Social Work Theory Summary

For this paper, I have decided to research two social work theories and how those theories apply to residents in long term care facilities. The primary focus will be those residents who are alert, oriented, and showing minimal symptoms of dementia.

Contemporary social work is a complex and demanding role. Professionals are required to undertake continuous professional development and learning in order to ensure that they are fully equipped and fit for practice; this is required by the governing body, the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), who regulate all social workers in the UK (Health Care Professions Council, 2016). As part of the social work role, professionals have a statutory duty to investigate cases of abuse or neglect, risk assess, supervise and protect the most vulnerable and marginalised of society; In doing so, social workers may also be required to consult with legal specialists or attend court hearings. Since its establishment, the social work role has evolved enormously

I will then list areas I have identified as my own personal weak points for further development.

The psychosocial approach helps us to develop a healthy questioning of the obvious. An open mind, imagination and knowledge of personality functioning, human behaviour and emotional suffering are inherent in the ideas; they assist in reaching;differential diagnoses and treatment plans. This is another way of saying that clients interact with their environments in unique ways and if we are to give service which is accurately targeted then, when appropriate, we have to comprehend underlying feelings and motives which can block people from making optimum use of such help. Freudian psychoanalytic ideas, particularly personality theory, began to feed into what became known as psychodynamic casework.

The field of social work is constantly being influenced by new theories and ideology that affects how social worker’s engage and interact with their clients. The new ideology of the theories can impact the values of social worker’s. The purpose of this paper is to explore and inform how the concepts of relationship or alliance with clients from the work of the RCT theorist, Judith Herman, and Paulo Freire has influenced my values and developing sense of social work practice.

When thinking about my core values and beliefs that underpin my social work practice framework the first value that comes to mind is human dignity and worth. I believe that all people are created equal and should be treated as such no matter their background or differences in beliefs. When working in this profession, I may come into contact with individuals who don’t agree with my own perspectives but this is something where I would be able to put my differences aside and work together towards a common goal. This aligns with multiple of the CSWE Advanced Social Work Practice in Trauma Standards including 2.1.5 “advance human rights and social and economic justice” (2012, p 9). Understanding that every person within the community has basic

I thought that the prescribed reading: Organisations and Management in Social Work, chapter two by Hughes and Wearing (2013), was thought-provoking and beneficial because it outlines useful organisational theories that we could apply to the Austin Hospital. The chapter also encompassed metaphors to help us understand relevant theoretical perspectives which included the machine, fluid and hyperreal, lenses, and the flux and domination metaphors (Hughes & Wearing, 2013). From what we currently know about the Austin Hospital, we can use the machine metaphor to describe to it because of the structure and regulations that operate in a hospital, and also because there would be a hierarchy and therefore, a bureaucracy. Due to this, I believe that

The theoretical frameworks that I have learned over the course of the MSSW program that will guide my social work practice are systems theory and social learning theory. The practice models that I have learned over the course of the MSSW program that had guided and will continue to guide my social work practice is the problem-solving model, the task-centered model, and the solution-focused practice model. The strengths-based perspective and the humanistic perspective also guide my social work practice and clinical work. Also, I have learned about the motivational interviewing approach and the transtheoretical model of change during the course of the MSSW program.

Social work practice is also known as a type of practice that is used to help and assist individuals that are struggling while under the condition of welfare and social issues. There are multiple social work practice fields and centers that many social workers can assist clients in, such as substance abuse centers, domestic violence centers, and child welfare centers. A resourceful tool that can be used for social workers to help understand and connect theories and social work concepts and tie them with social work practical tasks. This model is called a personal practice model. When assisting a client, regardless of what field the social worker is taking part in, it is important to know more about the client. They should be understood through different social and psychological theories, cultural competencies, and personal and professional values.

In the professional field of Social Work, there are many terminologies that individuals outside of this group may not understand. During the process of assessing a problem in a family, there are different theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand different aspects of family situations. There are eight theoretical perspectives that helps social workers understand family’s dynamic and situations. These theoretical perspectives are; system perspective, conflict perspective, exchange and choice perspective, social constructionist perspective, psychodynamic perspective, developmental perspective, social behavior perspective and humanistic perspective.

Sociology is the study of society. A social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies the study of our behavior as social beings, covering everything from the analysis of short contacts between anonymous individuals on the street to the study of global social processes the scientific study of social aggregations, the entities through which humans move throughout their lives' an overarching unification of all studies of humankind, including history, psychology, and economics (www.asanet.org)

Self-awareness and the use of self is a key component in social work practice. Depending upon how one integrates their personal being and accompanying thoughts, experiences, emotions, and consciousness into the helping profession has a profound impact on whether that integration is positive or negative, particularly when it comes to that of one’s relationships with their clients. While remaining impartial is often critical to effective social work practice, the complete separation of self from one’s professional practice is not only impossible to realize, but would arguably have less of a meaningful impact with one’s relations with clients as well as self. Understanding the use of self and the importance of self-awareness in the social work profession is the first step in establishing a healthy means of practicing and the impact that our own individuality has when interacting with clients. In this paper I will analyze, and further critically reflect upon, four academic journals on the topic of the use of self in social work; later applying this learning to an experience from my field placement.

Loving people, in my opinion, is at the core of social work. When you love someone, you want them to have only what is right, true, beneficial, safe, respectable, and good. Love is not about taking but giving—the giving of your time, attention, skills, talents, forgiveness, amongst other things. That is what social workers aim to do; they give of themselves for the benefit of another. Ephesians 4:2 says, “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love.” The Bible also states in 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.” In my core, I consider social work to be about showing love to others in the hopes that they will be able to overcome their adverse experiences, to forgive and not be defined by their past.

The basis of social work in the society at large trying to manage the effects of poverty and inequality. Social work has a complex connection with charity work. Charity has been practicing provision of social welfare dating back in the ancient times. Religion played a major role in providing poor relief long before the establishment welfare systems. However social work has modern and scientific origins form the nineteenth century.

“Throughout the social work profession, there is ongoing interest in building a social science agenda that can address the complex practice-based questions faced by social work professionals today,” says Matto and Goltzman (2010). As a social worker it is vital, to use our tools and skills we have learned in order to assist our clients to the best of our ability and knowledge. Social workers can use models and theories such as the bio-psycho-social model, development factors, as well as, theoretical perspectives in order to gain a firm understanding of the individual’s environment and how it effects their development. These theories have helped to attempt us to understand and explain human behavior, relationship, and social issues; however, this theory has taught social workers what we practice on an everyday basis and how we interact and intergrade with society through, evidence based practice helps understand human behavior. Emma is a five-year-old girl who has experienced a significant amount of trauma for her age, in both educational and home environments. As a result, Emma struggles with behavioral issues that have brought forth possible developmental delays. Emma, struggles academically and struggles to communicate effectively with classmates. She has an open child abuse case as well as experiences the effects of parental divorce.