The Foundation for Generalist Practice in Social Work

The Foundation for Generalist Practice in The Foundation for Generalist Practice in Social WorkSocial Work

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the meaning of holism

2. Understand the basic elements constituting the foundation of the profession

3. Begin to understand the seven essential elements of generalist social work practice

4. Perceive the foundation values and ethics, knowledge, and skills of social work practice from the person-in-environment perspective

5. Begin to understand the process of the General Method

As a Social Worker Practice is a As a Social Worker Practice is a function of Your…function of Your…

HOLISMHOLISMSocial Work is based on a holistic conceptual framework that takes into account the many interrelationships among different components of the discipline

In this holistic framework the focus is on: Total person Interdependence of body, spirit, mind, and feelings The person in their environment Person’s transactional processes The environmental context forces Person’s bio-psycho-social functioning

Human Human Needs/Emotion/ Needs/Emotion/

BehaviorBehavior

Human Human Needs/Emotion/ Needs/Emotion/

BehaviorBehavior

The Biopsychosocial ModelThe Biopsychosocial ModelUnderlying theoretical framework for Social Work

BiologicalBiologicalFactorsFactors

BiologicalBiologicalFactorsFactors

PsychologicalPsychologicalFactorsFactors

PsychologicalPsychologicalFactorsFactors

SocialFactorsSocial

Factors

NeedsNeeds

• In social work we are concerned with meeting the NEEDS of individuals within the context of their biological, psychological and social environments

Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Basic Needs Must Basic Needs Must be Satisfied be Satisfied

before Higher before Higher Order NeedsOrder Needs

Basic NeedsBasic Needs

Higher Order NeedsHigher Order Needs

Class ActivityClass Activity

• The following 2 scenarios illustrate situations where particular needs in the hierarchy are motivating people’s behavior

• Identify in each which need:– is taking precedence– is being satifsfied

An uneducated, very unhappy An uneducated, very unhappy mother and wife stays married to her mother and wife stays married to her abusive husband because she was abusive husband because she was

an orphanan orphan

Which need is taking PRECEDENCE (the current focus of attention)?

Which need is being SACRIFICED?

Woman in Abusive MarriageWoman in Abusive Marriage

• Motivating Need• Love and belonging.• She loves her

children and doesn’t want to split their family nor take them from home, shaking up their sense of security.

• Sacrificed Need• Physiological.• She will no doubt

continue to be abused.

A man recently diagnosed with A man recently diagnosed with diabetes is making several dietary diabetes is making several dietary

changes and is short-tempered and changes and is short-tempered and irritable with his familyirritable with his family

What need is taking PRECEDENCE (the current focus of attention)?

What need is being SACRIFICED?

Diabetic Man on a DietDiabetic Man on a Diet

• Precedence Need• Physiological• The man is hungry

• Sacrificed Need• Love and belonging• He’s so miserable

he can’t get his mind off of his physical need for food and is taking it out on others

NeedsNeeds

• Being a student and aspiring social worker entails meeting both your needs as a student and the needs of those you will be serving both now and in the future as social workers

Meeting NeedsMeeting Needs

• In terms of students needs being met– Student self-actualization reflects the

achievement of individual student goals , in the School of Social Work environment (i.e. Social Work Education).

• In terms of the needs of those you serve– Work to identify and see that the needs of your

clients are being met.

Meeting Needs: Meeting Needs: Person-Person Work!Person-Person Work!

• Working together requires 4 essential dimensions of the generalist practice

1. Holistic and transferable professional knowledge, value and skill base

2. Multi-dimensional framework

3. Versatile Assessment

4. Intervention Roles and Strategies

From where did these From where did these dimensions arise?dimensions arise?

Let’s take a look back at the historical development of social

work

• Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people...

• Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. – In solidarity with those who are

disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion…

Foundations of Social WorkFoundations of Social Work

Context for natural development

1600’s poor laws-family responsibility in rural America

Growth (pop & econ), social stratification, business cycle

Settlement Houses

Broader social reform

Charity Organizations

Micropractice- origins of social casework

1. Purpose

2. Sanctions

3. Values and Ethics

4. Knowledge

5. Methods

6. Skills

Basic Foundation Elements of the Social Work Profession

1. PURPOSE1. PURPOSE Enhance the social

functioning of individuals, families, and groups

Modify environmental conditions

Work to improve environmental conditions

Enable individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to function more effectively

CounselorCounselor

EnablerEnabler

Broker of Broker of ServicesServices

CaseCaseManagerManager

ConsultantConsultant

AdvocateAdvocateTeam Team

MemberMember

AdministratoAdministratorr

Generalist Practice

Levels of Purpose

• Individual– Caseworker– Therapist– Micropractice

specialist

• Structural– Comm.

