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SWP1-Chapter-7 - eme
Culture and Society in Southeast Asia (Eastern Samar State University)
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Chapter 7: The Helping/Problem Solving Process in Social Work
Objectives:
Scrutinize the concept of planned change; scientific problem-solving/social
helping process;
Explain the components of Social Work practice.
Introduction:
The primary purpose of the social work profession is to work with client systems to
alleviate social and psychological problems and promote health and well-being.
There are a number of theories of human development that inform specific
interventions, techniques, and approaches utilized in social work practice, all of which
are included as part of the generalist practice model. The generalist practice model
“uses an eclectic knowledge base and broad skill set within a professional practice
model to effect changes in clients’ environments,” according to social work scholars
Ebear, Csiernick, & Béchard (2008). The generalist practice model helps social
workers to identify potential stressors and other disruptions to the client systems’
equilibrium at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, so that social workers can work
with clients to plan and implement appropriate interventions that will support clients in
attaining optimal social functioning.
Main Content:
The Helping/Problem-Solving Process in Social Work
7.1 Origin of the Problem-Solving Process
The problem-solving concept can be generally traced to the book entitled “How We
Think” (John Dewey, 1933) which describes what goes on in the human mind when
confronted with a problem. According to Dewey, the problem-solving behavior is
based on reflective thought that begins with a feeling of doubt or infusion. In order to
solve a problem, a person follows a rational procedure consisting of steps in an
orderly sequence. Referred to as the “five phases of reflective thinking” they include:
1. Recognizing the difficulty;
2. Defining or specifying the difficulty;
3. Raising a suggestion for possible solutions and rationally exploring the
suggestion, which include data collection;
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4. Selecting an optimal solution from among many proposals; and
5. Carrying out the solution
Then, in the early 1940’s George Polya, a mathematician professor, developed a
model which he intended to be used as guide by any one engaged in problem-
solving. Polya’s model consisted of the following phases:
1. Understanding the problem including the problem situation, the goal of the
problem-solver and the conditions for solving the problem;
2. Devising a plan by which the goal could be attained;
3. Carrying out the plan; and
4. Evaluation of the plan, its implementation, and the results.
Polya’s formulation is an improvement over Dewey’s because it includes evaluation.
7.2 PROBLEM-SOLVING FRAMEWORK IN SOCIAL WORK
Helen Harris Perlman is considered as the originator of the problem-solving
framework in social work which has greatly influenced social work thinking. In her
book, Social Casework: A Problem-Solving Process, she describes the social work
process as progressive transaction between the professional helper and the client,
consisting of a series of problem-solving operations which can be summarized as
follows:
1. The facts that constitute and bear upon the problem must be ascertained and
grasped (Study);
2. The facts must be thought about, i.e., turned over, probed into, and organized
in the mind, examined in their relationships to one another, and searched for
their significance (Diagnosis);
3. Some choice or decision must be made as an end result of the consideration
of the particular facts with the intention of resolving the problem (Treatment).
In social work literature, there are a number of other well-known authors who
follow a framework for problem-solving. Among these are the following whose
writings are based on the traditional social work methods of casework. Group work,
and community organization:
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Florence Hollis Robert D. Vinter Arthur Dunham
Casework Process Groupwork Process Community
Organization Process
Defining the general Intake Recognition of the
nature of the problem
problem presented
Psychological Study Diagnosis and Analysis of the problem
treatment planning or assessment
Diagnosis and Group composition Planning or consideration
formulation of of the action to be taken
treatment plans
Treatment Group development Action—is the execution
and treatment of the plans and
initiations of the service
project
Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation
Termination
In general, the problem-solving process demands that a social worker be
successively involved in the following sequential steps:
1. Recognition or definition of the problem, and engagement with the client
system;
2. Data-collection;
3. Assessment of the situation;
4. Goal-setting and the planning of an action;
5. Intervention or the carrying out of the action;
6. Evaluation; and
7. Termination.
PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS is essentially a cognitive process, a rational
procedure involving a series of steps to be followed sequentially. (Scientific)
SOCIAL WORK HELPING PROCESS uses the problem-solving process. It is not
just a cognitive process since it involves a relationship between two parties, the
worker and the client system.
