TANAUAN INSTITUTE, INC.

Senior High School Department

Modified Learning Scheme: Workbook

DISCIPLINE AND IDEAS IN APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
1st Semester, S.Y. 2020-2021
Subject Teacher: BEL PATRICE T. TISUELA
Name: ___________________________________ Score: ________________
Section: __________________________________ Date: _________________

Topic: Chapter 3 Session 7

Lesson 3: Clientele and Audiences in Social Work
Lesson 4: Settings, processes, methods and tools in social work
Lesson 5: Methods and Tools in Social Work

Objectives of the Lesson

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Identify the three types of clientele and audiences in social work.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the settings of social work
3. Illustrate the different processes and methods involved in doing social work
Values Integration

 Appreciate the importance of social work in addressing the needs of disadvantage people
 Reflect on the right process and methods involved in taking social work.
Vocabulary
 Bio psychosocial- made up of at least three parts or subsystems –the physical, the psychological,
and social
 Stress – a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tensions and may
be a factor in disease causation
 Social adaptation- the adjustment of individual and group behavior to conform with prevailing
systems norms and values in a given society, class, or social group
 Transference -occurs when someone redirects some of their feelings or desires to another person
to an entirely different person
 Typology – a system in which individual attitudes and behavior patterns are categorizes in an
attempt to explain the differences between people
 Sublimate- to change form, is a defense mechanism that an individual may use to channel those
unacceptable feelings and urges into something harmless and possibly even productive and
beneficial
 Anti-social – is a condition in which a person has a long term- pattern of manipulating,
exploiting, or violating the rights of others without any remorse. This behavior may cause
problems in relationships or at work and is often criminal
  Aberrant- does not follow the correct or expected course or something that typical or normal
 Intake- is the process by which an individual, group, or a community (a potential client) achieves
the status of a client

Discussion

CLIENTELE AND AUDIENCES IN SOCIAL WORK

CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CLIENTELE
Social work is a profession is concerned with helping individuals, families, groups, and communities to
enhance their individual and collective well-being.
Woking with Individuals
In casework, the individual is the principal client and efforts of helping are focused on her/him.
De Guzman (1992) explains that person’s inability to manage stress which may have been a result of a
distressful situation or problem caused her/him to seek professional help.
The aim of intervention is:
- to facilitate the individuals social adaptation
- to restore
- Reshape
- Reinforce her/his functioning as a social being
Each person makes her/his own adaptation to the demands of the various roles to perform in his/her
situation depending his/her capacities and motivation to do so. This intends to gain satisfaction, avoid or
dissolve frustration, and to maintain their balance in movement. When a person faces a threatening
situation, s/he will likely try to use her/his accustomed modes adaptation and if these fail, s/he will revert
to modes s/he previously used. Sample of modes of adaptation:

 Fight – means physical or verbal projection of angry feelings on others especially when
encountering difficult circumstances, frustrations, disappointments, or even anxiety.
 Flight- this is manifested when a person moves away from the problem like resorting to drugs,
alcohol or substances that will make one forget the current stressful situation
 Pairing- it entails the entry into relationship with another person who is perceived to be stronger,
stable or who has the capacity to provide help over his/her problem
For the caseworker, the assessment of a person’s ego strengths and strengths and defences are
essential in the helping process since it provide insights on how the client can be helped to ensure an
effective and satisfying adaptation to a stressful situation (De Guzman, 1992, p.46-47)
Clients who may need the social worker or agency’s help through casework:
i. Children who are either abandoned , neglected , or orphaned , abused , or exploited;
ii. Children in conflict with the law , street children , children living with or affected by HIV;
iii. Out-of-school youth;
iv. Socially disadvantaged women;
 v. Solo parents;
vi. Persons with disabilities, physically, and mentally challenged individuals;
vii. Elderly;
viii. Indigenous peoples;
ix. Internally displaced persons;
x. Survivors of natural calamities and disasters, or those affected by armed conflicts,
Voluntary clients- are those persons who opted to voluntarily seek the assistance of the
assistance of the worker or the services of the agency due to a problem or a difficulty which s/he
thinks s/he cannot do anything by her/himself
Involuntary clients- who may not even consider asking for help because they think that they are
doing fine and will survive somehow or they are unaware of the agencies that can provide with
them some assistance.

