The Methods Used by Social Workers - Case Study Example

Introduction Robert Roberts discusses the aims of social work by pointing out that social work’s two major goals are “change” and “integration” (Roberts, 1968). An important role in the process of social work plays the social worker. There is a journey from basic, through intermediate, to advanced skills that is necessary to be taken by social workers. The proper communication is also essential for the relationship with the other person. One should pay attention to the non-verbal communication as a significant part of the social work and its importance should not be underestimated. Trevithick indicates that according to a study carried out by Birdwhistell “in a typical encounter involving two people, the actual spoken or verbal content is likely to carry only one third of the social meaning in any given encounter, whereas the non-verbal forms convey roughly two thirds of the meaning” (Trevithick, 1995). The methods used by social workers cover a large array of feelings, events, experiences and past traumas. It is essential for these methods to be compatible with social work values. There are some methods which are more suitable than others depending on the case. Planning the intervention is based on assessment of the current situation and precise evaluation of the best options for intervention. Social adjustment and enhancement of better social relationships is a result of the qualities and knowledge applied by the social workers and the willingness of the person to experience change. The task centred approach and the cognitive behavioural therapy are two methods that are extremely helpful in social work. They aid identifying the problems and finding a way to improve the situation of the person at present. Task Centred Approach In the case of John, who has spent most of his life in prison and has a history of alcohol misuse, it is essential to find the best methods to bring him back to society. It is important for the working methods to provide good understanding of the case and pave the way for a successful intervention afterwards. The task centred approach identifies the partnership with the service user which should be a central aspect of the practice. Partnership is characterized by respect for the service user’s point of view, better communication and recognition of the abilities of the service user to act (Doel and Marsh, 1992). Partnership is highly needed in John’s case since he has been isolated from society for a long time and needs to regain his confidence and feel secure. The essence of the task centred approach is the identification of the problems and the outline of the goals to be achieved. The service user and the social worker involve themselves in carrying out certain tasks such as giving advice and encouragement. In John’s case other people might be involved in the process as well. For example, John’s son might be considered an important part of the tasks’ execution since he is someone valuable for the service user. The pros of the task centred approach are that it presents a transition between problems and goals while identifying certain tasks for the service user. Thus the social worker engages in a process of using participatory methods in a timely-limited period by involving the service user in a process of re-evaluation of current status and assessment of future possibilities for personal growth. The cons of the approach are that the service user might be reluctant to receive social services. This might limit the first stage of the approach – the presentation of the problems. It is of great importance that the social worker identifies the major problems and discusses the willingness to reveal those problems. Otherwise, no progress would be made and the work might be misdirected. John has refused to go to lunch club and this might be a signal that he tends to refuse intervention from social service workers. Still the task centred approach provides goals and tasks to be achieved by the service user. After overcoming the unwillingness of the person to share problems, the social worker should focus on identifying goals. In most of the cases goals are meant to reduce the problem, its complete removal is not always possible. The goals that are negotiated between the service user and the social worker should be attainable and realistic. It is necessary for these goals, especially in John’s case, to be observable. There should be recognition of the achievement and further incentive for future goals. Tasks are carried out after the problems, goals and time limit have been agreed and they are central to the problem-solving efforts in task-centred work. “Tasks are not just the jobs to be done that usually occur at the end of most interviews between service users and workers. Tasks are discrete parts of the overall action: a series of incremental steps towards goals. They are effective as part of that overall action; any one task is unlikely to lead directly to a goal. They are a planned sequence; a set of steps on the ladder from what is wrong to what is needed (Lishman, 2007:191).” Another important aspect of the task centred approach is the time limit of the work. It is important to distinguish between short-term work and long-term work. Short-term work provides the service user with the possibility to take care of the immediate problems and thus to create a pattern for long-term work. In John’s case, it is vital to set deadlines since it provides incentive for improvement and appreciation of achieved results by the service user. The planned date for ending of a certain task should be negotiated and agreed in the very beginning, so the person understands the significance of the time frame and value the outcome. “A good analysis of problems, clarity about the basis for work and clarity of goals are vital initial steps in task-centred practice. The heart of the model lies in the task work that follows this. Tasks were described earlier as the steps on the ladder from problems to goals. They are the building blocks of change in the problem-solving process. They are designed to be cumulative, acting in sequence to move the work from the problem, what is wrong, to the goal, what is needed” (Lishman, 2007:192). In John’s case, the task centred approach would be efficient since it aids the identification of the problem. John needs clarification of his position in society and this could be achieved only by clearly stating the existing problems. Once this is accomplished, the service user could be engaged in setting goals and executing tasks. He needs to be viewed as partner in the relation service user- social worker. It is essential to address his needs by negotiating future goals and settling a time frame for achieving them. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy According to Dobson all cognitive-behavioural therapies share three fundamental propositions: cognitive activity affects behaviour, cognitive activity might be monitored and altered, desired behavioural change may be affected through cognitive change. Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy, for example, assumes that human thinking and emotions are deeply interrelated. In this type of therapy, the social worker may employ different techniques such as role playing, relaxation methods, skill training, etc (Dobson, 2001). In John’s case there should be an active involvement of the service user since he needs active work in terms of skill training and relaxation method. Another approach that might be used with John is the brief cognitive behaviour therapy. Safran and Segal have developed a short manual called Suitability for Short-Term Cognitive Therapy Interview. They suggest that an interview should be held to decide on suitability of a client for short-term therapy. It should take approximately one hour. It is essential for the interviewer to have some basic biographical, historical and diagnostic information prior to the interview (Curwen, 2000). If he classifies within the requirements of the brief cognitive approach, this might be useful for future work and focus on what should be done now. “Cognitive behaviour therapy is distinguished from a number of other therapies such as psychoanalysis by focusing on the present and the very recent past. However, it acknowledges that unhelpful thinking is developed over time and therefore includes in the cognitive conceptualization of the clients problem the early development of unhelpful beliefs and the precipitation or activation of these underlying assumptions through one or more critical incidents (Curwen, 2000: 50).” Another option is the Problem Solving Therapy mentioned by Dobson. He cites D’Zurilla and Goldfried by explaining that: “Ineffectiveness in coping with problematic situations, along with its personal and social consequences, is often a necessary and sufficient condition for an emotional or behavioural disorder requiring psychological treatment; general effectiveness might be most efficiently facilitated by training individuals in general procedures or skills which would allow them to deal independently with the critical problematic situations that confront them in day-to-day living (Dobson, 2001).” John is in a stage of his life when he can start anew. Still he has to learn to deal with the pressing problems in his daily life. He has to organize his life in a new way. The social worker should address his need of learning and acquiring social skills in his every day routine. Living alone and isolating himself should be identified as problematic areas restraining future development. The Problem Solving Therapy is ideal for John in his current situation. He faces several challenges: resisting to alcohol, going back to society and rejoining the working force. His mobility problem is another setback in the recovery process. The Problem Solving Therapy works in several ways. It emphasizes on defining the problems and finding a suitable alternative. Decision making and verification is another area of training of the service user. The ability to generate multiple solutions to interpersonal problems is critical for John in order to lay the ground for improvement. The ability to plan the steps necessary to achieve the desired goal is part of the skills needed to realize the potential of service user’s in recovering from past trauma experiences. The cons of the cognitive behaviour therapy are that the service user might be intimidated by the social worker’s involvement in his own feelings and actions. John, for example, might not be willing to change the way he perceives the world. He should be led to the conclusion that changing the way he thinks is crucial for changing the way he feels. The role of the social worker is imminent in cognitive behaviour therapy. The empathic understanding is the milestone for achieving good results with the service user. If a counsellor could not communicate effectively, the service user would find it difficult to talk about his problems honestly and would cover some details. Communication usually implies a common language and common meaning system. If the cultures and gender of the counsellor and client are different, communication may be hampered to a greater or lesser extent. By acknowledging the clients right to be understood fully and recognizing that the probable power imbalance between counsellor and client is likely to be magnified across cultures, the effective counsellor will reach out to find a common framework (Curwen, 2000). Receiving the whole information about a certain problem would aid the social worker to find the best cognitive behaviour therapy in the case. John would be highly empowered by the Problem Solving Therapy and the Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. It is essential for John to give him the opportunity to talk about his problems while at the same time allow for enough private space. He should be able to react step by step in a timely manner without pressure and relying on good communication with the social worker. Conclusion When analyzing the best social work methods in a certain case, one should rely on the social profile of the service user as well as assess the advantages and disadvantages of a certain method. Both the task centred approach and the cognitive-behavioural therapy are compatible with anti-discriminatory practice and social work values. The task centred approach has a clear structure. It clarifies the problem first and provides the service user with the option to set goals. The tasks are the essence of the approach since they represent the healing process in action. The goals should be set in a time framework while giving enough opportunities to work within the time boundaries. John would be affected in several ways- he would rethink his past and identify his current problems and then he would be prepared to set goals. After successfully completing certain tasks he would feel confident to communicate with other people. The cognitive-behavioural therapy can have many forms and can affect service users in various ways. The crucial thing for John is that the therapy focuses on present and sets goals for the future. It will enable him to realize that he still have opportunities and should open himself to the future chances. The Problem Solving Therapy and the Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy are two options for aiding John and assisting his recovery. Whether choosing the task centred approach or the cognitive-behavioural therapy, it will affect John’s recovery in a positive way. It is up to the social worker to explore social work methods in order to find the most suitable solution for the service user. Works Cited Curwen, Bernie. Brief Cognitive Behavior Therapy. London: GBR: Sage Publications Ltd, 2000. NetLibrary. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. Dobson, K. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies.New York: The Guildford Press, 2001.Print. Doel, M, and P. Marsh. Task Centered Social Work. London: Ashgate, 1992. Print. Lishman, Joyce. Handbook for Practice Learning in Social Work and Social Care : Knowledge and Theory (2nd Edition). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007. NetLibrary. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. Roberts, Robert. “Social Work: Methods and/or goals.” JSTOR (1968). Web. 16 Jan. 2010. Trevithick, P. Social Work Skills, A Practice Handbook. Bucks: OUP, 2005. Print. Read More