Social Work Theory: Application to a Case Study Analysis

This essay delves into the realm of social work theories, examining their application and comparative analysis. The introduction establishes the significance of social work theories in understanding and addressing human behavior. The main body presents a case study of Carol, a young woman facing numerous challenges including drug use, unstable housing, and potential harm to her newborn child. The essay then critiques and analyzes several key social work theories, including problem-solving, anti-oppressive, psychological, and systems theories. The problem-solving theory is examined for its approach to guiding clients through problem resolution, while the anti-oppressive theory highlights the importance of addressing systemic inequalities. The psychological theory is explored for its focus on individual mental and emotional well-being. Finally, the systems theory is discussed for its perspective on understanding human behavior within complex systems. The essay concludes by suggesting the most suitable theory for Carol's case, emphasizing the importance of a psychological approach to guide Carol in making decisions and addressing her situation. The analysis demonstrates the relationship between theory, practice, and values in social work.

ESSAY

INTRODUCTION
The theory explaining the cause and effect of human behaviour like for example defining
how humans interact and how they react to stimuli is called to as social work theories. This is
also the scientific method of resolving issue related to get the general explanation supported by
all type of incidence and evidence as well (Hepworth, Rooney and Strom-Gottfried, 2016). This
particular essay will be providing look into various type of social work theory and comparing
them all to find out which one to best suited for the given case study. This will also demonstrate
the reflective practice and discussing relationship between theories, practice and values for better
understanding.
MAIN BODY
Background of case
Carol when she was 17 was living in remote area of Aboriginal community with her
mother and her twin brother died when she gave birth to her son Alan. As they were not having
any precise source of earning so she was very unwell when she was expecting her son due to her
lay back attitude Alan was made to live apart from her in a home care. Then after this Alan was
placed with the foster family losing up Carol’s contact with her family and her son as well. Then
she started living nomadic lifestyle in taking drugs, alcohol, prostitution and uncertainty her
relationship with family was also uncertain for about 6 years.
After this the health care professional reported that she was again pregnant but she was
not agreed to work with the child care protection workers. As they were attempting into safe
guarding Carol and her baby as the father of baby is expected to a criminal who is serving into
prison. He is expected to harm baby and Carol who is one of the major drug dealer of
community. Then once again her mother Robyn and one of her aunty decided to stay with Carol
in way of protecting her and her baby as well. After this Carol gave birth to baby girl and named
her Sharon then they both stayed within hospital to allow to safe guarded her daughter. There
was change in behaviour of Carol which was noticed by hospital staff as she was providing
strong support to Sharon and regarded to as good enough parenting.
But uncertainly during the second week Carol was becoming very much agitated she use
to leave home for longer period of time and this also includes overnight absence. Her mother and
aunty use to take care of Sharon during these times and problem between Carol and her family
began. According to behaviour and visiting child protection workers it was reported that Carol
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was using drugs and her behaviour was also becoming erratic. Then during the 3rd week it was
reported by Robyn about attack which Carol did on her and she was scared that Carol could harm
Sharon as well. Carol informed workers that her own partner who was into prison was released
and then she would return back with him the very next day. In this incident workers are expected
or feared about risk of Sharon’s safety and planning to place her into home care.
Here are mentioned about some of the theories about the decision which as social
workers must be taken as next very important step so that Carol and Sharon both are safe by
applying some of the social work theories.
Critique and analyse of social work theories
Problem-solving
According to Payne, (2015) the problem solving theory is that under which people are
assisted to work with the problem stated with continuation of problem solving process. Under
this theory social workers would not be trying to state what client must be doing rather they
would be teaching them all how to apply problem solving method. Under this client could
develop their own kind of solutions where they would be applying ideas and skills for gaining
information. Problem solving theory is very much helpful for social workers as they could teach
people and their client how to resolve any type of issue with simply skills and knowledge which
they are having (Social Work Theories, 2018). This theory was exposed after the criticism of
social work in 1970’s this gave birth to conflict and learning theories of social work practice. For
this Perlman is given credit as she started problem solving model which was developed by
learning theories linked into this. According to her view social case work is that process under
which certain human welfare could help individuals in way of coping more effectively with their
problem within social function.