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7.3 STEPS IN SOCIAL WORK HELPING PROCESS
The social work helping process consists of the following sequential steps which
are followed when working with any types of client system, i.e., individual, family,
small group, community:
BEGINNING PHASE Assessment
Planning
MIDDLE OR INTERVENTION PHASE Intervention or Plan Implementation
ENDING PHASE Evaluation
Termination
The Helping Relationship
The worker-client relationship is such a crucial factor it can spell the difference
between successful or unsuccessful problem-solving. “Relationship” is a basic
concept in social work. An appreciation of its importance is reflected in the fact that
the subject is one of the most-discussed in the professional literature. While the focus
of our discussion is the relationship between client and worker, we think the general
principles of this concept (called relationship) are applicable to the other relationships
formed by the social worker with co-workers, agency administration, staff of other
agencies, representatives of the community elite or power groups, agency
volunteers, and many others, as she goes about performing her professional role.
All of the worker’s professional relationships should involve self-discipline and self-
awareness. The conscious use of oneself, in the course of helping requires judgment
and maturity. Emmanuel Tropp had developed an important set of statement which,
while relating primarily to the social worker’s presentation of self to the group, could
very well sum up the essential characteristics of the worker’s presentation of self to
each of her client whether at heir first meeting or in the course of the helping
relationship.
1. Compassion- I deeply care about you.
2. Mutuality- We are here on a common human level let’s agree on a plan and
then let’s walk the path together.
3. Humility- Please help me to understand.
4. Respect- I consider you having worth. I treat your ideas and feelings with
consideration. I do not intrude upon your person.
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5. Openness- I offer myself to you as you see me: real, genuine, and authentic.
6. Empathy- I am trying to feel what you are feeling.
7. Involvement- I ma trying to share and help you in efforts.
8. Support- I will lend my conviction and back up your progress.
9. Expectation- I have confidence that you can achieve your goals.
10. Limitation- I must remind you of your agreed upon obligations.
11. Confrontation- I must ask you to look at yourself.
12. Planning- I will always bring proposals, but I rather leave yours.
13. Enabling- I am here to help you become more able, more powerful.
14. Spontaneity and control- I will be as open as possible, yet I must recognize
that, in your behalf, I need to exercise some self-control.
15. Role and person- I am both human being like you and a social
representative of an agency, with a special function to perform.
16. Science and art- I hope to bring you a professional skill which must be based
on organized knowledge, but I am dealing with people, and my humanity must
lend an art to grace the science.
These elements of the self may be applied at different times, and in response to
different types of relationships. What is important is that the message carried by each
element is properly conveyed.
7.4 The Helping Relationship in Social Work
Relationship- (Perlman) a condition in which two persons with some interest
between them, long term or temporary, interact with feeling.
- It exist when there is emotionally charged interaction between two
people.
- It is an integral part of the helping process.
What is the purpose of helping relationship?
- To purpose is to help another person using one’s professional
knowledge, values and skills.
- Distinguishing mark of professional relationship: conscious,
deliberate alliance of the worker and the client, formed and
maintained to achieve a goal recognized by both participant, which
is to resolve client’s difficulty.
- Relationship ends when purpose is achieved or is judged to be
unachievable
- Relationship is endowed with professionalism because:
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a. Worker possess knowledge competence and authority
b. Exercise of objectivity, self-awareness and discipline
When is the start if helping relationship?
- Relationship starts only when a rapport is created for a
professional purpose.
- Rapport exist when there is comfortable, warm and close
relationship between the helper and the helpee ensuring their
working together to solve or alleviate client’s difficulty.
- When client is ready to use the relationship, worker assumes a
supportive attitude and makes “professional use of self. “
Characteristics of good helping relationship
1. Accepting – recognizing client’s right to existence, importance and value.
Involves respect for the person.
