Social Work Methods and Skills: A Case Study of Ms L and Child T

This case study explores the social work methods and skills used to address the mental health difficulties and physically aggressive behaviour of Ms L and Child T. It includes the development of understanding of needs, risks, and strengths, assessment and decision making within a statutory framework, and the use of theoretical approaches and anti-discriminatory frameworks.

Social Work Methods and
Skills

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Brief description of service user’s presenting issue....................................................................1
Demonstration of ways about development of understanding of needs, risks along with
strengths for service user’s situation............................................................................................2
Describing how assessment along with subsequent decision making and response were taken
within a statutory framework.......................................................................................................3
Justification and critical justification of skills used.....................................................................4
Justification and critical reflection of use of theoretical approaches to social work that
underpin practices........................................................................................................................6
Demonstration of the ways anti discriminatory as well as anti-oppressive framework have
been incorporated in working......................................................................................................7
Reflection of strengths and weaknesses of working....................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Social work is said to practice based profession which promotes changes, development
together with cohesion in society and empowering people as well as communities. Practices in
social work comprises of understanding human development, behavior and interactions within
society (Specht and Vickery, 2021). There are various social work methods, including casework,
community organisation, social work research, group work, social welfare administration and
social actions. Likewise, social work skills comprise variant of soft skills that are related to job.
Effective social work methods and skills help social workers to stay on top about needs of clients
and provide adequate care. They help people belonging all ages and various sections for
enhancing social functioning addition to coping effectively with problems. The case study is all
about Ms L who expressed ongoing concern of behaviour of Child T as risk to siblings and being
complex to manage. Ms L is struggling to deal with behaviour of Child T and her own mental
health complexities.
The assignment addresses presenting issue of service user, development of understanding
of needs, risks and strengths of service user’s situations, subsequent decision making and
responses undertaken in statutory framework. It also includes reflection of usage of skills,
theoretical approaches to social work, incorporation of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive
frameworks in working. At last, it includes strengths and weaknesses of working.
MAIN BODY
Brief description of service user’s presenting issue
Ms L is mother of Child T, Child O, Child K and Child F. Ms L is able to provide and
meet care needs of Child K, Child O and Child T. Ms L is facing mental health difficulties and
needs child and family assessment because of dangerous physically aggressive behaviour of one
of children towards other. Ms L is service user for safeguarding all children. Ms L took children
to local Children’s centre for promoting all the development needs addition to social interaction
with other children. MS is facing issue of own mental health difficulties and struggle for coping
with aggressive behaviour of one child.
Child T is of 7 years’ old who has no concern about social interaction with other children
always playing with other who are always not of same group. Child T do not have close
friendship group and do not interact with adults. Behaviour and attitude of Child T is good at
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school and makes attempt for engaging in learning, although, struggles with huge working. from
the time, Child T poured bleach on sibling, behaviour with siblings and parents has totally
changed from love, kind and affectionate to rude and aggressive. Child T is service user for
weekly draw as well as talk therapy sessions. During course of assessment and information
gathered from professionals carrying out practices with family and other members, it is
ascertained that Child T has behaviour issues and as on outcome, the personality is referred to
CAMHS for early help. At present, the service use is facing issue of physically aggressive
behaviours towards others siblings (Goldberg and Warburton, 2021). The child is well supported
with people including maternal and paternal members as well as school therapist. The user has
no existing mental or physical issues, no record of injuries and no reasons for completion of
immunisation.