Referred clients- include the drug dependent, abandoned child, unwed pregnant, an elderly
without any family, etc.
De Guzman (1992) also introduced factors that may affect or influence helping relationship between the
client and the worker.
i. Transference- are the client’s reactions and displacement on the worker of the particular feelings
and attitudes s/he may have experienced earlier in life in relationship with the members of his/her
family such as father/mother or the significant or significant other.
ii. Counter-transference- are the worker’s relationship reactions that s/he may project on the client
and usually it is the worker who transfers previously experienced feelings on the client.
iii. Reality- is the realistic and objective perception of existing condition or situation.
In casework process, there are certain ethical considerations that govern the client-worker
relationship that were put together by Biestek (1957) as cited in De Guzman (1992). These are:

 Acceptance – the workers recognition of the individual worth as human being imbued with
inherent worth and dignity.
 Non-judgemental attitude—this means without labelling, no stereotyping and
noncondemnatory act that refrains from assigning blame, guilt or failure to the client
 Individualization—characterizes that every individual is unique and possesses certain traits or
attributes specific only to him/herself.
 Purposeful expression of feelings-refers to the workers allowing and facilitating the client’s
purposeful expressions of feelings.
 Controlled emotional involvement-involve sensitivity, understanding, and responding.
 Confidentiality- refers to the preservation of secret information concerning the client which is
disclosed in the professional relationship.
 Self-determination- it is derivative of the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of a person—
that s/he is endowed with a reason and a free will and is capable of making her/his own choices.
Working with Groups and Organizations
Social group as a process and method is rooted on the sociological concept that a person is a
social being who has the inclination and need to associate with other human beings. Another concept of
social group work is that a group can be utilized as a target for change, as a medium for change, and as
agent for a change.
The purposes of social work include the following:
i. To enhance social adjustment of the individual and developing the social consciousness;
ii. To provide opportunities for planned group experiences that are needed by all people;
iii. To provide experiences that are relaxing and that give individuals a chance to create , to share and
express themselves;
iv. To help individuals in groups to take responsibility for their own behaviour, relate with others
and how to become participating members of the society.
Trecker (1965) also presented the statement of the principles as a result of his long years of study and
experience in teaching social group work. These are the following:
i. The principle of planned group formation—this principle requires the group in social group
work to possess conscious design and plan and must contain the potential for social growth of
its member.
ii. The principle of specific objectives- recognizes that specific objectives for individual and group
development must be consciously formulated by the social group worker in order to effectively
meet the group’s needs and concerns.
iii. The principle of purposeful worker-group relationship—is premised on the assumption that
there has been established acceptance between the group members and the worker.
iv. The principle of continuous individualization—entails the worker to consciously understand
and accept that subgroups and individuals within the group develop and change in varying
levels must therefore know how to use the group work process in meeting the varying levels of
needs of the members.
v. The principle of guided group interaction—recognizes that guided interaction is considered
to be the heart of the social group work process and this refers to the harnessing, direction, and
conscious utilization of the natural process of social interaction in the group.
vi. The principle of democratic self-determination—is anchored on the belief that groups have a
right to make choices and that they are endowed with the capacity to make decisions.
vii. The principle of flexible functional organization—underscores the need to have flexibility in
formal organizations so that it can be adaptive to any change that may arise.
viii. The principle of progressive program experiences – emphasizes the need for the group to
engage in program experiences at the level of member’s interest, need, experience, and
capacity.
Miclat (1995) shared different typologies of groups have their own specific goals and objectives, to wit:
i. Growth group—the dominant goal is the personal growth of the participants in group at all
levels in their emotional, interpersonal, intellectual, and spiritual phase of their life. The specific
objectives of the group are:
- To make people better
- To develop group trust and in depth relationship
- To encourage constructive changes in both attitudes and feelings on
the one hand and behaviour and relationships to other
- To awaken the innate drive in every individual in the group to
develop his/her potentials
 ii. Treatment group—the goal is to help solve the individual’s problems in social adjustment,
uncover deep- seated conflicts, hostilities and depression, modify/ sublimate antisocial/ aberrant
behaviours/attitudes, positivize negative social and cultural values. The specific objectives of the
treatment vary in order to appropriately respond to common problems/needs of the different types
of groups that may include the following:
- Unwed mothers who are minors
- Street children
- Prostituted women
- Drug dependents
- Persons with disabilities
- Solo Parents
- People living or affected with HIV
- Alcoholics
- Children in conflicts with the law
- Psychiatric ward patients
iii. Social group—the goal is to provide opportunities for social relationships to the lonely, the
friendless, and those who have problems in relating with other persons.
iv. Interest group—the goal is to primarily answer the unmet interests/needs of the group members
through appropriate program of activities and services to the agency as well as the community.
v. Play/recreation group—the goal is to provide pleasurable activities through games, dances,
songs/music, dramatics, and other leisure and recreational needs that would also redound to their
development.
Working with Communities
Communities are made up of diverse groups of people. Individuals who share a culture, a hobby,
attend the same school or even use the same park can all be considered types of communities. The role of
a community social worker is to unite members of these groups to work toward a common goal, so the
community can function effectively.
Community social workers achieve this by working alongside with individuals and groups. Those
working within the field of community social work may conduct needs assessments, plan or administer
programs, or allocate resources to the community.
Community social work is unique because the community often actively works alongside the social
workers. The group of people who are affected by the issue in question are naturally invested and
passionate in reaching a resolution.
The philosophy of community organization is the acceptance of the right of the community to
decide what it wants rather than having the organizer’s view’s imposed upon it, belief on the capacity of
the people to find richer and more satisfying ways of living if they are helped to use the resources within
themselves and their environment which are and could be made available for them.
The following are the focus of community organization:
i. Removal of blocks to growth
ii. The release of potentialities in the individual, group and communities as a whole
iii. The development of the capacity of indigenous leaders to lead , to manage , and
function and their assigned social roles in the community
 iv. Developing the ability of different sectors in the community to function as an
integrated to whole
v. Strengthening people’s capacity for problem solving, decision making, and
cooperation.
vi. The full use of inner/indigenous resources before tapping external resources
The purposes of community organization include the following:
i. To solve certain problems and meet needs
ii. To achieve selected social goals
iii. To strengthen the people’s capacity in dealing with their problems, needs and
aspirations.

