Intro to Social Work Final Exam

Professor McGarry

Consultancy/Collaboration

Enabler, Facilitator, Planner, Colleague Finding solutions with clients

Resource Management

Broker/Advocate, Mediator, Activist, Catalyst
Finding, maintaining, and advocating for resource provision for and with clients

Education

Teacher, Trainer, Outreach, Researcher
Empowering information exchange between social worker and client

Elements of Empowerment Approach

personal, interpersonal, sociopolitcal

Personal

a subjective state of mind; competence; feeling in control to impact change. Arises from a goodness of fit

Interpersonal

sense of independence, support, and respected status; the ability to influence others, Social status, Skill sets and positions

Sociopolitical

the objective reality of opportunities in societal structures and the reallocation of power through modification of social structures

Elements of the strength perspective

Clients have existing reservoirs of resources and competence to draw upon.
Clients have a distinct capacity for growth and change.
Problems defined as occurring within the transactions between systems rather than than residing in deficient system functioning.
Collaboration amplifies existing strengths to build new resources.
Affirms client is the expert. Positive change builds on a vision of future possibilities. (Miracle Question)
Magnifies mastery and competence rather than correct deficits.

Person in environment

understanding an individual and individual behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which that person lives and acts

Cultural influences on communication

affects all facets of communication processes, creates variability in verbal meaning, nonverbal expression and interpretation, some nonverbal expressions apply universally

Assumptions influence on communication

Can lead to misunderstandings

Expectations influence on communication

past experiences shape perception

Emotional influence on communication

impact sending, receiving, and remembering information. Acute stress can result in hypervigilance

Distractions

noise, odors, interruptions

Close ended vs open ended questions

One only elicits a yes or no response while the other allows the client to elaborate

Proactive Responding

Client-centered, culturally sensitive, goal-directed
Uses active listening skills
Respond by building on and validating what clients share

Verbal skills

Use easily understandable words, Avoid evaluative terms, such as good, bad, okay, Avoid jargon, inferences, speculation, and labels, Use words that are descriptive rather than inferential, Do not generalize people based on their ethnicity, gender, class, etc., Adopt a speaking style that is moderate in tone and speed of delivery, Use speech to convey that you are truly interested in what the client has to say

Non-verbal skills

Bodily behavior, eye behavior, facial expressions, voice-related behavior, observable autonomic physiological responses, general appearance, space

Effective listening

Minimizes attention to his/her own experiences, concentrates on the client with a determination to understand, Listening attentively conveys respect for the client

Active listening

Combines talking and listening skills in such a way that others feel understood and encouraged to express themselves further. Is a form of feedback. Shows interest in the client’s views, feelings, and experiences

Inviting

Use of body position, facial expression, speech, and language to indicate readiness to listen

Listening

involves hearing, observing, encouraging, and remembering

Reflecting

Includes paraphrasing the client’s statements

Self-disclosure

Brief, infrequent, and immediately relevant to clients, “this is my experience”

Common errors in communication

Using too many of the client’s words so that one appears to be mimicking. Repeating the same lead-in phrase. Trying to be clever or profound. Responding only to facts or feelings rather than listening actively. Interrupting frequently. Using active listening too often

Biopsychosocial

Describes the social aspects of the client’s functioning and their situation. 
Social Workers are especially concerned about the match between client needs and resources available to meet those needs

What does a BPS need to be

short-the report should say no more than needs to be said to communicate necessary info
clear and simple-select the least complicated words 
useful-keep your purpose in mind. Do not include info just because it is interesting

Timeline

Table that reflects important events or experiences in chronological order during a designated period

Genogram

Graphic representation of family trees or pedigrees

Eco-map

Diagrammatic representation of the social contexts in which people live

Qualities of a good goal

Should be stated as an accomplishment.
Stated in clear, specific terms.
Should be measurable or verifiable- Need to know how you will know if you succeed
Realistic for the client
Adequate to improve client situation

SMART goal

Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based

make goals clear and _____

Specific

Define _____ assets

Measureable

Confirm your goals are ____

Attainable

Verify your goals are ____

Relevant

Set up a _____ plan

Time-based

Objectives of treatment plan

Specific concrete steps to achieve the goal

Intervention of treatment plan

Ensure goals and objectives are based on client needs

Tasks of treatment plan

Action steps to break down objectives into more achievable action points

Strategies to sustaining motivation

Validation
Normalizing
Accepting the Nature of change Respecting Uniqueness
Matching cultural norms
Emotional Support

Empowerment

Promoting Leadership
Facilitating Choices
Shaping Competence

Promoting leadership

Using natural leaders in the community

Facilitating Choices

Realistic change
Help reveal opportunities to make choices
Help connect with resources to increase opportunities

Shaping Competence

Strength-finding -------> Strength Accentuating
What things are already going well

Constructing feedback

Descriptive
Shares personal perspective, not advice
Specific
Positive and points of improvement
Keeps pace with client readiness

Confrontation

Intent
Behavior
Outcome

Reframing

negative -----> positive

Metaphors

They are ambiguous and help the client make their own meaning

Narrative Strategies

Clients become a "cast of characters"
Find positive themes
Help clients rewrite the parts of their stories that feel negative
"The Story I'm telling myself"

Tasks-new behaviors

Constructing Experimental Activities
Observations
Connecting and Disconnecting relationships
Maintaining Productive Action
Taking Small Steps
Implementing Activities-homework
Following Up