Chapter Nine Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families Social Work & Social Welfare: An Invitation (3rd ed.)

Getting Started Describe a change you have made in your life…

Key Ideas The planned change process Engagement Assessment Intervention Evaluation Termination

Practice with Individuals & Families Micro level of practice Working one-on-one with the client system to identify and assess a need and develop a plan for facilitating a change From social casework to generalist practice model 96% of social work practitioners spend a portion of their time providing direct services to clients

The Change Process Overview Engagement Assessment Intervention Evaluation “Start where the client is” Homework: “Starting where the client is”

Engagement The process of eliciting information using both verbal and nonverbal communication Establish a working relationship: rapport, trust, and respect Skills: speech, language, nonverbal cues, cultural considerations Engagement is the process of eliciting information using both verbal and nonverbal communication Engagement can be facilitated by: Use language appropriate to the client’s culture, ethnicity, and social group Patiently listening without interrupting, prompting, or interjecting words Maintaining eye contact where culturally appropriate Avoiding distracting behaviors

Assessment Provides the basis for understanding the client’s system’s situation and planning the intervention Gather relevant information Define and prioritize issues Plan intervention Appropriate interview practice behaviors can include: Using a balance of open- and closed-ended questions Avoiding excessive questioning Periodic reflection (recapping or rephrasing the client’s response)

Family Assessment: Genogram Not in textbook - online

Intervention The phase of the social work relationship in which the actual work is completed Planning: identifying needs, strengths, and resources Implementation: regular review of contract Two steps in intervention Planning: the social worker and the client identify areas for change, prioritize goals and define each goal in specific achievable terms Implementation: reviewing the contract on a regular basis enables the client and the social worker to monitor progress

Evaluation The process by which the social worker and client system assess the progress and success of their efforts Contract as basis for evaluation Documentation: “If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.” Evaluation is the process by which the worker and client assess the success of their efforts and determine whether it is time to terminate the relationship Process evaluations focus on the way in which the service was delivered to the client Outcome evaluations focus on empirical examinations of the change that occurred Timing may be determined by agency protocol

Termination Defined as the official breaking-off of the social worker-client relationship Part of empowerment perspective Successful termination includes: Plan for maintaining change Expressing feelings about the relationship Termination is built into the intervention – concept is introduced at the first encounter Termination can occur when: The goals have successfully been achieved The client withdraws from the relationship The client is no longer eligible to receive services. The social worker feels that the goals cannot be achieved The social worker or agency is no longer the most appropriate service provider The social worker leaves the agency

Exercise Practice applying the planned change process