Social Work Process

Question 1

Four components of good practice:

Answer 1

• Knowledge (the person, PIE, context).
• Values and ethics.
• Skills and techniques.
• The social work process (reflection and accountability).

Question 2

Social work process definition:

Answer 2

Social work process refers to “the entire series of encounters and activities that occur during the course of professional service to others”.

Question 3

Social work process (6):

Answer 3

• Engagement
• Assessment
• Plan
• Intervention
• Review
• Ending

Question 4

Engagement steps (4):

Answer 4

• Preparing: examining and considering information available to you.
• Preliminary planning.
• Beginning: seeking introductions and describing an initial purpose, policy and ethical factors.
• Engagement tasks include inviting participation, understanding the presenting problem and applicant wants, and clarifying expectations.

Question 5

Assessment (2):

Answer 5

• The collection, exploration, organisation and analysis of relevant information for use in making decisions about the nature of the problem.
• Identify and understand… the persons circumstances; needs; strengths; resources; goals.

Question 6

Planning (2):

Answer 6

• Good assessments lead to the formulation of an explicit service agreement, which is clear and flexible.
• An action plan should say: who will do what; when and how they’ll do it; when the results will be checked/what the expected results are.

Question 7

Intervention:

Answer 7

Once a contract is agreed, promoting change within various aspects of the person-issue-situation occurs. This means that the plan should be put into effect.

Examples: providing basic resources; referring; advocacy; directly intervene.

Question 8

Review/evaluation (2):

Answer 8

• Checking and monitoring service implementations and evaluating progress toward goal attainment.
• This review can lead social workers back to assessment or redefine the problem for work.

Question 9

Ending (2):

Answer 9

• Concluding a working relationship with a client- difficult aspect.
• Social workers have a responsibility to prepare clients for endings.

Question 10

Duty of care:

Answer 10

• You have a legal and moral responsibility to keep your clients safe from harm whilst they are using your service.
• You must be available; inform clients as to what to do when there is an emergency; ensure professional coverage (if absent); keep records.

Question 11

Privacy and confidentiality ():

Answer 11

• Respect privacy.
• Respect physical space.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Question 12

Inform, report and warn (3):

Answer 12

• Duty to inform: inform of the nature and extent of the services you offer.
• Duty to report: report indications of outrages against humanity to designated authorities.
• Duty to warn: notify legal authorities of a client’s intent to endanger or harm another person.