The Strengths Perspective in Social Work - Case Study Example

SS 1 INTЕRVЕNTIОN РLАN – САSЕ STUDY  Student’s Name: Course Code: Tutor’s Name: Date of Submission Client Details Name: Judith Date of Birth: unknown (35 years old) Address: unknown Reasons for visit Judith had previously visited the center for financial counseling. At the moment her stress levels are increasing due to financial problems. She is feeling anxious because of her landlord who wants the raise the rent she pays and she is struggling to raise her children. Theory assessment Judith's assessment used the ecosystems approach. This was significant in the planning as well as the evaluation of the whole intervention plan (Kirst–Ashman & Hull 2012). The theory was helpful in making Judith understand her resources as well as strengths and weaknesses. It was also found necessary in making Judith improve her perception on social life (AASW 2010). While engaging with the client, the assessment plan took into consideration social work values such as social justice, respect for people as well as professional integrity. It will also help Judith overcome her fears as she deals with the problem at hand through engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. The client’s problem or the work problem may vary and also be associated with other underlying issues (Burton, Westen& Kowalski, 2009). Judith approached the center to be helped on issues related to renting and the landlord which is making his stress levels to increase. Other than the problem she stated, other underlying issues need to be addressed. These issues are varying and should be put into consideration (AASW 2010). They include the burden she is facing in raising her three children, together with her pregnancy. The problems have disturbed Judith to the extent of trying to kill her children. Schizophrenia problem affecting Judith has also been affecting her bearing in mind that she is not undergoing medication due to her pregnancy. Judith completed a genogram that reflected the system of her family putting into consideration the situation at hand (AASW 2010). From the genogram, it was clear that Judith had three children. These are John aged 8, Debbie aged 6 and Maggie aged 5. She was also pregnant expecting the fourth child. Much of the client's family structure has not been shown by the genogram, but it is evident that she had a sister who they related well. The sister was working but could help Judith by staying with the children whenever there was the need. An eco-map template was drawn to help identify Judith problem (AASW 2010). It was also aimed at identifying her support systems as well as her resources (Saleebey ed. 2009). The Proper advice was given to Judith on how the co-map will help in changing the negative aspects of her life to the available aspects in her life. The ecomap showed that Judith was an introvert. She was relating well with her sister because when she felt too much stressed and was about to kill her children, she took them to her sister who was willing to help. It is also evident that Judith had a friendly relationship with social workers bearing in mind she had visited the center previously. She believed she would get assistance from the services even though she was not sure of the best person to be open to. These good relationships together with her children were seen to be resources to Judith. These resources were seen to be important in making Judith achieve a better life without stress (Saleebey ed. 2009). The stressful relationship with her landlord was a primary source of her stress. The landlord had told her to keep the house clean and also make the yard tidy. This was a primary source of her fears because she was staying anxious always. The struggle to raise her children was another source of Judith’s stress. The fact that when Judith's children are brought by her sister, she is taking them to school shows that she has a considerable level of power. According to AASW (2010), using the ecosystem theory, it was noted that Judith had a caring sister in her environment. She has closely tied to her children as well as the pregnancy since she was not willing to take medication for her disorder due to the pregnancy. Her thoughts, behaviors as well as feelings were characterized by fear of the landlord to increase rent as well as the burden to raise her children. The available resources would help the client in achieving goodness of fit between Judith and her environment (AASW 2010). The fact that Judith understood her problem and was willing to take her children to her sister so that she does not harm them shows there was some power in her. She may be in the contemplation stage of Prochaaska and DiClemente’s five–stage model for change (Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry Rooney, Strom–Gottfield& Larsen, 2010).This is an indicator that she is in a position to implement some changes in the process of improving her goodness of fit. Assessment of strengths also involved filling the table of external and internal resources which would reflect the client’s strengths as well as the gaps that might be present (AASW, 2010). It was also aiming at showing how Judith viewed her situation in the current cultural context. Questions were asked to the client about her past experiences and how she perceives her future or any expected changes. Judith was able to comment on the different issues