OrganizerPlanner– Policy advocate– Macropractice

specialist

2. SANCTIONS Social Work is a SOCIETALLY SANCTIONED

Profession It receives its sanctions from public and private

and voluntary auspices Perform designated tasks and activities in

carrying out the profession’s purpose:1. Create social program and social work role

positions in multidisciplinary programs

2. Allocate funding for social work programs, role positions, and practice activities

3. Legally incorporate and license agencies, organizations, and institutions

4. Regulate or license individual social work professionals

Class ActivityClass Activity

• List 3 things you value most

• List 3 things the social work profession values

• Ask Yourself

Preferred ways of thinking Preferred ways of thinking about persons and societyabout persons and society

Preferred instrumentalities Preferred instrumentalities for dealing with peoplefor dealing with people

Preferred goals and Preferred goals and outcomesoutcomes

Values: Definition

3. Core Professional Values and Ethics

Service Help people in need; address social problems

Social Justice Challenge injustice

Dignity and Worth of the Person Respect dignity and worth of the person

Importance of Human Relationships Recognize central importance of human relationships

Integrity Behave in trustworthy manner

Competence Practice within their areas of competence and advance

professional expertise

Professional Values are at the heart of Professional Values are at the heart of social work practicesocial work practice

Examples of Social Work Examples of Social Work Professional Value DecreesProfessional Value Decrees

…of the kinds of social work values stated by scholars and professional associations in western countries since 1958. The changing face of values

can be seen throughout the years.

Translated to general practiceTranslated to general practice• Commitment to a set of values.• Awareness that the values are inter-related

and form a coherent whole.• Capacity to make sense of professional values

and their relationship to our own personally-held values.

• Ability to give a coherent account of beliefs and actions.

• Strength of purpose and ability to act on the values.  

When personal and When personal and professional values clash!professional values clash!

So I'm beginning to think I really don't like it any more. Knocking on people's doors and saying I need to talk to you because a report's been made that you're not looking after your child. You know, it's not worthwhile any more. It's not the right way to be doing it. There's other ways. And I'm just there by myself and it's not very pleasant. So I'm beginning to think I'm doing it out of a very routine way. But I'm getting the sense back that it's not the right way and it’s punishing people. And it's social work that's really cut down to the bone, about as stark as it gets. (Emergency duty social worker)

Social Work Code of EthicsSocial Work Code of Ethics

• Students are expected to maintain professional behaviour consistent with the current Code of Ethics of the Canadian Association of Social Workers.

• The Code of Ethics is used to help guide social workers in the course of their work

• The Code encompasses the values and principles of human worth, dignity, self-determination and justice upon which social work is based

(Hick, 2002, p. 59)

Guiding Principles and StandardsGuiding Principles and Standards

• The NASW Code of Ethics does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act.

• Ethical dilemmas describe situations in which the social worker has two or more ethical obligations but cannot adhere to one principle without violating the other (protect from imminent harm vs right to privacy).

Guiding Principles Continued Guiding Principles Continued

• Ethics are not a cookbook or recipe of “dos” and don’ts” Ethical conduct requires continual self monitoring, reflection, careful thought, and constant review of the Code of Ethics.

• As a professional, one must not only know the letter of the code – but the spirit, the rationale, and the practical implications.

NASW Code of Ethics – Basic TenantsNASW Code of Ethics – Basic Tenants

• Principle Number 1 – Protection of Life• Principle Number 2 – Equality and Inequality• Principle Number 3 – Autonomy and Freedom• Principle Number 4 – Least Harm• Principle Number 5 – Quality of Life• Principle Number 6 – Privacy and Confidentiality• Principle Number 7 – Truthfulness and Disclosure

Ethical Decision Making FrameworkEthical Decision Making Framework• Identify the ethical principles that apply to the

situation• Collect as much information as possible to examine

the ethical dilemma fully• Identify relevant ethical values and rules that apply

to this ethical dilemma• Identify any possible conflicts of interest• Identify any possible problems or benefits to people• Identify appropriate ethical rules and rank them in

terms of importance• Identify the consequences of applying different

ethical rules

What would you do…What would you do…• Clients who put themselves at risk pose a

dilemma for social workers• These clients may refuse medical treatment or

services or reject common-sense advice. “Clients have a right to refuse treatment or services, but there are risks associated with doing so"

• If the client is supposed to use a walker and won't• If the client refuses to eat the home-delivered

meal• If the client can't remember to take medication• …Then the social worker has to decide what is

the appropriate action…What would you do in the situations noted above

4. KNOWLEDGE4. KNOWLEDGE

Empirically grounded knowledge Substantive matter Subjected to systematic inquiry Discover or check facts

