UNIT-I

Social Case Work

1.0. Objectives

1.1. Introduction

1.2. Meaning, Definition, Objectives and Nature of Social Case work

1.2.1. Social case work in general

1.2.2. Definitions of Social Case work

1.2.3. Objectives of social case work

1.2.4. Nature of social case work

1.2.5. Historical development of Social case work

1.3. Components of Social Case work

1.3.1. The person

1.3.2. The problem

1.3.3. The place

1.3.4. The process

1.4. Phases of Case work

1.4.1. Intake

1.4.2. Study

1.4.3. Diagnosis

1.4.3.1.Process of diagnosis

1.4.3.2.Types of Diagnosis

1.4.3.3.Data for Diagnosis

1.4.4. Treatment

1.5. Principles of Social case work

1.6. Case work relationship

1.7. Helping Techniques in Social Case work

1.7.1. Interviewing in social case work

1.7.2. Recording in social case work

1.7.3. Referral

1.7.4. Home visits

1.8. Role of Social case worker

1.9. Let us sum up

1.10. Key words

1.11. Check your progress

1.12. References
 UNIT-I

Social Case Work

1.0. Objectives

After studying this unit you will be able to;

 Define social case work and understand its processes

 Analyze different principles of case work
 Understand the applications of different tools and techniques of social case work
 Relate social case work method with other methods of social work
 Articulate clearly about the role of social case worker
1.1. Introduction

Social work in its theoretical aspects is based on the knowledge of human relations with regard
to the solution of psycho social problems. In its applied aspect, social work is a professional
service based on scientific methods and skills. In the field of social sciences, social work
occupies a very important role. Every social problem is the outcome of many external and
internal factors. Therefore, when to deals with the individual problems, it is essential to deal
with his experiences and reactions towards the problems. Besides, proper recognition of
individual is also essential with regard to the solution of a problem. Therefore in the field of
social work, the main task of social worker is to develop the self direction and self dependence
of an individual. In social case work an individual, group, situation or phenomena is recognized
as unit of study and various aspects of the units are studied properly.

1.2. Meaning, Definition, Objectives and Nature of Social Case work

1.2.1. Social case work in general

The social case worker is oriented towards the principle of social justice. Social justice provides
everyone equal right to prowess. Therefore, social case work does not believe on the survival of
the fittest. In other words, social case work is based on the assumption of human welfare. It
provides help to every needy and disabled person. Its ultimate aim is to establish harmonious
relationship between the client and the society to which he belongs.

Thus in the social case work individual client is treated as a total unit. Internal and external
forces are motivated in such a manner so that he may solve his problems. Social case work
covers the individual aspect of assistance as such; the method adopted in it is purely
psychological. But side by, social worker has also to understand the various aspects of human
behavior. He must establish workable combination between the available social services and
the psychological understanding. Therefore, as a method, social case work gives much
emphasis on environmental reorganization and thereby attempt to bring about a change on
clients attitude and behavior. Social case work does not make a person entirely free from his
disabilities through social assistance. Besides, in certain favorable circumstances social case
work makes prevention and treatment of pathological problems.

1.2.2. Definitions of Social Case work

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 the art of bringing about the better adjustments in the social relationship of
individual men or women or children.

Richmond (1917)

Social case work means those processes which develop personality through adjustment
consciously affected, individual by individual, between men and their social environment.

Richmond (1922)

Social case work is the method of affecting the understanding of the needs, resources and
reactions of individuals.

Porter R. Lee

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 is the art of adjusting personal relationship.

Queen

Social case work is the art of changing human attitudes.

Lee
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, emotional and social factors. In social case work an
individual, group situation or phenomena is recognized as unit of study and various units are
studied properly.

1.2.3. Objectives of social case work

The basic purpose of social work is to enable the client to enjoy with some degree of
permanency, more satisfying, effective and acceptable experiences in the social situations in
which he find himself. To achieve this goal efforts are made to bring effective changes in the
client’s environment or social living situations. According to Witmer, the chief aim of social case
work is that of helping people to mobilize their capacities for the solution of the problems that
brought them to the attention of social agencies. Most of the writers of social work like Moffet
and Hollis have emphasized that one of the main objective of social case work is to bring about
an adjustment between the individual client and his situation or environment. Bowers
mentioned two objectives: better adjustment in the social relationships of the individual and
the development of individual personality. According to Perlman, within the boundaries of
what the client wants, his capacities and the resources of skills and materials means of the
agency and community, the specific goal is to help him achieve his previous level of functioning
of which he is capable of this time.
The purpose of social case work is to help an individual client to solve his psycho social
problems in such a way so that he find himself capable of dealings with these problems at
present and also may solve in future if such problems arise. Thus social case work has the
following objectives as mentioned by P.D.Mishra;

 To understand and solve the internal problems of the individuals

 To strengthen his ego power
 Remediation of problems in social functioning
 Prevention of problems in social functioning
 Development of resources to enhance social functioning.