as well as the table of resources. The social worker listened carefully and tried to help Judith in identifying her strengths. Social work value such as the respect for persons was applied to make Judith comfortable when filling the table and answering questions. It was established that Judith’s strength was from her sister who could take care of her children when need be. The focal system was seen to be fears of rent increment and what Judith saw like a negative influence in her life. Meeting the rent increase was perceived as the major goal. The primary objective for this goal was to find alternative funding to meet the rent increment; this will be facilitated with a strategy for Judith to contact the counseling center and to make an appointment for the problem to be solved. The making of the appointment may empower Judith. Another objective for this same goal is to come up with a budget for the rent payment. The best strategy for this objective is to consider her income as well as expenses and to come up with a budget which will discuss with the social worker after which the budget will be implemented. With the social worker, Judith will be in a position to assess the budget and make possible changes whose progress may be assessed. Judith's goal will be realized empowerment that will come from the resources and support systems which have been discussed in this assessment. Intervention plan Problem for work Judith needs to be able to pay for the rent to be increased by the land lord. Basic needs are of paramount importance to human beings. The shelter is equally important for Judith and his children. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the shelter is a basic need and need to be satisfied before other wants (Burton, Westen & Kowalski 2009). This goes in line with the principles of social work, respect of persons and social justice (AASW 2010). The shelter is of greater importance in the hierarchy of needs, and the removal of these fears from Judith can reduce her stress levels and improve her goodness–of–fit (Burton, Westen & Kowalski 2009). Goal Long term solution to Judith rents problems. This is a goal that was set upon deliberations between Judith and the social worker. The goal is realistic and achievable due to the strengths in Judith and the empowerment from the social work (Kirst–Ashman & Hull 2012). Objectives To find alternative funding to meet the rent increment To establish a budget that will deal with Judith’s income and expenses. Strategies The first objective Judith should make contact with counseling center immediately for her to make an appointment for alternative funding of her rent in case the landlord increases the rent. Judith should attend the appointment the soonest for her needs to be catered for. Judith should approach the landlord after counseling sessions with the aim of making an agreement for the rent payment. The second objective Judith is supposed to establish her expenses as well as income as soon as possible before attending another appointment Judith should come up with a budget with the help of the social worker. The budget should be discussed well by the social worker and the client for better achievement. Implementation of the budget Evaluation methods According to Kirst-Ashman& Hull (2012), goal attainment scaling is a better method to evaluate whether Judith achieved her goals or not. In finding out whether alternative funding to meet the rent increment was achieved, the final result can be measured on a scale. This will be possible with the use of least favorable outcome up to most favorable outcome. In measuring whether budget that will deal with Judith's income and expenses has been drawn, there will be the use of least favorable outcome to the most favorable outcome also. This will help the social worker and Judith herself in knowing whether the intervention plan is working. If the most favorable outcome is achieved about the objectives of the plan, the intervention plan will be successful (Kirst-Ashman& Hull, 2012). Summary Judith is the one who referred herself to the center due to the fears of her landlord increasing rent. She also had problems in raising her three children, and she was also pregnant. One day she even contemplated to kill her children, but she took them to her sister who took care of them until the following day. Judith’s strengths as a client in the center were discussed and explored in details together with identification of her powers and resources in general. The main objective in the plan is to solve the rent increment issue for Judith to live a normal life with her children. References AASW 2010, Code of Ethics, Australian Association of Social Workers, Canberra. Burton, L, Westen, D & Kowalski, R 2009, Psychology, 2nd Australian & New Zealand end, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Milton, QLD. Hepworth, DH, Rooney, RH, Dewberry Rooney, G, Strom–Gottfield, K & Larsen, JA 2010, Direct social work practice: theory and skills, 8th edn, Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA. Kirst-Ashman, K.& Hull, G. H. 2012, Understanding generalist practice, 6th edn, Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA. Saleebey, D (ed.) 2009, The strengths perspective in social work practice, 5th edn, Pearson Education, Boston, MA. Appendix 1: Judith Eco map John Land lord Good relationship Stressful relationship Appendix 2: Judith genogram Read More