workerorisservedbyanagencyemployingasocialworker.

42. 2.THE PROBLEM
Problemmeansdifficultsituation.
Thedifficultyfacedbytheindividualorpersons,thatisin
thecentreofconcernatanygiventime–isfeltbyorcarried
byandexperiencedbythehelpseekingperson.
Theproblemarisesfromsomeneedorobstacle,
accumulationoffrustration,maladjustmentsometimesallof
thesetogetherwhichaffectstheindividuals.(Perlman)

43. 3.THE PLACE
Theplaceisasocialserviceagencyoranysocialwelfare
department/Institutionwhichdealswiththesocialproblems
(Perlman).

44. 4.THE PROCESS
Processmeansmethodofdoing.Aseriesofaction.
Itmeans“thetransactionbetweenthecaseworkerand
theclient”.
Theendoftheprocessistodeveloptheeffectivenessin
copingwiththeproblemortoresolvetheproblembythe
client.(Perlman).
Incaseworkprocess,thefollowingstepsareinvolved-
Intake,Study,Diagnosis/Assessment,Treatment/
Intervention,TerminationandFollow-up

45. 5. PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
ProfessionalRepresentativemeansapersonwhoishiredoremployed
bytheagencytohelptheclientforbetteradjustmentinsocial
relationship,changepersonalityoftheindividualforpropersocial
adjustment,tohelptheclienttoadjustwiththeenvironmentand
ortorestoreorreinforcetheclient‟sabilitytodealwiththe
problem.
HereprofessionalrepresentativemeansCaseWorker
Theconceptofprofessionalrepresentativeisrecentlyappearedincase
workliteratures