1.2.4. Nature of social case work

Every individual child or adult in order to grow and develop has various needs like physical,
psychological and social needs to fulfill. In this task, he has to interact with different types of
people and face different environmental conditions. Very often, the person fails in his attempts
filly or partially and sometimes he has to non helpful reactions of people around him. Lack of
resources, non fulfillment of needs, unpleasant social reaction and unfavorable social
conditions make human development and functioning difficult and sometimes impossible. An
individual under the stressful conditions seeks help from the near and dear ones like parents
siblings friends and sometime from the professionals like priest, teacher, lawyers, doctors,
social workers etc. every professional help has two components. One is his professional skills
and knowledge and the other one is his personal characteristics and experiences. These two
components set the way the professional helper will move to help the needy individuals to
meet his needs or solve his problems to live a full life.

There are many problems which are common to all individuals yet certain problems
differ from individual to individual. Social case worker provides assistance to every individual in
accordance to his problem and need. In other words social case work is the product of
differential treatment. In this regard, Prof. Friedlander has made the following observations:

“In a society that draws strength from the respect and the consequent contributions of
individually, it should not be surprising that a regard for the peculiar meaning with experience
has for the individual has led to the development of unique process which has come to be
known as social case work.”

Besides this, all individuals in their social life are closely associated with each other.
Every individual renders a certain type towards his fellow beings. For example, doctor, teacher,
lawyer etc. render a particular type of service. Similarly social work is also a profession which
helps to the needy people. Social case work involves the following ingredients.
(I)Social agencies

Social case work is performed through social agencies these agencies are organized in a
large or small scale and often provide specialized services.

(II) Application

The process of social caser work starts after the application by a client for agency’s
assistance. Its success is based on the proper protection of client’s interests.

(iii) Continuing Service

The problem confronting to a client, takes some time for solution. During this period,
agency’s service remains continuous.

(IV) The process of social case work ends at the stage when the client no longer requires
agency’s assistance. At this stage the problem before the client is solved and does not require
further after care service and the process comes to an end.

Social case work enables an individual to obtain a higher level of social functioning through an
interpersonal transaction or face to face or person to person encounter. The case worker helps
the client to act in order to achieve some personal or social goals by utilizing the available
resources in terms of strength of personality of the client, his social system or material
provisions available in the community or agency. Case worker knowledge and expertise and
material resources are used to inject strengths in the person or enable him to move more
satisfying in the social situation he finds difficult to deal with.

Richmond, who gave a scientific status to case work, defines social case work as one
consisting of those processes which develop personality through adjustments consciously
effected individual by individual between man and their social environment. Richmond
considers case work as a method of measuring against reality the client’s capacity to deal with
his problem while the worker helps him to clarify what the problem is and enables him to think
of different ways to solve it. According to Bowers, social case work is an art in which knowledge
of the science of human relations and skills in relationship are used to mobilize capacities in the
individual and resources in the community appropriate for better adjustment between the
client and all or any part of his total environment. Hamilton says that case work characterized
by the objective to administer practical services and offer counseling in such a way as to arouse
and conserve the psychological energies of the client actively involve him in the use of the
service toward the solution of his dilemma. These definitions have attempted to focus on
certain aspects of case work process only, and when these are taken and understood together,
explain the nature of case work better.
 A person at every point of the day performs some role. All his functions are directed to
fulfill some role. The case worker may mainly aim at restoring, maintaining or improving the
person’s functioning using his knowledge of human behavior, skills in communications and
relationships and the available resources. It is presumed that any person who has some
problem with his thinking, feeling or acting or their interaction will not be able to function
properly and adequately in his social roles assigned to or achieved by him.

Social functioning means functioning in different roles one has achieved or has been
assigned by society according to his position. Bartlett, defines social functioning as the
interaction between the coping activity of people and the demand from the environment. The
case worker does not offer help to the person only at his personal request but also when the
person does not seek or resist help. In such case help is offered at the instance of his relatives,
public agencies (police, Hospitals) etc. or community who feel concerned and are interested to
help the person to live a socially and use full life. Caseworker, in addition to the person in need
of help, may work with those people and also who are in some way or other important for
solution of the person’s problem. The help is offered through a process. This process is usually
termed as study, diagnosis, formulation of goals and planning treatment, evaluation and
termination.

