Social Work Assessment - Report Example

RUNNING HEAD: SOCIAL WORK ASSESMENT Social Work Assessment Name Course: Tutor: Date SOCIAL WORK ASSESSMENT: JASON Introduction Social work assessment is an integral process in determining the problems and needs of clients as service users and in designing effective social work interventions. This report will review social work practice assessment of Jason, a 35 year old ex convict seeking a work and development order that requires demonstration that he can earn a regular income. The essay will apply Collingwood’s three stage framework or “Kit” theory for social assessment. It will also discuss issues and concerns for assessment in Jason’s situation, the information to be collected, the practice guidelines that would apply in Jason’s situation, the knowledge and theory base to be employed in designing and recommending interventions for Jason based on the assignment and some of the social work assessment practice guidelines, professional values and personal values and how they affect the assessment. Case study 3: Jason. Application of Collingwood’s Three Stage “Kit” Framework Stage One: Service User Profile In performing Jason’s assessment, there are several issues and concerns that arise with his situation that can be identified through application of Collingwood’s framework. In the first stage, Jason’s service user profile can be constructed to identify some of the issues that will be important for the current as well as subsequent assessments (Collingwood 2005). A social worker needs extensive and comprehensive knowledge about the client and the numerous systems that may impinge on them such as economic, legal, social, interpersonal, religious, and most significantly in Jason’s case, medical and psychological since in his case the referral is from a mental health case manager (Hepworth et al 2010). Therefore, some of the immediate issues and concerns that arise from the referral and from client engagement would concern his background such as his prison record, what was he imprisoned for? A social worker should identify any legal or safety issues that may affect the client’s assessment. Since Jason is applying for a work and development order, such information might be useful for the assessment especially if Jason is to find more stable work with stable income. Another obvious concern is his medical record/history and personality, more specifically his mental health state given his experience with mental illness and anger management issues due to his attendance of an anger management workshop and the circumstances surrounding his ejection from the prisoner release program (Egan 2009). Social Work Assessment Practice Guidelines In conducting this first stage of the assessment, there are several social work assessment practice guidelines and professional values that are important. Significantly, in making first contact with Jason, the social worker should show respect, empathy and authenticity for Jason as a client (Egan 2009) which is consistent with professionalism. They should also be non-judgemental and actively promote user involvement in the assessment through dialogue by allowing Jason to volunteer information and express his feelings rather than just question him (Hepworth et al 2010, Milner and O’Byrne 2009). Assessment is best conducted as a form of dialogue and not interrogation (Parker and Bradley 2007). The information gathered should also bear on the problems on strengths of Jason (Hepworth et al 2010). This includes posing reflexive questions such as what Jason considered to be his strengths- his resilience and tolerance, impending legal mandates that must be considered such as disclosing Jason’s criminal record and potential health and safety concerns due to Jason’s history with anger management. Other Assessments There are other several key assessments in addition to income assessment that need to be conducted. From Jason’s prison record and his mental health status, a mental health assessment needs to be conducted to inform decision making on whether Jason is mentally capable of earning a stable income by performing the stable job he desires (Egan 2009). From first contact with Jason, an anger management assessment also needs to be conducted to establish whether Jason’s anger management issues will have any bearing on his income assessment. Other key assessments that may be important to Jason’s situation include personality assessment and skills assessment to establish whether he is capable of working with others and possesses the relevant skills to earn a regular income. These assessments are important since they may help me identify the client’s problems, needs and strengths which would prioritise the issues to be addressed in the assessment and their eligibility for the services provided by the social work agency. They also help determine whether the social worker is suitable or appropriately skilled to meet Jason’s needs or whether they need to make a further referral (Parker and Bradley 2007, Hepworth et al 2010). Second Stage: The Theory Circle The second stage of Collingwood’s framework is the theory circle (Collingwood 2005). During this stage, a social worker identifies all the theoretical areas that might help achieve an understanding of the client and the environment in which they inhabit (Hepworth et al 2010). In Jason’s situation, some of the theories to inform include social learning theory of crime and deviant behaviour which may be used to identify the social, non social and cultural factors that either motivate or control Jason’s deviant or criminal behaviour or motivate or control conformity (Hepworth et al 2010). Cognitive theory could be applied to Jason’s capacity to understand his current situation as a consequence of his past actions (Parrish 2010). Another theory to inform would be psychoanalytic theory which would trace Jason’s psychological problems to early childhood trauma or negative childhood experiences such as stigmatisation or abuse due to mental illness (Starnino 2009: Corrigan 2004). Systems theory could be used to understand how Jason’s family and social networks have shaped his current situation such as lack of parental guidance or peer support due to his mental illness which have isolated him in society (Parrish 2010, Jahoda 1981). On the right hand side of the theory circle, theories would include systems theory which could help identify whether Jason’s social supports are positive for his mental health recovery and in addressing his anger issues, such as workers, peers and fellow prison inmates in his previous program (Parrish 2010). Good social work practice from this theory would address Jason’s isolation and lack of a support system and recommend positive social interactions for Jason with people with similar mental illnesses and anger management issues (Jahoda 1981, Corrigan 2004). Social learning life skills theory would also help address Jason’s low income status and personality problems according to good social work practice by providing opportunities for Jason to learn among other things, how to handle his emotions, how to communicate effectively and how to handle tension and stress (Parrish 2010). Proposed Interventions The theories of intervention are essential for the intervention strategies to be recommended Based on the systems theory and on group