2. Dynamic – forceful & energetic, in constant motion, advancing the
movement to change.
3. Emotional – give & take of attitudes and feelings that build a relationship
w/c may meet the emotional needs of client. –relationship is more
emotional than intellectual.
4. Purposeful, Time Limited, Unequal – it has purpose, directed towards a
goal which is to help the client achieve an improved degree in his
psychosocial functioning
-once the goal is reached the case is closed & relationship
is terminated.
5.
Honest, Realistic and Responsible
-Have honor, -Knows himself as a -Legally & ethically
integrity, sincerity professional, accountable for his
perceives reality in actions
people and
situations
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What are the phases of the helping relationship?
a. Beginning Phase –client and worker starts to know each other, start of
establishing relationship, problem exploration, goal and objectives are
agreed upon
b. Middle Phase – working period, roles performed, plan implementation
and goal attainment period
c. Ending Phase – evaluation, termination of relationship, goal is achieved
7.5 HELPING PROCESS
Assessment
Intake process
Identification of the presenting problem
Data gathering
Definition of the problem
Writing assessment statement
Planning
Intervention/Plan Implementation
Evaluation
Termination
Intake: process by which a potential client achieves the status of a client.
Client: involves presentation of self, the problem or the need he/she is
experiencing.
Worker: assessment of the client and the problem whether or not the agency is
in a position to help.
Intake Process may end either:
1. Worker and client decide not to proceed
2. Client obtaining client status
Information/Data Gathering:
Obtaining information necessary to have an accurate definition of the client’s
problem.
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Sources:
1. Primary source: client (interview)-to know what he is, how he feels and
behaves.
2. Secondary Sources: “significant others” those with whom client has personal
relationship (parents, relatives, friends, co-employees etc.)
3. Existing Data: information collected by others
-records and reports by other professional
-studies
4. Worker’s own observation
Definition of the Problem
Writing an Assessment
PLANNING-process of translating the content of assessment into a goal
statement that describes the desired results and is also concerned with
identifying the means to reach the goals.
IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING
1. Basis for determining general direction of treatment
2. Source of information to which worker will refer from time to time
3. It will serve as basis for monitoring the case and for case evaluation
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
-measure the impact of social workers intervention
-should be based on the objectives which have been set-up jointly by the worker
and client.
-takes place in every major step in the intervention
TERMINATION
Reasons:
1. Services completed/goals achieved
2. Referral has been made to another source
3. Client can manage by himself
4. Client request for termination
5. Worker request for termination
6. No progress has been made or problems are getting worse due to:
6.1 relationship difficulty
6.2 incorrect definition of the problem
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6.3 alternatives selected was inappropriate that leads to wrong intervention
Case maybe continued when the result of the action indicate that progress or
movement has been made but not enough to satisfy the worker and client.
THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
The essential elements in social work practice are client, worker problem and
process. Lippitt, Watson and Westley, in the Dynamics of Planned Change, provide
us with a useful framework for understanding these elements. The very idea of
placing them in the context of planned change is useful, for after all, social work is
planned change.
Planned change is defined as change originating from a decision to make a
deliberate effort to improve the system and to obtain the help of an outside agent in
making this improvement. The decision to make a change may be made by the
system itself, alter experiencing pain (malfunctioning), or discovering the possibility of
improvement, or by an outside change agent who observes the need for change in a
particular system and takes the initiative in establishing a helping relationship with
that system.