Thus, social case work as a helping process, tries to effect a change in the client’s behavior
systematically to enable him to achieve what he really needs and to realize his potentials foe
living a personally satisfying and socially useful life. And in this process of helping the client, he
offers concrete services including money and materials modifies his environment to provide an
environment favorable to the required change in him, strengthens and augments his capacities,
develops an attitude congenial for growth, effects the desired change in his lifestyle and
maintains his emotional equilibrium.

1.2.5. Historical development of Social case work

Social case work as practiced today a purely western model, woes its history to work by
individuals and organizations with the poor. The Association for Improving the Condition of the
Poor (AICP) founded in 1843 in USA. Its emphasized self respect self dependence and relief
suitable to their needs in its work with the poor. The approach behind this service by AICP had a
clear departure from the earlier services to the poor in colonial America under Elizabeth Poor
Law of 1601 which was based on the concept of charity. Though case work as a mode of helping
people on the basis of a person to person relationship was present in every society from
ancient times. One of the earliest organized efforts in USA to help the poor was the
establishment of the American Charity Organisation Society in 1877. One of their aims was to
find out ways and means of helping the poor and needy. The society used volunteers to visit the
homes for the poor for purposes of assessing their needs, for rendering material assistance and
for giving them guidance and advice. These friendly visitors were subsequently supplemented
by paid agents who gradually developed systematic procedures in performing their tasks. They
collected data of the needy individuals and families and helped them after assessing their need.
They maintained records the case work developed gradually to a professional method in
subsequent years. The term paid agents and the poor were supplanted by case workers and
client respectively in the terminology of the help giving organizations and the office came to be
known as the agency.

Mary Richmond’s book “social diagnosis” (1917), the first book in social case work, set
forth a methodology of helping clients through systematic way of assessing their problems and
handling them. Besides, the book introduced the principle of individualization and also
acknowledged the client’s right of self determination.

Various definitions of case work in the 1920s under the influence of Freudian theory no
more emphasized external factors. It held the individual responsible for his plight and it was he
who was helped to cope with the social problems confronting him. During the same time social
reforms and social problems received little attention compare to its earlier period when the
emphasis was on correcting the social environment of the client. In 1920, under the Freudian
influence, case work was to untangle and reconstruct the twisted personality and change
human attitudes so that the client could adjust to his environment and its influence.

During the 1940s, case workers were exposed to the formulations on ego psychology
based on the observations of human beings as regards their differential coping and adapting
ability in times of stress. The new studies of human behavior brought to light the potentialities
of the human personalities for healthy adaptation to life’s stresses.

American case work influenced India as the first professional social workers who did
case work in the Indian settings were trained in the American Schools of Social Work. Case work
was taught when the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work currently known as the
Tata Institute of Social Sciences was started in Bombay at 1936. It became a method of practice
in helping people with their problems of social functioning.

Some social welfare agencies employed case workers particularly with the purpose of
helping their clients in a one to one relationship. Currently the so called case workers are
attached to some welfare agencies are not trained case workers and those professionally
trained social workers who use the method of case work considerably in their work are not
given the designation of case workers as they are likely to use other methods as well.

Social case work is primarily related with the psycho social problems. It consists of the
study of mental, emotional and social factors. As according to Prof. Gordan Hamilton, A social
case is a living event within which there are always economic, physical, mental, emotional and
social factors in varying proportion. After the World War II, with the problems of morale,
leadership, propaganda, separation, communication etc. social workers found social sciences
more useful. Interest in social environment along with ego psychology received more attention.
Many new trends are coming forth and possibly no definition will ever be able to cover all the
changes and trends emerging from time to time.

1.3. 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 process named, “social work” to denote its center of attention and its individual aspect; is a
progressive transaction between the professional helper (case worker) and the client. It
consists of a series of problem-solving operations carried on within a meaningful relationship.

1.3.1. 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. He
si a product-in-process of his constitutional make up, his physical and social environment, his
past experience, his present perception and reactions, and even his future aspirations. It is that
he brings to every life-situation he encounters. The essence of social case work help is that it
aims to facilitate the individual’s social adaption, to restore, reshape, or reinforce his
functioning as a social being. To do this is to affect a person’s behavior.

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.