Demonstration of ways about development of understanding of needs, risks along with strengths
for service user’s situation
Social care worker provides people and families with support during different times as well
as ensure that vulnerable people are safeguarded from harm. As a social care worker, I improved
outcome of lives of service users (Rogers and Et. Al., 2020). In aspect to situation of service
user, for example, Ms L, acquisition of better awareness of needs and beliefs, I developed
understanding by identifying gaps among their own and their situations. It resulted in analysing
treatment choices in more acceptable manner to the expectations and needs of users. Along with
this, I as social care worker developed an understanding of risks and situations related to Ms L
through improving preventive care. I carried out practices as culturally aware social care who
builds mutual respect addition to empathy which determine kinds of risks involved with their
life. In aspect to Ms L, it is analysed by me that risks related to service user are relationship
difficulties, decreased enjoyment of life and severity of negative event occurring. With the help
of analysing surrounding demands and potential of Ms L, I developed an understanding about
strength of situation of the service user that includes support from family members and friends to
manage as well as provides care to children. Through finding and analysing meanings in day to
day life of Ms L, I gained insights about strengths of situation so that I can provide adequate care
for the issues faced by the service user.
In context to service user that is Child T, I as social care worker developed understanding
of needs and situation by developing an infrastructure or environment to exchange words so to
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determine best methods of care coordination. Communication with parents of Child T also
helped me in determining needs of the user. With this, I analysed that giving the child an active
role for resolving problematic behaviour is effective. Involvement in discussion with Child T
about what they believe about disrespectful behaviour with siblings helped me to understand
risks in their life. Child T had voice in what happened that resulted in more buy-in situations for
them. Through determining consequences, I as social care worker gave consequences and follow
up discussions related to the situation with the service user. Furthermore, strengths in situations
related to service user that is Child T are developed through scanning family relationship and
house environment wherein the user live and how they respond with other members.
Describing how assessment along with subsequent decision making and response were taken
within a statutory framework
While carrying out practices to provide care and support to service users, various statutory
frameworks are adhered while assessing, decision making and responding towards needs of
users. Equality Act 2010 is one of statutory framework which makes it unlawful for social care
worker to discriminate someone as per grounds of any of characteristics, including gender
reassignment, age, race and hence forth (Zerden and Et. Al., 2021). A social care worker works
within the statutory framework and performs practices of assessing, decision making and
responding to service user needs by providing fair care to everyone without any biases. In aspect
to Ms L, assessment within the statutory framework is undertaken by treating the service user
equally and provide dignity along with respect. At same time, decision making within Equality
Act 2010 is taken by social care worker about how to provide treatment and care facilities.
Decision for implementing procedures and policies to treat Ms L are applied by social care
worker without discriminating the user. Social care worker also make decision within the
framework to make information related to medical situations available in regards to health
conditions. In association to Ms L, social care worker responds towards the mental health
condition because of caring responsibilities. They provide care to the vulnerable through
arranging support, building effective relationship, stand up for rights and ensuring safety.
In association to Child T, social care worker undertaken some of the workings such as
assessment, subsequent decision making and response in statutory framework, for example,
Equality Act 2010 in various ways. The social care worker within the statutory framework
assessed Child T through spending time in valuation, diagnosing, treating along with analysing
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behaviours in different situations with siblings without making any kind of perceptive. Within
the framework, social care worker makes subsequent decisions through treating the service user
as per their needs (North, 2021). The social care worker while making decision for treatment
makes sure that all are given equality of opportunity. For example, social care worker to Child T
provided information in distinct formats and ensured that there was building for the service user
to have control on rude behaviour against siblings. To respond towards rude behaviour of Child
T equally, social care worker reacted to rudeness with kindness. It is analysed that social care
worker considered best way to respond for defusing rude together with negative behaviour of the
child through staying friendly as well as positive in fair manner. By setting a well-mannered
example, the social care worker prompt service user for following the lead.
Justification and critical justification of skills used
Social work is a demanding and dynamic profession which requires variety of qualities and
skills (Walker and Horner, 2020). As a social worker I need to develop various essential skills to
conduct work better throughout my career. By these skills I can help various people like Ms L
and Child T to improve their mental and physical condition which helps them to fully live their
life. The various skills which helps me to convey my work better to the user are as follows;
Empathy skill- It is the capability to understand and identify other person's point of view and
experience. It is most important skill which a social worker must have to understand someone
perception, experience and problems to know and build better relationship with clients. It helps
me as social worker to analyse the needs of clients based on her and his different experiences or
issues so I can provide efficient services for betterment of them (Koprowska, 2020). Ms L and
Child T are two clients which have different problems like mental health difficulties and
physically aggressive behaviour. I can use this skill to understand their condition and connect
with them better. Further, I provide better suggestion to them which improve their mental and
physical condition.
