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Theories Of Social Work

2257 Words10 Pages

Introduction
Work to uplift the society by helping people, their families and communities by correcting their problems and try to work for their betterment. Social work is a profession and people doing social work are skilled professionals with good command on their subject. This practice requires an understanding of human. Social work professionals are found in every facet of our life. Example, education institution, companies, healthcare organisations to name a few. This profession requires a diverse range of skills and right attitude and behaviour to handle the clients. Active listening, being tolerant and empathetic, critical analysis of the situation and immense strength and determination.
Social work theory is an explanation which …show more content…

The general systems theory can be explained as elements, which are in exchange and which are bounded. This system is in exchange and it is also interrelated to an environment which has mobility, linkages, interdependence. It can be in sync with the environment and such system can be balanced or homeostatic. The ecological approach to the systems theory has historical references from the early work of Germain (1973). The approach was viewing the social work practice in a different light, emphasising the importance of the adaptive balance organism and the environment. If there is misfit between the both system and environment, the social treatment should be aimed at corrective action for this condition. This insight gave the platform for the development of the ecological perspective which is being used currently in the field of social work. The systems theory was developed following the intellectual leaps of Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1933; Gray and Rizzo, 1973) in the 1930 's, which influenced the thoughts and activity which came together to create a research on the operations of the World War II. This was successful and though process advanced significantly as this gave a renewed energy on the battlefield. The matters of concerns were logistics and supply chain to serve the war, in getting a right number of soldiers with required skill and …show more content…

In a case example a mental health practitioner working with a client dealing with schizophrenia and living in a supported environment close to his parents. Parents provided enough help and he was cared regularly by the local mental health association contracted to provide service. The mental health practitioner was building a personal rapport and relationship to support the client which was mainly maintaining a liaison with the carer (local mental health association) a formal system by reviewing the contract and supporting and encouraging his parents a natural system. Here the practitioner was an individual agent as his agency who created an impact by becoming a part if the mental health association and creating a connection between the other two societal systems. Bringing together all elements of the client’s life and supporting him. This case study throws light on the focus of the systems theory when compared with individualistic, psychotherapeutic practices such as psychodynamic or cognitive behavioural practice. Other social work theories don’t offer any base for including work with others except the client only. Social works involve working with all the elements of the society and its engagement with the client and all systems influencing the client. This theory aims at recognising the context and whether it extends from the importance of

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725 Words | 3 Pages

A system is a set of elements that are interrelated to make a functional whole. The microsystem orientation to social work practice involves focusing on individual’s needs, problems, and strengths. The microsystem will direct its focus on Ms. Morgan and address issues by generating an effective solution to augment her way of life. The mezzo system refers to any small group including family, work groups and other social groups. The mezzo system would concentrate on the entire Morgan family consisting of Ms. Morgan and her three children Thianna, Henry and Kenique Morgan.

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1083 Words | 5 Pages

Social workers have several responsibilities. They have to provide service, justice, and dignity to a client. They have to possess integrity, competence, and patience. Social workers need to possess knowledge of human rights, and how to perform scientific inquiry. Social workers occasionally have cases in which problems ensue and a solution is not found within a certain time frame.

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712 Words | 3 Pages

Having the trust of the clients helps a lot when trying to figure out how you can help them when they are explaining their situation, they open up to you. If trust is not gained then the communication is affected because the client will not speak openly as if trust was present. * An example of difference in communication and the only thing that came to mind was how social workers advocate for their clients. Being effective social workers to gain the correct information and help their clients’

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1333 Words | 6 Pages

Macro social work promotes human development and social justice through work with communities and organizations. It comprises of a wide variety of knowledge and skills that enables workers to lead and contribute to highly performing public and private sector organizations that focuses on the critical social issues with diverse population. As such “diverse population is a variety of people which include several characteristic against what one may deem as the norm or majority.” Macro social work is centered on investigation of larger scales to social problems and for the development and implementation of social interventions that aim at effecting positive change at the community, state, and national levels (Birkenmaier and Berg-Weger 2007).

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495 Words | 2 Pages

Social work skills, theoretical knowledge and values that has been learnt and obtained through both of my placements has and will continue to be a fundamental component of my emerging social work identity. Work being undertaken, whether that being in a government or non-government organisation, has proven to be at times difficult, as often organisations which state that they provide diversity, social justice and inclusive practice are restricted by funding constraints, hierarchical structures and rigid polices. Personally having had two non-government placements, it has been difficult to be able to first-hand make these comparisons. However, through speaking with peers in my PSAG group and through government agency visits conducted on my previous and current placement, it has reinforced that even though we as social workers are working with such rigid and stricken policies, by using a wide range of practice skills and theoretical knowledge that has been acquired throughout my two