1.3.2. The problem

The problem within the purview of social case work are those which vitally affect or are
affected by a person’s social functioning, e.g. some unmeant need of economic, medical,
educational and recreational nature. In the process of development human being develops
certain attitude, beliefs, ideas and ways of reacting and expressing in different situations.
Sometimes he fails to cope up with his situation and find himself in problem and need the help
of an outsider.

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.

The problem is two kinds, Intra personal and Inter personal.

Intrapersonal

The dictionary meaning of intrapersonal is in mind or relating to internal aspects of a person,

especially the emotions. 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.

Types of problem

There is probably no problem in human living that has not been brought to the social workers in
agencies. Problem for hunger for food and hunger for love, seeking shelter and of wanting to
run away, getting married or not staying to married, wanting to live, wanting to die etc are
many problems

Physiological problem

This problem is related to physique of the person. All the physical disabilities of the body are
this type of problems. Blindness, hearing impairment, speech impairment, organically
handicapped, both internal and external are such kinds of problem.

Economic Problem

All individual in this earth is facing economic problem. Economically the society is divided into
three class. Lower, Middle and upper. But we divide as “Haves and Have not” . Have means
those people who have chances for development or getting to be developed. Have not means
those people who are deprived from having the chances to develop themselves. Economic
problem related to the management of needs and resources a person have. If a person has
managed his needs to his resources then he will be facing no economic problem.

Psychological Problem

Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. It is the study of what we think and what we do.
Psychological problem occurs when a person is disturbed by some external circumstances.
Anxiety, Schizophrenia, depression, anger is some of the examples of psychological problem.

Relationship problem

Human being is a bio psycho social entity. Man lives in the society. He is engaged in different
interpersonal relationship like family, neighbors, colleagues etc. sometimes there comes some
problem in maintaining these relations. Divorce, family disturbances are the outcomes of all
these problems. When a person is unable to solve this problem by his own he comes to the
social worker in an agency and get helped by the [professionals.

1.3.3. 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.

Each social agency develops a program by which to meet the particular areas of need
with which it sets to put to deal with the person’s problems. The social agency has a structure
by which it organizes and delegates its responsibilities and tasks, and governing policies and
procedures by which it stabilizes and systematizes its operations. Every staff members in the
agency speaks and act for some part of the agency’s function, and the case worker represents
the agency in its individualized problem solving help. The case worker while representing the
agency is first and foremost representative of his profession.

There are three kinds of agencies,

Governmental agency

It is fully financially supported by the government. It does not take any aid from any other
sources. Its source of funds is the government itself. Its programmes and plannings are
implemented by the professionals of social services who are government experts. Government
agencies are accountable for their expenditure. The staffs are totally paid and professionally
skilled persons.

Nongovernmental agency

Non governmental organisations are fully supported by the public donation. The programme
are planned and implemented by the people who has formed the NGO. Its staffs include more
volunteers and less paid employees. Volunteers are the main force of NGOs.

Semi governmental agency

Semi governmental organisations are those which are started by the people. The people realize
a need for an orgnisational effort to lead a campaign agianst a social problem. The government
gives them a littile financial support in the shape of grants. 30% by the government and 70% by
the people. It has an accountability system. It is accountable to government. Its staff include
more paid employee and less volunteers.

1.3.4. The process

The case work process is essentially one of problem solving. When persons encounter a
problem that defies their copying efforts or that requires for its solution, some means that
cannot command that they turn to persons whose perspectives, expertise or resources may be
of help.

In order to understand what the case work process must include in the problem-solving help it
is necessary to take stock first of the kinds of blockings which occur in peoples normal problem
solving efforts. These would be:

i) lack of material provision for it.

ii) Ignorance or misapprehension.

iii) When the person with problem is depleted or drained of emotional or physical energy.

iv) Some problems arouse high feelings in a person- emotions are so strong that they
overpower his reason and defy his conscious controls. Sometimes these feelings are realistically
called for as in the case of death of a dear one.

(v) The problem may lie within the person, i.e, he may have become subject to, or victim of,
emotions that chronically over a long time, have governed his thinking and action.

(vi) Some people find problems difficult of solution because they have never developed
systematic habits or orderly methods of thinking and planning.

The intent of the case work process is to engage the person himself, both in working on and in
coping with the one or several problems that confront him and to do so by such means as may
stand him in good stead as he goes forward in living.

1.4. Phases of Case work

1.4.1. Intake

Intake is an administrative procedure, and not a process of social case work, to take in the
person with problem, i.e. admit him or enroll him as a client of the agency. This starts with first
encounter and ends with usually the second interview with the social worker. This phase
requires a very skillful probing into the client’s problem, mopping up all the relevant areas of
the person in his situation.