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.

Components of Social Case work

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 problem arises from some heed or obstacle or accumulation of frustrations or

maladjustments, and sometimes all of these together which threatens or has already attacked
the adequacy of the person’s living situation or the effectiveness of his efforts to deal with it.
 The place is a social service agency or a social service department of another kind of human
welfare agency. Its peculiarity lies on the fact it is set-up to deal not with social problems at
large but with human beings who are experiencing such problems in the management of their
own personal lives. Its purpose is to help individuals with the particular social handicaps
which hamper good personal or family living and with the problems created by faulty person-
to person, person-to-group, or person-to-situation relationships.

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 dictionary meaning of interpersonal is between persons or something concerned or

involving the relationship between people. Interpersonal is that problem which affects more
than one person. It affects others as well. For example, if a person is addicted to drugs, it not
only affects him but other people around him as well. Crime, theft, burglary, delinquency are
few examples of interpersonal problems. Jealousy is an intrapersonal problem but it is
responded it becomes interpersonal problems.

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

The case work process is essentially 5 stages.

 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.
 Principles of Social casework

Principle of Acceptance

Social caseworker accepts the client as he is and with all his/her limitations. He/she believes
that acceptance is the crux of all help. It embraces two basic ideas --- one negative and one
positive. He/she does not condemn or feel hostile towards a client because his/her behaviour
differs from the approved one. Later on, he/ she tries to modify his/her behaviour step by step.
Acceptance implies liking the client irrespective of his negative qualities and conduct. It is an
expression of good will towards the client and criticisms if any are done out of goodwill. It is
conveying deep concern and active understanding to the client who is liked by the worker in
spite of his problem—behavior for which he is hated or punished by the society. No effective
relationship is possible without accepting the client. Unless we are really accept the client we
cannot work out his problem. When disliked by us, we may behave to keep him off from
ourselves and no positive relationships will be possible. Acceptance involves observance of
common courtesies and respect for his ideas and treating him as equal to self; for example
leaving chair, wishing him, moving forward to receive, or see him off, respecting
appointments, etc., are indicators of acceptance.

Principle of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is based upon the basic right of the client; it is an ethical obligation of case
worker and is necessary for effective case work service. Everyone prefers to keep his things to
himself and saves it from leaking out unless It’s divulge is more beneficial to the person. Once
the worker imbibes the value of worth and dignity of an individual, he will refrain from
encroaching upon the client’s privacy and maintain the confidence repose in him. Once the
client loses confidence in him, he will not believe the worker and the while process of
communication will break down, and impossible will be the task to assist the helpee in his
problems or in fulfillment of his needs. Maintaining confidentiality for all the transactions, that
take place between the case worker and client in correctional settings or other places where
law needs information for justice purpose, is very difficult or impossible. In all such situations,
the client must be made aware of these limitations. Concept of confidentiality in western
society is much different than what it is I India. In our country wife and husbandhave
minimum things to hide from each other as compared to their counterparts in the western,
especially American, society. In majority of Indian families wife cannot be interviewed
without explicit permission of the husband or the in-laws. Its roots lie in our culture beliefs and
values (like seven vows taken during the Hindu marriage), norm and systems like joint family
etc. Our society is more group oriented as compared to individual-oriented western society.
Our society is more group oriented as compared to individual oriented western society. Our
society’s group orientation emphasizes on one’s duty to others around us. It is these factors
that limit the useof use of principles of confidentiality in our practice.

Principle of relationship
Relationship is the basis of all help. The relationship should develop around the act of helping
the client. Helping the client is the purpose for which interaction takes place between the
worker and client which is affected by their experiences of relating with people in the past,
their expectations from each other and anxieties about the situation, values that governing their
lives, norms of behavior , knowledge and experience about the subject matter of interaction.
Necessary to develop relationship is the worker’s training in and mastery of inter personal
skills like active awareness, building trust, communicating, listening and expression of
feelings etc. relationship is an emotional bond which works as a transmitting belt between
client and the case worker.

Principle of Resource utilization

Services are provided to the individual in recognition of his contributions to the society. It is
only because of this that the government takes care of those who are not cared by any one.
Example: orphans, destitute, handicapped etc. Therefore all the personal resources and
resources available within the community or agency and with relatives of the client should be
utilized to help the client. Resources may be in terms of money, material, power and influence,
capabilities etc.
Principle of individualization
No two persons are alike in all qualities and traits. Their problems may be the same but the
cause of the problem, the perception towards the problem and ego strength differs in every
individual. Individualization is the recognition and understanding of each client’s unique
qualities and the differential use of principles and methods in assisting each toward a better
adjustment. Individualization is based upon the right of human beings to be individuals and to
be treated not just as a human being but as this human being with his own personal
differences.
Purposeful expression of feeling

Purposeful expression of feelings is the recognition of the client’s need to express his/her
feelings freely, especially his/her negative feelings. The caseworker listens purposefully,
neither discouraging nor condemning the expression of those feelings. Sometimes he/she even
stimulates and encourages them when the expression is of therapeutic nature. It is to recognize
the client’s feeling and express it freely before the case worker, especially his negative
feelings.
Principle of controlled emotional involvement

The case worker must not be emotionally involved with the client during the casework
process, when the client communicates his/ her feelings or problems with the case worker. The
case worker has to respond to all feelings of the client with his knowledge and understanding.
The social caseworker tries to understand the client’s feelings and emotions but he/she
himself/herself does not involve emotionally in his/her problems.

Principle of communication

Communication is a two-way process. There must be proper communication between

caseworker and the client, which helps, in proper understanding of each other. It is the road to
the identification of the client’s problem. The function of social caseworker is primarily to
create an environment in which the client will feel comfortable in giving expression to his/her
feelings. It depends on a proper communication.
Principle of selfdetermination

It is the practical recognition of the rights and need of the client to have freedom in making his
own choice and decision in the case work process. Social responsibility, emotional adjustment
and personality development are possible only when the person exercise his freedom and
choice and decision. Case workers have to give this right to the client so that he can decide and
take best possible action in his self interest. This is reasonable also because he knows himself
better than others. And the case worker is only an enabler who helps him through his expertise
to take the best possible decision and action in the circumstances. The case worker should
understand that these rights are limited and not an absolute one. There are client who are
unable to take proper decisions by themselves. For ex: Child, immature adults, mentally
retarded and they should not be given this right to harm themselves. The client’s self-
determination is the practical recognition of the right and need of clients to freedom in making
his/her own choices and decisions. But this right is limited by the client’s capacity for positive
and constructive decision making.