Settings, Services, and Processes in Social Work

Social Work Settings
Social casework is traditionally practised under the auspices of some institution, i.e., agency.
This may be either private or public, large or small like hospitals, courts, social welfare
departments, child guidance clinics, schools etc. The agency, according to Perlman (1957),
may be either in primary or secondary settings.
 Primary settings-are those which “use the methods of social casework as the major means of
administering their services”. Thus, social caseworkers are the primary personnel to render
services in primary settings, e.g., welfare agency or community service and family counselling
centres offering casework and group work services.
 Secondary settings- use social casework services to help the individuals make use of services
rendered by other professional groups like physicians in hospitals, family courts, nutrition centres,
schools, corporations etc. Caseworkers are to supplement the services offered by other team
members.
Government setting- basically , social workers are involved in research , technology
development, policy analysis and development, planning, standards development, capacity building,
program management including crisis intervention and disaster relief operation and management, social
marketing, and special projects such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (known as 4ps),Kapitbisig
Laban sa Kahirapan-Community Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), Sustainable
Livelihood Program(SLP), National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction(NHTS-PR),etc.
they engaged either at the national, regional, provincial, and local level. Some are employed at the
barangay level and others are teaching in government schools and state universities.
Private Sector- social workers are found in private practice and are offering various kind of services
such as but not limited to the following: advocacy, counselling, mediation, policy and program
development, organizational development, and research, capacity building activities, corporate social
responsibility, consultancy services, and employee’s assistance program.
- Part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or
groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the State. The private sector
is wider, and places fewer constraints on firms.
Civil Society Setting - The term Civil Society is used to collectively refer to the voluntary
organizations corporate bodies, socially active groups, and firms working in each society. Civil Society
works for discharging several economic, social, cultural, moral and other responsibilities which fall
in the domain of private activities. It, however, serves the public purpose of securing general welfare
and development. Civil Society even opposes the wrong politics, decisions and projects of the
government. In doing so the civil society depends upon constitutional, peaceful and legal method of
action. In other words, Civil Society refers to the effective presence of autonomous groups and
associations, business groups, interest groups, trade unions, voluntary social service organizations
and clubs, in fact, all non-governmental organizations, clubs and groups working for securing their
interests by their own efforts.

