Learning about the Practice of Social Work

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Learning about the Practice of Social Work

• Lecturer Mrs. Lita Allen
• The University of the West Indies
• Mona Campus
• Course SW28A SW28B

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SW18E Introduction to Social Work I Semester
I(Generalist Perspective)

• SW18F Introduction to
• Social Work II
• Semester II
• (Introduction to the 3 methods to Social Work)

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SW28A Introduction to Social Work Theory and
Practice I(The 3 methods, connecting theory with
practice)Semester I

• SW28B Introduction to Social Work Theory and
  Practice II
• (The 3 methods, connecting theory with
  practice)Semester II

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The three methods of Social Work

• Casework
• Group work
• Community work (with policy practice)
• under girded by effective
• Organization, management and administration

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Group Work
Casework
Community Work
All other courses provide the broader context and
knowledge for practice
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Year IIIBuilding practical competencies

• SW38A Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation
• SW38C Applied Social Group Work
• SW38B Community Organization

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Generalist Social Worker

• Equivalent of general practitioner in medicine
• Wide repertoire of skills to deal with basic
  conditions
• Casework perspective concrete services
• Counselling perspective person, problem
• Case management good organizational and
  administrative skills
• Knowledgeable of ethical practices, law and other
  agency services
• Backed by specialists for referral

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Advanced Social Work Practice

• Three Fields of Specialization
• Administration and Management of Human Services
• Clinical Social Work Practice
• Community Organization and Policy Practice

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Academic Year, 2007/2008

• SEMESTER I (SW28A)
• Casework 10 weeks
• Group Work 3 weeks
• SEMESTER II (SW28B)
• Group Work 5 weeks
• Community work 8 weeks

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Diploma Students

• Purchase handouts for level I
• Do required reading
• Attend makeup session
• Value of attending Human Skills Laboratory (HSL)
• Departmental requirement only (double your
  coursework grade)
• Consider level of readiness at this stage for
  doing real social work

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Coursework Expectations

• Research
• Read
• Reflect
• Respond
• - creative participation
• - leadership actions
• - connecting theory and practice

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Class Expectations

• Be on time at all times
• Pay attention and respect when others are
  speaking
• Affirm each other
• Ask for what you need
• Agree to disagree agreeably

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Students expectations
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REVIEW

• 2 areas of practice direct indirect
• 3 levels of practice
• Micro (individuals and those closely associated)
• Mezzo (groups and less intimate interpersonal
  relationships)
• Macro (organizations, communities, working to
  change statutes and policies
• Primary focus of social work practice PIE
• (individual, family, group, organization,
  community)
• Relationship with other helping professionals

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REVIEW

• 8 Goals of social work practice
• (Zastrow, pp.19-21)
• Values of the profession
• Biestaks 7 social work values for relationships
• Roles and functions of the social worker

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Roles and Functions of the Social Worker

• T
• R E I
• A
• P M N
• S
• G C

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Getting to know your client

• Previous records
• Assessment forms
• Psychological tests
• Interviews counselling sessions
• Clients verbal reports
• Collateral sources
• Observation of non-verbal behaviours
• Home visits
• N.B. Self-awareness and self-knowledge will
  enable more open and honest dialogue for
  eliciting honest responses from clients. (Class
  contribution, 2007/8))

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Interviewing vs Counselling

• Difference lies in the
• purpose of the session

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Interviewing

• Definition
• Structured meetings with clients in order to
• obtain information for a social study or a social
  history
• make an assessment of the client and his/her
  situation
• make a therapeutic intervention in order to help
  clients change.

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KEY COMMUNICATION

• Effective interpersonal communication is the key
  for facilitating effective interviewing or
  counselling in terms of the
• relationship
• content
• process