Theoretically framed knowledge Coherent group of abstract propositions Explain particular practice phenomena and intervention

methods

Social Work Knowledge BuildingSocial Work Knowledge Building• The current state of social work knowledge

building is characterized by two realities.1. Traditional research, both qualitative and quantitative

being carried out, primarily by university-based researchers, but also in different fields, by researchers based in institutes, foundations, or social service agencies; and,

2. The majority of social work practitioners who continue to look elsewhere for knowledge.

• One reason for the practice-research gap is that practitioners deal with situations that are unique and idiosyncratic, while research deals with regularities and aggregates.

Popular Sources of Social Work Popular Sources of Social Work KnowledgeKnowledge

• Practice wisdom transmitted from instructors to students and from supervisors to supervisees

• Theory developed from case data• Findings from research in other fields that are

integrated into social work theories (e.g., research about child development or racial discrimination)

• What additional sources of social work What additional sources of social work knowledge might there be?knowledge might there be?

5. METHODS AND SKILLS5. METHODS AND SKILLS

The Uniqueness of Social WorkThe Uniqueness of Social Work

• Social work is unique among the helping professionals due to its focus on both the person and the environment.

Person-in-EnvironmentPerson-in-Environment

Person-In-Environmentaka: Person-In-Situation

• Florence Hollis (1964) • Stresses a person's physical, social,

and psychological realities as well as the social realities that both define and limit that person.

• Examines both the personal, and the social aspects of all 'Problems' be they social problems, or personal ones.

Person-In-EnvironmentPerson-In-Environment

The big circles represent enviromental factors.

PERSON

PIE

Exa

mpl

eP

IE E

xam

ple

Physical domain Bodily needs

Intellectual domain Cognitive needs

Socio-affective domain Social-emotional needs

Spiritual domain Aesthetic needs

Living contexts: Family, culture, physical

surroundings, community, society

Person-In-Environment Perspective

Person-In-Environment SkillsPerson-In-Environment Skills

Person - related skills

interviewing, empathic responding, relationship building, empowering client systems, uncovering and enhancing client strengths………….

IN – transaction related skills

client-system-centered method, case management, crisis intervention, social work-centered skills, ethical decision making, professional skills for time management, team work, documentation, research……….

Environment –related skillsadvocacy, social

action, giving testimony, locality building, educating, brokering, facilitating, social planning, technology usage, fact gathering, analysis…….

Case StudiesCase Studies

Use the Person-in-Environment Perspective to identify the factors

contributing to the problem the individual is having in functioning

How would you, as a social worker address the problem using person-in-

environment skills

Case Study 1Case Study 1• Melanie Johnson is a 32-year-old accountant who

moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, two years ago from her hometown of Sarasota, Florida.

• Beginning this past November, for the first time in her life, Melanie began experiencing periods of depression, lethargy, and excessive sleeping. In addition, she noticed that she was eating more than she had previously, and as a result, had gained 10 pounds.

• Melanie’s physician, who after ruling out all potential medical causes of her symptom, or other mental illnesses diagnosed her as having seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Case Study 2Case Study 2• It was 4:36 a.m. She was in a cold sweat and having

difficulty breathing. She felt as though she had run a marathon. Fear swept through her—something terrible was going to happen. Panic-stricken, she woke her husband, Jeremy.

• “Denise, what is it? Is it a nightmare?”

• “No, it’s like I’m having an asthma attack. I feel lightheaded and I can’t catch my breath. My heart feels like it’s beating a thousand times a minute.”

• Afraid to upset her husband further, Denise didn’t tell him that an immense feeling of apprehension suddenly overcame her. She got up to drink some water and waited for the anxiety to subside.

Case Study 2Case Study 2• Her mind was racing. Jeremy had a family history of

heart disease. This couldn’t be happening to her. It was his problem.

• A few months earlier Jeremy was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. He was only 48 years old, the same age as Denise. The scare had encouraged him to gradually end years of chain smoking and adopt a healthier lifestyle. He was currently working on giving up the occasional cigarette for good.

• “No,” Denise thought to herself. “There’s no way this was a sign of heart troubles. I didn’t have a pain in my chest, I’m physically fit, and I have no family history. There’s just no way.”

• After assuring herself of this, Denise was somehow able to fall back asleep.

Ecological system perspective Problem / strengths focus Strengths / needs orientation Multilevel approach Open selection of theories and

interventions Strengths-based problem-solving

process Practice and program evaluation

Essential Elements of Generalist Social Work Practice

• Completed Sept. 18, 2007 Tues.