Communication skill- It is essential skill for social worker to convey their view point and
thoughts to the clients. The ability to communicate both verbal and nonverbal clearly with large
number of people is must. It is the responsibility of any social worker to communicate properly
with people who don't speak and understand their problem to treat them in right manner (Harris
and White, 2018). It helps me as social worker to interact with clients and built connection with
them so, they clearly share their problems with me. In case of Ms L and Child T they share their
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problems like mental health difficulties and physically aggressive behaviour with me. After
examine their condition, by using communication skill I can convey the information about their
issues with their families more effectively. Also, with this skill I connect and treat them better as
well as they also listen my instruction to follow for their improvement.
Critical thinking skill- It is ability to determine information collected from communication
and unbiased observation. Every social worker has to be able to objectively examine every case
by gathering information through research, observation and interviews (Faulkner and Faulkner,
2018). Without partiality and thinking critically allows me as social workers to take informed
decisions, as well as I can determine the better resources and make the best plan to help users. By
using this skill, I observed the behaviours of Ms L and Child T personally without listening
others. Through critical thinking I can make better plan to provides best treatment which can
improve their mental and physical condition. Also, it helps me to create better situation and
environment for them so they overcome from their conditions and live their life without feeling
ill.
Cultural competence skill –Performing well with many clients and users who are come from
different background, culture, religion and community. Social workers need to be responsive and
respectful with their clients about their beliefs and practices (Sosnickaya and Kryvylova, 2020).
As a social worker I was more respectful and knowledgeable about my client’s cultural
backgrounds and beliefs. It helps me to examine their background so I can get full information
about their past experiences by which I will deliver better services to users with different cultural
experiences. In case of Ms L and Child T they belong to different background and community as
well as their problems are also different. By this skill, I get to know about their beliefs, family
background, thinking and religious values as well as this information helps me to treat them
better. By using their background as base I can make various treatment plan without hurting their
sentiments which improve their mental and physical condition. With this skill, I am able to know
more about the reason of their mental health difficulties and physically aggressive behaviour that
helps me to make proper report and time in which they overcome from their conditions and feel
better.
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Justification and critical reflection of use of theoretical approaches to social work that underpin
practices
Social work is a science as practitioners in the field guide their clients, however, do not
complete working on the basis of their styles and opinions. Instead, they study clinical theories
which are grounded in research for informing ways to implement activities in methodological
manner. In accordance to Russiano (2020), social work framework allows social care workers to
explore particular origins of behaviour with approaches of evidence based (Russiano, 2020).
They lean on the theories together with practices for addressing problems of service users with
research for backing up practices. By using social work framework, I as social care worker
avoided personal assumptions as well as biases from interfering with treatment plans in effective
manner. With this, I applied effective solutions for Ms L and Child T despite of grasping at
straws. Mentioned below are critical reflection on my usage of theoretical approaches to social
work that underpinned my practice as social care worker for Ms L and Child T:
Systems theory: The theory assumes that behaviour of human is outcome of larger system
that is composition of ample number of elements, comprising relationship among elements and
external factors (Tavakoly Sany and Et. Al., 2018). Moreover, these factors include person’s
family, school, community, work peers and many more. The framework was used by me to
perform social care practices for Child T and Ms L because it assists in predicting human
behaviour and accordingly establishing strategies of care. With this framework, I examined the
ways in which systems where service user live affects their own behaviours. In context to Ms L
and Child T, I have used System Theory in my social work practice for understanding and
addressing individual issues. For example, I examined environment wherein Child T live and
analysed toxicity in the surrounding that makes the service user more aggressive and rude against
siblings. Moreover, I examined surroundings of Ms L through the theory which have impacted
on attitudes and changes in relationship. It has been determined by me as a social care worker
that groups and family supports or hinder an individual in critical transition periods.
