UNIT 4 PROCESS OF SOCIAL CASE WORK PROCESS OF SOCIAL CASE WORK: Intake (First Interview) Rapport Building, Case study/ Social Investigation / Psycho-Social study (Exploration / Investigation), Psycho - Social diagnosis / Social diagnosis (Assessment), Intervention / Treatment/Casework treatment (Problem-solving process), Monitoring and Evaluation, Follow-up and Termination. Different stages in Process of Social Case Work are: I. Intake (First Interview) Rapport Building: II. Case study/Social Investigation / Psycho-Social study (Exploration/ Investigation): III. Psycho - Social diagnosis / Social diagnosis (Assessment): IV. Intervention / Treatment/Casework treatment (Problem-solving process): V. Monitoring and Evaluation: VI. Follow-up and Termination: Conceptually, they are different and separate stages but they do not make a neat progression always with one stage following the other in sequence. Sometimes, two or more stages proceed simultaneously. Diagnosis may also change with the gathering of more data about the situation or with changes taking place in the situation itself. Case work help cannot be postponed till the completion of the social study or of the formulation of a social diagnosis. Some kind of help may have to be rendered even at the first worker-client contact. The skilful way the case worker conducts the interview may be of help to the client in terms of the concern, hope, warmth and interest conveyed to the client, which in turn start a process, sooner or later, within him activating him to mobilize his inner resources for problem solving. In casework intervention the individual client is not considered in isolation from the family, but as a part of the family, since the family forms the most important human environment for the client with its network of emotional relationships. Therefore, other members of the family are also involved in the casework process. Also, home visits are made by the Case worker to get an understanding of the environment as for other reasons.
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I. Intake (First Interview) Rapport Building: Client comes to an agency for professional help through a Case worker. Relationship between two persons of unequal positions and power is developed. Accept client as a person in a stressful situation. Respect the client’s personality and help him resolve. Interviewing in Casework By interviewing, we mean a meeting or conference (may be formal or informal) between two or more persons for specific purpose. It is an art which is used in every situation for better understanding and better relationships between the interviewer and the interview. Interviewing is the foundation on which theory and practice of social case work is based because without interview, the worker cannot get all the possible information about the client nor can the client gain any confidence in the worker. The purpose of an interview is, therefore: o To obtain knowledge of the situation. o To understand another person. o To make the person understand you. The areas for probing are: 1. The stage of the problem at which the person, through whom, and the reasons because of which, comes to this agency. 2. The nature of request and its relation to his problem, and the cause of his problem, as the client see. 3. Does the request relate directly to his needs/ problems? 4. His adjustment to his social functions in job, family, etc. 5. The state of his physical and mental health. 6. His appearance including dress, etc. in his first meeting. 7. His personal and social resources including material and financial position. 8. Appropriateness and intensity of feelings. 9. Nature of defense mechanisms he frequently uses. 10. Level of motivation, how quickly he wants to get rid of his problems.