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1096 Words | 5 Pages

Social work requires you to find solutions to problems on your own and be independent. Project Review From this project I learned how my personality and interests are correlated with the career I'm interested in. For example I am a very compassionate person and it’s easy for me to empathize with others and that is one of the qualities of a social worker. I also learned that there are other careers in the same field

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1817 Words | 8 Pages

Much of this paradigm dates back to the work of social work theoretician and practitioner William Gordon. Gordon was instrumental in conceptualizing the framework that the understanding and practice social work involved not only internal matters of the respective minds and environments but of their interactions and relationships as well (Heinonen & Spearman, 2001). The ‘ecosystems framework’ is complemented by concepts supported in ‘systems theory’ and ‘ecology’. ‘Systems theory’ stresses the effects of interacting elements where multiple elements are themselves whole, interact and combine to form a whole, and have relationships with other wholes (Heinonen & Spearman, 2001). An open, interactive, system may receive nourishment and sustainability from within itself and from its relationships with others (Heinenon & Spearman, 2001).

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1672 Words | 7 Pages

Introduction Person-in-Environment Framework In our practice as social workers, we are urged to view and understand human behavior as a set of complex interactions between individuals and their environment. This is known as the person-in-environment framework. This framework encourages us to acknowledge the influence of environment on our lives and provides a beneficial framework to think about and understand human behavior (Hutchinson, 2017). Understanding our work from this perspective allows us to approach our clients from a multi-dimensional stance, taking into consideration how various factors, including but not limited to, race, class, age and gender create individual identity and shapes an individual’s experience in the context of

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1518 Words | 7 Pages

Both the theories dismiss the idea of linear process of problem solving. 4. The system theory wasn’t originally developed for social work practice, and was used by the social workers as they were relevant. However, strength based approach has been developed by social worker themselves. b) The strengths and challenges that may be faced are as follow.

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1508 Words | 7 Pages

Modern social workers are frequently tasked with certain objectives by their agencies, which leave little room for any work beyond specific treatments and timeframes (Gitterman & Knight, 2016). Although social workers are bound to the set of ethics put forth by the NASW, practitioners are often limited to focusing on the issues of the individual rather than the larger societal issues that may be behind those concerns. Additionally, many social work students end up working in direct practice, rather than macro work. There is a need for social workers to engage at the macro level in order to facilitate community organization and empowerment. Critics suggest this theory may not take into account the unique experiences of each individual and perhaps key characteristics of the individual or group are not taken into consideration (Sadan, 1997).

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1775 Words | 8 Pages

A) Values and ideology: Describe the values of social work and ideology that you think are most important to your future practice and why you have selected them? The values and ideologies that are most important to my future practice include respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons, service to humanity and competence in professional practice. First, my value of providing respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons is important to me and my future practice because it allows me to see the uniqueness in all my clients and subsequent cases. Moreover, it further guides me to allow my clients to be self-determined individuals.

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724 Words | 3 Pages

Introduction This paper outlines the person-in-environment’s concepts and the advantages of this approach. In the following part, I will also share the experiences that how the concept affected me when I was facing any life challenge and how it influences me in coping the problems. The Understanding of Person-In-Environment’s Concepts After learning about the person-in-environment’s concepts, it is believed that these concepts can be applied across social work practice and guide the social workers seek to recognize the interaction between the clients and the environment. In person-in-environment perspective, the concept of person describes service users' developmental and functioning abilities in the society, which based on the environmental

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1673 Words | 7 Pages

It directs people to acquire knowledge to identify and use the resources. Social work studies individual problems as well as social issues which create hindrance to people in their walks of life. Social workers employ an adequate skills, techniques, strategies, principles, and activities at various system levels, for maintaining a system or for system change efforts. Social work practice makes us understand various forms of therapy and counseling, group work, and community work; policy formulation and analysis; and advocacy and political interventions. Social work practice is aimed at increasing people 's hope, self-esteem and creative potential to confront and challenge oppressive power dynamics and structural sources of injustices, thus merging consistently e the micro-macro, personal-political dimension of intervention.

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1651 Words | 7 Pages

This is as to how the social worker and the population interact. It involves the people making sense in their interaction. This theory enables the social worker to study the behaviour of the people he or she is involved with. This is demostrated on her role as a consellor and educator.

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739 Words | 3 Pages

Seven principles of social work (Biestek, 1957) – confidentiality, self-determination, individualization, acceptance, non-judgmental attitude, purposeful expression of feeling and controlled emotional involvement – set good norms for me to handle service users. Furthermore, the basic training of social workers could equip me well in handling individual’s needs in case and group work settings. These skills are useful in launching project in CCD. Moreover, I must do reflections frequently and beware my role consciously in promoting CCD work because conflicts inevitably occurs during facing a group of participants with distinct background, interests and needs. Besides, if I want to be a worker using this CCD approach, macro social work’s value, knowledge and skills are needed to acquire to facilitate it, for instance, BBO, anti-oppression model, community economic development model and community building.

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