School Setting - School social workers play a critical role in schools and educational settings.
Social workers working within school systems provide services to students to enhance their emotional
well-being and improve their academic performance. School social workers are usually employed by
the school district or an agency that is contracted with the school district to provide services. School
social workers are often called on to help students, families, and teachers address problems such as
truancy, social withdrawal, overaggressive behaviors, rebelliousness, and the effects of special
physical, emotional, or economic problems. School social workers often also address issues such as
substance abuse and sexuality issues in the higher grade levels. School social workers have a wide
range of job functions.
Community settings- specifically, social workers are employed in different community service centres
(either run by local councils, church or the people’s organizations). They are involved in counselling
services to individuals or families. Others are engaged in community development work assisting
groups or communities to identify their needs and find means to respond them. Some localities in the
country employ social workers at the barangay level and some organizations deploy social workers to
their adopted communities to focus on community organizing and provision of the organization’s
programs and services.
Social Work Process
Like any other helping professions, social work follows a helping process when working with specific
clients. Historically, Helen Harris Perlman is known to be known to be the originator of the problem-
solving framework in the social series of problem-solving operations summarized as follows:
a) Study – the facts which constitute and bear upon the problem must be ascertained and grasped;
b) Diagnosis- the facts must be thought about i.e. turned over , probed into, and organized in the
mind , examined in their significance
c) Treatment- some choice or decision must be made as an end result of the consideration of the
particular facts with intention of resolving the problem
Mendoza (2002) later summarized five basic steps namely; assessment, planning, intervention or plan
implementation, evaluation, and termination. Significantly, this helping process involves the beginning
phase , the middle phase, and the ending phase.

Beginning Middle Ending

Assessment Intervention or plan Evaluation
implementation
 Planning Termination

Assessment
Max Siporon as cited by Johnson (1986) and Mendoza defines assessment as a process and a
product of understanding on which action is based. This involves the collection of necessary
information, analysis and interpretation to reach an understanding of the client, the problem, and
the social context in which it exists. The social worker’s tasks include information-gathering and
problem definition based on what the client and the worker agreed upon. This will eventually lead to the
worker’s writing of an assessment statement.
In gathering data, various sources are available from which relevant information can be obtained
to have an accurate definition of the client’s problem. These are the following:
a) Primary source- the client (whether an individual, group, or a community) is the primary source
of data. Data are gathered through intake procedures.
b) Secondary source- the significant others with whom the client has personal relationships.
These are include the parents, siblings, relatives, and friends in case the client is an individual.
c) Existing data- these can be records or reports from other professionals (e.g. physicians,
teachers, psychologist, etc.) or documents from other agencies such as census data, researches,
evaluation reports, among others.
d) Worker’s observation-the use of observation is very helpful in the gathering, supplementing,
and validating information about the client. The worker has the opportunity to observe the client
through the latter’s interaction and relationship with others.
The initial contact between the client and the worker comes in three different ways:
a) Walk-in—the client (an individual, a group, or a community) initiates the contact and seek the
assistance of the agency social worker about a particular concern or problem with the belief that
the worker is in the position to provide help.
b) Referral- the client is referred to the worker or a social welfare agency by an interested or
concerned party or entity (i.e. a relative, neighbour, teacher, school, church, barangay council, or
another social welfare agency) with the hope that the client can avail of any services from the worker
and/or the agency in addressing the client’s problem or concern.
c) Outreach – the agency, through its social worker/s, reaches out to the prospective clients to
offer help and eventually arrives at an agreement of engaging into a helping relationship after
intake.
Planning
- Is the link between assessment and intervention and its process translates the content of
assessment into a goal statement that describes the desired results and is concerned with
identifying the means to reach the goals. It allows the worker, with the participation of the client, to
move from problem solution towards achieving planned change as end goal (Johnson, 1986, p.
283)
- Involves two major tasks: formulating goals that directly relate with the client’s problem
and defining the specific actions or interventions that are necessary in order to achieve the
goals.
Intervention
 - Has a lot of terms in social work literature which include: action, plan implementation, and
treatment.
- Concerned with the action that would solve the client’s problem.
- Involves rendering of all the specific and interrelated services that are deemed appropriate to
address or respond the client’s problem.
Evaluation
- Is defined as the collection of data about outcomes of the program of action relative to goals and
objectives set in advance of the implementation of that program(Johnson,(1986, p.385)
- Is the continuous process of gathering information which can be utilized in an ongoing
reassessment of objectives, intervention plans, and even the problem definition which is referred to
as ongoing evaluation. Nevertheless, the worker also undertakes terminal evaluation when s/he is
about to an end a helping relationship.
- Two aspects of accountability:
(1) Effectiveness which refers to the question on whether or not the services or
intervention plans are accomplishing their intended goals
(2) efficiency which refers to the cost of services and intervention plans in money, time,
and other resources( Compton & Galaway as cited in Mendoza , 2002, p. 249).
- Evaluation in social work can be done in two levels:
(1) on the level of direct practice with clients
(2) on the level of program implementation
Four elements or sets of variables that the structure of evaluation will involve. These are the following:

 Inputs- are the resources that are the essential to implement the program or intervention
 Activities- are the things that agencies do to produce change. These are also considered the cause of
the change or interventions and labelled as the independent variables.
 Outputs- are the immediate results of the program or intervention plan and called as dependent
variables
 Outcomes- are the longer- term benefits from the program or intervention plan
Examples 1

Inputs Worker’s time, budget , directory , contact

persons, client’s cooperation
Activities Referral to a company or possible
employer
Outputs Having secured to a better-paying job
Outcomes Increased self-esteem and self-reliance

Termination
- Helping process has the time limit therefore a social worker is expected duration of the
helping relationship.
Mendoza (2002) mentions the most common reasons for terminating the client –worker
relationship as follows:
 1. When the goals set by the worker and client have been reached
2. When , after a reasonable period of time , there has been little movement toward the attainment
of the goals formulated , and the prospect for any change in the situation is held unlikely
3. When the client thinks that the worker has provided sufficient help so that it is now possible for
the client to pursue problem-solving on her/his own
4. When an agency does not have the resources needed by the client or the worker does not get
his/her agency’s approval to provide the services needed by the client
5. When the systems outside the client make it difficult for the client to continue with the helping
relationship
6. When for one reason or another , the worker must leave the agency
There were two terms used in relation to the termination of the client –worker relationship—transfer and
referral.
- Transfer- is the process by which a client is referred by her/his social worker, usually in the
same agency , because the former will no longer be able to continue working with the client , or because
s/he thinks another worker is in a better position to work with her/his client’s problem
- Referral – is the act of directing a client to a another worker / agency because the service that the client
needs is beyond the present agency worker’s competence , or the client needs additional services which
the current agency cannot provide
Methods and Tools in Social Work
“Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and
development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice,
human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work. Underpinned
by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages
people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.”
METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK METHOD MEANS…
- A particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something, especially a systematic or
established one.
- A particular way of doing something
- A way, technique, or process of or for doing something.
- A body of skills or techniques
- A discipline that deals with the principles and techniques of scientific inquiry.
- Approach, fashion, form, how, manner, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics,
technique, way.
 Primary Methods
1. SOCIAL CASE WORK - Mary Ellen Richmond (1861-1928) the founding mother of Social Case
Work.
While social case work was a primary method of intervention, it was not until Mary Richmond published
Social Diagnosis in 1917 that a formal definition for social case work began to formulate.
-is the method employed by social workers to help individuals find solutions to problems of social
adjustment that are difficult for individuals to navigate on their own.
- is a helping process that consist of a variety of the activities that may include the giving of material
assistance, referrals, to other community facilities, rendering emotional and psychological support
through sensitive listening, expressions of acceptance and reassurance; making suggestions, appropriately
advising, and setting limits, encouraging the individual to express or suppress her/his feelings, likewise
encouraging her/him to effect her/his plans, assisting the individual to narrate and examine her/his
situation, and /or working out with her/him a consideration and better understanding of the casual
connections between her/his present attitudes and mode of adjustment with past experiences (Villoria , E.,
1971 as cited by in Mendoza , 2002, p.607)
Hollis (1949, 1964) identified four major casework processes or techniques namely:
a) Environmental modification- the steps taken by a casework to change the environment in the
client’s favour through the direct action of the worker
b) Psychological support- this is demonstrated through the casework’s acceptance , confidence, and
interest in the client by way of motivating the client to freely express her/his feelings and thoughts
c) Clarification- usually this goes with psychological support and the dominant tone is
understanding by the client of her/himself, her/his environment, and /or people with whom s/he is
associated.
d) Insight development- involves carrying understanding to a deeper level than that described in
clarification wherein current and past experiences must be re-lived in therapeutic atmosphere in
order to bring irrationalities clearly into the surface and they can be recognized from the safety of the
treatment situation to the real life later on.
2. SOCIAL GROUP WORK - is a process and method through which group life is affected by a worker
who consciously guides the interaction process toward the accomplishment of goals which are conceived
in democratic frame of reference (Wilson & Ryland, 1949 as cited in Mendoza, 2002, p. 609).
3. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION- is process by which a community identifies its needs or
objectives; orders (or ranks) these needs objectives; finds the internal or external resources to deal with
those needs or objectives, and takes actions on respect to them; and in so doing extends and develops
cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community (Ross, M., 1955 as cited in
Mendoza , 2002, p. 610)
- Dunham (1970) described this as a conscious process of social interaction and a method of social work
concerned with the following:
a) Meeting of broad needs and bringing about and maintaining adjustment between needs and resources
in a community or other area
b) Assisting people in effectively dealing with their problems by helping them develop, strengthen, and
maintain qualities of participation, self-direction, and cooperation
c) Bringing changes in community in the distribution of decision-making