Psychodynamic theory: The framework argues that personalities develop due to ample
number of internal forces. With usage of the framework, it is analysed by me that personalities of
service user are largely shaped during early childhood (Hughes and Wearing, 2021). The
framework was also used by me as it assists in prioritising the unconscious thought process of a
service user as root of their behaviours. In case of Child T, use of psychodynamic theory helped
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me to examine underlying causes of behaviour in certain situations. It has been analysed that
behaviour of the service user is intrapsychic processes addition to interpersonal patterns that are
outside conscious awareness of an individual and depends of childhood experience. At same
time, I used Psychodynamic theory for Ms L so to analyse struggles of the service user and
explore deeply rooted drives, desires and needs. It was an alternative therapy for me to diagnose
along with treat both the service users effectively.
Rational Choice Theory: The framework argues that human behaviour devise decisions
and carry out behaviours on the basis on their own rational processes of thoughts, particularly,
when those decisions benefit the people (Eenshuistra, Harder and Knorth, 2019). I used rational
choice framework because it suggests social care practitioners to analyse people making
decisions on unconscious thought process. In case with Ms L and Child T, I applied rational
choice theory for understanding reasons behind choices of service users that benefit them. Using
the theory, I developed solutions along with suggested resources for helping service users to
attain their goals. Moreover, through the framework, I uncovered reasons behind practices of Ms
L and Child T performing particular things and gotten in the circumstances, even when they were
unfavourable.
Demonstration of the ways anti discriminatory as well as anti-oppressive framework have been
incorporated in working
Anti-discrimination framework is set of practises undertakes by service organisations to
prevent discrimination from all kinds (Resnik and Bellmore, 2019). It seeks to highlights that
every human is equal and have the right to exercise in all spheres of life without any
discrimination. It is very important practise in social and health care as it lays the basis for care
provision and important to defend people's dignity. As a social care worker I face various types
of episodes when I was handling Ms. L. We talked about her feelings which created a sense of
loneliness in her. I started doing her counselling where we talked about her childhood, her past
life and the best part of life she remembered. I tried to understand the cause of the mental issues
she had so to compensate them with good memories. She always felt separated from groups
because of the feeling that they won’t accept her in their circle. For that reason, she felt left out
and start cutting herself from the world. I decided to make a routine for her and watches that she
follows it daily. I create a group of all the people feeling exactly like Ms. L. so that she could
understand that there are more people in the world like her. We started her therapy where we
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discussed about her various fears and anxiety problems. By detailed understanding of the life Ms.
L. had lived, it allows me to treat her in ways that could lead to positive results.
I remained calm most of the time while handling Child T who had physical aggressive
behaviour. With the help of her counselling, I got to know that she has some childhood episodes
where her actions were aggressive and rude in exchange of activities which upsets her. I told
Child T to be herself and not constrict her feelings that later turned into rage. I watched her
activities carefully and recognised the patterns that could lead to trigger her. I appreciate her
actions when she did good and interact people with kindness. I made her interactions with other
child of her age to develop her bond with them and so she could also learn how to behave in
certain situations with calmness. I also planned five to ten minutes of meditation for Child T
daily which helps her in controlling her aggressive thoughts and results in more calmness.
Anti-oppressive framework is an approach related with the practice of social work which
focuses on eliminating socio-economic oppressive (Daniel and Almeida, 2020). It is an important
framework because it provides understanding and advocating against micro or macro level of
emphasizes and oppressions on social changes as well as social justice. As a social worker I used
this framework to provide justice to peoples who suffer from these oppression such as
exploitation from different society related to their class, caste, religions, gender, age, cultural
background and ability. There are various ways by which oppression and be eliminated. Anti-
oppression framework includes personal , cultural and systemic or structural oppression are as
follows:
Personal oppressive: It includes beliefs, values, action and feeling of person which
affect by negative treatment and judgement of a person who belong to oppressed group. Such as
in case of Ms L and Child T many people pass judgement on their mental and physical condition.
