The Generalist Social Work Practice

“The strengths perspective embraces the principle that all clients possess them. Strengths can be the client’s willingness to accept help, the client’s positive attitude, their ability to overcome hardships in the past…” (Arnold, 2008, p. 1) In the strengths perspective, the strengths of a person to resist the stressor and problem areas in their lives are what the focus is on. (Hutchinson, 2016, p. 111) What this means is that it is assumed that regardless of who the person is or what they have done, they have strengths that can help them

Based on the Clifton Strengths Assessment my top five strengths are strategic, deliberative, learner, maximize and individualization. As an individual, I rarely look into my weakness. I believe that when your too focused on your weakness, you forget about your strengths. Everything the book said is true, and we need to take the time to look at our strengths and make it perfect. It is true that in this world or the school system, we are taught to look at our weakness and correct it so that we can become stronger in our life. This book brings out the truth that I longed to hear for a long time. Invariably, I hear my professor tell their students that for them success in life, they must practice and look at our weakness. This book proves it wrong because for us to become successful, we must stay to our strengths’ path.

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

The Generalist Model is having a broad range of knowledge on professional values and ethics and a broad range of skills, basically eclectic-based. By being eclectic, the social worker is able to help the client in any situation from at least a basic level. It allows them to work in different environments, whether it is considered to be micro, mezzo, or macro. There are seven stages of the generalist model; engagement, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, termination, and follow up. Each stage will be discussed below and how it helps change the client for the better. It is important that the social worker and client go through each stage and successfully complete the stage before moving onto the next.

This essay will identify a case I have been involved in and have continuously had to assess whilst on placement. It will refer to a child who will be identified as A. A is a young carer and has only recently returned home after being removed from his mothers care due to her having a substance abuse problem and mental health concerns. I will link the legal framework that was relevant to this case study and describe actions taken. Additionally these actions will demonstrate the application of social work methods and theories that were contributive elements in his intervention, offering explanations as to why these particular methods were used. Before closing, the essay will review any issues of discrimination with a reflection of the

Write about the strengths for both approaches e.g. A strength of the behaviourist perspective within health and social care is that a therapist can look at why an individual may have a fear or phobia by creating a hierarchy. This is also a strength as it allows a therapist/ nurse to help and encourage an individual who has a phobia which can help the service user to over come their fear.

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.

Both clinical social workers and caseworkers use this model to aid their clients. This model is often used, since it focuses on the boundaries of the systems as it seeks to focus on each individual client (Schatz, Jenkins, & Sheafor, 1990). Beginning in the 1960s, the generalist perspective was created from the Milford conference, which stated that a generic approach to social work was necessary (Schatz et al., 1990). The generalist perspective continued to develop throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and it quickly became the base for all social work (Schatz et al., 1990). What occurred with the foundation of the generalist perspective was the interlacing of casework, group work, and community organization with the emphasis on understanding the interaction between individuals and their unique environments (Miller, Tice, & Hall, 2008). With the emmeshing of these crucial concepts, the generalist perspective uses the person-in-environment perspective as its foundation and attempts to include policy, practice, and research (Miller et al., 2008). Moreover, with the combination of these levels and perspectives, the generalist perspective seeks to

In the generalist social work practice, a social worker is a change agent due to the expansive and complex umbrella of social and human services and roles. A change agent works to promote positive changes for the well-being of an individual, family, group, organization or community. In order to fulfill the tasks of a social worker, one should be trained and equipped with a wide variety of skills: such as setting appropriate boundaries, possessing and utilizing self-awareness and the ability to counsel or advocate for clients. In addition to many skills, the generalist social work practice includes a surplus of methods to either prevent or intervene when necessary. A method often utilized by social workers is the person-in-environment conceptualization. The person-in-environment perspective considers factors, such as familial or economic, beyond the individual to better understand the client’s behaviors or situation. Another method is the strengths perspective. The strength-based perspective focuses on the client’s or client system’s positive qualities to build upon those capabilities. And the recognition of strengths helps to achieve goals in a more client-led approach. Generalist practitioners are professionals with a wide range of knowledge and a repertoire of diverse skills in order to enhance the social functioning of all within society.

The role of the social worker as a generalist practitioner includes understanding the basic concepts of the social work practice, by using intervention and prevention methods to promote the well-being of all individuals at a micro, mezzo, and macro level. The generalist practitioner uses a range of prevention and intervention methods to work with families, groups, organizations, and communities (Grinnell, Wiliams, & Unrau, 2012). The importance of generalist practice is to ensure social work professionals are equipped with specific skills that would be required of them in the field being that they will provide services on multiple levels.

Social workers need to know how the strength perspective can be beneficial to adolescents. Strengths based perspective can be short term or long term, depending on what is most beneficial to the client. It is a positive perspective that can lead to open conversation especially with adolescents that are sensitive and may not want to receive treatment.

It means being able to handle all systems, including community, organization, individual, and group. Their job is broad and they do not focus on just one aspect. They must solve many problems and be attentive. It prepares them to be able to handle a situation, no matter how difficult. One thing that they are held accountable for the most is their client’s well-being. They are to make sure that their clients know that they can count on them no matter what it is. It is important for them to make sure that they do all they can to meet their client’s needs. The advanced generalist method is the generalist method, but as a master social work. They are to go even further beyond what they normally would do at an even higher rate. The ecosystems perspective is something that helped develop the generalist approach. It helps them realize that when they work on one level will help them get to other levels. The levels of intentions that the social workers are to focus on, like stated before are, the individual, the family, the group, the individual, the organization, and the community. It is important that they continue to focus on that, being that it will shape them the

Strengths: the conclusion is made based off of his experience, and he was able to find a direction in order to improve his situation

These perspectives are important for a social worker to understand in order to create change for the individuals in a community. In the process of explaining each perspective I will also discuss the key concepts

As a social work it is important to understand the communities you are working in, from a professional perspective because it is crucial to know if there are any other resources your patient can potentially access for assistance. Getting to know your community can help you build a strong relationship with individuals to achieve the common goal, to help families in the community. Being aware of what is going on in the community can demonstrate to others that you are there in their best interest. The environment where people live often shape individuals. Learning the environment where someone is from can help you learned about a person. What goes on in the community often have an effect on how people are and often shape families. Being able to be the person individuals from the community trust and greet every day can make the job easier.