Social Work Practice

Running head: SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Social Work Practice
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE1
Social work refers to academic discipline along with the profession that deals with the
individuals along with the families that helps in the enhancement of the social functioning. It
takes care of the overall well-being of the people within the framework of the society. Social
functioning refers to manner by which the people carry out the social roles. Social
functioning helps in providing the structural institutions to the people that helps in the
sustenance of the people living within the society (Turner, 2017). Social work is indicative
of the application of the social sciences like the sociology, public health along with the
community development. The Case Study, “The Askin Family” throws light on the problem
that the family was going through on account of the separation in between Gill Askin and her
husband called Fred. The twelve year son of Gill Askin called Justin had grown aggressive on
account of the fact that he was close to his father. The case study discusses how Justin could
not tolerate the fact that his father was no longer living them with them and this left him
tormented. This essay throws light on the factors that had a negative effect on the well-being
of Justin. The essay also discusses about the strengths, resources along with the protective
factors in relation to the Askin family. The essay also talks about the possible approaches that
can help in providing the right kind of environment for Justin.
There are various kinds of factors that have a negative effect on the well-being of
Justin. According to the case study, “The Askin Family”, Gill Askin could not manage the
aggressive behaviour of Justin and it was growing worse day by day. Justin was placed in the
child care that deteriorated the mental condition of Justin. He did not get the care along with
the protection of his parents that left him in a deeply distressed condition. Justin needed the
company of his parents in the formative years that had negative impact on the mental
condition of Justin. He was placed in the child care at that of a very early age that left a deep
mark on the mental condition of Justin. Justin was acting in an aggressive manner towards the
siblings and her mother. Justin’s school had suspended him on account of the fact that he was

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE2
hitting the other children in the school. Justin was surprised by the leaving of Fred and it left
him in a devastated condition. Fred, father of Justin was not allowed to see the kids and it
further deteriorated the situation. Gill developed the post-natal depression and this created a
rift in between Gill and Fred. Fred had to move in another room so that he could continue
going for the work. Ecological systems theory helps in providing the framework with the help
of which the community psychologists examine the relationship of the individuals with the
communities and that of wider society (Knott & Scragg, 2016). This theory talks about five
environmental systems within which an individual carries out the interaction. The five
systems are mesosystem, microsystem, exosystem, macro system along with the
chronosystem. Microsystem comprises of the institutions that have a direct impact on the
development of the child. Mesosystem lays stress on the interconnections that exists in
between microsystem. Exosystem comprises of the links between the social setting where an
individual does not have any kind of active role. Macrosystem helps in describing the culture
within which the individuals live in the society (Greene, 2017). Chronosysem talks about the
pattern of the environmental events along with the transitions over the course of life of an
individual. On the basis, of this theory it can be argued that Justin was deprived of the
microsystems that could have helped him in retaining his mental equilibrium. He was left
within the child care that brought about the aggressive tendencies in him. He used to feel
isolated and dejected on account of the fact that he was very close to his father and his father
leaving the family gave rise to mental trauma in Justin. The environmental events in the life
of Justin caused him acute disturbance and left him in a very vulnerable state of the mind
(Gould & Taylor, 2017).
The Askin family had various kinds of resources along with the protective factors that
provided them with the right amount of the strength. On the basis of case study, “The Askin
Family”, Gill had a supportive family that acted as a source of strength for the family of