As per view of Howe, (2017) helping the individual in way of dealing with problem
which related to social functioning it is important to deal with the aim of resolving problem. This
particular model is having and containing 4 P’s including that of Place, person, problem and
process. All these will be linked with characteristic of client or person so that it becomes easy to
simplify the problem related to social work practice. As explained by Maynard, Naeger and Dell,
(2018) person includes that what are characteristic for social workers that person would need to
help with emotional and social part of lifestyle. While problem is that view which includes life
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long process of solving and resolving issues and problems but not including difficulties that
individual faces. At time when person is having or they are facing problem at that time they
would not be able to function properly. Whereas place is that institution where social workers are
working or aimed at working with all sort of issues so that they could become master of their
life. There are many types of institutions which will be aiming at improving relationship of mind
and socially handicap people.
Then the last one is that of process which series of resolving issue so that meaningful
answer could be given. On the critic side of the particular theory it was stated by Mansbridge,
(2018) that contemporary education for failing that there are incorporative online trends which
are collectively problems solving into classroom.
Anti-oppressive
As per Ghanem, Lawson and Pankofer, (2018) anti-oppressive is that practice or theory
of social work that would be interdisciplinary approach which is primarily which is rooted within
the practice of social work and focusing on oppression related to socioeconomic. All the
practitioner of the social works will be powered with examining imbalance within organisation
structure towards larger political contexts as well. this theory also help in developing strategies
for creating environment related to that of racism, oppression and discrimination into larger
society. This practice largely deal with the excluding certain group of society with having social
justice, rights and reflecting social equality as well. This could be included very clearly that all
imbalance between control of service and care will automatically lead to oppression among
people.
As per Matthews, McIntyre and Simpson, (2018) oppression is that relation which tend to
divide people into inferior and superior one which will be based on domination and systematic
contribution. The model of anti-oppression there are 3 type of barriers which is included within
this Personal (P), cultural (C) and structural (S). These are the factors which refer to conformity,
personal and other social dimension of personal life of humans. The personal aspect will be
dealing with evaluation of gender helping in empowerment of women in constructing men as
non-threatening factor. Thus there will be risk of domestic violence which is one of the biggest
issue relating to construction of per anti oppressive theory. While on other hand cultural will be
building up values and beliefs which will be sourced with language which is participating into
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constructing social structure. Lastly the structural part of anti-oppression theory will be relating
with regulations concerned with pointing out direct proportion including use of religion and
power.
Psychological
As per the view of Belgrave and Seide, (2018) this theory deals with the approach which
is looking into all individual within context of combined factor of influence like mental and
physical wellness as well with ability to function. As there is very much stronger relationship
between emotional and mental happiness and well-being of individual person that very limited
people know of. While this is the study of factors like that of behaviour, thoughts and feelings
which are all influencing actual or implied importance of other. There are conditions which will
be greatly impacting social psychology and helping in interaction with other people. This theory
helps in bridging up the gap between sociology and psychology.
The modern version of this theory started in beginning of the 20th century within USA
which was based on old writing of Al-Farabi who was philosopher. According to Harris and
White, (2018) there are mainly 2 phenomena which deal with intrapersonal and interpersonal
one. These will include the self-concept which states how an individual would be feeling for
themselves consisting with their special attention on mental and physical consciousness. As it is
very much important that people are building up their own view and thought about themselves so
that their belief and perception could be judged.
Northouse, (2018) explained that into the social attitude which is dealing with the global
evaluation or all objects and people their own basic expressions. As there are various views and
attitude which every person is having and that would be different from that of others. Like some
of them would be disliking ice creams which is considered to be attractive for most people or
some of them would be considering views of one political party while others would not be. Other
topics will that of persuasion which is receiving more importance in this recent time which is
influencing behaviour and emotions of people by another. This is the process of persuading or
motivating person to believe what other is thinking so that they are able to do exactly what they
believe. As discussed by Braunerhjelm, Ding and Thulin, (2018) social influence is part of
interpersonal phenomena which is same as persuasion but this is done on larger scale like
impacting whole group of people. It will be including 3 major area of influencing which are
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obedience, conformity and compliance as well. The way in which other people of group are
thinking and then thinking the same way according to which they are thinking.
This theory is very much helpful which allow people to consider their thinking and view
and then conveying it to others so that they could also get influence with what they are
considering.
Systems
On the other hand Steen, (2018) define system theory as that which deals with the
behaviour of human in terms with the complex and multiple process. As it is not easy for anyone
to understand the situation and thought of any other person’s need or want. This theory also state
that families, friends and relatives will also be directly get involved with the resolving all
problem if the individual issue is not getting resolved. So the social theory will be dealing with
support and help that people could be able to give to others that too in scientific method this will
be describing how people are reacting and interacting with each other. This theory deal with 2
major aspect which are manmade and natural finding the interrelationship between changes of
behaviour (System Theory, 2018). Under this theory it could be generalise that every system will
be surrounded by environment with describing its function and purpose of structure.