work theory in social practice; Jason should continue attending anger management workshops. From the psychoanalytic theory, Jason should undergo a mental health assessment to evaluate his mental health state the outcome would form the basis for recommendation on whether he is in a position to earn a regular income. Jason should also be enrolled in a community vocational training centre where he can learn new job skills to help him attain the stable job he desires. During this stage, a number of social work theories on mental health, crime and deviant behaviour, cognitive development and social learning would be evaluated and the most appropriate for Jason’s assessment applied. Knowledge, Skills and Values The last stage of Collingwood’s framework includes identification of the knowledge, skills, values and ethical considerations that might enter into the practice situation for the social worker (Collingwood 2005). The theory circle helps to identify the skills required for effective intervention with Jason. To work with Jason, the social worker would require effective communication skills to be able to obtain information from him, assessment skills to identify his particular problems and needs, special face to face interviewing skills for people with history of mental illness which could be taught by experienced mental health practitioners and quantitative data collection, analysis and report writing skills to be able to record and present Jason’s information and recommendations for interventions clearly and concisely which could also be used for future referral (Collingwood 2005: Hepworth et al 2010). The social worker also requires knowledge of legal provisions in legislations such as the Mental Health Act 2007 and Criminal Records Act 1991 which govern disclosure of a person’s mental and criminal records and their rights from discrimination in legislations such as the Anti Discrimination Act 1977 which deems record over 10 years as “spent” and not required to be disclosed (NSW Consumer Advisory Group 2011). Social Work Ethics and Practice Standards The social work ethics and practice standards that would guide me are also contemplated during this stage. The worker should show respect for the client, empathy, authenticity to their concerns, engage them in manner that is consistently professional, remain detached from their situation and be non-judgemental manner without impinging on their right to privacy (Hepworth et al 2010, Parker and Bradley 2007). This is important for the assessment as it enables the worker to remain objective. Additionally, the worker should be cognizant of their legal mandate in terms of disclosing any information or risks that emerge from the assessment such as Jason’s criminal record and his anger management problems (under the Mental Health Act 2007 and Criminal Records Act 1991) which may pose a risk to potential workmates or social workers if not properly managed. Personal Values There were several personal values that a student social worker may carry intot he assessment which may affect the priorities, direction and the interventions recommended in the assessment (Milner and O’Byrne 2009). For example, due to a predisposition to believe that anger issues in most people can be traced back to their childhood and upbringing, the social worker may inquire about Jason’s family background and if he had suffered any form of abuse or neglect. Also, a belief that former inmates in our prison system are “hardened” individuals with difficult personalities may impair objectivity and make the social worker judgemental. However, through self reflection, a social worker should discount for this influence by being non-judgemental in their engagement with the client. Preconceptions of persons suffering from mental illness as inherently unstable may also affect purposeful and objective collection of information for the service user profile. The social worker may dismiss some information and fill in gaps deductively. A worker for a non-governmental agency may also have a preconception of state-run prisoner release programs as inadequate and overcrowded which may contribute to their view of the client’s situation. Conclusion In Jason’s case, the issues and concerns raised from first engagement basically collect in-depth information about economic, legal, social, interpersonal, religious, medical and psychological history or circumstances. The assessment would be guided by social work assessment practice guidelines and standards such as respect and empathy for the client and professional values such as confidentiality (Parker and Bradley 2007). However, a social worker is also mandated to observe ethical and legal implications such as disclosure of Jason’s prison and medical records as part of Jason’s risk assessment. Based on systems, psychoanalytic and developmental theories, the assessment proposes that Jason undergo further mental health, anger management and skills assessments to better inform decision making on whether he can obtain a work and development order. Interventions proposed are that Jason be continue anger management workshops as well as vocational training course to improve his income prospects and fulfil his needs. These would qualify him for the work and development order which he seeks. Personal values that may affect an objective assessment include preconceptions of people with mental illness and perceptions of the effectiveness of state run prisoner release systems. References Collingwood, P. (2005). Integrating Theory and Practice: The three stage Framework. Journal of Practice Teaching 6 (1): 6-23. Corrigan, P. (2004). How Stigma Interferes With Mental Health Care. American Psychologist 59(7): 614- 625. Egan, R. (2009). Developing the Helping Relationship: Engagement. In Maidment, J. & Egan, R. (Eds). Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfare: More than Just Common Sense 2nd Ed. Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin. Healy, K. (2005). Social work theories in context: creating frameworks for practice. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G.D., Strom-Gottfried, K. & Larsen, J.A. (2010) (8th Edn). Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills. Belmont (CA): CENGAGE Learning. Jahoda, M. (1981). Work, employment, and unemployment: Values, theories, and approaches in social research. American Psychologist 36(2): 184-191. Milner, J & O’Byrne, P. (2009). Assessment in Social Work. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. NSW Consumer Advisory Group (2011). My Job, My Mental Health. Retrieved on May 3, 2012 from < http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CGoQFj AB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.gov.au%2FParliamentary_Business%2FCommittee s%2FHouse_of_Representatives_Committees%3Furl%3Dee%2Fmentalhealth%2Fsubs% 2Fsub42.pdf&ei=qeGjT_HlBOqO4gSXrM2SCQ&usg=AFQjCNGI- tUhVOIOibChn_slLMOz99_cBA&sig2=KbVo26XKOJ_JssxzNLKAEA> Parrish, M. (2010). Social Work Perspectives on Human Behaviour. New York: McGraw Hill. Parker, J. & Bradley, G. (2007). Social Work Practice: Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Review 2nd Ed. Southenhay East (UK): Learning Matters. Starnino, V.R. (2009). An Integral Approach to Mental Health Recovery: Implications for Social Work. Journal of Human Behaviour in the Social Environment. Read More