Interview Guide for Social Workers

8/13/2019 Interview Guide for Social Workers

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Interview Guide

1. Why did you choose to become a SW? How and when did you desired to become a SW?

It was really not my intent to work as a social worker. I really wanted to become an

accountant but due to economic difficulties, I did not pursue it. I stopped school and

after two years, I decided to enroll. A relative of mine influenced me to take up social

work on a scholarship, where I passed and eventually enrolled. Then, I had no idea

about the course, but I still took for the scholarship. I was planning to eventually

change my course. But it did not happen because I started to like the course already.

2. How do you feel being a social worker now? How do you differentiate your work from

other rofessionals?

Proud and dynamic. As life of human beings continue to evolve, there are alwaysadvancement in the profession that we need to be constantly be abreast of. We are

dealing with people, and there are different avenues in helping people that makes

social worker dynamic. And this is a characteristic that I feel uniue to our profession.

!. How do you carry the social work values" hilosohy and ethics?

I live and practice it.

#. In your current work" do you have any dilemma that affects our SW hilosohy and

ethics? If yes" what are these? How you try to resolve this$these dilemma%s&?

!es. Being at the forefront of preventing and protecting women and children I often

encounter the professional dilemma of determining what is really the best interest of

clients vis"#"vis working towards seeking $ustice against traffickers and recruiters.

%eeking $ustice in the country becomes a traumatic process for clients especially to

children. The long and rigorous process of court proceedings and e&ternal forces that

affects child's separation from home and stress that accompanies this (makes me

uestion often times if this is still the best interest of the client. I also feel that the legal

process in the country places much burden to victim"witnesses, as such, cases no

matter how good may it be are dismissed because eventually victims become

uncooperative.

As a social worker in the shelter, I would resolved this by making all interventions

possible that would create an environment that would be fruitful and advantageous to

the victims. )oordination with the *+s also is being strengthened to address the

concerns of the family. I try to establish a good working relationship with their

families also.


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'. (id you have any roblem in following the SW ethics? If yes" how and why?

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). *rom among the ! SW ractice %casework" grou work" +,&" what interests you the most

and why?

y inclination is more of the casework practice. Why, casework/ Because I really feel

that there are still so much more that I need to know about the human person. I want

to still learn a lot of things, especially in dealing with trauma cases.

-. How do you think you were able to contribute in the betterment of our society$country?

Through having an impact to individual people's lives by making them help

themselves, making them reali0e that they have rights and entitlements. That in no

matter what situation they are in they have options to choose from. The advocacy work

that I would also do, enables more people to be aware about the issue of the traffickingcause and why they should know about it and get involved.

. In your everyday ractice as a SW" were you able to use the H/S0 theories? How did it

hel you? What is the most helful to you and your work?

!es, I am able to easily assess the perspectives or dynamics of the personality and

contributing factors that my clients are in. And because of this, I am able to easily

determine what steps to take in order to help my client.

. (o you also use generalist$ holistic aroach in your work? How?

!es. The organi0ation that I work now not only provides direct services but also works

up to institutionali0ing and affecting policies and programs for the clientele group.

1ence, it as a social worker in the agency ( I am able to use the generalist2holistic

approach.

1. IS the SW roblem solving rocess useful to you? How?

!es, very much. Because, I am able to deal with client's problem systematically and

efficiently. *ikewise, it is a way of helping the client undergo the process and

eventually arrive at the decision that he2she can help himself.

11. *rom among the different rocesses" which is more difficult to you? Why? %lanning"

imlementation" monitoring" termination" evaluation&

Implementation 3 monitoring, because these are aspects that reuire more critical

focus and attention by the worker and client. It would also mean a lot of commitment


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for both the client and worker. 4ther factors, internal or e&ternal, to the client may

contribute for a helping relationship to progress.

12. *rom among the heling aroaches" which is helful to you? Why? %roblem3solving"

task centered" crisis intervention" remedial" develomental" sychosocial" and

interactionist aroach&

Problem solving and psychosocial approaches, because it's easy and you become

fle&ible in the process unlike the other approaches you have to be more speciali0ed and

clinical.

1!. 4wento about work... 5he nature" usual tasks" challenges" etc. %anything you are

comfortable sharing&

The agency that I work is a human rights -+4 that works on the freedom, protection

and empowerment of marginali0ed migrants like victims of trafficking. I am a social

worker handling victims and potential victims of trafficking intercepted, reached out,

referred and rescued in the port of anila. *ikewise, my task is both managerial and

supervisory in nature. And because of this dual role, I am often in the dilemma of how

to balance my work without sacrificing any of these responsibilities. 1owever, as my

time is divided in other concerns, I really become frustrated because most often I am

not able to perform important social work tasks such as case documentation,

counseling sessions and other psychosocial intervention to clients. These

responsibilities are often being taken cared of by volunteer social workers, or by the

houseparents. I feel that having not done so burns me out ( even $ust the mere thought

of it.

1#. What is develoment for you? How do you think you can contribute in achieving this

being a SW?

5evelopment is progress. It is change in the state of the person and2or community (

from vulnerability to empowerment, from being a mere recipient to advocates.

1'. What are your lans to further your career$rofessions?

6inish my asteral studies. I want to gear towards the clinical practice and hopefully

be able to speciali0e on helping victims overcome their trauma and abuse. I am also

interested to undertake international studies and2or practice.


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Interview Guide for Social Workers