There are many type of systems or functions which would be dealing with others and
supporting them so that failure from other systems could be prevented. There are systems,
theories, models and concepts which are based on application of general and opposed principle
to the domain of knowledge.
From the above theories of social work it could be concluded that in case of Carol social
workers could be adopting Psychological theory. As this will allow worker to guide Carol into
what should they be doing and dealing with situation. The Psychological theory clearly states the
human behaviour, belief, thoughts and views so that it becomes easy for people in dealing and
comparing the situation. This theory will be including how both mental and physical state and
well-being of person could be joined together in way of coming on to specified solution. While
social workers could also practice the problem solving theory which is not only considering what
person should do to solve their problem but they also deal in showing path to them how to do it.
As under this theory all social workers will be looking for how to teach people in resolving their
problem by building up ability and knowledge as well.
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Reflective practice
From this particular essay it was easy for me to learn about what are various theories of
social workers which will help me to resolve problem of Carol. As I will able to deal with
situation of Carol that is becoming worst with her abuse of drug and not good relationship with
her daughter and family. So with the use of problem solving theory I could be able to deal by her
situation and provide her with specified and easy solutions.
Discussing relationship between theories, practice and values
It could be included that the relationship between practice, value and theory of social
work will be very much complex in way of reflecting characteristic of social workers. As the
professional into this field it is important that people are having basic knowledge of esoteric,
autonomous and abstract which is generally accepted by all (van Wormer and Link, 2018). Thus
this will be majorly dealing and analysing with strength of client so that their practice and values
could be given importance. The interrelationship between that of practice and theory will be
analysed by taking hypothetical instance or that of following theory. Thus identifying gap
between what is been actually practiced and what it says about theory need not to have stronger
impact on practitioners. However, focusing on the different uses of terms as an interesting
subject of reflection requires a change of perspective and attitude. Meanings may vary
dramatically across social groups moved by different interests and holding different cultures.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay it could concluded that practitioner of social works must be
carrying on problem solving and Psychological theory in way of resolving issue of Carol. As her
behaviour is getting worse with her abuse of drug and not living with her family so her behaviour
and thought need to be addressed clearly. The model and theory will be preceding with 2 of the
major ways which is stated into above essay this deal with minimising gap of theory and
practice.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Belgrave, L.L. and Seide, K., 2018. Grounded Theory Methodology: Principles and
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Braunerhjelm, P., Ding, D. and Thulin, P., 2018. The knowledge spillover theory of
intrapreneurship. Small business economics, 51(1), pp.1-30.
Ghanem, C., Lawson, T.R. and Pankofer, S., 2018. How do social work novices and experts
solve professional problems? A micro-analysis of epistemic activities and the use of
evidence. European Journal of Social Work, 21(1), pp.3-19.
Harris, J. and White, V., 2018. A dictionary of social work and social care. Oxford University
Press.
Hepworth, D.H., Rooney, G.D. and Strom-Gottfried, K., 2016. Empowerment series: Direct
social work practice: Theory and skills. Nelson Education.
Howe, D., 2017. An introduction to social work theory. Routledge.
Mansbridge, J.J., 2018. A deliberative theory of interest representation. In The politics of
interests (pp. 32-57). Routledge.
Matthews, I., McIntyre, K. and Simpson, D., 2018. 'I hope to find myself’. Social work
students’ initial encounter with practice explored in the context of professional
identity. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning.
Maynard, B.R., Naeger, S. and Dell, N., 2018. Biosocial research in social work journals: A
systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 28(2), pp.107-115.
Northouse, P.G., 2018. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
Payne, M., 2015. Modern social work theory. Oxford University Press.
Steen, J.A., 2018. Reconceptualizing Social Work Behaviors From a Human Rights
Perspective. Journal of Social Work Education, 54(2), pp.212-226.
van Wormer, K. and Link, R.J., 2018. Social Work and Social Welfare: A Human Rights
Foundation. Oxford University Press.
Online:
Social Work Theories. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://socialwork.simmons.edu/theories-used-social-work-practice/>.
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System Theory. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through: <https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article-
abstract/6/1/23/1736220>.
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