The specific system that is being helped is called the "client system. Lippitt, et al.,
explain that "client system" is a compromise term since "client" is often taken to
mean only an individual that professionals working with a community feel left out. On
the other hand, "social system has the effect of making those working with individuals
feel likewise. The term client system it mean any of the following:
1.) The personality system which consists of related sub-parts: the conscious,
unconscious, the mind and the body;
2.) The group: families, committee, staffs, clubs, and the smaller social units
3.) The organization any of the larger social system which comprise the
community business organizations, welfare agencies, educational institutions,
government bureaus, political parties:
4) the community made up of a variety of interacting sub-parts, e.g., individual
citizens. informal interest groups organized occupational or political sub- groups,
economic and social strata, geographical units, etc. The "outside agent" in
planned change is called a "professional change agent" who works with particular
client system. Hence, there is the psychiatrist who usually works with personality
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systems, marriage counselors and leadership trainers who work with groups,
labor-management specialists who work with organizations, and adult educators
who work with communities.
The problem or situation to be, assessed is the reason for the entry of a
change agent. The process, or the development of the helping relationship is
defined as consisting of the following "phases of planned change:
Phase 1: The client system discovers the need for help sometimes with
stimulation by the change agent.
Phase 2: The helping relationship is established and defined.
Phase 3: The change problem is identified and clarified.
Phase 4: Alternative possibilities for change are examined; change goals or
intentions are established.
Phase 5: Change efforts in the reality situation are attempted.
Phase 6: Change is generalized and stabilized.
Phase 7: The helping relationship ends or a different type of continuing
relationship is defined.
Lippitt describes two concepts useful in understanding the dynamics of
planned change. These are the concepts of change force and resistance force.
A change force is an aspect of the situation which increases the willingness of
the client system to make a proposed change. It may be rational o irrational,
recognized or unrecognized, general, or specific. It may originate from the client
system, the environment, or the change agent.
The following general forces serve as stimulus for change:
1. Our continuous search for opportunities to use or modify our environment or
features of this environment which we have created in previous attempts to solve
problems;
2. Our need to utilize and adjust to the changes we are constantly creating in our
environment.
3. The very competitive process of Comparing ourselves with others; and
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4. The pain and disorganization that arise from finding that our familiar ways of
behavior no longer work in a new environment or in one that has been changed.
A resistance force ss an aspect of the situation which reduces the willingness
of the client system to change. Just like change force, it may be rational or
irrational, recognized or unrecognized, general, or specific. It may originate from
the client system (e.g., reluctance to admit weakness or failure on the part of
community officials); from the environment (e.g., a low degree of responsibility for
the welfare of the local community by the larger community or from the change
agent (e.g., competing demands on the time and attention of the change agent).
Let us now see how these elements apply in social work
First of all, social work is planned change since all social work activities in
relation to a given problem or situation are part of a conscious and deliberate
effort to effect change wherever this change Is deemed necessary or appropriate.
The problem in social work "arises from some need or obstacle or
accumulation of frustration or maladjustments, and sometimes all 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. These problems
presented in concrete form as financial or economic problem medical problem,
relationship problem, etc., result from the individual's performance of his social
roles in interaction with others.
The client system in social work is usually an individual, a family, a small
group, and a community. The concept of "community is broad as to include a
hospital, a tenement housing project, a factory, which are, after all, systems
made up of interacting subparts." These systems find themselves, or are found to
be in need of help to some aspect of their living situation, and are given help.
Social workers today, whether in the Philippines or abroad, use the term client, to
mean, in fact, any of the "client systems", for the latter term sounds cold, and
indeed, one probably will not feel comfortable relating to a system."
The professional change agent is a social worker whose helping functions in
the country today are, more often than not facilitated by paraprofessionals,
indigenous community leaders, and volunteers. Apart from her professional
education and her practice skills, the social worker should be endowed with
certain personality traits, among the most important of which are genuine liking
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for people, warmth, emotional maturity, integrity, and a strong sense of
responsibility.
Assessment:
Read each instruction carefully and do this on a yellow paper. Write your
COMPLETE NAME, SECTION, AND COURSE. Please write legibly.
1. Differentiate Problem-Solving Process and Social Work Helping
Process in social work.
2. Name and explain the basic steps in systematic problem-solving.
Comment/react to the use of these steps, e.g., is there another or
better way of handling a problem? (Respond to this by looking back to
a problem you have experienced and how you handled it).