Cox, et al. presented three models of community organization practice and these are:
a) Locality development
b) Community planning
c) Social action
Secondary Methods
1. Social Action/Social Reform- is an organized effort with the aim of securing social progress and
solving mass social problems by influencing legislation or the administration of social services. This
involves public pressure by public opinion through information or educational publicity in newspapers,
pamphlets, lectures, radio broadcasts, television, or public meetings.
2. Social Work Research- involves a critical inquiry and the scientific testing of validity of social work
organization, function, and methods in order to verify, generalize, and extend social work knowledge and
skill.
3. Social Welfare Administration- is the administration of public and private social agencies designed
and organized to achieve the full effect of the services for which they have been established. Management
of social agencies is oriented to aid people more efficiently.
 Friedlander (1955) explains the functions of social welfare administration. These can be
categorized into seven functions namely:
a) Planning – a process of envisioning the future structure and operation of the social
agency including the determination and clarification of the agency’s objectives,
functions, and policies to be pursued.
b) Organizing- provides the administrative structure of the agency and determines the
functions of the “group of ultimate control, ’such as the members of a private family
welfare agency, of the “governing board,” of the executive and the staff.
c) Staffing- refers to the human resources or personnel administration , which includes the
realization of the agency’s tenure, salaries, vacations , and working conditions, and the
evaluation of the performance of the members of the staff to ensure efficient service and
the fair treatment.
d) Directing – is the function of the executive involving the responsibility for final decisions
and for the supervision of the administrative process of the agency.
e) Coordination – the district determination of each staff member’s assignment and
establishment of the lines of responsibility and authority.
f) Reporting- id the administrative function of rendering to the governing board, to the
membership or legislative body , and to the public an account of agency’s work.
g) Budgeting – is the mobilization, disbursement, and control of the financial resources of
the agency

