Definitions of Social Casework
Definitions of Social Casework
Social case work may be defined as the art of doing different things for and with different
people by cooperating with them to achieve at one and the same time their own and
society’s betterment. Richmond(1915)
Social case work is a method employed by social workers to help individuals find a solution to
problems of social adjustment which they are unable to handle in a satisfactory way by their
own effort. Sanford
Social case work means Social treatment of a maladjusted individual involving an attempt to
understand his personality, behavior and social relationships and to assist him in working out
a better social and personal adjustment. Taft(1920)
Social case work is a process concerned with the understanding of individuals as whole
personalities and with the adjustment of these individuals to socially healthy lives.
Taylor(1926)
Social case work is process used by certain human welfare agencies to help individuals cope
more effectively with their problems in social functioning. Perlman (1957)
The above definitions reveal the fact that social case work is related to the psycho social
treatment of the client who is in problem and seeks the help of case worker or problem
solving agencies. Social case work establishes adjustments between individual capacities and
resources. It consists of the study of mental,emotionalandsocialfactors.In social casework an
individual, group situation or phenomena is recognized as unit of study and various units are
studied properly.
The nucleus of the case work event is this- a person with a problem comes to a place where a
professional representative helps him by a given process. The person is a man, woman, or
child, anyone who finds himself, or is found to be in need of help in some respect of his social-
emotional living, whether the need be for tangible provisions or counsel. As begins to receive
such help, he is called a “client”.
The person
The client of a social agency is like all the other persons we have ever known, but he is
different too. But we find that; with all his general likeness to other, he is unique as his thumb
print. No one of us can ever know the whole of another person.The reason for this not only in
the subtle dimensions and interlacing of any personality but also in the shift and recognition of
new and old elements in the personality that takes place continuously jus t because the person
is a live in a live environment and in interaction with it. Nevertheless, the person is a whole in
any moment of his living. He operates as a physical, psychological and social entity.
The person’s behavior has his purpose and meaning to gain satisfactions, to avoid or dissolve
frustrations and to maintain his balance-in-movement. From the moment of his birth human
being drive to gratify his felt needs. These grow from elementary to complex. The strength and
the particular direction of the drive for satisfaction will differ from different people. Human
beings strives by his behavior to achieve that internal sense of comfort or satisfaction which
makes him feel in tune with his world, balanced, and open to new experiences.
The problem
The problem is a situation, event or anything which impairs the normal functioning of the
individual and makes him handicapped. Problems arise from some needs or accumulation of
frustration or maladjustment, and some times all of these together. Paul B. Horton says that a
problem is a situation which exists anywhere, any time and effects any person. When these
hurdles are there, the individuals are become conscious of it and try to find out a solution.
Sometimes the problems is solved by one’s own efforts but sometime he needs external help.
That external help is given by social worker at individual, group and community level.
Type of problem
Intrapersonal
.It is the problem which does not affect other people but the concerned person himself alone.
For example, if a client has one kidney, she is blind from single eye etc, or if she is depressed
and this depression is disturbing her, she is having an intra personal problem.
Interpersonal
The place
The place to which the person comes for help with his problems is known as a social agency.
When it gives social work help it is known as a social work agency. The social agency is an
organization fashioned to express the will of a society or of a group in the society as to social
welfare.
Type of agencies
Public agencies
Private agencies
The process
Psychosocial study
Diagnoses
Treat plan/Implementation
Evaluation
Fellow up
Professional representatives
The professional representative in case work is the person whose services are hired by the
social service agencies. He is the person having scientific skills and knowledge about human
behaviour and human psychology. He has the knowledge about the social problems of the
client. He is there in the agency to help the client by his skills and experiences. This
professional representative is known as Social worker.