Social Work Helping Process: INTERVENTION

INTERVENTION

• social work literature has many other terms for intervention: action, plan implementation, treatment
• concerned with the action that would solve the client's problems
• focus will be on the worker's activity
• involves rendering of all the specific and interrelated services appropriate to the given problem situation in the light of the assessment and planning

Interventive Roles in Direct Practice

• interventive roles refer to the composite of activities or tasks that she is expected to undertake in order to accomplish the goals agreed upon with the client

Resource Provider

• engages the worker in the direct provision of material aid and other concrete resources that will be useful in eliminating or reducing situational deficiencies 
• concrete resources are mobilized, created and directly provided to the client who is assisted in making optimal use of them

Social Broker

• involves the process of negotiating the "service jungle" for the clients, whether singly or in groups
• worker links or connects the client to needed services in the community
• worker must ensure rapid service delivery
• worker has to match client needs with the community resources outside of her agency and assist the client to make use of these resources

Mediator

• acts as an intermediary or conciliator between two persons or sides
• worker has to engage in efforts that will resolve disputes between the client system and the other parties
• objective is to find a common ground which will make it possible to resolve the dispute

Advocate

• the worker has to take a partisan interest in the client and his cause
• worker will argue, debate, bargain, negotiate and manipulate the environment on behalf of the client

Enabler 

• helps clients find the coping strengths and resource within themselves
• worker's responsibility is to perform a supporting and empowering function so as to enable client's accomplishment of a defined change

Counselor/Therapist

• goal of worker is the restoration, maintenance, or enhancement of the client's capacity to adapt or adjust to his current reality

Limitations on Worker Activity

1. Time
2. Skill
3. Ethics
4. Agency Function

Reference:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply

Social Work Helping Process: PLANNING

PLANNING

• link between Assessment and Intervention
• translates the content of assessment into goal statement that describes the desired results
• concerned with identifying the means to reach the goals
• allows the worker with the client's participation, to move from problem definition to problem solution
• the end goal of planning is planned change

2 major tasks:

1. formulating goals

2. defining specific actions

Goals

• desired or expected outcomes

Characteristics of Goals:

1. Specific, concrete and measurable.
2. Feasible.

Goals can be changed after they have been set. In fact, it should constantly be evaluated, and flexibility should be observed.

5 factors that influence an intervention plan:

1. community in which it is being carried out
2. agency sanctioning the plan
3. social problem that the plan is a response to
4. worker involved in the plan
5. the client - unique bio-psycho social being

The Helping Contract

• agreement between the worker and the client on what needs to be done and who should do it
• it includes: problem statement, goals and objectives, specification of tasks to be carried out by worker and client and the time frame required

Reference:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply

Social Work Helping Process: ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT

• process and a product  of understanding on which action is based (Max Siporin)
• process involves collection of necessary information and its analysis and interpretation in order to reach an understanding of the client, the problem, and the social context in which it exists. 
• ultimate purpose is to provide understanding necessary for appropriate planning
• major social work tasks involved : information or data gathering, problem definition based on an agreement between client and worker

Information/Data Gathering

1. Primary source - client

2. Secondary source - significant others in the life of the client

3. Existing data - records and reports from other professionals

4. Worker's Own Observation 

Initial Contact(s) with Client/Intake
1. Client initiates contact - client seeks help of the agency.
2. The client is referred to the worker or agency by some concerned party. 
3. The agency, through the social worker, reaches out to the (potential) client and offers help.

Intake Process and the Presenting Problem

• intake is the process by which a potential client achieves the status of a client
• intake may be accomplished in one session with the client
• client comes to the agency with a presenting problem 
• presenting problems may be stated as symptoms (anxiety, lack of motivation), as behavioral configurations (marital discord, poor school performance, unemployment), or as needs (housing, money). 

Defining the Problem

• the problem or part of the problem that the client system feels is most important; 
• the problem or part of the problem that in the worker's judgment is most critical;
• the problem or part of the problem that in the worker's judgment can most readily yield to help;
• the problem or part of problem that falls within the action parameters of the helping system.

*Partialization - process of separating from so many problems identified by the client and/or worker the specific problem or problems which are to be addressed first.

*Prioritizing - problem taking precedence over other problems because of its importance.

After the necessary relevant information pertaining to the client and the problem have been obtained, these information are organized and synthesized and the worker prepares a Case Study. Case Study content includes: identifying information, background information, assessment/problem definition, helping goals and helping plans. 

Writing an Assessment Statement (McMahon)

1. Opening causal statement - requires the worker to clearly indicate who has the problem, and why the problem exists at this time. 
2. Change potential statement - dependent on three interdependent factors: problem, person and environment
3. Judgment about the seriousness or urgency of the problem 

Characteristics of Assessment

1. It is ongoing. 
2. It focuses on understanding the client.
3. It is a mutual process.
4. There is movement within the assessment process.
5. Both horizontal and vertical explorations are important.
6. Assessment identifies needs in life situations, defines problems and explains their meanings.
7. Assessment is individualized.
8. Judgment is important because decisions have to be made.
9. No assessment is ever complete.

Reference:
Lee-Mendoza, T. (2008) Social Welfare and Social Work. Central Book Supply