As as social worker, I noticed some people are different from other and need special treatment.
In case of Child T I used different tone and method of taking with her so, she feel comfortable
and share the reason behind her aggressive behaviour. By this approach I got to know more
about her which helped me to treat her better and also I made better plan which improve her
physical condition.
Cultural oppressive: It includes societal norms and values which allow individuals to
see and think oppression as right or normal (Bowles and Et. Al., 2020). It means people from
different cultural and language can also learn other language and activity which belong to
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different culture and nationality. In case of Ms. L and Child T, they belong to different culture
and community as well as different religions. But as as social worker I treated them equal
without any partiality. For me all the clients are same and I treat them with same prospective. In
case of Ms L, she was suffered from metal health depression but I interacted with her as a normal
person so, she felt comfortable and shared her issues with me. Also, I suggested her to participate
any activities that she liked to do which improved her mental condition as well as she overcomes
with her mental difficulties.
Structural or systemic oppression: It includes societal administrations like education
system, law, media, hospital and government. People belong to different societal administration
and they face problems arises due to system imbalance. As a social worker I have less power as
compare to other who work with government administration. I faced many difficulties during the
time of treatment of Ms. L and Child T because I am not worked with any legal institution.
Sometimes, I felt helpless to find various medicines and resources which helped me to give
better treatment to these two clients. Many people did not believed in my services and questioned
my practices.
Reflection of strengths and weaknesses of working
As a social care worker for Child T and Ms L, my strengths and weaknesses of working are
as elaborated:
Strengths Weaknesses
 Building trust with service users: While
working as social care worker, I analysed
that my strength in the working was
building and maintaining trust with
service users that were Child T and Ms L.
 Passion for social work: As a social care
worker, my passion for social work was
by strength while providing care
treatment and services to users. I
particularly perform operations for the
demographic group which helped me to
continue operations when situations did
 Tested with harsh reality of my
profession is my weakness in
working with service user. I had only
told clients that I try my best, but
their perspective to test my abilities
made me failed to point out anything
which I really want to make things
up.
 Lack of experience as social care
worker: It was my weakness to
perform working with Ms L and
Child T as I struggle with various
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not went well and when I failed to attain
results which I had loved for attaining
with clients.
 My communication skill was also my
strength as I exchanged words, solutions
and messages with clients in
understandable manner. With this, I was
able to deal with tricky circumstances
that I experienced with clients that were
Ms L and Child T patiently.
 Strong mental resilience: It was my
strong strength as I have seen huge
terrible things while carrying out
practices as social care worker. It is well
said that life includes lot of suffering and
there are we who make attempts for
trying to change situations within scope
of our profession. I learned for accepting
sufferings, rejection along with defeat
that helped me a lot while working in
social care.
things in the job. Due to this, I failed
to encounter tricky circumstances
while performing care facilities with
service users.
 Struggle to devise decisions: Wanting
best for clients by considering
impacts of my actions was a huge
responsibility on me. I simply failed
to make final call in case of Child T. I
have not found solutions for changing
for rude and aggressive behaviour of
Child T against siblings which was
my greatest weakness on practice of
social care worker.
CONCLUSION
As per the mentioned information, it is concluded that social care worker implement care
plans as well as provide support with needs of service users. They either perform in the home
environment, community centres or at nursing homes. Key focus of social work is towards
needs-led as well as strength based approach for working through presenting issues of clients.
Empathy skill, communication skill, critical thinking skill and cultural competence skill are some
of skills used by social care worker while performing practices to provide care to service users.
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Theoretical approaches to social work that underpin practices are systems theory,
psychodynamic theory and rational choice theory.
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