Evaluation Of My Strengths And Limitations

Part I (Autobiographical Essay):  What were the significant factors that influenced your choice of social work? What skills and experiences do you have that will contribute to your success as a graduate student and social work professional? How is the GCSW a good place for you to build on those skills? 2 pages, double spaced, 12 point font

This paper explores the scenario of a client and looks at the presenting problem from an ecological and strengths perspective. It will also explore advanced clinical skills, intervention strategies and ethical dilemmas encountered. Methods for evaluating progress will be discussed within the social context of the case. Termination and follow-up approaches, and any ethical dilemmas will be included. Any problems with oppressed populations will also be discussed. Finally, the limits of the chosen model and limits of the practitioner, evolution of client and practitioner identities, any ethical or social justice issues for the agency, and an evaluation of the practitioner’s effectiveness will conclude the paper.

College of social Work . (2013). The Professional Capabilities Framework . Available: http://www.tcsw.org.uk/home/. Last accessed 1/12/13.

In my future social work career, it is imperative to be cognizant of my personal experiences and preconceptions regarding mental illness. As I participant in evaluation and diagnosis of mental illness, I will utilize a blank slate mentality. I will strive to prevent previous clients’ behavior, the individual’s current diagnoses, and personal judgments to cloud my diagnosis or interactions.

The duties performed by social and human services workers are varied. They can work in a number of different fields including psychology, social work, rehabilitation, and support for families in need (BLS, 2012a). Often, they help to identify the needs of clients and help them obtain available benefits, community services, and programs. There are several other job categories that are closely related including rehabilitation counselors, psychiatric technicians, personal care aides, and eligibility interviewers for government programs (BLS, 2012a). I wish to pursue a career in the psychology and rehabilitation field of the human services category. This population is of great interest to me because of experiences with friends and family. I find this category of human services to be the most interesting and I have a strong desire

The complexity of the case meant I had to draw on a large range of social work skills to facilitate my engagement with the service user and carers and to complete my recommendations for panel. My Skills strongly developed throughout the process of assessing the service user and carers and they were acknowledged by my practice assessor.

One of the competency based assessment’s key theoretical foundations, the biopsychosocial framework could be found in mental health settings and used by practitioners other that social workers (Gray & Zide, 2007; Davis, 2014). Concerns and criticisms levelled at psychiatry’s non-human oriented, diagnostic focus, motivated the creation of the biopsychosocial framework (Pilgrim, 2002 as cited in Davis, 2014). One goal of the framework was to make people more amenable to psychiatric services because of an increased focus on the whole person (Davis, 2014). It was developed in part by uniting (Stoudemire, 1994 in Gray & Zide, 2007) the biomedical model which has a focus on diagnosis and the psychodynamic model which has a “[focus] on symptoms, behaviours, and underlying psychological processes” (Gray & Zide, 2007, p. 11). The competency based assessment is compatible with a biopsychosocial framework in mental health because both have a similar holistic focus (Gray & Zide, 2007; Davis, 2014). Both hold that in order to gain insight about a client’s current functioning and inciting events, a thorough assessment must occur with a full history focusing on specific nuances such as the many systems the client interacts with (Gray & Zide, 2007; Davis, 2014). This could make the competency based assessment a good fit for a biopsychosocial setting.

With a master 's level education in social work, I see myself envisioning clients’ health and well-being. As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificates in gerontology and mental health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I will competently incorporate specialized skills in different professional settings while developing my knowledge of a wide range of social issues and professional standards. With commitment, I wish to develop skills that will enable me to create or find hidden resources and services for my future clients, create platforms through counselling for victims of trauma.

Saleebey, D. (1996). The strengths perspective in social work practice: Extensions and cautions. Social work, 41(3),

Social work is very diverse, there is not one sole solution, or strength metaphor which can cover all fields. However, there are assessments which can be applied to certain situations, given the practitioners beliefs. “Accessing Clients Strengths: Clinical Assessment for Client Empowerment” is an article written by Charles D. Cowger, and is based on a mainstream contextual understanding that the primary goal of social work is to assist individuals with their relationship to others, and to institutions in a way to promote social and economic justice with regards to the importance of a client strengths perspective for assessment, which, proposes 12 practice guidelines to foster a strengths perspective(Cowger, 1994, p.262).Theory of strengths assessment focuses on two aspects of empowerment, personal empowerment and social empowerment. Personal empowerment dynamic recognizes the uniqueness of each client and their ability to take charge and control of their lives and their own betterment process. The social empowerment dynamic states that personal empowerment is related to opportunity and that individuals behaviors are derived from society. Through social empowerment, the individual plays a key role in shaping their surrounding and vise versa by having various opportunities and access to certain resources.

This has provided me with an added insight into what interventions may be beneficial when working with clients. My aptitude for ¨thinking outside the box¨ has facilitated effective problem solving in situations that had no single or clear-cut solution. I hope to enhance this attribute during my time in field placement by refining my critical thinking skills and increasing my knowledge of community resources, so that I can gain a strengthened awareness of how to best advocate for and support clients. My ability to integrate personal goals, values, culture and socioeconomic background into treatment planning and in the treatment process has allowed me to develop realistic and attainable goals that are relevant to each individual. This strength stems from the steadfast belief that cultural relevance is essential to provide effective services. My social work experience has refined my organization and planning skills and I have fine-tuned my ability to manage a chaotic schedule. When I have encountered challenges in the field, I have overcome them by seeking supervision and consulting with more experienced colleagues. I also dedicate extra time to learning about cultures, concepts, and practices that I may have a difficult time understanding or am not familiar with. A final strength I believe will be an asset when working as a professional social worker is my dedication to the social work mission and

Social work exists to provide effective social services to individuals, families, groups, communities and society so that social functioning may be enhanced and the quality of life improved. (Zastrow, 2013) Assessing my strengths and weaknesses as a social worker helps me see what I must maintain, and what I must improve on to become the kind of social worker that educates and inspires. The skills I identify with in my practice are; empathy, identifying strengths, and respect. These skill sets are vitally important to ensure clients receive the best possible outcome.

In social work practice, client assessments are important because they allow social workers to gather information from clients. This information helps the acting social worker better understand clients presenting problems. The assessment also helps social workers evaluate a client’s progress and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used. In this paper, a multidimensional assessment will be performed on a client I have been working with at my internship placement, Urban Ministries of Durham. Once all relevant information is presented, and intervention and treatment plan will be discussed.

One of the most important skill to have as a social worker is to identify your client’s strengths. All social workers should have knowledge of an effective leader that are identified by their strengths or limitations in order to improve the one’s they identify. There are several evidence-based assessments that help identify the strengths and limitations of any individual. Thus, it is also necessary to obtain other perspective based on your leadership strengths or limitations in order to improve or strengthen those qualities. The self-assessments used through this paper will help me develop a plan that points out my challenges, help expand and improve on my strengths (Human Services Guide, 2015).

My current strengths include; my honesty and passion towards my work. I have always been positive and confident regarding my aims and targets. Along with these, I am a good decision maker, due to which I can make right and quick decisions. Moreover, I have ability to motivate others and do team work. I am also a responsible person, when I make a target; I work day and night to achieve my goal.