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Client interview with a social worker
Personal Strengths and Areas for Development
Role of social work to help the client
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CLIENT SYSTEM ROLE PLAY REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS PAPER Jackie L. Taylor Walden University How did it feel to walk in the shoes of a social worker? I am camera shy and felt very nervous while videoing the role playing assignment. As far as walking in the shoes of a social worker, I have learned that a social workers who follows the Generalist Practitioner Model, are supposed to be able to empower their clients to self-efficacy, through open collaboration, task-centered and goal oriented process (Kirst-Ashman & Hull Jr., 2012). These processes are includes the application of concepts of respect for human diversity and the client’s right of self-determination. These processes also encompasses the concept that every client have positive attributes (personal strengths and resources), that can be tapped to provide “structure and content for an examination of realizable alternative” can that will assist in realizing the goal of planned changed (Cowger, 1994). However, in carrying out the planned change, outside of the face to face interview and assessment with the client is where the real work begins. John T. is a real life client, referred to NFLV for possible need of crisis intervention. It was easy for me to engage my client and make an assessment of the issues that my client needs to have resolved. However, when I contacted the VA Mental Health Clinic for an emergency mental health visit and refill of John T.’s medication, it was like pulling teeth. After, three hours of getting the run-around, and one well-placed called to John’s Congressman, the clinic finally agree to see him on an emergent basis I am sure when social workers have to work outside the micro system, implementing planned change and can b... ... middle of paper ... ...m. In the interview the client that she does not have a drinking problem and ask the worker “Why are my parents being so nosy?” Kimberleatha appropriately reframed the discrepancy by telling the client, that the parents are being nosy because they parent are interested in and concern for her well-being. This feedback was given with empathy in a non-blaming and non-confrontational manner. As far as how Kimberleatha can improve her approach in engagement and interview process, I believe that for a new student practitioner, she excellently executed the processes. I wish I had done so well. References Cowger, C. D. (1994). Assessing strengths: Clinical assessment for client empowerment. Social Work, 39(3), 262-268. Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2012). Understanding generalist practice (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks Cole.
Entering the field of social work you must be prepared to encounter many personalities. Knowing this, you have to become aware of people with different backgrounds and morals. By doing this you will be able to help your clients to the best of your ability, without forcing your personal beliefs or values on to them. A value is a set of rules or or beliefs that affect your every day decisions (Sheafor & Horejsi, 2011). Applying your personal values to every situation is very important, however, you must learn to separate what you know and what is in actuality the best outcome for your client. I will be discussing the ways I feel about the “Vignette’s”, while also incorporating different things I have learned from the readings and class discussions.
The client of focus is a twenty-seven year old, African American male who suffers from severe alcoholism. In order to protect the confidentiality of my client he will be referred to as Johnathan throughout this paper. Johnathan has a daughter that is 5 years of age who also suffers from the consequences of her father’s actions. Before interviewing I explained to Johnathan that anything he shared with me would be completely confidential, and that he could stop at any time during the interview if he felt uncomfortable. I also explained to him that the purpose of my paper was to simply assess his real life situation based on multiple theories in social work. To begin the interview off I went on to seek the root of Johnathan’s drinking problem. Johnathan shared with me that he doesn’t really know why he started drinking but, he knows why he continues to drink. He then expressed to me that he feels as if the ones he considers closest to him, including friends, and family judge him based on his lifestyle. He feels that he cannot make anyone proud, including his daughter.
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2012). Understanding generalist practice (6th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
I am passionate about social work, motivated, adaptable to new environments final year, postgraduate, social work student. I am committed to social work values and I am confident that I share Hackney Children and Young People’s Services values and core principles. I share a vision for the local area described by the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). I share the Council’s vision of a community based on fair and equal treatment for all and respect for the dignity and value of each person is summed up in its Equality and Diversity Statement. I am committed to promoting and to protect equality of opportunity for all groups of staff and service users and to challenge discrimination, racism, sexism and other forms of unjust behaviour. I am also committed to other Council’s core values of public service, quality, and empowerment. I am committed to the seven Principles of Public Life which are as follows: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership
Being given the opportunity to intern with the staff at the Family Resource Center in the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) has been a tremendous learning experience thus far. The opportunity has truly surpassed my expectation of what I imagined the journey of internship would be like and how it would help me to evolve into the professional arena as a social worker. I see myself transforming and viewing the community in which I live, the clients served, those deprived, and the tremendous job that we as social workers are tasked with to advocate for those in need from a more open-minded perspective. By enhancing and developing my personal and professional skills, such as active listening, observation, and professional comportment, I will be
Through reading this paper you will learn about the key points from the article, A Social Worker’s Reflection on Power, Privilege, and Oppression written by Michael S. Spencer and the article White Privilege: Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. Then the paper will include my personal beliefs on the topic of privilege and even some of my own personal privilege that are in my knapsack and that have helped me along my way in life. Finally, There will also be a point in the paper where I will have the ability to informed you about how privilege affect people and how they can positively affect people who do not receive them. Privileges impacts many groups of people in many different ways. They can be effected by
Although the experience was nerve-racking, I believe that I did a very good job. I was able to collect the majority of the information that she was telling me while asking follow up questions. However, it was more to balance than I had expected. It was difficult asking questions and attempting to record enough information to complete my assignment. As the conversation continued, I got interested in her life stories and professional examples and noticed I had stopped taking notes. I also felt the need to make constant eye contact to show I was alert and aware of what she was saying, which brought challenges to my note taking. This interview process made me feel excited for the future. It was an intriguing opportunity to know that one day I will be able to positively impact lives the way Fultz does. To improve my interview skills, I would ask if I could record the conversation. This will allow me to interact more with the health professional while also consuming a maximum amount of information. I wish I had thought about recording this conversation prior to the interview, because Fultz spoke beautifully about her passion as a social worker, and I wish I was able to directly quote her in this
Throughout the Social Work Program at Winona State University-Rochester, I have been able to expand my knowledge about what it means to be a social worker. Prior to joining this program, when I thought of a social worker, I thought of someone who is highly motivated, compassionate, supportive, and someone who wants to make a difference in somebody’s life. Although this definition is true, overtime I have been able to expand this definition. Now, they are also someone who builds relationships with clients during what are often their lowest points in their lives and they are a person who often will put others needs before their own. Social workers use their knowledge about maintaining a person’s dignity and worth and rely on skills that help them understand people within their environment, and using their training to help people from all walks of life both on the micro level and the macro level.
