Social Work Theories and Methods

Summary and Assessment Guidance

Nigel Horner

Lecture Overview

Charting our journey Reminding ourselves of the Rationale Revisiting Core Concepts Relating to Practice The Assessment Format Key Tips for Success Next Week………………… Any questions?

Charting Our Journey Why this matters? Distinguishing between Theory (of Explanation)

and Method (of Intervention) Psychodynamic approaches Behavioural and Cognitive Behavioural

approaches Systems models Existential and Humanistic approaches Crisis Intervention and Task Centred Practice Strengths Based Approaches Radical / Structural models

Reminding Ourselves of the Rationale

Indeed we have only the most general ideas of what we are trying to produce, what constitutes the essential skill of the social worker, and consequently still more varied ideas of how to set about it (Younghusband, 1959:28)

50 years on, do we know what social workers do and how they do it?

The Current Definition The social work profession promotes social

change, problem - solving in human relationships and empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work” (International Association of Schools of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Workers, 2001, in BASW, 2002)

The Purpose of Social Work Intervention ….the need for social work intervention

arises when the resources available to an individual, family or community are insufficient for them to achieve preferred or required outcomes……

In other words, social work intervention is a response to the apparent incapacity of the service user target to achieve their goals without assistance from an external agency

Theories and Methods

Theories are constructs of explanation: What’s Going On?

Methods are models of intervention, or practice: What Are We Going To Do About It?

Theory and Method Theories Attachment Learning Cognitive

development Developmental or

Existential Crisis Loss Eco systems

Methods Play work Behaviour modification CBT

Humanistic counselling

Bereavement Counselling Family Therapy or Social

networking

Relating to Practice Intervention follows from and is bound together

with assessment and planning and relates to the methods and models to be used to achieve changes or outcomes that have been identified and agreed (Parker, 2007: 118)

Intervention can thus be seen as situated as an element in an apparently sequential process of ASPIRE, APIE or APIR, although such linearity is itself a contested notion

The Assessment Format

You may bring a dictionary, but no other text books

You can bring in your set of notes, not copies of slides, handouts etc:

You can bring in up to ten pages of your own notes in. The idea is that you revise the material from the books, handouts and articles which have been recommended and make notes on all of the relevant theories and methods.

And remember……………

~This is Level One………….we are seeking to ensure you have the basics for practice……….nothing more and nothing less

There are no trick questions………you have been taught the curriculum on which you will be assessed, and finally

We want you to pass and do well!

Key Tips for Success Read about the subject…..then read more! Prepare good notes! Take care with your use of English and aim to

communicate your meaning clearly. Use short sentences, avoid too much jargon, and aim

to use clear practical examples and explanations in relation to any theory or concepts that you mention.

Remember that there are links to other modules that you have already studied and that it will pay to revisit material e.g child development, mental health, communication, values and ethics.