TOOLS IN SOCIAL WORK

In social work practice, the use of certain tools is necessary to facilitate the achievement of the goals and
objectives set by the worker with the client in the helping relationship. Utilizing these tools entails
technical know- how from the social work practitioner.
1. Interview – involves a face-to-face interaction or meeting between two or more persons,
directed toward a purpose like to obtain information and facts, to give instructions, to help. In
social work, an interview goes beyond the worker’s merely getting of information but usually
would include giving of information or instructions, offering guidance and support, giving
suggestions, and making of necessary interpretations to a particular situation.
- is both an art and a technique which entails both knowledge and skills
- is an art because it allows for the expressions of one’s feelings and personality. Below are the
needed skills to have an effective interview:
a. skill in relating with the interviewee
b. skill in observing the interviewee
c. skill in listening
d. skill in asking questions
e. skill in answering personal questions
f. interpreting the client’s response
Here are some helpful tips and reminders presented by Mendoza (2002) when conducting an interview:
a) Prepare for the interview.
b) Always start by making the client feel comfortable.
c) Use your intuition or “sixth sense”.
 d) Exercise care in the use of interview instruments like intake and survey forms.
e) Be conscious of time.
f) Do not rush into direct action or help without fully understanding the client’s situation.
g) The interview should have proper deportment.
2. Communication- from the Latin word “communis” meaning “to make common” and the word
“communicare” meaning “to share or impart, is a two-way process and the receiver responding. Likewise,
it is a method by which a source purposively conveys messages directly with a receiver or through a
channel and both learn from each other. The following are the important elements of communication.
a) Source – where the communication emanates or the originator of information (i.e. an individual, a
group, or an institution).
b) Message- could either be knowledge, information, an attitude, and/or behaviour which the source
wishes to convey to the receiver. This can be transmitted in various ways (i.e. verbally,
nonverbally, and through the use of symbols).
c) Channel – refers to the proper course or means of transmission of communication i.e. either
interpersonal communication (either individual or group basis) or mass media, or a combination
of both. Interpersonal communication involves face-to-face contact with people.
Nowadays, an evolving channel of communication is the use of internet and social media.
Accordingly, this has been considered the most efficient and convenient way of transmitting
information to the receiver since it can reach a bigger scope of audience within a short period of time.
d. Receiver – refers to the persons, groups, or population segment/total population that is intended
audience of a communication evaluates, counterchecks, or recognizes the roles played by either of
them including the client’s attitudes and feelings and how these affects communication.
3. Records – the importance of keeping records is to be able to identify the clients being served, to
determine the kind of services rendered to them, to keep track and monitor progress of the clients, and
serve as basis for evaluation and decision making. The types of records prepared by social workers and
social welfare agencies include but not limited to the following:
a) Intake Forms- reports containing data obtained prior admission and entering into a helping
relationship.
b) Summary records/entries of information obtained as part of the data gathering stage in problem-
solving
c) Survey Reports- contains findings about the community situation indicating the date, place, and
source of data.
d) Case Study- report summarizing the obtained information about the client and her/his
environment (family, friends , community),a synthesis about the data acquired from different
sources where the problem has been stated and defined , the goals, and objectives to be pursued
are clearly stated and the specific means on how to achieve such goals are indicated.
e) Summarized Process Recordings- should contain considerable details about the content of
interviews, conferences, and other contacts with clients, in the sequence in which it took place,
including the reactions and responses of both client and worker, followed by the worker’s
assessment/analysis of what transpired.
f) Progress Notes/Reports—regular (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly) accounts of the client’s
activities and engagements as well as the significant others in the client’s life.
 g) Case Conference Reports- an account of the proceedings or a summary of recommendations
from the helping/intervention team composed of social workers, teacher, psychologist/guidance
counsellor, houseparent, medical personnel and significant others during a case conference.
h) Home Visitation/Home Study Reports- a report containing vital information and assessment
about the client’s family , the home atmosphere, the physical structure, the significant others as
well as the relationship of the family in the community and the community life in general.
i) Periodic Evaluative Summaries- includes a statement about the major developments that have
occurred.
j) Transfer Summaries- a report prepared if the case will be transferred to another worker or unit
which may include recommendations on future course of action.
k) Final Evaluative Statement- focuses on the extent to which goals/objectives spelled out in the
Case Study have been accomplished/not accomplished and why; recommendations for
termination or continuation of service.
l) After Care Reports- a report prepared six months to one year after integration or reunification of
the client to her/his family , placement to an adoptive or foster family, movement of the client to
another agency , or while the client to another agency, or while the client is in transition to
independent living.
m) Closing Summary- a report prepared once the case has been closed or officially terminated due to
various reasons.
4. Community Resources- social work practice also necessitates the use of concrete community
resources which includes the programs and services offered under public (e.g. Department of Health),
semi-public(e.g. The Philippine Mental Health Association which is funded by the Philippine Charity
Sweeptakes Office), and private (e.g. Plan International ) sponsorship.
5. Program/Program Activities – in social group work practice, some authors would define program or
program activities as means and context for treatment. The term refers to everything that happens in the
life of the group or activities that entails a certain amount of definite planning on the part of the group or
worker or both.
6. Ecological Map (ECO-MAP) - is a simple paper-and-pencil simulation that has been developed as an
assessment, planning, and intervention tool. This tool depicts the family or individual in the life space and
allows us to see the client not as an isolated entity for study but us a part of a complex ecological system.