As a social worker, I have been able to use my skills I have learned in the field and my college education. I have values, beliefs, and ethics that I have used to center my social work career around. I also acknowledge as a social worker, I cannot push my values, beliefs, and ethics onto others. Every person does not share the same values, beliefs and ethics.
The one common passion that all social workers have is the ability to fight for other individual’s human rights and justice. What society often forgets is the fact that every human being in the world has human rights, but everywhere you go there are people mistreated and considered disposable. In a world that has a vast amount of cultures and customs, it is pertinent that social workers become aware of the diversity that exists. Social workers are expected to be culturally competent, empathetic, and sensitive to those that might be different from us. Social workers are the instruments to change the lives of people in mirco, meso, and macro settings. Social workers, especially those who are therapists or case managers, need to have a global perspective while working in the field. Social with global perspectives will help social workers empathize with their clients, teach them skills that can be applied in the field, and understand how one policy in one country can affect others.
Today’s skills session on social work interviewing skills covered the uniqueness of social work interviewing in comparison to interviews conducted in professions such as the police, doctors, employers, etc. It covered also different types of questioning and how to paraphrase. Another area covered was, what to avoid when interviewing a service user and the use of silence. I leant that interview skills are fundamental in social work and social work interviewing is unique. Social workers empathize with clients because of their knowledge of the client group and the need of help to alleviate their problems. Empathy however does not equate accepting that the client is right in what they have done or that the social worker is condoning their actions. Empathy relates to the issue of ‘trusting’ and ‘believing’ the client. In as much as a social worker should seek to establish trust in the relationship, this does not necessarily mean they should believe
I used rephrasing as a part of understanding the reason for the client’s visit and repeated the information in a way that we both could understand. The client was able to respond through the questions that I asked her in regards to her situation. I want to get a clear understanding without leaving out valuable information. In the three sessions my intentions were to make sure that what she gave me over the phone matches what she says in the interview. I made sure that when my client was speaking, I took notes on the new information or the information that was not covered in any of the previous sessions. Each session was based upon reflection because I had to make sure progress was being made or not. When my client began to discuss things in a way in which I could not understand, I was able to interpret the information in a way that she and I both understood and agreed upon. The moment an initial contact was made, I started giving my client information on informed consent forms, who I was and the number of years of my social work profession, policies and
47). Social workers advise clients how to attain resources, rather than just providing them. The idea is to include clients in their journey to success and feel a sense of control in their life. I personally believe encouraging empowerment is a critical aspect of a social worker’s roles and responsibility. Engaging clients in setting their own goals is essential, and ultimately more beneficial to them. Clients should be able to access resources on their own; additionally, they can use the assistance of friends, families, communities, and organizations. One of the core values of a social worker is, Importance of human relationships. According to the NASW, “Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process” (The National Association, “n. d.”). Empowerment and advocacy are closely connected. I want to advocate for clients, furthermore, I want clients to be able to advocate for
In conclusion I believe that I have developed both skills working with others and improving your own learning and performance. But I need to work on these skills so I can use them in a more effective way; and I also recognise that I will not develop these in a short period of time. I will have to work on the strategies I have mentioned throughout the assignment in order to improve these skills.
Over the course of the semester, I have learned a variety of many things regarding social work. These things vary from learning how to help oneself to understanding how to help others. Not only were the textbooks very useful, but also the materials that furthered this textbook learning. The in class presentation, activities, and guest speakers gave us insight and a different perspective on the material we were learning. I feel like this course has given me a good foundation and prepared me as a future social worker (1).